Some of us have such hectic,
busy, crazy, chaotic days that we don’t have the time to even consider
organization, goals, or routines. It’s when your days are so crazy that you need
to take that time, and get your days under control.
It’s important, for your mental health, your sanity, and your productivity. You
simply cannot be at your most effective if you are running around, putting out
fires, and getting super stressed in the mean time. Taking the time to gain that
control will make all the difference in the world.
Here’s how:
First, claim a block of time to gain control.
Yes, it will take an hour or two. Yes, you can find that time. Schedule an
appointment on your calendar. If you really, really can’t find the time in your
work day, get up early, or do it right after work. You can find that time if you
really try. Your sanity demands it.
Make a list.
Do you already have all your tasks on a single to-do lists, or several
next-action lists broken down by context? If so, you are ahead of the game. If
not, this should be your first step. Gather all you papers into one inbox
(including post-it notes, phone messages, etc.) and process them, listing the
tasks you need to do on your list or lists , but do whatever works for you.
Making a list of your tasks is the first way to get them under control.
Plan your day.
Not just today, but every day. You need some sort of regular schedule in order
to get things under control. Schedule your regular tasks in blocks of time:
email, calls, meetings, processing your inbox, planning time, writing, etc. Try
to have at least 15-30 minutes at the beginning of each day when you plan your
day out in these blocks of time. This little time for planning each day is a
simple way to gain control.
Stop multi-tasking.
This is probably the thing that makes your day the craziest. You can’t stay sane
if you’re juggling a million things at a time. If you are doing this, you are
not being productive either. Focus on one thing at a time.
Control Incoming Communications.
Others won’t let you do this? You need to be assertive and claim control of your
time. Let others know when they can call you, or how often they can expect to
receive responses to your emails. Turn of IM and chat. Turn off your email
notifications and only check it once an hour, or on some other regular schedule.
Let calls go to voicemail. You simply cannot respond instantly to every cell
phone call, every email, every page, every request at your desk. If you have to,
put on headphones. Be clear and upfront with others about your availability and
the times when you cannot be disturbed. People might not always be happy with
it, but after awhile, they will begin to respect your time.
Review your day.
Set aside a little time at the end of the day to review what you’ve done, check
off your to-do lists, update the lists with new items, put stuff back where it
belongs, clear off your desk, and plan for tomorrow. Leave feeling satisfied.
Set routines.
These regular routines are the best way to feel in control of your life Make
them a habit, and your days will be must less stressful
BEST OF LUCK