We love our processes and technology at PG Paper. From our CRM system to our Order and Stock Management systems, technology enables us to provide an efficient service to our customers and partners.
But we also love paper, obviously! The new year may have brought with it many of the same challenges we faced in 2020, but it also brought us our new work diaries!
One of the routines we adopt to help us keep track of our work is writing a simple, daily to-do list in our paper diaries and sharing this with our colleagues. Sure, we use Microsoft Teams to allocate tasks and manage projects across our departments, but the simple act of writing down the top 3-4 key tasks we plan to complete that day is both effective and reassuringly routine.
All Department Heads then share their top priorities with each other on WhatsApp, and we start the day with a clear understanding of each other’s priorities. It is a simple way to help us all to work together, even when some of us are working from home and others are based throughout our international offices.
Studies have shown that people who write down their aims and objectives are anywhere between 33-42% more likely to achieve them. The very act of writing helps us engage with and recall our goals; sharing them with colleagues helps us commit to completing them.
For the PG Team, having our diaries sitting beside us is a clear reminder of what we started the day wanting to achieve. Of course, the physical act of ticking or crossing off tasks is also extremely satisfying.
PG Paper’s “To Do” List Top Tips
What’s the top advice from some of PG’s Managers when it comes to writing their daily lists?
Fiona Dempster, Logistics
“Think of it as a “To Achieve List” rather than “To Do” as this keeps you motivated. Writing your list the evening before you leave the office and then refining it in the morning helps to keep the mind focused.”
Phil Brien, Procurement
“I enjoy the routine of looking at priorities for each day & week, and being able to slot future work in the diary knowing that it will not get lost in the process.”
Nicola Peters, Sales
“I try to write my ‘to-do-list’ the night before – this means I start my work day with clarity and focus.”
Amanda Morrison, Procurement
“I love a good list! And my “Monday list” always tends to be the longest of the week, helping me to dot the I’s and cross the T’s from the previous week’s orders, and make a clear path for the coming week too. If something stays on my list more than 1 day, it becomes my first priority the following day!”
Beth MacLeod, Finance
“As well as listing my regular tasks I always make sure I have a process/system improvement task on my list. I find this helps me dedicate time to improvements as well as my regular duties. That way, with each improvement task completed I am able to improve efficiencies for myself and my team.”
Louise Rutherford, Marketing
“I am working to better prioritise my work this year. Rather than have a long list of tasks, I write my top 3 priorities and share these with my colleagues.”
If you are looking for more help from the experts read 7 Expert-Approved Ways to Write a Better To-Do List.