Tips Top Getting Organized
Will help readers achieve what they want and what they deserve in
their careers by addressing issues that affect women at work. Whether
you are a new hire struggling to succeed, a mid-career employee whose
career has stagnated, or an executive looking for advice on
invigorating your team, _Winning at Work_ will provide insights from
a scientist, working mother and executive with over 40 successful
years of experience, and also answer your questions on specific issues
you may be struggling with in your career or workplace.
Are you a packrat? Do you find yourself staying late at work because
you can't get everything finished? Do you spend precious time every
morning looking for your keys or your cellphone? Are you children's
toys cluttering every room of your house? Are you late to almost
every meeting or engagement? If any of these sound like you, it's
time to get yourself organized. Most people find this a daunting
task and it can be. But if you follow these ten tips, you can make a
significant dent in your disorganized office, home or life.
* Unclutter. Whether it be your office or your home, get
yourself three containers. Label one _must keep_, label one
_junk_ and label the third _donate_. Throw away the junk and
give away the donate bins. Start small- perhaps with your desk
or one cabinet and work up to your entire office or home. By
getting rid of the things you never use, you make it easier
to find what you need, have space to put the things you keep
away, and do a good deed by donating to others.
* Make a to-do list. Noone can remember everything. If you
need to get things done, write them down, preferably in order of
priority. When you have the list, look for ways to
consolidate similar activities and same even more time. (For
example, you can listen to a book on tape while you vacuum
or you can drop something at the cleaners while you are on
that side of town doing your shopping). This applies to work as
well. By prioritizing your to-do list you will be more
efficient. And NEVER let your email become your to-do list.
* Delegate. You can't do everything yourself. Give *specific*
tasks to every member of your staff or your family, even your
little ones. In fact, telling a 3 year old to put his toys
in a box is more effective than saying clean up your toys.
(And by uncluttering, the box has room for his toys.) As your
children get older, give them more responsibility. (My teenage
daughters did the laundry- it was their job and they handled
it from hamper to washer to dryer to folding and returning
to the right room). Most people are effective delegators at
work but neglect to bring this talent home.
* Maintain one calendar that the entire family can access so
everyone knows who has to be driven or picked up where, and when
they need to leave to get it done. If you and your spouse have
secretaries at work give them a copy to incorporate into the
personal section of your work calendar. If possible, create
this calendar together so conflicts can be identified early
enough to juggle schedules. Review it once a week or once a
month together, or whatever timing makes sense.
* Follow the . (I am a scientist, sorry). This law states that
the disorder or entropy of the universe is always
increasing. To reduce disorder takes energy and the more
disordered a system, the more energy it takes to bring the system
back to order. If you do a little cleaning every day, a
little organizing, a little uncluttering or a little of
whatever chore needs to be done, the tasks never get that
big. If you leave it for several days, it will take more
time and be a bigger annoyance to do. For example, I always
clean as I cook. Then when I am done, there is very little to
clean up. I get it done while items are baking or heating up
and it saves me time and aggravation.
* Put things where you use them. If you have to make
children's lunches, keep the lunch boxes and containers in the
kitchen near the preparation counter. Keep extra diapers
in the car. Keep coats and boots near the exit/entrance door
you use (if you have no closet, get a clothes tree and a
plastic boot tray). Keep car keys on a hook near the exit door.
* Keep a pad and pencil by your bed. That way when something
occurs to you that needs attention, you can write it down and
deal with it in the morning. Otherwise you will either worry
about it all night or forget it.
* Prepare ahead. Put your children's clothes out the night
before, make lunches the night before,and do any tasks that will
make your morning easier. Prepare twice a recipe and freeze half.
(I have to admit, I rarely do this but it's a good idea). When
I am cooking for company, I always look for recipes I can prepare
ahead, freeze and then bake/warm the day of the dinner. Pack for
a trip by laying out the clothes and items a day or so before
(and make a list of what to pack). That way you don't forget
anything. Bring the list with you to make sure you didn't leave
anything at the hotel.
* Do whatever you can online. Paying bills, grocery shopping
or personal shopping takes less time on line and is often
cheaper.
* Outsource what makes sense. Have someone clean your house,
mow the lawn, plow the snow or whatever tasks are overwhelming
or unpredictable. That way you know they will be done. Buy
prepared meals when you know you will be late or everyone
will be eating at different times.
These ten tips were my way of coping with a hectic family life and a
demanding work schedule. The more I practiced them, the less stressed
I felt, and the more things fell into place. When you unclutter your
space and your life you will enjoy everything more
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