Career level · Module 3: Planning, Time and Task Management · Lesson 1 of 3
Planning Your Week and Prioritising Tasks
Turn a list of tasks into a realistic weekly plan.
In this lesson you will
- Prioritise tasks by importance and urgency
- Estimate time and plan a realistic week
Key concepts
priorityurgencyestimateweekly plan
The lesson
Interns are often given several tasks at once by different people. List them, then sort by importance and urgency: urgent and important tasks first, important but not urgent tasks scheduled, and the rest done later or clarified.
Estimate how long each task will take and add extra time for unexpected problems — power cuts, slow internet or waiting for information are common.
If two people give you conflicting priorities, do not guess: ask your supervisor which comes first.
Step by step
- List all current tasks.
- Mark each as urgent/important.
- Estimate the time for each.
- Place them in a weekly plan with buffer time.
Practice activity
Plan a realistic week from a list of ten practice tasks from your specialization, and explain your priorities.
Expected result: A weekly plan with justified priorities and realistic time estimates.
Check your understanding
-
Two managers give you urgent tasks at the same time. What should you do?
Show answer
Ask your supervisor to decide the priority rather than guessing.
Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.