The Challenge: Maintaining Organization in Your Daily Life
Organization should be a lifestyle, a habit rather than a chore. While it takes time and effort to establish this habit, once ingrained, it becomes second nature. These nine tips, brought to you by your Calgary-based virtual assistant, will help you stay organized every day with minimal effort or fuss.
The Solution: Daily Organization Tips from a Virtual Assistant
Check-In
Start your day by checking your schedule and to-do list. You might need to add something you’ve thought of. Prioritize your to-do list to tackle the important items first.
Plan
Beyond your to-do list, plan your day. Include calls, meetings, chores, and goals. You can use pen and paper, a planner, or a planning app. Don’t forget to schedule breaks and time for friends and family. A virtual assistant can help with this planning.
The F.A.R. Rules
The F.A.R. Rules are essential for staying organized. They apply to both your personal and professional life.
- File it – If it’s important and needs to be kept (either in paper or electronic form), file it immediately.
- Act on it – If something needs action, like paying a bill or making a call, do it immediately. Then either file or recycle it.
- Recycle it – If it’s junk mail or items you’ve finished with, recycle it immediately once it’s no longer needed.
These rules also apply to emails, helping you keep your inbox under control.
Digital Aids
Technology can sometimes be a distraction, but certain tools can help you become and stay productive. Choose your devices and solutions carefully to avoid creating more problems for yourself. A virtual assistant can help manage these digital aids.
Track
To succeed with your organization skills, you need to track and monitor your progress. Be prepared to make changes and adjustments to your methods if something isn’t working.
Trash It
Don’t keep things for the sake of it. If it’s not useful or necessary, throw it out. If you’re keeping it, remember to put it away. This keeps your surroundings free from clutter and distractions.
Identify
Keep track of what works for you and continue doing it. If something hasn’t been successful, identify what needs to be changed and adjust it the following day.
5 Minute Review
End your day with a five-minute review, just like how you started it. Celebrate your accomplishments and cross off everything you’ve achieved from your to-do list. Remove any inessential or unimportant tasks that are still remaining. Whatever is left should be added to the next day’s list.
To-Do List
Create your to-do list for the following day. Include any important tasks that you didn’t complete that day and only important items that need to be done. Try to limit your list to 10 items or less to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Becoming and staying organized doesn’t happen overnight and it does require regular effort. However, by following these nine tips, you can stay on track. Remember, a Calgary-based virtual assistant is always ready to support you. Contact us today or visit our portal for more information.