Having trouble organizing yourself? Getting organized during a new quarter can be chaotic. Especially when everything you need to complete has top priority and incoming deadlines! We’d like to make it easy for you, so we’ve put together seven tips we think might be helpful to you this fall.
Make A List
Make A ListPull together everything you could possibly consider getting done in a day. Initially, don’t worry about the order or the number of items—just make a list. This will show everything you need to complete in one place and will help you mentally sort out your tasks. Sometimes it’s great to write out your list by hand, but if you want your list to remind you about tasks automatically, you can check out apps such as Asana, or Any.do.
Urgent vs. Important
The next step is to identify urgency and importance. This can be difficult because, frankly, most everything we do is important. What helps is to see if you have any tasks that need immediate attention or will have serious negative consequences if not completed, like tasks with deadlines! For example, do you need to schedule travel or get a deposition on the calendar? Those are urgent AND important, so take care of those first! The Eisenhower Matrix is a good tool to use when determining whether something is urgent, important, or both.
Asses Value
Similar to the last step, but now more detailed, look at what’s both important and urgent, and then identify what carries the highest value to you or your business. To follow the same example, making a reservation for a long-time client vs a new client. You’d likely want to take care of the loyal client before the new one. Not that the new client isn’t important, but keeping a client with whom you already have a strong relationship holds a higher value to you.
Be Flexible & Adaptable
Uncertainty and change are a given. Know that your priorities will change — and often when you least expect. It’s crucial to be aware of this and have a backup plan. At Planet Depos, we know circumstances change, and we’re always happy to adjust accordingly.
Know Your Distractions
No matter how hard you try, you will get distracted. No one can work for hours on end, which is why we all need breaks to help us stay productive. Accept that distractions will happen and try to incorporate breaks into your schedule. Try to stay away from rabbit holes, or distractions that end up taking too much of your time, like social media or TV!
Know What to Cut
Sometimes you won’t finish everything you planned to do in a day, and that’s okay! After you prioritize what needs to be done, cut the remaining tasks from your list, and focus on what you know you must and can complete for the day. Then, move those uncompleted to the next day.
Never Procrastinate
If it can be done today, do it today. This golden rule should be your motto if you want to make the most of your time. Putting off necessary tasks can only cause anxiety until they are accomplished. There isn’t much more to this step – just do it!
It’s important to remember that different solutions work for different people. See what works best for you and stick to it. Hopefully, these tips are helpful to you or, at the very least, prompted you to begin your journey to getting organized!
By Vanessa Sanchez
