Debbye Cannon graciously agreed to sharing some of her tips from her free series: “5 SMARTcut® Solutions for Organizing Without Agonizing,” here on our site. This is the first in the series, and you can get access to the rest of the series at BizMomTips.com.
These days just about everyone feels like they don’t have enough time. Of course, the truth is that we all have the same amount. Why then, does it seem like some people you know can get so much done? It’s kinda like suitcases, some people can pack more in than others.
So, wouldn’t you like to know some of the basics that professional organizers employ to get more done each and every day (with less effort)?
- Block time to prepare. Every good time manager knows that in order to be “ready” she’ll need to allot some time to “get it together” before the meeting, event or trip.
- Label like crazy! It’s not a sign that you need OCD counseling. It’s just a magical way to get (and stay) organized. Not only will you have decided where things go, but others can use and return things to their assigned locations as well.
- Write it down. That’s right make a list. What’s important here is that you have a set place for keeping your lists. Avoid chaos. Get a notebook, pad or keep your lists in your planner, not all over a zillion scraps of paper in every room of the house and under the seat of your car.
- Eliminate then delegate. Pause long enough to THINK about what you are running yourself ragged doing. Maybe it really isn’t necessary. If it doesn’t make a significant difference, eliminate it! If you can’t eliminate a task, consider delegating it to a family member or team member. Trust me, you really don’t HAVE to do it all!
- Know how long tasks take. Just being conscious of the clock is key. Once you realize how long it takes to get dressed, drive somewhere, or do a load of laundry you are well on your way to being on time (at least most of the time)!
- Evaluate. After you complete a task or an event think about what made that work go smoothly (so you can repeat it). Consider what you’ll want to remember to do differently next time. Whether it’s a formal “after action report” or just making a mental note to self, it will improve your performance in all areas.
You may find more of Debbye’s helps at: Planner-Simplified.com, and Time-Simplified.com
Debbye’s blog is at BizMomTips.com. and her newest site: SMARTcut-Solutions.com
(These are not affiliate links.)
