Get Organized
It’s only when some intervention is thrust upon you or something monumental makes you sit up and take notice, that you start to think about getting organized because it’s now impacting your life or career.
Being organized might not be you though. It never was and you can’t ever see it happening either. You like to take things how they come and be positive it will all work out. Great way to think but it doesn’t always work out, does it? The problem with this is the classic “known, unknown” concept. It's like this, you live or work in a disorganized fashion, you don’t really know or understand what you are missing out on as you are too busy running around or leaving things to the last minute. You’re not sure what else you could use your time more wisely or efficiently on because you don’t have the time to see and think about it. All you know is you're always under pressure, always have too much to do and moving from one task to the next, moment to moment.
What does every day good organization look like?
Let's take something we’re all familiar with, the cupboard in your kitchen you keep your mugs, cups, glasses etc. in for use each day. There was a time I put everything randomly in the cupboard. When you opened the cupboard it was hard to see what you needed and even harder to get a glass you did want. This hodge podge ends up with more breakage of favourite mugs and glasses then I care to remember. But being organized now means the tea cups and mugs go bottom right, the coffee cups middle right and yes there is a difference between tea and coffee cups, don’t get me started. The small glasses bottom left, taller ones middle left and top shelf for all the large glasses and mugs/other especially types that don’t get used as often. With this organized approach I always know where I will look and it's always quicker putting clean cups and glasses away too. Big deal you might say, but if you replicate the process with your plates, food presses and fridge you will be a lot more efficient and not to mention you won’t have food hidden away with expired sell by dates.
Efficiency in its place
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Let’s take a work-related example: I write an article each week except when I am on my holidays. It doesn’t matter what I have on, how many coaching clients or engagements I have in a week, the process and being organized ensures it always happens as long as it's a priority for me. This is how it works:
Monday - Create a task to think about article topics - no other work here, I let it sit in my subconscious and unconscious mind and find topics will surface over the week.
Thursday - Mind map the list of potential article topics.
Friday - Choose an article topic and create a mind map for it.
Monday - Write first draft and edits of the article from the previous Friday mindmap.
Tuesday - More edits as need be and release to my Website and LinkedIn etc.
Thursday - Continue as per bullet 2
Process is innovation
When folks say “so and so” is a great multi-tasker, I hope you are seeing now that multitasking does not exist. You can only ever do one thing at a time no matter who you are. A good multi-tasker really means someone who is organized and puts a priority on doing that work and not some other work. This means everyone can be a quote on quote “multi-tasker” since we can be organized if we want to be. It doesn't need complex training, experience or competence. The task needs to be a priority with a process that is followed so it becomes routine and a habit.
Repeating a task within a routine does a few things for you. It will stimulate innovation, build competence and create new memory muscle for excellence. Think about doing something new for a whole year, every day and every week, how much competency would you build? How expert would you become? How many more doors would be opened to you? How closer would you be to your dreams?
Most people are randomly organized and they manage to complete tasks or get somewhere on time because it's a top priority for them in the moment. That priority gets them over the line, however because they are not fully organized behind the scenes they won’t get the best out of the task and won’t see they could have more time to do other things or think about what they are doing to make it better. Some do realise this but then won’t get organized long enough to bed down new habits leading to constantly starting new tasks but never finishing but understand why.
If you want to have more time, to be more efficient, to be more successful and have the things you really want - GET ORGANIZED
