Assign Small Tasks To Your ‘Schedule Gaps’ Each Morning

Assign Small Tasks To Your ‘Schedule Gaps’ Each Morning

We all have small gaps of time in our schedule throughout the day. That time adds up. You want to use those gaps wisely so your time doesn’t go to waste. One option is to assign small tasks to them every morning.

Picture: photosteve101/Flickr

Over at 99u, productivity expert Jordan Cohen suggests going about this in two steps. First, take a few minutes at the beginning of your day to identify where any gaps might exist. Maybe it’s 20 minutes in between meetings, for example. Second, schedule the tasks you want to accomplish in each gap. This is probably less taxing work or just a to-do item you’ve been procrastinating.

I love this idea, but it’s important to leave some free time in your schedule too. Some jobs take longer than you expect, and having a gap in place can help keep you on schedule. Plus, you need time to relax and recharge during the day.

So instead of scheduling constant, back-to-back work, here’s how I do it: I make a weekly running list of the small, quick tasks I’ve been putting off. It might be replying to an email, making a decision on something or sending an invoice to a client. Each day, I schedule my work and identify my gaps. When they come up, I use that time to tackle one item on my weekly running list. But I make sure to take those necessary mental breaks too.

However you implement the method, it’s a great way to make the most out of time you might otherwise spend browsing Facebook or chatting up a coworker. There’s nothing wrong with either of those things; they serve a purpose. But if you could stand to be more productive during that time, you might consider optimising your small schedule gaps.

Check out the full post at the link below.

Don’t Waste the Tiny Gaps in Your Schedule [99u]


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