Time Management & Goals
changes, exercise, goals, New Year's Resolutions efficientorganization
6:30 am
We all do it, we all make big plans for positive changes for the new year and that’s a good thing! Whether it be losing weight, getting more exercise or getting organized, we need to take it a step further than just stating goals out loud. Make it happen in 2009!
- Pick 1 or 2 goals to start with, don’t overwhelm yourself trying to change too many things in your life at one time.
- Write down your goals, writing down goals goes a long way to help reach them!
- Write down the reasons you want to reach your goals.
- Write a date that you would like to reach your goals by.
- Write down the steps it will take to get there.
Remember, we don’t always reach our goals in a straight line. You may find you take one step forward and two steps back. That’s ok, just keep steppin’ forward and you will get there!
Elicit the support of others. Let lots of people know what your goals are and your deadlines, let them be your cheerleaders when you feel like giving up.
If you backslide, review your list of reasons of why you want to reach your goals. Use the list as motivation to keep going!
Make 2009 the year positive life changes happen!
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How I Stay Organized and Quick Tips and Time Management & Goals
appointments, calendar, meetings, organizing dayplanner, planner efficientorganization
7:30 am
This is the time of year to sit down with whatever type of calendar you use to organize your time. Use the method that is comfortable for you, whether paper & pencil or electronic. The bottom line is you need to feel at ease with your system so you use it consistently and feel secure that it will help keep you on track. Keep all information in one place, don’t use more than one planner or system.
Here are some examples of what to add to your planner right from the start:
- Meetings that are repeated on the same day/time of each month
- Birthdays, anniversaries, special occassions
- Use the school district calendar to add all days off, PTA meetings, late starts & early dismissals
- Reminders to make appointments for check-ups for your family, both doctor and dental
- If you’re on a roll, you can even add auto maintenance needs!
- Don’t forget to schedule some downtime for yourself
Add events as they come up throughout the year and you won’t miss an important event this year-just don’t forget to look at your calendar every day!!
Happy New Year!
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How I Stay Organized and Quick Tips and Time Management & Goals
cards, gifts, special occassion, special occassions, Starbucks efficientorganization
7:39 pm
Doesn’t it make you feel great when someone sends you an anniversary card or a birthday card & maybe even a gift to boot? Well, other people will love it when you do the same in return and on time!
At the end of each month look at your calendar and see who has a special occasion coming up in the next month. Make a list of names and head to the store to buy all the cards at one time. If you want to buy personalized gifts this is the time to do it.
An easy idea is to pick up something simple like Starbuck’s gift cards to throw in the card for “coffee or treat on me” that you can easily add to the card and go.
It’s not about a fancy gift, it’s about thinking of someone and acknowledging their special day!
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How I Stay Organized and Quick Tips and Time Management & Goals
organizing secrets, secrets efficientorganization
7:31 pm
SECRET # 1:
Give everything a home that is clear to you and to the people who live with you. If it’s paper it has a file or folder with a label on it. Toys go in bins or baskets with labels or photos of the items stored inside. Pantries have a designated place to store each type of food item. It may take a while for your family to get used to where to return everything, but it’s worth the investment of being consistent!
Secret # 2:
Think ahead. Being organized is about looking ahead at what is coming up and and not feeling like life is sneaking up on you. If you look ahead to see what events or activities you have coming up, it allows you to get a jumpstart on shopping or any other way that you need to prepare for that activity.
Think ahead and it will save you from feeling stressed!
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Quick Tips and Time Management & Goals
dictate, Jott, notes, to-do lists, transcription efficientorganization
12:05 am
How many times have you needed to remember something but you didn’t write it down and then totally forget about it? Jott is a service that’s like your very own transcription service! Simply call Jott and dictate your message. Jott will capture your voice, turn it into text and send it to the destination of your choice. You can send information and answers to others or even send yourself emails with to-do lists and things to remember.
Try www.jott.com. Packages run from free to $12.95/month. Don’t let something slip your mind again!
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Quick Tips and Time Management & Goals
paperwork, phone calls, planner, Schedule efficientorganization
3:07 pm
We go, go, go and if we don’t stop and catch up we can find ourselves overwhelmed with too many to-do’s and no time to do them. You cannot schedule yourself with back-to-back activities and expect to stay on top of everything. Cross off time in your schedule to give yourself time and a commitment to catch up on reading, paying bills, filling out paperwork and making phone calls. It’s OK to have blank spots in your planner throughout the week, you will still be busy with your to-do’s but you won’t be overwhelmed and can enjoy the activities that you have scheduled knowing you are caught up!
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How I Stay Organized and Time Management & Goals
file, paperwork, pending efficientorganization
6:35 pm
When you are busy it’s hard to remember all the little things that are floating out there only partially taken care of. How do you keep track of what is still outstanding when it comes to paperwork? Create a “Pending” file wherever you do your paperwork. A pending file is for paperwork that doesn’t need an action but you are waiting on something that you don’t want to forget about. Examples:
- A rebate that will take 8-10 weeks to get back. Place a copy of the paperwork in your file and just toss when you receive the money.
- A receipt for a party purchase. You go to a candle or jewelry party and your purchase will take 2 weeks to receive. Keep the receipt in pending so you don’t forget about it and toss when you receive your order.
- An Explanation of Benefits from your insurance company showing you owe your doctor money but the doctor hasn’t sent a bill yet. When the doctor’s bill comes you can file away your EOB.
A “Pending” file in your workspace will help you feel like you don’t have to remember quite so much!
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Quick Tips and Time Management & Goals
calendar, pack, prepared efficientorganization
10:32 pm
What’s the best way to hit the ground running each morning? Prepare for your day the night before.
1. Check your calendar at night so you are prepared for the next day’s events. Do you need to have a card signed for someone’s birthday? Do you need to fill out a field trip slip? Are you in charge of snacks for school? If you need time to run to Target, you don’t want to discover that at 8:00 in the morning!
2. Place everything you need to take with you in a central location. Library books, video tapes, gifts, letters to be mailed can all be placed next to the door you use to go to the car. If you park in the garage, you can even place items in a bin in your car.
3. Get dressed. Well, you don’t have to really get dressed, but check the weather forecast and put together one or two outfits to choose from in the morning. Make sure what you need is washed and ready to go, this includes sport and gym clothes for kids.
3. Pack ahead. Pack lunches or lunch money and kid’s backpacks so you don’t have to run around after something in the morning. Better yet, have kids pack their lunches and backpacks! You can make sure you have what you need for your purse or briefcase as well.
Start your day the night before and you’ll start your day on the right foot!
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Quick Tips and Time Management & Goals
charity, guilt, obligation, say no efficientorganization
12:34 am
It’s so easy to take on too much in our lives and then scramble and play catch-up because we can’t get everything done each day. One of the reasons this happens is we say yes too much-someone asks us to join a group, help plan an event, help with a charity and we say yes, yes, yes. It’s great to be involved, but you need to make sure that you say yes to something because it is important to you and fits with your goals and interests in life. Ask yourself, “Do I want to do this or do I feel obligated to do this?” If you feel like saying yes out of a feeling of guilt or obligation, then it’s time to say you appreciate the offer but you will have to pass at this time as your plate is full. Let that person move on to find someone else who has the time, passion and energy to fill that role to the fullest!
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