Tackle your bookkeeper ‘to-do’ list!
Use these methods to kickstart your motivation for your bookkeeper ‘to-do’ list! These are four ways that I stay ultra-productive when running my bookkeeping business.
Watch the video here if you want, or keep reading for the same information:
Swiss Cheese Method
What it is: Start poking holes in your task. You can start anywhere and just spend five minutes working on some part of the overwhelming job. Alan Lakein wrote a book about this called, How to get Control of your Time and your Life. https://www.amazon.com/How-Control-Your-Time-Life/dp/B00005W3KE
My bookkeeper task: Sign my client up for a new Gusto Payroll service. There were about 50 small tasks to be done and they were all about the same priority level and deadline.
I started working on this in small time chunks. I entered employees payroll information, some benefits and tax questions—just doing anything in any order.
My mother-in-law is also famous in our house for saying “just do one thing.” This is another simple way of phrasing this method that’s incredibly easy to implement.
Salami Method
What it is: Take small (20 minute) slices of the large project. Take a look at the scope of the entire project, prioritize it, and start with the first thing. Take the time you have (for example, 20 minutes) and complete one slice
My bookkeeper task: my weekly to-do list that was a mix of business tasks, client work, YouTube and random things that needed to get done.
This method was very helpful for my task because some things on my list were very important and time sensitive, and some weren’t at all. When my brain saw the whole list together it was overwhelming.
My mom tells me to “swiss cheese your A1’s.” Which is a method of prioritizing your list by putting an A by the most important tasks, B by the second most important, etc. Then, you look at all of your A’s and rank them 1, 2, 3, 4. Start with the A1 task, and work your way through them in order.
I also love the idea of a “one item to-do list” that’s toted in minimalism circles, along with Eat that Frog. Pick your very most important thing and do that first.
Some of the things on my to-do list were: work on my website, QuickBooks pricing, consult call with Seth David’s team from Nerd Enterprises (to help me with a clean-up), call with Gusto.
Pomodoro Method
My bookkeeper task: Working on a client’s books. This works well for this method because I already know what I have to do, I just need to sit down and spend time on it.
The method:
1. Work on task for 25 minutes (set a timer)
2. Take a 3-5 minute break
3. Put a check mark on your paper, showing you’ve completed one cycle, and work again for 25 minutes
4. When you have 4 check marks, take a 15-30 minute break
Tiny Tasks Method
What it is: Break the small project into so many small tasks, you can’t NOT do them. I do this when I’m tired and don’t want to wake up, I tell my brain to simply move my finger, then I move my hand, and work my way to getting out of bed. You train yourself to obey what your brain is telling you with small wins.
My bookkeeper task: Filling out an office furniture depreciation form. I told myself the small steps: stand up, sit at my desk, turn on the computer, open email, find the document.
Things mentioned:
· Gusto for bookkeepers: https://gusto.com/partners/accountants?referral_token=morgan5110&utm_source=inapp (affiliate discount for you & me with qualifying sign-up)
· Gusto for small biz owners: https://gusto.com/?referral_token=morgan5111&utm_source=inapp
· Alan Lakein: https://www.amazon.com/Control-Your-Time-Life-Signet/dp/0451167724
· Eat That Frog: https://www.amazon.com/That-Frog-Action-Workbook-Procrastinating/dp/1523084707/
· Seth David: https://new.nerdenterprises.com/nerd-enterprises-inc
