Stop Wasting Your Time Using Excel

Not all organizational systems and project management tools work for everyone. Of the traditional variety, there are Excel spreadsheets, physical planners, digital calendars, and if-then rules. Working with these makeshift systems comes with many challenges. That's why client work management solutions have become the platform of choice for small to medium-sized professionla service businesses. A client work management platform, like Accelo, allows you to customize workflows that fit your unique style and automate the tasks that you hate. 

What to do if your project management approach isn’t working:

1. Stop trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Meet yourself where you are. Maybe timers aren’t for you, and automated reminders help get the job done instead.

2. Recognize your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Experiment with new organizational techniques and investigate what feels right for you.

3. While working, check-in with yourself and see how the work process feels. Are you disorganized? Behind or ahead of schedule? Are you burnt out?

4. Be flexible. If one approach isn’t working, pivot and try something else. This isn’t a failure, it’s part of the process.

5. Try different environments: a sitting desk or a standing desk. Move around from public to private spaces; spend time in a single conference room and in the shared workspace. Another way to change the environment is by adding a candle or a plant to your desk.

6. Move around. Get out of your chair and stretch! Signs you need to stretch or get up for a little walk include a tightness in shoulders, hunching over, or your jaw getting tight. Listen to your body, it’s trying to tell you something.

We know that it’s not easy to initiate change or accept that a standard tool isn’t working, however, looking at our weaknesses is a vital part of growth and success. With Accelo, it's easy to confront tasks that have seemed daunting in the past, develop new skill-sets, and maximize project collaboration.

If you've never used a client work management platform with operations automation, sign up for a free trial. Spend time learning the ins and outs of the platform and find a workflow that feels right to you. And, of course, don't forget to utilize your team. Diversity is a great resource and by working with others we see different ways of thinking. Collaboration goes a long way.