[Wactclc-primo] tips for staying organized at home?

Wed Apr 1 16:59:57 PDT 2020

Thanks, Kirsti, Wade and all. One thing I'm finding is that I have my to-do list, but I can't even get to it, because I'm putting out fires and responding to emails and everyone is needing help and calling a million Zoom meetings before the quarter starts next week. I am sincerely hoping things will calm down, because right now I feel like I can hardly take 15 minutes to each lunch and I'm having to be connected and online and paying attention all the time.

Elena Bianco

Systems & Technical Services Librarian

Skagit Valley College Library

2405 E. College Way

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 416-7624

________________________________
From: Wactclc-primo <wactclc-primo-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> on behalf of Thomas, Kirsti <Kirsti.Thomas at seattlecolleges.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2020 4:55 PM
To: WACTCLC Primo discussions <wactclc-primo at lists.ctc.edu>; 'WACTCLC Alma Discussion' <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-primo] tips for staying organized at home?

I found this article to be incredibly helpful in using the desktop versions of OneNote and Outlook to at help me keep track of stuff:

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/turn-outlook-project-management-tool-onenote-integration/

A friend of mine who's been telecommuting for several years, says that every morning at the start of her day, she looks over all of her open tasks, and then selects specific ones to be her to-do list for that day.  I've found that I'm more productive on days when I do the same.

It will be ok!

Kirsti S. Thomas

Library Technical Service Manager

Seattle Colleges

kirsti.thomas at seattlecolleges.edu

From: Wactclc-primo <wactclc-primo-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Guidry, Wade
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 18:09
To: WACTCLC Primo discussions <wactclc-primo at lists.ctc.edu>; 'WACTCLC Alma Discussion' <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-primo] tips for staying organized at home?

Amy,

Yes, this COVID-19 event seems to be putting additional stress on everyone, with all of the reorienting of both the work day and the work output to online, remote modes of production.

And yes, I probably get a bit of a comparative advantage, since I haven’t really had to reorient myself in the same way. I do remember when I first started telecommuting, which began with this job. That first morning at 8am, for several weeks after that, I felt like “OK, it’s 8am, what the he*&%l do I do now?” :)

Honestly, for tracking, I tend to rely a lot on email and memory. That’s one reason I appreciate the use of listservs rather than direct mail, because it serves as more of a permanent record.

And, like Kirsti Thomas at Seattle, I’m a *big* fan of Microsoft OneNote. I actually track a lot of stuff via OneNote. Especially things that occur over time. OneNote is probably the most concrete advice I have.

Another thing I tend to do is work on the hardest or most complex activities when I’m feeling the most engaged and mentally alert.

One nice thing about working at home, I find, is that the day is “longer”, in the sense that you may experience less “sunk cost” time, since you’re not having to move from one place to another, experience fewer casual or unintended interrupts, figure out lunch logistics, or even having to get cleaned up and dressed :). That’s a double-edged sword, though. Since those things also provide a structure to the day. And help solidify the feeling of being in “work” mode.

But, the advantage… with that extra feeling of time, I feel like I end up with more opportunity to work on things that best suit my current mental mood. Sometimes that’s less-engaged busy or rote work. Sometimes it’s the deeper thinking, problem solving stuff.

Those are some thoughts I can offer.

Wade Guidry

WACTCLC

Library Consortium Services Manager

wadeg at bigbend.edu<mailto:wadeg at bigbend.edu>

http://www.wactclc.org<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wactclc.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C75ffaa5c45134a884d9908d7d5d952ca%7C02d8ff38d7114e31a9156cb5cff788df%7C0%7C0%7C637213001688562962&sdata=XRj1nOgLBK1cHPodZwfi1Zj%2B5vO3iDXvzIHMxLXWQMw%3D&reserved=0>

509.760.4474

Pronouns: he/him/his

From: Wactclc-primo [mailto:wactclc-primo-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Herman, Amy
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 12:25 PM
To: 'WACTCLC Alma Discussion' <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>; WACTCLC Primo discussions <wactclc-primo at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-primo at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: [Wactclc-primo] tips for staying organized at home?

Wade (and others?),

Since you are a pro at working from home, can you give those of us new to it any tips for staying organized with all the influx of requests and tasks that we need to accomplish, away from our usual resources?  I'm feeling overwhelmed and my usual paper to-do list probably isn't going to cut it!

Amy Herman, Library Faculty

Olympic College

Bremerton, WA

(360) 475-7256

aherman at olympic.edu<mailto:aherman at olympic.edu>

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