Method 1: Remember The One Thing
Eliminate duplication. Keep One calendar, One filing system, One notebook. Create One place for shoes, for keys and for the remote. The simpler your method, the less time you’ll spend looking for your things.
Method 2 : Help the Homeless
Give your stuff a home; a place to live that’s logical, accessable and organized. From your wallet to your wardrobe, get in the habit of putting things back in their home.
Method 3: Write It Down...In A Notebook
A book! Not a legal pad, a clipboard or the closest thing that you can find. Carry your notebook with you and keep it near your phone when you’re home or at work.
Method 4: Clear Your Workspace
Get rid of the clutter and you’ll get rid of distractions. Keep only the items you’re using for a particular project. You’ll be more productive and will spend less time looking for the things you need to get the job done.
Method 5: Plan Your Week
Plan your schedule every week. If you are working on a long term project, use ‘back timing’ by starting from the deadlne working backwards.
Method 6: Block Your Time
Figure out the time-of-day and the day-of-the-week that you’re most productive. Then schedule block-time to work on similar tasks. You may find that you’re best doing some tasks once a week and others once a day.
Method 7: Get The Skinny on FAT
Go through your mail everyday using the FAT system: file, act, and toss. File the things you want to keep. Act on the things that require action (invitations, correspondence, bills) prioritized by date of importance and place in a tickler file. Toss the junk mail.
Method 8: Set Your Files To Self Destruct
Set up your files so that you’ll automatically toss them when it’s time. All you need is eight shoe boxes or small file boxes. Label one “Keepers” and seven each labeled with a year, starting from the current year back seven years. Sort your paid bills and tax records in the boxes by year. When a new year rolls around, empty the oldest box: put the paperwork you need to keep permanently in the “Keepers” box, shred the rest.
Method 9: Just Say No
When you say yes to others, you’re saying no to the things you need to get done. There are times to be helpful but don’t overextend yourself. With your time blocked out and your notebook in hand, you’ll begin to figure out how much time you really have to share. Share it sparingly and give yourself permission to say no.
Method 10: Re-group
At the end of everyday, set aside 15 minutes to clean up and prepare for next day. You‘ll have closure for that day and will be focused for the next. |
