Do you sometimes arrive at work in the morning feeling stressed before even logging into your computer? Do you feel like you’re falling behind? Do you feel too overwhelmed to take a break? The majority of professionals will answer ‘yes’ to at least one of those questions at some point in their career, and guess what? They are not alone. Many of us are so invested in our day-to-day jobs, we don’t realize that going back to basics can serve as an easy remedy.
Below are some basic tips that can be applied to your everyday job, as well as to your personal life.
Create both short-term and long-term to-do lists. Organizing your thoughts in your head and then putting them down on paper goes a long way. Figure out what tasks you’d like to get done that day, that week, and that month (and stick to them!).
Prioritize. Take a serious look at your to-do list and decide what is the most time sensitive. What can be done on your own and what requires input from others? Once you decide to tackle projects one-at-time and in a specific order of importance, your to-do list won’t seem as daunting.
Block off time on your calendar. We are all guilty of hitting the snooze button when an appointment pops up on the computer screen, but setting aside time on your calendar can really be helpful in completing projects. Focus on the task at hand and don’t schedule meetings during this time.
Keep your desk tidy when you leave for the night. This might not be necessary for everyone, but for me personally it’s very important. I’m sure to organize my desk before heading home every night, as the thought of walking in in the morning to a messy area stresses me out. Starting my day with a clean slate, so to speak, allows me to dive right in.
Take a break. As busy as you might be, taking a break can actually make you more productive. Our team just recently implemented a 3:00 p.m. afternoon stretch break and it has made all the difference. Stopping to take a breath allows you to relax and walking away from your desk can do just that.
Remember, sometimes all it takes to get organized are some basic steps!
Great information Karyn!
Thanks Kimberly!
These are valuable reminders, Karyn. One other step that I often find helpful is to dedicate 5-10 minutes at the end of the day to scoping out the next day’s plan by asking myself a few questions. Among them: What steps do I need to take on my latest research/writing project? What information do I need to gather for that client keynote address or training workshop next week? How should I prepare for any meetings slated for tomorrow? If I plan to be in the office all day with a free calendar, what is the most effective use of my time? What have I learned today, and how can I put that to use in future endeavors? What worked well today (and what didn’t)? Who did I interact with, and how should I follow up (e.g., send a thank you note, deliver promised information)?
Everyone’s questions may vary. The point is this approach helps give you a running start even before you hit your office the next morning. An added bonus: Not only does it better organize the following day, it can also help alleviate anxiety that evening.
Thank you Ed, this is great advice. I will definitely start asking myself some of these questions at the end of the day. Thanks!