Nowadays, it is very rare to see people working on only one project. Most of the time, people are tasked to do multiple projects in one go because of the demand for certain skill sets that only you can do.
Besides in the corporate world, working on multiple projects are something I am familiar with as a freelancer. You can’t be doing only one project for one client. Unless that client pays you a lot to justify full concentration on his assignments. I usually juggle not more than 3 at a time because I want to distribute my attention fairly to each project I take on.
While multitasking can be good to speed up productivity and reduce costs, it is actually very bad for one’s mental health especially if it happens regularly. It can disrupt one’s attention and the quality of the work, as well as increase one’s stress levels.
So, what can you do if you are tasked with multiple projects? How can you stay focused? Here below are some tips to help you out.
Schedule your work accordingly
When you get all your assignments or projects, look at them all and see which ones you can do first.
If you don’t do this, you may end up spending the rest of the day alternating between tasks or spending all your time in one task that isn’t due till a certain time.
Check all the priorities of the work you have and do the ones which are urgent and can be done fast.
Prevent distractions
If you want to focus, you need to make sure you can work free from any distractions. Set your phones on silent and disable any notifications from your desktop.
You should also keep your workspace quiet to help you focus even better. Let your team know when you will be working so that they will not disturb you as you work.
As a freelancer, I choose to do my work only when my child is napping in the afternoons or asleep at night. This way, I do not have unnecessary distractions.
Review your progress regularly
Sometimes, we can get too caught up with our work to the point we forgot we have other tasks to do.
Make it a point to check your progress regularly with the help of a time tracker or a simple note. You will be able to note where you are in your project and be able to time yourself for similar tasks in the future.
Flexibility is the key
Flexibility also helps you out when it comes to staying focused. Some tasks won’t allow you to ask for extensions so you will need to be flexible when it comes to working on the tasks that require faster turnarounds.
Know which tasks these are and plan your schedule accordingly. If you are able to stay flexible, you will be able to manage the rest of your projects with ease and not have to stress out on them or panic when it comes to submission day.
Be realistic
Don’t be afraid to say you can’t do a project when you think you are doing enough. Being able to admit this to your boss shows that you know your limits and your commitment in providing only quality work for your company.
If you are unable to manage your projects or there are obstacles that prevent you to complete your tasks on time, let your superior know immediately and explain why there will be a delay. You should also keep them up-to-date with your work so that they know what to expect.
Conclusion
Staying focused when you have loads of projects to work on can be stressful. But, it isn’t impossible to accomplish them efficiently. With these tips, you can refocus your center and accomplish your projects easily.
To make your worklife seamless, you need to master the key to productivity and here are some ways you can do it:
7 Productivity Apps for Working from Home
Guest Post: 7 Time Wasters That Reduce Your Productivity
8 Steps to Digital Productivity
6 Apps that increase Your Productivity
Can’t get enough of MiddleMe? You can find me sharing my thoughts here as well:
Instagram @kallymiddleme
Twitter (MiddleMe_net)
FaceBook (MiddleMe.net)
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kallytay
Best things in life are meant to be shared, start spreading MiddleMe around, after all, sharing is caring.
MiddleMe 
Reblogged this on Love and Love Alone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing this out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Last year I had a 6-month contract position at an accounting firm. My title was Coordinator of Administrative Services. A very polite way of saying ‘The one who does all the stuff that can’t or won’t be done by anyone else’.
My primary goal was to oversee the closing of the file room. But that turned out to be the least time consuming task alongside
Purchasing kitchen and office supplies;
Clearing and reloading the dishwashers as needed – about hourly, usually, the office had a staff of eighty;
Ensuring adequate stocks of mineral water for the board room fridge;
Setting up the board room for the partner’s lunch every Monday – and cleaning up afterwards (disclosure – the leftovers often provided some luxurious variety to my diet);
Reception relief. This alone took up a third of my day.
I’ve forgotten a few tasks, I’m sure, but you get the idea. Kind of like a Formula 1 driver, I had to anticipate the course and steer through the bends before I was even thinking ‘Here comes a bend’.
A friend suggested I keep a work diary on my desktop. So I set up an Excel spreadsheet, breaking the week down into days and the days into hours. I know, the Outlook calendar does that too but I found the spreadsheet more accessible and easier to update. It was a great help, an easy-to-update guide to my day and days ahead.
I forwarded the spreadsheet to my manager when the contract ended and she said ‘That was quite amazing. I don’t think I really understood how demanding your role was until I read it’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome advice, Gregory! I do use Excel to plan my day too. It truly helps to see where I put my time and how time flies.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. This has been fruitful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kally! The idea worked for me, so I’m passing it on in the hope it works for others too.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing!!.. “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” ( F. Scott Fitzgerald)… 🙂
Hope all is well and in spite of life’s challenges, you and yours are having a wonderful holiday filled with peace, love and happiness!!… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for such a warm and beautiful quote. Your visit always bring such joyful comments. Merry Christmas, Dutchll.
LikeLike
Dear Kally, I am continually amazed at your insights and ability to organize your thoughts and communicate so clearly. My ‘final products’ tend to be all right, but my old brain takes forever to sort through all it needs to do, even to put out a decent blog! 😉 You are brilliant!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your encouragement and support. Your words today gave me strength and inspiration to carry on.
LikeLike
Humans
Are
Not
Evolved
To Efficiently
Flow Reaching
Human Potentials
In More
Than
One
Task
iN
FoCuS
Common
Sense What
Happens
When
You Take
Your Eye
Off The
Prey
And
Pay No
Attention
To The
Predator
You Starve
And Die Whereas
In Our Modern
World Facing
Constant
Distractions
That Most
Have to
Deal With
To Survive Slave
To The Work And
School World
Same
The Starvation
And Death is
Much
Slower
Yet
Ever
Wilting
THorn
STill
Waiting
To FLoWeR
Rise With
All
Colors
Rose
Truly
Comes To
BREaTHE Free
Happy Holidays
To You And
All
You
Love Kally🍃😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank
You Kally☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tips Kally! Always a challenge we must practice!❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Cindy! Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. 🍷🍷 Cheers! We made it.. see you next year! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find it much easier to focus on one project at a time until it is completed but this is often not possible.
You have some really good advise.
Have a lovely Christmas and take care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much and happy holidays to you, Roger,
LikeLike
Thanks for this tips Ms. Kally. Keep it up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your support, Lori! Cheers!
LikeLike
Great tips! Multitasking is often tricky for me, but one thing that helps me at least keep working is to switch projects if I get to a point where I’m struggling in circles on one. The change will wake up my brain and when I come back to the original project, my brain feels fresh again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good tactic indeed. I should switch projects when I’m stuck. I usually will take a break and come back to tackle it again until I break it or it breaks me! Lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even once you are not in the working world, that doesn’t eliminate multitasking. And, thanks for all the love to the Pen’s Might (https://thepensmight.com/), Kally. It’s greatly appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. Always appreciate your encouraging and positive comment. Have a wonderful day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad the help.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is excellent Kally. Very good and practical tips. A great post
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a wonderful day.
LikeLiked by 1 person