Now Is The Time To Organize Your Task Buffet

I’m not a big fan of buffet meals. There is usually a ton of food and I want to try most everything! This often means that even with careful planning, food either runs together or falls off the plate. Not to mention that I usually eat too much!

It is similar to demands on our time. We have a variety of work, family and personal tasks. Some are optional and others are required. Some are interesting and others hold no interest at all. In today’s busy world, there is no doubt that we have more tasks to do than time to get them done.

And that’s just in “regular life,” before something unexpected enters the picture: an autoimmune disease diagnosis, treatment-resistant chronic migraines, cancer, a new episode of depression after it had been managed well for years, etc.

I think that there are lessons to be learned from the buffet line that can be applied to how we manage our tasks.

The List (Plate) Piler: In the buffet line, this person takes a plate and starts putting food on it without any planning. Partway through, they discover they either have to pile the plate really high or try to juggle two plates through the line.

In life, this person keeps adding tasks to a list without regard for when they might get done or how long they might take. In the end, they usually have multiple lists (plates) all filled to overflowing. Things often get a little messy as tasks fall through the cracks or deadlines are missed. The person may get frustrated, but often doesn’t change their buffet habits.

The Task (Food) Planner: In the buffet line, this person walks the length of the buffet before getting a plate. They want an idea of what’s available so they can make good choices and hopefully avoid the “piled plate syndrome.”

In life, this person looks at their to-do list and calendar on a regular basis. They understand the idea that if tasks don’t have a time slot, they probably won’t get done. They strive to fit all tasks into their day, but often the tasks are bigger than the 24 hours allotted and some to-do’s inevitably drop off the list.

The Picky Tasker (Eater): In the buffet line, this person who not only scans the buffet line but understands the limits of the plate (and their stomach!) They take some food, eat it and then make a decision about whether or not to return to the buffet line.

In life, this person has personal and professional goals. They check each task against these goals to decide whether or not the task should be completed. They also delegate, delay, or delete tasks accordingly. Although they would really like to take on other duties (eat more food), they realize that having too many responsibilities leads to other problems. So they stay within the boundaries of their day. 

I realize that this analogy makes crossing items off your to-do list sound easy. After all, you just need to decide the worth of each task and proceed accordingly, right? I wish!

However, the idea that you can visualize your tasks like a buffet and that you have choices about which ones to choose and how long to work on them may be a revolutionary and helpful concept.

Which of the three (List Piler, Task Planner, or Picky Tasker) best illustrates your approach to the Time & Task Buffet? How’s it working for you?

Ready to make some changes? While there is no perfect approach, by identifying methods that work for you, you can learn to better fit your tasks onto your daily “time plate.” Some strategies might include: Set Real Boundaries, Develop Meaningful Habits, or Select Success Tools.

Dealing with the aftermath of a medical diagnosis and not sure how to manage your task buffet? Schedule a 30-minute, no-obligation Exploratory Call to see how working together would help you develop personalized strategies to organize your task buffet more effectively.