Mundane tasks always present a challenge – they are not challenging enough for us to focus on. To get them done faster, I work on them in sprints.
While running, we sprint in short bursts, with intensity, focus and high speed. To complete mundane tasks, I do the same – I club similar mundane tasks, work on them in sprints of 20-30 mins and challenge myself to achieve a target. I always place the DND tag on my desk as I sprint. Each sprint is followed by a 5-minute break. And I usually reward myself with coffee after 3 back to back sprint sessions.
30 accounting entries in 20 mins.
5-min-break
10 purchase orders in 20 mins.
5-min-break
30 bill approvals in 15 mins
Coffee!
Why it works
- Attacking tasks at a certain scale (many similar tasks together) helps speed up our processing.
- It is easier to focus with a target in mind. With experience, you’ll learn to pace yourself and set challenging yet achievable targets.
- The short bursts allow us to ignore distractions like phone calls. You can always return them in the next break.
Which tasks should you sprint on
Tasks that need little mental processing and a fairly predictable time to process. Accounting entries, reconciliation reports, expense filing, bill approvals, to name a few.
Tasks demanding high mental involvement or an unpredictable time to process are not suitable for sprints.
It is always a pleasure to watch someone sprinting.