30 Printable Mileage Log Templates Free Template Lab from truck driver log book excel template , image source: templatelab.com
Each week brings task lists, emails, documents, and new jobs. Just how much of that is different from the work you have done? Odds are, not much. Many of our day-to-day tasks are variations on something we have done hundreds of times before.
Do not reinvent the wheel each time you start something fresh. Rather, use templates–standardized documents with formatting and text as starting point for new work. As soon as you save a separate version of the template, simply add, remove, or change any info for that exceptional document, and you are going to have the job done in a fraction of this time.
Programs work anywhere: in word processors, spreadsheets, project management programs, survey platforms, and also email. Here’s the way to use templates in your favorite apps–and to automatically generate documents from a template–so it’s possible to get your tasks done faster.
Programs take time to construct, and it’s easy to wonder whether they’re worth the investment. The answer: absolutely. Editing a template requires much less time than formatting something. It’s the difference between copying and pasting some text, or retyping it.
That’s only one advantage: Using a template means you’re not as inclined to leave out crucial information, too. For instance, if you want to send freelance writers a contributor agreement, changing a standard contract template (instead of writing a new contract every time) ensures you won’t leave out that crucial clause about owning the content once you’ve paid for this.
Templates also guarantee consistency. Maybe you send regular job updates. With a template, you know the upgrade will constantly have the same formatting, layout, and arrangement.
How to Create Fantastic Templates
Not all templates are created equal–and a few things don’t need a template. Here are a few tips to follow.
First, templates should be comprehensive. It’s simpler to delete info than add it in, so err on the side of adding also rather than too little.
Imagine you’re developing a template of your resume. You would want to record in-depth details and that means you are going to have all the info you need to submit an application for almost any job.
You can always delete less-important notes later on, but if it’s not in the template you may forget it.
Some applications will automatically fill in all these factors for you (more on this in a bit). But should you have to fill in the information by yourself, include some text that is simple and obvious to search for so you can locate.