When it comes to time we always seem to have less of it than we’d like. Time to relax and enjoy a good book. Time to spend playing with the kids instead of nagging them. Time to go to the gym. But making time for yourself to be mentally, emotionally and spiritually healthy must be your top priority. It’s the only way that you can better nurture the ones you love.
Need help? Here are just a few productivity tips for home and for work that should save you some time and help you maintain some order in your otherwise hectic life.
• It’s best to put your entire daily schedule, both personal and work-related obligations, onto a single calendar page (paper or electronic) so you don’t double book yourself. And confirm meetings an hour or two before their scheduled time so you don’t waste your time on no-shows.
• Assess each day’s tasks the night before and make a single list of things you need to take care on the following day. By doing it the night before you can get a jumpstart the following morning. In an office, have a short staff meeting each morning to assess the day’s priorities.
• Don’t plan too much in any single day. Most people who have difficulty managing their time are simply not being realistic about how long certain jobs take. Assume that each task will take up to 50 percent longer than you believe it will. This should help you keep some balance to your day.
• Have a clock or watch nearby so you can see how much time certain jobs actually take you to do. This way if you need to do them in the future you’ll be more realistic about how long they will take you.
• Create a habit of being on time. Try it for 30 days in a row and it should turn into a natural habit.
• It’s best to make appointments or get to places when they first open so your wait time is substantially reduced. You’ll be in the waiting room of a doctor, dentist, hairdresser, etc. for a much shorter time if you have the first appointment of the day. Oh, and avoid weekday banking during the lunch break from 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. because it’s usually their busiest time.
• At the end of each day establish a routine and spend a few minutes picking up and putting things away. Don’t leave things where they don’t belong overnight. They will turn into clutter very quickly. This will save you loads of time in the long run.
• Label all your storage containers so you know where things are when you need them. This will save you a lot of time tracking things down.
• Delegate some tasks to family, staff members or professional colleagues. You simply can’t do it all yourself so don’t try.
Remember, the time you save will be yours to enjoy.
Bob Farkas is The Clutter Wizard providing home and office organizing services in the Santa Clarita Valley. His website www.theclutterwizard.com has many more great organizing hints and tips. For more information, please call him at 661-298-9100 or email theclutterwiz@yahoo.com .