Keeping Track When Things Are Hoppin'

If anyone has missed my blog posts lately, you can blame my rep. She's been working overtime keeping me working overtime.

When I've got several projects in varying stages of completeness, it really pays to take some time to organize each project before I begin.

I start by printing out all the specs for the job, and I break the job down into tasks. Then I make a chart so I can check off each task as I complete it (this can be as simple as something I write out on a piece of paper or as complex as an Excel spreadsheet for larger jobs).

I have a magnet board next to my desk, and I use it and magnetic bulldog clips to keep track of all open jobs. I clip the specs and my checklist together for each job. I also keep a calendar on the magnet board which lists all the due dates for the various jobs.

Not only do these preliminary steps keep everything organized, but as I check each task off my checklist and due-date calendar, I get a good visual of how much I've already done and how much (or little) I have left to do.

I know Patrice Barton makes similar tools when she has a large project and Heather Powers keeps a running to-do list to keep her projects on track. I'd love to hear what tools other people have devised to keep their project(s) organized.