Task Card Management And Mindfulness
Find out how mindfulness can improve your workflow
September 30, 2022
FOMO - Even before there was a word for it, it was a thing most of us had experienced in some form. We can thank social media for making it a commonplace phrase in our vernacular, though the acronym may not have originated there. The phrase Fear Of Missing Out stems from the idea that no matter where you are or what you’re doing, there is something wonderful you are missing out on because it’s physically impossible to be in multiple places at once. This makes it harder to appreciate the activity you are currently involved in.
So much of our time is spent either worrying about the future or fretting about the past, that we forget to fully live in the moment. Mindfulness is all about focusing on the present and giving it your full attention. Whether it’s a task you are working on, a show you are watching, or a meal you are eating, enjoying the moment fully enhances our overall experience of life.
Contrary to popular belief, multi-tasking does not save time. It takes longer to finish each task, and none are done well. When it comes to handling tasks and work projects, Swit is firmly in camp mindfulness and focus. Here are some of the ways you can get the most out of your task cards.
Declutter
Precision and clarity are the names of the game. A concise yet clear title and description will help collaborators on the task know exactly what it entails. With the status, you can let everyone know what stage in the process the task is at; not yet started, in progress, awaiting approval, or completed.
A checklist will let you add dates and assignees so that everyone knows what is expected of them and when they should have it completed. Continue to update the status as each step in the process is completed. Task card housekeeping will help declutter not just your to-do list but also other people’s project views.
Align Your Words with Actions
Reliability is especially important in a remote or hybrid work environment. A lot of projects are interconnected, so your co-workers need to know that you are responsible. Stick to your deadlines and deliver the work on time.
Tick items off your checklists as they are done to keep track of progress. Use the priority setting on each task card to let collaborators know the urgency of the task at hand. This allows everyone involved to adjust their schedules according to task precedence.
Limit Attachments
Swit’s task cards give you the option of attaching as many files as you need. Still, it is important to stick to only pertinent and crucial data to avoid overwhelming collaborators with too much information.
Relevant context is essential, especially for a complicated project. This context can be provided through attached files, by linking other task cards or messages in the Related Tasks section, or by breaking down a difficult project with a lot of moving parts into linked sub-tasks.
If you don’t see what you need here, don’t worry, Swit’s got you covered! As the owner of the project, you have the option of creating it in the custom field, for example, if you want to share reference links, special instructions, or an event schedule, you can use the custom field to create exactly what you require.
Take a Moment to Think
Disagreements are a part of the creative process and debate is highly encouraged. Disrespect, however, has no place in the work environment. In times of high stress and tight deadlines emotions are intense, don’t let that get the best of you. Take a beat and a few deep breaths before formulating your response. Always keep it civil in the comments.
Handling criticism is not easy and even the most gently worded critique will sting a little bit. Understand that it is not a judgment of you or your abilities. Think of it as an opportunity to improve and polish your skills, as all of us are always a work in progress. Use it to improve and become a better version of yourself
Be Aware of the Impermanence of Things
Dates, timelines, ideas, everything is likely to change and evolve. Be willing to go with the flow and adapt. There will be times when you may have to scrap work you have already done because the project took a different direction. Save the work that doesn’t get used in a separate folder, you’ll eventually find a use for it. Swit’s dates and deadlines are easily adjusted and everyone involved in the project gets notified.
Treat Yourself
A great way to keep yourself motivated and on track is to reward yourself when you complete a task. Sometimes that can be the impetus you need to finish a job you’ve been dreading. Whether you’re looking forward to some fresh air outside, your favorite snack, or a game you like to play, your Pavlovian response will train you to focus and get to the other side of the work so you can enjoy your break.
Once you’re finished, change the status to Done and give yourself a little treat. It’s time to celebrate! And with that, I will close this blog and practice what I preach; there’s some candy in my pantry with my name on it!
With Swit, you get the most out of your work and enjoy guilt-free breaks! Contact us to learn more about our work management solutions.
Nyda Ahmad, Copywriting Manager
