TASK LISTS Task lists can proliferate in an alarming manner in our jobs. We have task lists for each community we man- age, we have tasks that our company mandates that we accomplish, we have industry tasks such as obtaining continuing education credits. We also have personal tasks that have to be handled during the work day such  - ority for everything you need to do?


- ranged in front of you and you know exactly what needs to happen next and what should be done by the end of your day, phone calls and emails can throw your care- fully constructed plan into disarray. Urgencies and the need to provide great customer service can find us get- ting through a day without even addressing any of those 


I USED TO HAVE A HANDLE ON LIFE, BUT IT FELL OFF   if you do not take time to plan and regroup, you can be- come ensnared in crisis mode. Tat is not good for you, for your clients, for your coworkers or for your future.


What to do? Carve out time to review and restruc-          


14 


looking at your tasks and your calendar and checking any scrawled notes you may have left behind the day before. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, immediately check your emails and voicemail. They will wait a few minutes while you review your priorities and deadlines. You know that you will be sidetracked by responding to input soon enough.


If there are projects that you need to accomplish during the day, you might schedule a block of time to get them     that important item aside knowing that I will get back to it later in the day.  overwhelmed by, so it continues to get put off. Take a couple of minutes to break down some of the steps. “Get parking lot resurfaced” is not a task: it’s a major  - line for proposals.” Now those are tasks you can actually do. Then look at the next set of tasks related to the project later.


           also, wrap up your week with some quiet time. You want to walk away from your desk at the end of the week knowing that you are aware of what will need to be done next week and what your Monday should in-


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