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→The Balancing Act: format
Here are 8 tips to help you with the mental part of getting and staying organized. I encourage you to read through the whole list, and then go back and choose two or three ideas to implement.
Here are 8 tips to help you with the mental part of getting and staying organized. I encourage you to read through the whole list, and then go back and choose two or three ideas to implement.
1. Understand the difference between URGENT and IMPORTANT. If it’s important, it may be a vital priority for you. If it’s urgent, it’s time-sensitive, but it may or may not be important. Be sure you are clear about the difference when deciding what deserves your time. Check out the time management matrix at http://www.orgcoach.net/timematrix.html, which beautifully illustrates the difference.
'''1. Understand the difference between URGENT and IMPORTANT.''' If it’s important, it may be a vital priority for you. If it’s urgent, it’s time-sensitive, but it may or may not be important. Be sure you are clear about the difference when deciding what deserves your time. Check out the time management matrix at http://www.orgcoach.net/timematrix.html, which beautifully illustrates the difference.
2. Find time for yourself. Schedule time away from your work and your family. Use this opportunity to tune in to what you want and need. Don't feel that you're being selfish; you have a responsibility to yourself to take care of your needs. Studies show that productivity dramatically increases when you are well rested.
'''2. Find time for yourself.''' Schedule time away from your work and your family. Use this opportunity to tune in to what you want and need. Don't feel that you're being selfish; you have a responsibility to yourself to take care of your needs. Studies show that productivity dramatically increases when you are well rested.
3. Check for balance between these four vital areas of your life:
'''3. Check for balance between these four vital areas of your life:'''
* Well-being -- caring for your physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs
* Well-being -- caring for your physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs
* Service activities -- volunteer work, being a good neighbor, practicing random acts of kindness
* Service activities -- volunteer work, being a good neighbor, practicing random acts of kindness
4. Live your life in the present! Quit saying, “I’ll do this when I get around to it.” I have yet to find a person who said on their death bed, “I wish I had spent more time at the office.”
'''4. Live your life in the present!''' Quit saying, “I’ll do this when I get around to it.” I have yet to find a person who said on their death bed, “I wish I had spent more time at the office.”
5. Increase productivity by planning your week and fine-tuning your workday. Block out time to handle priorities. Important tips to remember as you plan your week:
'''5. Increase productivity by planning your week and fine-tuning your workday.''' Block out time to handle priorities. Important tips to remember as you plan your week:
* Have unscheduled time in your calendar for handling unexpected but important tasks.
* Have unscheduled time in your calendar for handling unexpected but important tasks.
* Leave work at a reasonable hour so you have time for those other three areas of your life – self-care, family, and service to others.
* Leave work at a reasonable hour so you have time for those other three areas of your life – self-care, family, and service to others.
6. Reduce your stress by being underwhelmed. Here are a few tips to help you avoid getting overwhelmed:
'''6. Reduce your stress by being underwhelmed.''' Here are a few tips to help you avoid getting overwhelmed:
* NO is a complete sentence. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. When someone makes a request, buy some time before answering. Say, "Let me think about it," or "I’m in the middle of something right now. I'll call you back and let you know." This will give you time to evaluate the situation and decide if it's something you truly want to do.
* NO is a complete sentence. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. When someone makes a request, buy some time before answering. Say, "Let me think about it," or "I’m in the middle of something right now. I'll call you back and let you know." This will give you time to evaluate the situation and decide if it's something you truly want to do.
* Delegate as much as you can. Focus your time on activities that you enjoy and are best at.
* Delegate as much as you can. Focus your time on activities that you enjoy and are best at.
7. Stay out of e-mail jail. Here are a few tips to help:
'''7. Stay out of e-mail jail.''' Here are a few tips to help:
* Determine frequency of checking for e-mail messages. Some people choose to check it throughout the day and even use such devices as the Blackberry when on the road, while others only check for messages a couple times a day. You are the only one who can determine what will work for you.
* Determine frequency of checking for e-mail messages. Some people choose to check it throughout the day and even use such devices as the Blackberry when on the road, while others only check for messages a couple times a day. You are the only one who can determine what will work for you.
* Remove your name from subscription lists that do not provide value to you.
* Remove your name from subscription lists that do not provide value to you.
8. Set up your work environment to keep your focus on what’s most important. Here are some tips:
'''8. Set up your work environment to keep your focus on what’s most important.''' Here are some tips:
* Arrange your workspace so you have the most commonly-used things close in. Store things used less frequently in less accessible space.
* Arrange your workspace so you have the most commonly-used things close in. Store things used less frequently in less accessible space.
* Keep only what you plan to focus on today on your desktop. Remove visual distractions from your workspace so your attention is not pulled away from what you’ve chosen to work on today! Everything else should be put away until it’s time for you to focus on it.
* Keep only what you plan to focus on today on your desktop. Remove visual distractions from your workspace so your attention is not pulled away from what you’ve chosen to work on today! Everything else should be put away until it’s time for you to focus on it.
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== Information Overload ==
== Information Overload ==