PI's: Getting the Job Done

As a private investigator have you ever found yourself working day and night with little time for a break? Over time, you find you don't have time to accomplish all the tasks you need for working your cases efficiently. We are going to provide some helpful tips to help you manage your time. Before you continue reading understand that not all of these tips are possible everyday, but if you strive to include as many as possible, when possible, you will be able to gain some more control over the most valuable resource you have...time. So, whenever possible try; 

• Grouping like tasks together - Whether it is surveillance, conducting interviews, completing research or gathering background investigative information, try to schedule those tasks together. Completing like tasks together will help reduce prep time and keep you on target. Consider conducting surveillance in the same day or a couple of days together. You have your equipment prepped, packed and ready to use - saves time! Conducting interviews in one or two days keeps you mentally prepared for establishing rapport, conducting the interview rather than switching from one task to another which slows your ability to mentally prepare. 
• Expect set-backs - When scheduling your work expect there will be interruptions. Issues will arise that must be addressed immediately. So schedule additional time for each set of tasks in case that happens. More importantly, schedule "down-time" in between tasks. It can be as little as 30 minutes or up to an hour. Consider this down-time as a buffer between tasks that will allow you to respond to set backs and to switch your mental gears from one task to another. 
• Don't forget prep time - schedule it - If you are going to conduct surveillance at 5:00 pm, begin prepping at 4 or 4:30 pm. Check to see that camera batteries are charged, and review the locations where you will be conducting surveillance. Conducting interviews? Schedule time in advance to develop questions you need to ask, what information you are attempting to get from your interviews. Failing to properly prep for the tasks at hand extends the time required to complete them as well as reducing our efficiency and effectiveness. I once, well more than once, failed to prepare properly for interviews. The interviews took much longer than needed. Not only was I getting frustrated, but those I interviewed were as well as I stammered and went back to questions I had already asked over and over again. 
• Close out time - For most tasks you need time after completing them to rewrite notes, gather video evidence, or take a mental break. After completing a task it is important to have time to review, re-think what you have accomplished - sort of an after action process - then polish off the details so you have truly completed the task. This includes putting gear away, putting batteries on the chargers, and other prep work for the next time you need it. 
• "Me-Time" - Private investigators work all hours, day and night and even on holidays. It is important that you take time each working day for yourself. It may be a lunch break, or scheduling one hour void of all working tasks. This helps reduce burn-out, increases your patience, and improves your focus on details. This me-time is a mental break. One private investigator shared that he sometimes drives around for 30-40 minutes just to listen to his favorite podcasts, or music. You may not think taking this time each day is important. If not, take the me-time challenge. For the next 10 working days schedule an appointment with yourself each day for one hour. At the end of the week see if you feel better about the work you completed, maybe even less tired. 

Time management is critical to a private investigator. Properly done, you will be more productive, efficient, and the quality of your work will improve. Take time, to make time work for you!