LPT: When assigned an unfamiliar task or project ask roughly how much time it should take. If you're spending significant time above or below that time, chances are you are doing something wrong.

Sometimes at work they assign us ad hoc type of assignments. I'm still relatively new so I have no basis of how long something should be taking sometimes (a few hours, all day, a few days?). I like to ask when they want it by and then confirm how long it should take to complete to make sure I understand what is being asked of me