Quick Ways to Feel Like You're In Control at Work Even When You're Really Not

I have a (mildly serious) control problem that shows up in all aspects of my life. I'll be the first to admit that my use of Air Table, Google Keep, Google Calendar and Trello all stem from my own deep, personal fear that **** will hit the fan. Unfortunately, ish always happens, and you can't control every person on every team with every stakeholder or every piece of data and customer on the receiving end of your very well laid plans. Accepting that you have no control and being cool with it is that state of self actualization that we are all working to attain.

Here are some quick ways to feel like your ish is mildly together.

1) To Do Lists

I love apps (Right now I'm using Air Table because it is SO versatile - like an excel spreadsheet on pastel steroids - and if you get team buy-in it's a super user-friendly project management tool) because I like to have my to do lists available to me at all times. Paper to-do lists work too, but you always run the risk of throwing out the wrong post-it.

Having all your tasks for the day laid out for you can make you feel like you're productive even if all you're able to get done is clean out your Inbox. It also means it's significantly harder to forget that one small but oh so important task that can make or break your project.

Write it down. It always helps.

2) Calendar Block

When I'm super busy or overwhelmed, I block out literally every moment of my work day (and yes, I have a repeating event of a 9:30 pm bath in my google calendar too). Half hour for emails, then inbox closed and two hours of project A, an hour of project B, 45 minutes to actually clear my head during lunch and then repeat in the afternoon. It's amazing how much more I get done when I pre-plan my day. Sometimes I don't even need the full time allotted, which lets me get to those annoying little tasks that are chilling in my to-do list during an extra 15 minutes. Productivity begets productivity.

3) Talk It Out

If you have a colleague who you're comfortable with, spend 5 minutes at the beginning of your day explaining everything you have to do for that day. Sometimes just talking out your day can make it seem much more manageable than looking at them on your app/paper to do list. Also, their inevitable words of encouragement, because, um, you're definitely awesome, don't hurt. They might even be able to help you by taking something off your hands (if they really like you) OR suggesting a better/more efficient way of completing some of your tasks.

4) Clean Your Area

A messy desk is either a sign of genius or a sign of a messy brain. Either way, I can't focus on my work if I'm looking at my lunch and yesterday's cup of tea (sometimes I'm gross) and two gross pens that I chewed on. Clean = control.

Let me know if you have any other quick ways to quickly gain control of your tasks!