Help me be more organised

[winewinewhine]

I'm back at work but only doing 4 days a week. I have a bigger workload and one less say to do it in. Am really struggling. I'm usually pretty organised but I keep missing things and my stress levels are through the roof. Can anyone suggest anything that might help? DP is going mad because I'm doing extra hours unpaid but I don't feel like I have a choice. I think I need some strategies to help. I've already deleted my work emails from my phone to stop me working on days off as I was finding myself making phone calls and sending emails.

Make your time off exactly that. Time off. If you can :-) I work 4 days and I check emails etc the night before I go back to work so I know what's going on. I receive 80% of my salary because I work 80% of the time. That means the 20% I'm not working is for me and my family to do what suits us.

Are you being passes extra stuff? Can you start saying 'my workload is full at the moment so the earliest I can start this is next week' so expectations are managed but they may decide better to do themselves? Delegate anything? Meet with manager and discuss workload as they don't seem to have taken on board the fact that you're now pt. Don't do extra at home they won't appreciate it and may pile more on!

I have had conversations with my line manager so she is aware I am overloaded. Everyone is at the moment so not getting anywhere. It looked like my workload was going to decrease due to a transfer of a contract but it now looks like that isn't happening anymore. I'm really frustrated as I know my work isn't up to scratch but I really can't cope with the load on me at the moment. I am usually so organised so I'm finding it really hard.

There isn't really anyone to delegate to and it's not so much being handed 'extra' work. It's not the type of job where you have regular deadlines. A lot of what we do is reactive.

Have you tried the warren Buffett 25/5 approach. Make a list of 25 task you need to complete. Then choose the most important 5. Until you have completed those 5 tasks the other 20 aren't just unimportant they DONT EVEN EXIST to you. When the first 5 tasks are done, move on to the next 5. This might help focus the mind a bit?

I like that idea. That's the kind of thing I'm looking for. Although it may not work entirely for my job as urgent tasks tend to appear which throw priorities.

Not sure what job you do but how about establishing some routines?

I'm a PA so get all sorts of random crap thrown at me. One of the ways I reduce stress is by anticipating stuff by doing things on a regular basis. So.... order stationery once a week, decide when to chase people I am waiting on answers for (every 2 days is good), etc...

Hutch's tips are great and to follow on from that - block out time for emails and calls - then stick to those times! Don't be tempted to check them in between. If it's urgent - they will call or come over.
I block time to do things through the day even when I with dc or I get nothing done

And if you have a pop up that shows each email subject as it comes in - get rid of it!

In fact try to cut down on emails as much a you can - calls get so much more achieved (with a summary email following up if you need the documented trail)

Some great tips here. Am feeling slightly more positive about next week now!