Leave Notes for Your Future Self
By Tana M. Mann Easton, Lead Efficiency Engineer
Have you ever had a task or project that you needed multiple days to complete? For example, let’s say you’re in charge of planning a company event complete with food, AV equipment, guests, invitations, handouts, gift bags, etc. Chances are you won’t be able to completely plan that event in one day. For projects that will take multiple days to complete, you want to be kind to your future self and leave notes along the way.
If you’ve ever done something like the task before (for the above example, if you’ve ever planned an event before), right now you probably have a good idea of the exact steps you’ll need to take in order to finish that project. In your organizational system (whether it’s a planner, tasks, etc.), give your future self a break by leaving notes. Take a little time right when the task is assigned to you to quickly list out all of the steps you can think of that need to be done. Add to that list if you think of other tasks relevant to the project in the future. When you finish any part of the project, cross it out or write DONE next to it. If you already ordered food for the event next month, give your future self a break by noting you completed that step instead of perhaps forgetting if you did it in two weeks and having to search to see if you have a food order confirmation somewhere in your email. If you’re waiting on someone else to take an action in order for you to proceed on any part, make a note that you need to follow up with them if you haven’t heard back in a certain amount of time.
Keep tackling small parts of the project as you can manage each day, making sure to note in your organizational system when you complete a step or what you’re waiting on from others. If you have a week or two when you don’t do anything with the project, your future self will almost assuredly forget what you have and haven’t completed. You can help yourself out by simply making notes along the way.
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Sincerely Yours,
Focus to Evolve Team