Today we have the lovely Alison (great name by the way!) from The Thrifty Issue join us and share her 10 Easy Steps to get Organised in the Home and Office.
Don’t pay hundreds of dollars on time management courses, or thousands to hire a professional consultant to get you organised. Here are 10 easy and free steps to guide you on the path of organisation.
There are no blitzes,
huge clean-outs or expensive diary systems.
Just simple tips.
1.
Distractions
Are you surgically attached to your mobile phone? Perhaps the TV is turned on, and stays on for
the entire day? Is your email and Facebook
buzzing you every time someone makes an update?
Set aside specific time for replying to emails, Facebook and internet
browsing. If you are not specifically
watching a TVshow, turn it off. All
distractions should be turned off, including the notification settings on your
mobile.
2.
Allow Some Fat
Need more hours in the day? Find
you’re running from one event to another.
You have meetings backed up one after the other and just … can’t …
stop.
Try allowing some fat. When a
meeting is scheduled for 9am to 10am … then put it in your calendar for 8:30am
to 10:30am. This means nobody else can
steal that time from you. Allow for
travel time, and always add 30 minutes either side of your meeting.
Use that “fat” time productively.
Debrief yourself, do any last-minute preparations, update your calendar
or to-do list with action items. Delegate
or share what you can. Action any urgent
emails before your next appointment, but don’t get too involved.
3.
Be On Time
Are you notoriously late for everything?
You’re madly rushing around all the time and never have time to get
anything done?
Steps 1 and 2 will help you be on time.
Another trick is to get ready super early. We also set a timer to go off 5 minutes
before we need to walk out the door. If there
is spare time after we’re completely ready, that’s when we can drink coffee,
watch TV, catch-up on Facebook etc. Try
and remember “Work then Play”.
4.
Procrastinate
Procrastination is one sure-fire way to get distracted and fall
behind. Remember “Work then Play”. Schedule the toughest or least desirable job
first thing! This will give you a sense
of accomplishment and satisfaction. My
husband mows the lawn first thing Saturday morning, then we can enjoy the
fruits of his labour all weekend.
Particularly when we hear everyone in the street mowing late Sunday
afternoon!
5.
Quick Check
Do a quick scan of your desk or the room before you walk out. Is there something you can pick up and put
away? Pick one 2 minute task to do
before you head home after a hard day’s work (i.e. wash your coffee mug, tidy
your papers, empty your bin). Make sure
it is something quick, you don’t want to get caught up with distractions.
6.
Put Away, Not Down
Don’t put things down, put
them away. Nothing further said.
7.
Notepads
Avoid complicated systems. One
notebook divided into “To Do Today” and “Notes” should do the trick. Keep it with you and whenever an idea pops
into your head, don’t distract yourself from your current task by
deviating.
Write your idea down under “Notes” to be done later. You can use your calendar/notes phone app for this as well.
Write your idea down under “Notes” to be done later. You can use your calendar/notes phone app for this as well.
8.
Review and Re-write
Pick your time: Either go to bed 10 minutes early every night with your
notepad, or do it first thing in the morning.
Review the days activities and tick off your completed items. Anything not completed, re-schedule for the
following day. Keep it simple.
I also have a “Reminder” note stuck on the front of my notepad. It reminds me to consider… “chores, home projects, me, kids, food, work, family and friends”. I don’t try and do all these things in one
day, but it makes me consider the big picture.
9.
Learn to say no
If your list is becoming too long or your calendar too cramped, learn to
prioritise and say “no”. If you can’t
say no, then defer those items to a time when you’re not so stretched. Ask the other party for a raincheck.
10.
Reward Yourself
When going through your “to-do” list, give yourself a pat on the back
each day for everything you have achieved, whether that be completing a task,
turning up on time, saying “no”, or just being able to have 10 minutes to
yourself at the end of the day.
We’ve provided you with
a free printable summary page to stick on the front of your
notepad or at your office desk. Print it here and refer to
it regularly and refresh your memory.
Hi, I’m Alison and I created The Thrifty Issue because I enjoy sharing
ideas and creating things with my family and friends, on a budget. The Thrifty Issue is a place to visit for stylish, funky and fun ideas on saving time, money and stress. A place to meet, greet and explore come and join us here.
