I can admit — staying organized and on task has not always been my strong point.
It’s so easy to get distracted. You often get caught up in your work, such that maintaining organization on top of work deadlines can become a huge struggle.
This year, I finally broke through with my organization on day-to-day tasks and it’s made my life so much easier. There’s always room for improvement, but we’re talkin’ baby steps — right?
Keeping organized as a whole can seem overwhelming, so here’s my top methods I use to keep things in order.
Prioritize tasks
I used to be the pen-and-paper kind of guy, writing down my to-do lists. I would search around for easy to use software to rid of my old habit, but nothing ever stuck.
Finally, I found my solution with Asana. Asana is an excellent (and free) software that you can use online, and on the go with their mobile app.
I now use it every day to keep track of all my work tasks, and being able to check them off as “complete” is all too satisfying. Through this method, I’m able to even jot down notes under each task, and assign due dates.
Now that I’m committed, I can’t imagine ever going back to that pen-and-paper. Although, sometimes a quick note taking while on a phone call doesn’t hurt 🙂
Rid the distractions
Staying on task is not an easy task in itself. All too often can you get pulled away by an email, a phone call, or even a co-worker.
Not only do you lose the time from which you were writing that email, or answering a co-worker’s question, but now you have to get back in the zone on what you were working on. This is a big time killer.
My solution? Set aside specific times where you are focused and everyone knows not to bug you. With those tight deadlines, I even “quit” my Mail app, so that those all-too-distracting email notifications can’t get me off track.
This is much easier said than done, but your work should be priority and everything else can come second (unless, of course, someone used the last k-cup in the Keurig and forgot to restock…).
Clear the clutter
I’m a firm believer that if your desk is a mess, your mind and focus will be too.
Do your best to clear the clutter. That means throwing away old sticky notes, wiping up those crumbs from yesterday’s lunch, and keeping your supplies organized. Have what you use most at the forefront, and everything else can be put away.
A clear desk plus a clear mind means you can focus on doing great work!
Now, I know everyone works differently and in under different circumstances, but these tips are what help me do my best work. Have any to add? Let me know!
