How to Batch Your Way to Better Organization
Have you heard of Batching? It rhythms with matching – and that’s basically the beauty of Batching!
I just recently embraced Batching on a daily basis. Oh sure, in essence, I’ve been working to batch daily tasks for years. Now, I do it deliberately.
Let me explain. Batching is grouping like items together on your To-Do List. Linking items together allows you to tackle similar To-Dos at once; streamlining your thinking and actions.
I’ve been doing this mentally for most of my career. However, I often found my mental focus would get hijacked. Getting distracted would de-rail my mental matching of tasks and I would spend valuable time working to re-focus and find where I left off.
With Batching, I may spend a few more minutes each morning grouping like-items together, but if (when) I get pulled off-task I can easily find my place again on my list.
Here’s How to Batch Your Way to Better Organization
- Create a multi-column spreadsheet.
- Title each column as appropriate i.e.: Email; Call Backs; Staff Items, etc.
- List To-Dos under each title.
- Prioritize the columns each morning.
- Check To-Dos off as completed.
Of course, you can develop your own method of Batching. Originally, I began batching by color-coding like-items. While that method worked, I made the decision to migrate to my spreadsheet method simply because it was easier and faster – for me.
Working my way down one column of To-Dos keeps me in the groove of compatible tasks and projects. I’m not switching gears as often; my productivity has increased and my stress level has decreased.
Give it a try! Let me know what you think.
As a career coach and public accounting recruiter, I work with professionals on improving soft skills – like organization. I recently outlined the soft skills most necessary for CPA success in my article “Six Soft Skills Every Public Accountant Needs.”
Interested in more career nutrition? Check out Career Wellness on the SterlingFreeman website.