![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Your productivity depends on good tools and effective environments, and on using them both well. It can be overwhelming to get your office into shape and still get your work done. Try attacking one of these areas each week. Pick one where you can make a positive change right now, to keep you motivated.
Task Lists.
These should be the centerpiece of your organizing system. Make lists for errands, expenses, phone calls, computer tasks and desk tasks. Create more detailed lists for your projects and ideas. Projects can have some steps fleshed out here, and ideas that you're not ready to work on have a holding spot so they're not forgotten. Work the lists everyday, skimming down each one and prioritizing daily as things change. This is a flexible, fast system that eliminates the need for physical reminders on your desk.
Calendar.
Use your calendar only for actual appointments, not for lists of errands (see above). This includes appointments with yourself to work on projects. Committing that time in your date book means it's as important as other appointments you make. It helps you avoid squeezing your work in between the demands of others.
Email.
What if you didn't check it first thing in the morning? Would the world come to an end? Once you start checking it, even if you turn off the reminder icons and sounds (which I recommend), it's hard not to get caught up in threads. The beginning of your day can be an emailess, phoneless oasis for you to think through projects, make plans and do other tasks that benefit from extended, focused thinking.
Phone.
It's usually not practical for people to ignore their phones during business hours. But you can make your phone calls more productive by getting to the point of the call right away. Alternatively, make an appointment for a specific day and time to call someone back so you can schedule in that time and be prepared for the call.
Inbox.
Even if you work for yourself and there's no one to fill the inbox but you, it's a handy item to have. Use it to hold any items that you haven't decided what to do with yet. Write yourself quick notes when you don't have time to jot down a task in your planner. Fill it with business cards and scribbled notes you come home from events with. Don't let it be a catchall graveyard. Take time regularly to go through your inbox, make decisions, assign actions and empty it.
Desk Layout.
Rule of thumb: stuff you use all the time should be close by and stuff you don't can be farther away. Reserve desktop real estate for computer, phone, inbox and other supplies you use everyday. Make sure you leave room to work comfortably. If you prefer to have things out, use a credenza behind your desk for those piles.
Computer Set Up.
If your desk is mainly your computer, you can similarly group and organize items. Geographically separate documents from programs from downloads on your desktop. Keep documents in folders just as you would in a file cabinet and browse your operating system's file index to locate them. Also, just as with paper, never label your folders "Miscellaneous"!
Meetings.
A meeting without a specific agenda is usually a waste of time. Meetings are most productive when only the people who need to be there are, they know what they're doing and they leave with a clear idea of what to do next. Does the meeting need to happen at all? Can the same result be achieved with a phone call or two? If you are required to attend meetings, make sure you know what's expected of you before you leave, and by when.
Claire Tompkins specializes in simple, efficient systems to help people be more productive, more easily. Before figuring out how to do something better, ask why you're doing it at all. Got to http://www.clairetompkins.com to find out more. Contact her at [email protected].com and 510-535-0856.
Riding the subway home yesterday, my typically silent car was... Read More
Work life balance is the new Holy Grail; that search... Read More
As a business owner, wouldn't it be great if you... Read More
PROCRASTINATION: You've known about it since high school or college,... Read More
Frustration is when an obstacle blocks your ability to achieve... Read More
Friends, colleagues, and clients are all telling me that one... Read More
Work more efficiently and be more productive using these time-management... Read More
Are you a worrier? Do you frequently spend time and... Read More
Many of us spend long hours at our desk. To... Read More
Sounds too good to be true?It really isn't!In fact, studies... Read More
When you decide to become self-employed, you automatically become the... Read More
How do you eat two elephants? The same way you... Read More
Once you have completed your day you can boost your... Read More
Determine Your Procrastination PersonalityBrook Noel is the author of The... Read More
Looking out through my picture window during a recent winter... Read More
Does it ever feel like there is never enough time... Read More
If you operate any kind of home business, you must... Read More
The concept of Mercury Retrograde is very well known even... Read More
Work brings together people of different characters and behavior, and... Read More
Reflect on the rewards of kicking the procrastination habit. They... Read More
Nowhere is the line drawn more clearly between 'Industrial brains'... Read More
One of the most challenging situations people face when planning... Read More
There is an old way of goal setting and a... Read More
If I had a dollar or even better a pound... Read More
If you can regularly ask yourself "Am I regularly and... Read More
Having a home based business can be overwhelming. When you... Read More
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow... Read More
Handle small emergencies fast: When a small emergency does pop... Read More
What does it mean to practice self care? It's creating... Read More
Clarity brings accomplishmentOne of the most important things you can... Read More
This is one more article on "Organizing and Enjoying Your... Read More
One of the biggest problems most people have when it... Read More
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is... Read More
What are the most important things you should accomplish today?... Read More
I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More
You can use the Power of 90 Seconds to transform... Read More
Does choosing which time we do an activity really make... Read More
A simple kitchen gadget is transforming my life. I don't... Read More
If you feel like your life moves faster than a... Read More
There are so many books on Time Management published every... Read More
If you work from home, you know the kind of... Read More
Tring ? Tring the alarm rings?but did you fail to... Read More
"Work smarter, not harder" is a cliché that has darted... Read More
Here's a smart system for doubling or tripling your daily... Read More
Whenever I've worked on 'de-cluttering' my living or working space,... Read More
We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More
Hey - Did someone press the FFW button?Have you ever... Read More
Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
Here's some time management tips to try:1) Set strict office... Read More
Time Management Time Management |