If you have ever missed an appointment, forgotten to pick the kids up from soccer practice, or lost a sticky note with an important phone number on it, this is your year to get organized. There is no better time than now to recommit ourselves to bringing some order to the chaos that is our modern lives.
Admitting that your memory is not as good as you think it is is the first step down the road that will eventually lead to a more organized, more productive you. Below is a discussion of a few of the Do and Do Nots of personal organization - they are tried and tested, so do yourself a favor and trust me on the Do Nots. Try all of the Dos until you find the best system that works for you, then stick with it.
Do NOT write things on your hands. This system may have worked well in high school when you had a relatively blank calendar of events to remember. However, in the adult world you will lose a lot of respect if you have phone numbers tattooed all over the back of your hand.
Do write it down. The best way to remember something is to write it down precisely so that you will not have to remember it. You can write that meeting time and place down on a blank calendar, record a phone number straight into your phone or rolodex, or keep a notebook where you record all of your assignments and tasks. The most important thing to remember when trying to get your life organized is to write it down!
Do NOT rely too heavily on sticky notes. Despite the modern technological innovations that gave us mobile phones, hand-held computers, and high-speed internet, science has still failed to provide us with sticky notes that actually stick. Besides, they are too easily lost and tend to clutter up workspace. They are great for taking temporary notes from phone calls or quick conversations, but any important information should be transferred to your blank calendar or planner.
Do find a system that works for you. There are plenty of options out there for people looking for an organizational system to help them get control of their lives. Because I spend the majority of my time in my office, I find that simply printing a blank calendar that I can keep close by works well. Others use traditional day planners or PDAs to keep track of appointments and to-do lists. Software is available that enables you to keep track of everything on your computer - something that is especially handy for students or professionals who have a lot to keep track of and who have to spend their time constantly on the go. If you try one system and it does not seem to work for you, try another option until you find one that does.
Do NOT expect others to keep track of your schedule for you. At the end of the day, you are responsible for what you did and did not get done. Take responsibility for the time you have and get the most out of it. Watch others who seem to be good at staying organized and try to do what they do. Take the initiative to follow the guidelines in this article and get organized.
Do make getting organized a priority. It is not easy, but it is definitely worth it. Most people are already so busy that they barely have time to eat during the day. Ironically, spending more time organizing and thinking about your day will save time in the end. And natural laws of entropy dictate that you are going to have to put in a little energy to bring order to your days. With so many other things demanding your attention, making your calendar a priority will mean it actually gets done, rather than just another unchecked item on your daily to-do list.
Do NOT give up. Getting organized is a habit, and like any other good habit it is going to take time to become a permanent part of your life. You may do great one week and completely lose it the next. Just regroup and recommit yourself each Monday morning to take your calendar by the reins and make the most of each day. We all have 24 hours each day to do all that is required of us - getting organized will determine in large part how much we are able to get done each day.
Nick Smith is a client account specialist with 10x marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For organizational software that includes a 10x marketing, check out 10x marketing.
family-safe home cleaners Lincolnshire ..Years ago clients would tell me they could not identify... Read More
"I never seem to have any time for myself. What... Read More
Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More
So What Then Is The Opposite Of Procrastination? Urgency is... Read More
Whatever providence has in store for us tomorrow is not... Read More
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is... Read More
"Can you find four extra hours in your day?" a... Read More
Any habit of mind or body that interferes with taking... Read More
Where does your time go? We all know we are... Read More
It's always a challenge finding time to clean my house.... Read More
You can lose, damage or waste some things in life,... Read More
I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More
Years ago when I started in this business, it seemed... Read More
Your time and energy are the two most precious gifts... Read More
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow... Read More
It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More
Having a home based business can be overwhelming. When you... Read More
How much time do you spend on Mastering Your Time?... Read More
Vilfredo Pareto's Principle, or The "Pareto Principle," is more commonly... Read More
We all know the harmful effects of overwork. People get... Read More
When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More
Does it ever feel like there is never enough time... Read More
What does it mean to practice self care? It's creating... Read More
Time - it is the one thing that we are... Read More
* spreading yourself too thinTaking on too many things at... Read More
maide service in Buffalo Grove .."Time is what we need the most and what we... Read More
If you have spent any time at all working at... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow... Read More
Women's health issues often are focused on goals to reach:... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
Are you too busy to put yourself first? If a... Read More
As each day passes, and more and more things need... Read More
Most of us have a to-do list ? some of... Read More
Any habit of mind or body that interferes with taking... Read More
There are the golden rules that apply to time. If... Read More
"Can you find four extra hours in your day?" a... Read More
Most people want to start a home-based business to make... Read More
So What Then Is The Opposite Of Procrastination? Urgency is... Read More
A year and a half ago I was introduced to... Read More
Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More
We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More
As mothers we play so many different roles and most... Read More
PROCRASTINATION: You've known about it since high school or college,... Read More
It is common knowledge that creating and living according to... Read More
1. Do tasks less frequentlyClean house every 10 days rather... Read More
Despite the best of intentions, most of us don't use... Read More
I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More
Sounds too good to be true?It really isn't!In fact, studies... Read More
41 practical and quick ways to get on top of... Read More
Time Management |