Last month, we promised to bring you suggested resolutions to help you keep your training goals on track and make your days run smoother. Our first resolution is here.
Ever get to the end of the day and wonder where the time went? All too often, we work hard all day but have little to show for it at the end of the day. Don't let that happen to you - resolve to take back control over your day.
Don't Work Out of Your Inbox
Your inbox is not a to-do list. Tasks belong on a separate list. When you use your inbox as a task list, you lose control over the list - anyone can email you anything at any time. Using a separate task list reduces the frequency that you will be distracted by email - leading to more productive days.
You don't have to leave Outlook to create a separate task list - Outlook has a task list built into it. All Affinity Insight members have access to the current version of Microsoft Outlook for Legal Professionals - see your Affinity Insight Membership Materials course (non-members can buy the manual here). See Chapter 12 for help configuring your task view, understanding tasks versus to-dos, creating tasks, hiding completed tasks, assigning tasks, and using flags.
Check Email Intentionally
Don't let every incoming email distract you - turn off notifications. Check out Chapter 3 of Microsoft Outlook for Legal Professionals to learn how or Affinity Insight members can check out this video on changing your default settings to turn off notifications, among other things.
Instead of checking email every time a new one comes in, check your email intentionally throughout the day. Set aside specific times to check email and stay out of your inbox in between.
Use Quick Steps and Rules to Process Email Faster
Two of the most underutilized Outlook features, Quick Steps and Rules, are crucial to processing email faster. Quick Steps let you complete several steps with a single click. Rules automatically process email for you. Read chapters 6 and 7 of Microsoft Outlook for Legal Professionals or watch this video to learn how.
Let Affinity help you to reach your goals in 2021. We’d love to help you craft achievable, carefully considered objectives along with sharing the steps like these to help you and your firm reach them. Contact us any time to get started at 877-676-5492, or request a consultation.
