Batching Jobs

No, not that kind of batch

One tip from time management experts is batching similar jobs together.  The advantage is obvious.  You focus on one type of activity at a suitable time when you have all the resources you need together.  That way you work most efficiently and get the most done.   It all sounds good.  It has the further less obvious advantage that you need to be well organised and on top of your tasks in order to be able to batch tasks.


It does have a couple of drawbacks though, which it is as well to be aware of.  For a start it is one of those ends and means situations.  You need to be clear that you are batching your tasks to increase efficiency, not just because batching is inherently desirable itself.  I did a bit of unplanned batching yesterday when a pile of orders needed to be got out.  Making sales is good, and dispatching those sales is a very necessary part of the process.  But it took so long it derailed my plan for the day - so in effect although the batching itself was productive I bought it at the cost of delays elsewhere.

The other problem with batching is a paradoxical one.  Because you feel efficient and productive it is rather tempting to go with a batched set of tasks rather than something that is harder and takes you out of your comfort zone.

In the end like most tools batching is neither good or bad in itself.  It is just a tool to achieve a goal.  So long as it doesn't become an end in itself it is a good tool.


Photo credit: GabboT via photopin cc