The Benefits of Next Action and Due Date Columns
in Managing Interrupted Work
by Michael Hoffman
Introduction
Interruptions are a common occurrence in today’s work environment, with negative effects on productivity, stress levels, and quality of work. Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of interruptions, leading to the development of various systems to help people manage them. However, conflicting ideas exist on how interruptions affect work, and how to mitigate their negative impact. This paper explores the findings of an empirical study by Gloria Mark and colleagues[1] on the cost of interrupted work, and how LeanMail’s next action and due date columns can enable focused work by allowing users to note next actions in a separate column next to the subject line and add a due date to the next column.
The Cost of Interrupted Work
Mark and colleagues found that interruptions do not necessarily affect the quality of work, but people complete interrupted tasks in less time, experiencing more stress, higher frustration, time pressure, and effort. These results suggest that people compensate for interruptions by working faster, but this comes at a price. The study also found that individual differences exist in the management of interruptions, with personality measures of openness to experience and need for personal structure predicting disruption costs.
The LeanMail Solution
LeanMail is an Outlook add-in that offers a solution to manage interrupted work. The plugin adds a next action and due date column to the Outlook interface, allowing users to note next actions in a separate column next to the subject line and add a due date to the next column. This feature enables focused work by providing users with a clear overview of what needs to be done and by when, allowing them to prioritize tasks and avoid distractions.
Benefits of Next Action and Due Date Columns
The next action and due date columns in LeanMail offer several benefits in managing interrupted work, including:
Improved task management: With the next action column, users can quickly note down the next action required for each email, providing clarity on what needs to be done. The due date column allows users to set a deadline for each task, providing a sense of urgency and ensuring that important tasks are not overlooked.
Prioritization of tasks: Users can prioritize tasks based on their due dates, ensuring that urgent tasks are completed first. The columns provide a clear overview of what needs to be done and by when, helping users to focus on important tasks and avoid distractions.
Reduced stress: By providing a clear overview of tasks, the next action and due date columns can help reduce stress levels associated with managing multiple tasks simultaneously. Users can focus on one task at a time, reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Conclusion
Interruptions are a common occurrence in today’s work environment, leading to negative effects on productivity, stress levels, and quality of work. However, the next action and due date columns in LeanMail offer a solution to manage interrupted work by providing a clear overview of tasks, allowing users to prioritize tasks and avoid distractions. By using LeanMail’s next action and due date columns, users can improve their task management, prioritize tasks, and reduce stress levels associated with managing multiple tasks simultaneously.
[1] Mark, Gloria, The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress
