How do you keep track of your progress and deadlines as a production assistant?

1 Set clear goals and priorities

Before you start working on any assignment, you should clarify what the expected outcome and deadline are. Ask your supervisor or producer for any specific instructions, guidelines, or feedback. You should also prioritize your tasks based on their urgency and importance. For example, you might use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize your tasks into four quadrants: do first, schedule, delegate, or eliminate. This will help you focus on the most essential and time-sensitive activities and avoid wasting time on trivial or irrelevant ones.

2 Use a calendar and a to-do list

A calendar and a to-do list are essential tools for keeping track of your progress and deadlines as a production assistant. You can use a physical or digital calendar to mark your appointments, meetings, deadlines, and reminders. You can also use a to-do list to break down your tasks into smaller and manageable steps. You can use a paper notebook, a spreadsheet, or an app like Trello, Asana, or Todoist to create and update your to-do list. You should review your calendar and to-do list every day and adjust them as needed.

3 Communicate and collaborate

Communication and collaboration are key skills for any production assistant. You should communicate regularly with your supervisor, team members, and other departments to update them on your progress, ask for help, or report any issues. You should also use the appropriate channels and tools for communication, such as email, phone, text, Slack, Zoom, or Google Docs. You should be respectful, professional, and clear in your communication and avoid any misunderstandings or conflicts.

4 Track your time and productivity

Another way to keep track of your progress and deadlines as a production assistant is to track your time and productivity. You can use a timer, a stopwatch, or an app like RescueTime, Clockify, or Toggl to measure how much time you spend on each task and activity. This will help you identify how you use your time, how much you accomplish, and where you can improve. You can also set goals and track your achievements using a dashboard, a chart, or a spreadsheet. You should review your time and productivity data regularly and celebrate your wins.

5 Plan ahead and anticipate challenges

As a production assistant, you should always plan ahead and anticipate any potential challenges or risks that might affect your progress and deadlines. You should research the project, the location, the equipment, the budget, the weather, and any other relevant factors. You should also prepare backup plans, contingency plans, and emergency plans for any unforeseen situations. You should also be flexible and adaptable to any changes or requests that might arise during the production process.