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Let's Get Organized!

© Shellie Hurrle

Do you ever wish you had more time? If so, you're not alone. If a survey asked people what they wish they had more of, time would likely top the list. (With money in a close second!) However, we only get 24 hours in a day, so what do we do? Continue to stress-out? No, we organize and prioritize the time we do have. Essentially, we need to quit wasting time! Easier said than done? Not really, if you have the proper tools.

Anyone can improve their time-management skills if they take the time to do so. It's a catch-22 of sorts. "I don't have time to organize my time," is a common excuse. However, any time you spend getting organized will soon pay big dividends in extra "time."

ORGANIZE YOUR TIME

Invest in an organizer or day planner (Cambridge and Day Runner are good ones) and it will soon become your bible. An ordinary calendar will suffice if the writing space is large enough. Every evening, take a few minutes to plan the next day. (Many people can do this once a week if their schedules stay somewhat consistent. I, on the other hand, am a freelance writer, and no two weeks are EVER the same. Deadlines are constantly changing, increasing, and decreasing.)

It's helpful to use a planner with time allotments and a task list. (Abbreviate to save time and space.) Put all your scheduled appointments in the appropriate time slots: For example, interview at 9 a.m., lunch with friend at 12, meeting at 3:00, soccer game at 4:00, etc.

The task list is self-explanatory - things you need to do that day. You may want to divide it even further into "errands." For example, errands may include banking, library research, shopping, etc. You might list calls to make and household chores (such as laundry) under a "To Do" heading.

There are also many quality organizational software programs. Microsoft Outlook is a good one. They're very convenient for storing contact information, task lists, etc. (I have to admit that I was reluctant about placing my "bible" at the mercy of the electronic gods. If my computer crashes, I'm out of luck. I use it more for long-term project lists and keep my planner handy; it's easier than starting the program just to check my schedule.)

When allotting your time, don't list the trivial things you might want to complete eventually. You'll soon notice that they keep getting moved to the next day, then the next, and so on. Instead, keep a separate page in your planner and label it "projects." List all those SOMEDAY items here. Then you don't feel like a failure for never getting your task list totally crossed off.

The copyright of the article Let's Get Organized! in Household Harmony is owned by Shellie Hurrle. Permission to republish Let's Get Organized! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.