Generally, court reporters create their own schedules when managing deadlines. This flexibility can include responsibilities that make it difficult to stay organized, so here are a few tips to help you stay on top of your daily assignments.
Tip#1-Take Time to Plan
Planning for the day ahead is essential. Working from a checklist and prioritizing the most urgent tasks ensures that your time is always well spent so that you are reliable in the eyes of your stakeholders. At the end of each day, take some time to review if all the tasks are completed and reorganize your checklist as needed.
Tip#2-Breaking Down Tasks
If you’re behind on completing some work you may be tempted to procrastinate until the due date. You may also feel pressured to spend all day working on a single transcript. Instead, the best way to handle this is to work on the transcript in small segments daily, spending time gradually developing it.
Tip#3-How and When to Work
Planning is essential, however, identifying your windows of peak productivity will also help you stay efficient. Whether you prefer to sit or stand while proofreading or work at a particular time of the day when you feel most energized – once you identify your optimal working conditions, the overall quality of your transcripts will improve.
Tip#4-Resist Distractions
While using a computer, we are often tempted to drift off topic when surfing the web to verify facts. Improve your concentration by working on your transcripts with the WIFI disconnected. In the same manner, resist the urge to use your phone by resolving to only check it during your selected work break. For example, maybe you can work in ninety-minute time slots and take ten-minute breaks between to look at your phone or get something to eat.
These are just a few techniques that court reporters use to manage their time productively. This is an important aspect of the job since court reporters are constantly facing deadlines. A few adjustments to a daily routine can go a long way.
To book a court reporter for a meeting or a mediation, or even to discuss a court reporting position with On The Record, call one of our locations today, conveniently located in Whitby and Barrie. We look forward to discussing your court reporting or mediation needs.