Entries tagged "managing projects"
Manage Task List in Microsoft Word: Embedding Emails from Outlook
For the last few years, I have been using Microsoft Outlook for managing tasks. The main problem that I have been experiencing is with flagging emails as tasks. For some reason, the newly created task isn't always staying in my task list. It usually appears at first, but I need to wait for around 30 to 40 seconds to make sure the task doesn't disappear. I am not sure what causes the issue, but quite a few of my tasks disappear on me. When it happens, I need to reflag the email as a task. Since I am having trouble figuring out why the flag disappears, I spent the last year or so experimenting with Microsoft Word to manage tasks. [Continue reading]
Avoid Losing Emails Flagged as Tasks
A downside of flagging emails as tasks in Outlook is that they are one in the same. If you delete the task, for example, the email will also be deleted. Outlook at least warns you before something like that happens. However, I found a way to delete several tasks / emails without any warning from Outlook. Luckily, I was able to recover the lost emails with a bit of work. [Continue reading]
Store Task Emails in Microsoft Outlook Data Files
Flagging emails as tasks has been complicated by the fact that I organize messages into Outlook Data Files. Once a flagged email is moved to a Data File, the corresponding task disappears from my task list. I've been working around this shortcoming by manually creating a task based on the email. However, it turns out that flagged emails can be saved to Data Files. The setting to have them appear in the task list is just buried. [Continue reading]
Streamline Process for Flagging Emails as Tasks in Microsoft Outlook
I currently use Microsoft Outlook to manage tasks. One thing I have been wanting to simplify is the process for flagging and categorizing email messages so they appear under Tasks. While the solution discussed in this post doesn't exactly meet my needs, it does simplify the process for many cases. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Flag Emails as Tasks Before They Get Lost in the Sent Mail Folder
Part of managing my task list involves monitoring the email requests I send to co-workers. Since I can't remember the details of every request, I flag the messages in Microsoft Outlook so they appear in my task list. The problem is that I don't always remember to go to my Sent Mail folder and flag the requests. And some of them end up being lost. So I am getting into the habit of flagging emails as they are being written. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Leveraging Task Descriptions
Managing tasks in Microsoft Outlook is made easy by the versatility of the task description field. Not only do you have the ability to create bulleted lists, bold text, etc., but you can also embed emails and other documents within the description. No more digging through folders trying to find that one message needed to complete a specific aspect of a task. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Create Customizable Tasks
Sometimes I just need more control over the tasks created in Microsoft Outlook. Being able to flag emails that I may need to follow up with is great, but the options for customizing the resulting tasks can be too limiting. For the times where you need more control, Outlook provides additional ways to create tasks. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Flagging Emails as Tasks
My primary goal for switching to Microsoft Outlook was so I could track requests that I send to co-workers through email. If I don't flag the requests shortly after sending them, there's a good chance that I'll forget to follow up. Let's take a quick look at how I currently use Outlook to stay on top of these types of requests. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Categorizing Tasks
When I originally looked for a way to manage tasks, I tried Microsoft Outlook's built-in feature. The problem was that there didn't appear to be a way to assign tasks to other people. Well, that turns out not to be the case. Let's take a quick look at how I currently organize tasks. [Continue reading]
Maintaining a List of Blog Entries
When starting this blog, my goal was to release content regularly—at least once per week. Taking too long of a break would likely wreak havoc on my motivation for blogging. This isn't the first personal project I've tried starting after all. To stay focused, I needed a steady stream of ideas. Unfortunately, those ideas don't always flow when needed. They tend to crop up (and quickly disappear) when doing something other than writing for the blog. That's where tracking those thoughts is handy. [Continue reading]
