Multitasking 101

Multitasking 101:

How to Get a Lot of Shit Done in Not a Lot of Time

Michelle Montoya

A Little Bit About Me

• English teacher and Writing Center Director• Editor for Reno Passport Magazine• Internet marketing consultant• College test prep teacher• Freelance writer• Creator and organizer of @TweetupRNO • Gym owner and fighter manager• Wife and mom

Find a System That Works for You

• Being able to get a lot done requires extreme amounts of organization

• Play around with different strategies to see exactly what works for you• You will never get anything done if you don’t get organized

Stay Organized - Simply

• Make to-do lists– On your phone– In a notebook– On your hand

Stay Organized - Electronically

– The Hit List: Forget what you need to do with confidence

– Basecamp: The Better Way To Get Projects Done

– Creative Pro Office: Project Management, Time Tracking, Invoicing, Quotes

• Use task management / CRM systems

Do More Than One Thing at a Time

• Take advantage of every minute of the day • Seriously multitask

— Return emails while on teleconferences

— Pay bills when on hold with doctor's office

— Think of ideas for presentations while taking a shower

Be Proactive

• Use foresight to think and act ahead• Take precautions and develop secondary

plans• Solve problems

instead of dwelling on them

• Get ahead and stay ahead

Track Your Time

• Keep track of your time to: – Measure your own productivity– Stay on track

• Tools:– LiveTimer– fourteenDayz

Complete Actionable Items A.S.A.P.

• Return emails as soon as you get them– Flag them for later date if necessary

• Listen to voicemails and return calls right away– Save as unread if needed

• Don’t wait until it’s too late• Don’t forget to follow up– Lose customers, clients, friends, etc.

Do Things When You Have Time

• Don’t wait until they need to be done• Free up time for yourself when you need it

most• You never know what could come up between

now and the deadline– Save yourself from possible negative outcomes

Location, Location, Location

• Work where you are most productive• Consider location depending on type of work– Individual: Work in office with door shut– Collaborative: Work in open space or a collective

office<Insert plug for Reno Collective here>

Give Ample Warning

• Tell people ahead of time any big projects you’ll need concentration for – Let them know you may not be answering calls or

emails right away– Give them a heads up you might not be the nicest person when you’re hard at work

Utilize Your Networks

• Ask friends on social networking sites for help– If you get stuck on working through your tasks,

ask friends/followers for suggestions

• Ask friends, family, coworkers for help– Consult with others who’ve completed similar

projects or people with no idea for outside perspective

– Ask them to help you stay on task

Stay Focused

• Schedule out entire day, including drive time, meetings, lunch break, etc.— Stick to your

schedule and post for others to see

— Turn off anything that may distract you from concentrating

Take Breaks – Don’t Burn Out

• Schedule time off for yourself during the day to do what you like to do– If all you do is work all day every day, you will burn yourself out

• Take a walk, meditate, play a game, etc.

Don’t Forget to Eat

• Eat smart to stay smart throughout the day– Fuel it up– Graze all day– Eat low glycemic foods– Eat good fats– Know yourself

• Best foods:– Fruits, vegetables, grains

Plan Ahead

• Always know what is on your calendar for the next day so you can be prepared

• Start planning the night before for the following day– Make lunch and

snacks– Pack bag with

everything you’ll need (computer,papers, etc.)

Recharge Your Battery

• Do what you need to do to feel your best every day– Get enough sleep to wake up energized– Repeat entire process the next day

Recap

• How to Get a Lot of Shit Done:– Get organized and stay organized– Multitask – Track your time– Complete actionable items now– Do things when you have time– Work where you’re productive– Warn others and ask for help– Stay focused– Take breaks and eat well– Plan ahead and recharge your battery

Find Me and Friend Me

• http://twitter.com/michellereno• http://facebook.com/michellereno • http://michellereno.com