I have followed this ritual for over a year now and it has allowed me to leave work on a high note most days. Try it and let me know if it works for you.

2. Why is it Necessary
 Juggling a variety of tasks comes with the domain. The
well-meaning audience – in this case, the CEO, the
auditor, the shareholders, my team – tosses them to
me, not always one at a time.
 I consider it my job to not get hit in the face but catch
each in turn gracefully and balance them skilfully.
 I’m sharing what I call my 7:1:5 here in the hope that it
helps some of you manage your circus better.

3. Step 1: 7 to Plan
 Before I even power on my computer, I spend 7 minutes with
my desktop planner and ballpoint pen. I spend between 2
and 4 minutes furiously scribbling down all the potential tasks
of the day that come to mind.
 Then, I spend 2 minutes reorganizing them in priority order.
When I feel like it, I use colours to set priorities. Usually, I
simply assign numbers – 1 represents life-and-death, 2
shows job-on-the-line – you get the idea.
 I spend the remaining minute assigning a time slot to each
task. It is greatly satisfying to see in black-and-white when
exactly I will accomplish each objective.

4. Step 2: 1 to Regroup
 I have set my phone to beep every hour of an 8-hour
workday. This reminds me to pause and regroup. The beep
acts like a gentle nudge, reminding me to check if my last
hour has been as productive as expected and how I want my
next one to be.
 I take a few seconds to tweak my planner a bit if needed.
 On the days I am right on track and feel especially
imaginative, I draw a little crown next to the last successful
time slot, proclaiming myself Champion of the Hour!

5. Step 3: 5 to Review
 At the end of the day, when I finally turn off the
computer, I open my trusty planner again and review my
day. I check which task exceeded the time I allotted for
it and why.
 I also check which tasks got done quicker and again
ask why. Not only does this help me to plan better for
the next day, but also reminds me to reward those team
members who made my work faster or easier.

6. Finally…
 I have followed this ritual for over a year now and it
has allowed me to leave work on a high note most
days. Try it and let me know if it works for you.

7. Maureen O'Connell
Maureen O’Connell is the current Executive VP, CFO
and CAO of Scholastic Corporation. When not
working, Maureen loves running, Skiing, Scuba
Diving or Travelling.