Virginia's Toolbox

Having worked several administrative jobs over the years, I know how many recurring bits and pieces we all need to remember to get done. Whether it is a daily task or a yearly one, keeping on top of everything is the best way to avoid overwhelm at work and perform at your best. This isn't meant to be a to-do list, but more of a reminder list. I don't put one off items in this calendar, just things that I know will happen over and over again. While it's very unlikely that I will forget to do something like check the mail, it gives structure to my day. Keeping quarterly and annual tasks still top of mind will help avoid any oversights. Although keeping a digital calendar with recurring tasks is great, I've always enjoyed having a physical copy of my task list since it is easier for me to visualize it. I also like to post it up, since oftentimes I'm supporting multiple other people. They are able to check the schedule at their own convenience if they want to double che

"Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life" – Steve Jobs If you ever need a reset of your values and priorities for the day, creating a 24-hour "ideal day" pie chart is a great way to visualize your day and how much time you really have to accomplish everything you hope to do. It is also a great way to prioritize the things that are truly important to you, and carve out time for it all. Firstly, get set up with your sleep schedule, as well as other non-negotiables like your commute, class times, or work hours. Then, add in realistic time frames to get other life tasks in, such as cooking, cleaning, and hygiene. After adding in all of this, there's a good chance you'd be surprised at how little time is left for the things we really want to do.  From here, narrow down all of your want-to-do's into the most important things. For some of us, this may be hitting the gym, for others, it might be painting. If you only have a handful of hou

"The world belongs to the energetic." - Ralph Waldo Emerson If you have ever struggled to find the energy to complete certain tasks during the day, only to be later squirming out of your seat while trying to focus on more mundane work, energy tracking may be something to incorporate into your work planning.  We all will naturally have peaks and valleys in our energy levels, but the times and durations of those energy levels will vary from person to person. The night owls might find their energy ramping up in the afternoon and the evening, while the early birds might experience the dreaded "3PM crash". Feeling lower energy at certain points in the day is totally normal and nothing to feel guilty about. Even the highest energy people will feel tired at some points in their day! However, being aware of when these times come about for you and planning your tasks around them will help you be the most productive throughout those sleepy times. This energy tracker that I