• How To Use Tasks In Outlook 2013
• How To Use Tasks In Outlook 2016
• How To Use Tasks In Outlook Calendar
• How To Use Tasks In Outlook
• How To Use Tasks In Outlook More Efficiently

Select the “ Tasks view ' at the bottom of your navigation pane. Select the “ New Task ” button, or use the “ CTRL-N ” keyboard shortcut. You now see the Tasks screen with several sections: A section for attributes to help organize them, including; Priority, Flag, and Category. In this video we are going to look at how we can use Outlook on the web to schedule To Do tasks, and add them to the Outlook on the web calendar.If you like.

Many sources tell us we should work smarter and manage our time more effectively. However, few tell us how to accomplish these goals. I am one of those old-school time management freaks who disagrees with anyone who says To Do lists are a thing of the past.

How To Use Tasks In Outlook 2013

My To Do lists live up to their name: they tell me what to do.

Keeping a list and following it helps me prioritize, stay on track, reduces the number of activities I forget or neglect to accomplish, and generally boosts my overall productivity.

I prefer to use Outlook’s tasks for my To Do lists over other methods for a variety of reasons: Outlook's task function is simple, free, and in my face – built into an application I use daily. My email, tasks, and calendar are integrated. Whereas my calendar tells me where to go and with whom to meet, my task list tells me what I need to accomplish any given day. I can see my To Do list for the day, the following day, and the entire week at-a-glance. I can assign tasks to my team members and push tasks to other Microsoft programs like OneNote.

The following tips may sound obvious once you read them. They may even be a bit boring. Time management isn't exactly sexy. But, I’m known for my time management skills and I have been asked to share my tried and true methods for maintaining a successful To Do list.

Make each task granular enough that you can accomplish it in less than two hours.

I have tasks dedicated to drafting content, following up on action items, and ensuring my team members are all focused on the right priorities. I know some will take mere seconds (e.g., scheduling a meeting) whereas others are more involved so they will balance out. If a task will take days to complete, it’s not achievable on a daily To Do list and should probably become a campaign item or a larger work item.

Limit the number of tasks you assign to yourself in any given day.

I’m most effective if I have fewer than twelve tasks on my daily list. I have meetings to attend and unplanned interruptions to address so if I try to tackle too many To Do items, I’m just setting myself up for failure.

Prioritize your tasks by putting the most important ones – or the ones with the earliest deadlines – at the top of that day’s list.

If I need to accomplish something first thing in the morning, I naturally assign that task a higher priority than the others. If my task list looks too large for a day, I know I need to either extend the deadline (e.g., push the task to another day), increase the team size (i.e., enlist help), or reduce the effort (determine if anything can drop).

Name your tasks in a consistent way.

How To Use Tasks In Outlook 2016

I like to use Noun-Verb (e.g., 'White paper – Review' or 'Eblast - Write'). This lets me sort by category if needed.

How To Use Tasks In Outlook Calendar

If a task will be repeated on a regular basis, I include a label like “(Daily)” or “(Mondays)” at the end. Once I have completed a repeating task, I reassign it accordingly. For example, if I have a weekly meeting that requires a status report, I create a standing task to prepare it the day before the meeting. Once I finish my status for the week, I move the task to the following week.

If you complete it, delete it.

I check tasks off as I finish them so they disappear from my list and I can stop worrying about them. I only have so much space in my brain (and on my To Do list). If it’s gone, I can move on.

How To Use Tasks In Outlook

How To Use Tasks In Outlook More Efficiently

These tips obviously work in the office but they can be applied just as easily to your home life. What tricks do you use to manage your time effectively?