3 Quick Tips To Improve Organisation and Productivity
- By Henry Scott
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- 11 Apr, 2017
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These 3 tips help me to stay focuesd on my work, remember important events and deadlines as well as esential ideas or plans I make.
For a while I never needed to be organised and always found that getting stuck in with my work or tasks was better than wasting time thinking about how I would perform them. However as a freelancer, having my work, deadlines and ideas easily accessible for me to read and navigate through couldn't be more helpful. So if you're a student, parent or general busy-body, I have made some small steps that have helped me out tremendously, and hopefully will help you as well.
1. Utilise A Calender
This might sound simple but trust me, it goes a long way! As soon as a date is made aware to you
that may contain something you might consider to be important, whether it's a small networking meet up, a leisurely day out with friends/ family or a chore around the house you've put off for ages, add it to a calendar.
Even if you're not 100% certain you may need to attend or remember it, it will help you visulaise what is happening in your life, short or long term. You can always remove it later if it becomes unimportant.
I personally like to use a physical wall calendar, as I find the task of putting pen to paper helps solidify that date in my mind as a little bonus. This also means my important dates don't get muddled up with Facebook social events or pre-defined events my phone makes automatically. However if you like, your phone calendar can work just as well.
If you have a considerably hectic schedule, use more than one and define each one for it a specific purpose. For example you may have one for work, family, house chores, social events etc.
Even if you're not 100% certain you may need to attend or remember it, it will help you visulaise what is happening in your life, short or long term. You can always remove it later if it becomes unimportant.
I personally like to use a physical wall calendar, as I find the task of putting pen to paper helps solidify that date in my mind as a little bonus. This also means my important dates don't get muddled up with Facebook social events or pre-defined events my phone makes automatically. However if you like, your phone calendar can work just as well.
If you have a considerably hectic schedule, use more than one and define each one for it a specific purpose. For example you may have one for work, family, house chores, social events etc.
2. Write Any Idea's Down Straight Away
And I mean any idea. Maybe you've thought of a unique present or surprise for a friends birthday, found a new sport or activity you want to do some research into or heard of a new book to read that a friend recommended, write it down!
Having a small note pad to carry or keep in a safe place means, like the calendar, I can visualise anything that comes to me and utilise it later. I like to use a note pad with tabs, which I might label with a specific project I'm working on, things I want to achieve or people I want to speak to at a networking event or dedicate to any ideas I might a have that I can't categorise.
This is especially helpful for any creative types out there. As a freelancer, an idea for improving my portfolio or marketing my services is so valuable. So if I tell myself to remember it and do it tomorrow, you can be sure that it's not happening.
You can even go so far as to combine the notes with your calendar. If you have an important date coming up where tasks need to be achieved you can either label pages or parts of your note book with dates, or tare out small pages, fold them and blue-tack them to a date on your wall calendar.
Having a small note pad to carry or keep in a safe place means, like the calendar, I can visualise anything that comes to me and utilise it later. I like to use a note pad with tabs, which I might label with a specific project I'm working on, things I want to achieve or people I want to speak to at a networking event or dedicate to any ideas I might a have that I can't categorise.
This is especially helpful for any creative types out there. As a freelancer, an idea for improving my portfolio or marketing my services is so valuable. So if I tell myself to remember it and do it tomorrow, you can be sure that it's not happening.
You can even go so far as to combine the notes with your calendar. If you have an important date coming up where tasks need to be achieved you can either label pages or parts of your note book with dates, or tare out small pages, fold them and blue-tack them to a date on your wall calendar.
3. Identify Distractions
What do I mean by this? Well the next time you're watching tv, out with friends or if you're doing anything that makes your brain go "I really should be doing (whatever tasks needs your attention) right now", note down that activity. I did this for about a week in, but you can do this for a day, month or as much as you like.
The point of this is to show yourself where most of your time is being spent. Once you're aware of where you time is going you can take small steps to re-purposeing some of that time into more productive activities. You could even go a step further and note how much time you spend on each activity.
For me, I found I was wasting a stupid amount of time watching pointless (AND I MEAN POINTLESS) videos on youtube. Once I became aware that this was the most time consuming and irrelevant part of my day-to-day life, I was able to take steps to avoiding this, such as setting locks on my computer and deleting the youtube app off of my phone.
All of this is not to say you can't enjoy yourself from time to time. You've got to keep the spirit healthy after all. If you do this and find that most of your time is spent on working and very little on other enjoyable activities than you can reverse this idea. Whenever you're working and think to yourself "I would really like to try, do, spend more time on...etc" then note them down instead and and re-purpose some time to enjoying each day and making yourself feel better.
The point of this is to show yourself where most of your time is being spent. Once you're aware of where you time is going you can take small steps to re-purposeing some of that time into more productive activities. You could even go a step further and note how much time you spend on each activity.
For me, I found I was wasting a stupid amount of time watching pointless (AND I MEAN POINTLESS) videos on youtube. Once I became aware that this was the most time consuming and irrelevant part of my day-to-day life, I was able to take steps to avoiding this, such as setting locks on my computer and deleting the youtube app off of my phone.
All of this is not to say you can't enjoy yourself from time to time. You've got to keep the spirit healthy after all. If you do this and find that most of your time is spent on working and very little on other enjoyable activities than you can reverse this idea. Whenever you're working and think to yourself "I would really like to try, do, spend more time on...etc" then note them down instead and and re-purpose some time to enjoying each day and making yourself feel better.
Thanks so much for checking out this post. I'd love to know if you have any simple, quick or easy tips that help you get things done.
If you're after more info and tips check out this video by Akash Thakkar on how to tackle laziness, it'll give you a refreshing outlook on yourself if you feel you often describe yourself as 'lazy'.
If you're after more info and tips check out this video by Akash Thakkar on how to tackle laziness, it'll give you a refreshing outlook on yourself if you feel you often describe yourself as 'lazy'.
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