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Simplicity News April 2005 If you are receiving this newsletter, you either subscribed via www.CatalystOrganizing.com or another web site, or you expressly gave your permission to receive it. If it brings you value, please forward it on to your friends and associates with all text and contact information intact.
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You Asked... Margot in Marietta, GA writes: I would specifically like you to address techniques for organizing time during the workday. Unstructured time tends to get away from me and I don't accomplish what I would like to.
A reader from Sanford, FL writes: [I would like] tips on time management in the evenings. To all subscribers... Time management is a very common challenge! Whether you find time slipping away from you at work or at home in the evenings, using your unstructured time effectively can be tricky. Here are five tips to help you in this area.
1. Plan Ahead
The first step in taking control of your time is good planning. Because time is a limited resource, it's essential that you plan ahead how to allocate it. Planning doesn't have to take a lot of time or effort, either. Just a few minutes at the end of each day or evening to review your commitments for the week ahead will make you feel more in control and prepared. 2. Use A Calendar Consistently
If you're not using a calendar or planning tool, you're just making your life harder than it needs to be. Keep all your appointments and other time commitments in your calendar and use it consistently. Your calendar is your road map of your life, so let it work for you. 3. Prioritize Your Activities List During your planning session each day, be sure to schedule time for, and tackle your highest priority tasks before you do the others. This way, even if you get sidetracked and run out of time that day, at least you've accomplished the most important items on your list for the day. 4. Be Aware Of Distractions That Derail You
If you find that time flies by and you don't accomplish your goals, something could be distracting you. Be aware of the people or things that are getting you sidetracked and stealing your focus. Don't keep email open if the incoming mail makes you jump from task to task. Let your phone go to voicemail during important focused work. Set a timer for fifteen-minute intervals to force yourself to stay focused until it goes off. Only by noticing where and when you get distracted can you combat the problem. Get real. Life takes time! Becoming acutely aware of how long things take will go a long way toward helping you allocate your time most effectively. If you're chronically late, chances are that you have no idea how much time the activities in your life require. Start paying attention to the minutes that pass as you complete a task. Stop fooling yourself and your time management will improve immediately.
Set realistic goals for yourself each day. Remember to factor in travel time and allow about 30% more time than you think you'll need between appointments for "buffer" time in case you hit traffic. It's better to be fifteen minutes early than 5 minutes late.
Declutter Your Life By Freecycling! Decluttering your life is a wonderful way to rid yourself of the things that no longer give you value and is a great way to help someone in need at the same time. All over the world, people are helping others and decluttering their lives by giving away the things they no longer need, through FREEcycle.org. This means that fewer items are going into the trash and filling up the landfills of our planet. It's so simple to join! You just sign up through the web site, and you'll begin getting the emails that people in your local FREEcycle group send out either seeking free items, or offering free items. It's as simple as that! Just go to www.FREEcycle.org to sign up!
Check it out and let me know what you think of the idea. If you've received something or given something away through this wonderful concept, tell me about that too!
Upcoming HGTV Appearances Be sure to catch Monica on these upcoming episodes of HGTV's popular show, Mission:Organization! Episode #609 Home Office Cleanup
Episode #503 Restoring Office Functionality
Monica Ricci is an Organizing Specialist, and the founder of Catalyst Organizing Solutions, an Atlanta based company. You can see Monica on the popular HGTV show, MISSION:Organization. She is the Past President of the GA Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers and was named to the Editorial Advisory Board of Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine. To schedule Monica to speak to your conference, team, department, or association, or for an on-site organizational evaluation, contact her at 770-569-2642 or Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com (c)2005 Catalyst Organizing. All Rights Reserved. | ||