| |
| |
|
Organizing Information |
|
|
|
Compartmentalize
The word "compartmentalize" means to separate into distinct parts. I am intrigued with the fact that the word "mental" is in the word. For me, it illustrates the need to separate mentally what we are doing. One of the tricks I am learning is to separate tasks and do one at a time. As a recovering multitasker that isn't easy, but I am beginning to see the benefits of doing one thing at a time. I remember being told that it is impossible to do two cognitive things at one time. A cognitive activity is defined as a conscious intellectual activity. Although for years I have prided myself on being able to do two or more things at once, I am beginning to understand that when multitasking my attention is divided, so I am not doing the quality work I would like. I also discovered that it often takes longer to do more than one thing at a time because of the fact that my attention is divided. The secret to getting things done and getting them done well is to compartmentalize and focus on one thing at a time. I now divide my day into tasks. I map out what I will be doing from hour to hour. Instead of starting the day with a list of things to do and thinking that I will just work on all of it as I go along, I break my day down into tasks. I will spend an hour on project A, fifteen minutes making telephone calls, and another block of time on e-mail. By compartmentalizing my day, I actually can get more done faster with fewer mistakes and less frustration. It all boils down to focus. I remember starting a project in the morning only to have that same project on my desk at the end of the day. I allowed myself to be distracted by all of the other tasks that needed attention. Now I realize that, if I focus on one thing at a time, I can get the task at hand done, and be ready for the next one. I am not saying this is easy, because life doesn't always fit into nice, neat compartments. However, by creating this structure, it even makes it easier to deal with those unexpected events life throws my way. The trick with compartmentalizing is to discover what works best for you. Scheduling my time in one-hour increments works best for me. If the project I am working on doesn't take an hour, I have then created free time to do something else or begin the next project. I have also learned to be flexible and allow for unexpected events. I even build in extra time just for that possibility. It may seem very structured, but there is a lot of freedom in the structure. Instead of trying to do everything at once, I focus on getting one thing done at a time, and I actually accomplish more by the end of the day - and avoid feeling scattered or as stressed as I once did. Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD, is a Certified Master Coach specializing in working with business owners and professionals in being more profitable and productive while staying sane and balanced. Coach Lee is the publisher of the award winning e-zine, 365 Days of Coaching. Her first book, 365 Days of Coaching - Because Life Happens Every Day (Universal Publisher, 2004) was named a finalist for Best Book 2004 by Publish.com and has a five star rating on Amazon.com. Visit Coach Lee at her websites http://www.coachlee.com and http://www.365daysofcoaching.com True Direction, Inc. Copyright MORE RESOURCES:
Organizing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Be More Productive - Books to Help You Be More and Do More! How many of us have enough time to do everything that needs to be done? Answer: NOBODY! The key is doing that which needs to be done RIGHT NOW and setting the right priorities. Life has changed, and we have more flexibility to do what we want, when we want, provided we set the RIGHT PRIORITIES. Create A Working Mail Center I talk about the mail a lot in my newsletter, Organewz, and to my clients. I write about it again because I have seen so many people still without one place for their mail. Three Effortless Ways to Win the Paperwork Battle Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the projects seem to never end? Imagine how good you would feel if every day you could start with a clean and organized desk? Well dream no further! By following the three powerful tips listed below, your dreams will become reality!Setting up your system: Start by ordering two 8 ½ x 11 "flat desk files". A flat desk file looks like an accordion file, except it lays flat on your desk and can be easily carried with you. Dont Get Lost In The Shuffle I have a good friend whom (also being in the same business) I often compare notes with.One of the things that I always give him a hard time about is the fact that even though he has one of the biggest desks I have ever seen I have never actually seen the desks surface. Declutter for Sucess Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Don't Be A Clutter Victim There are 3 kinds of clutter: Inner (between our ears); Outer (stuff and things) and Other (people.) The more stacks and piles of outer clutter we collect create distractions that keep us from our real lives and joy. The Organized Move: Unpacking with a Plan (This is the third in a series of three articles on "The Organized Move") The moving truck is pulling in the driveway of your new home and soon you will be surrounded by all your stuff. You have dreamed about the additional space. Spring Cleaning Spring is such a refreshing time- we are filled with the hope and promise of the seasons ahead. The flowers blossom, our spirits lift. Essential Tips for the Kitchen * Cupboards and drawers should contain items that are grouped together.* Store items where you use them. 10 Easy Maintenance Tips vs Piling on the Chaos Whether you are in your own business or an employee (or neither) -- if you have a family and a home you are in the business of having a life. I'm betting that none of you went into business to become hot at shuffling papers and reams of e-mail. Escaping The Clutter Trap? - 5 Steps For Increasing Productivity And Decreasing Stress ? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the "stuff" in your life? Magazines and journals you've never finished reading, clothes you never wear, e-mail you haven't responded to, or photographs you intended to share with friends or colleagues? ? Are you embarrassed to invite people to your home or office because they will see the way you live or work? Do you rush around when someone's coming to hide the evidence?? Is clutter putting a strain on a relationship that's important to you? Do you argue with your spouse about what to keep, or spend time reassuring your colleagues that you know what everything is?? Do you waste time looking for things you really need - documents you already created, or the keys or receipt you had in your hand five minutes ago?? Is your home or office just too crowded? Does clutter take valuable space and leave you feeling overwhelmed? If you answered "Yes" to any two or more of these questions, you are caught in The Clutter Trap - a state of cumulative disorder which diminishes your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or financial health. There are more than a few people reading this article right now who are feeling distressed by the clutter in their lives. Organizing Your Day One of the hardest things for most individuals working from home is to stay focused. One of the best ways to stay focused is organization. Words That Inspire - SIMPLIFY What do you gain if you SIMPLIFY?Dictionary* says:to reduce to basic essentials, to diminish in scope or complexity, to make more intelligible.What it REALLY means:removing clutter and interference from your life and work; looking at large obstacles as the sum of small challenges; choosing to do less, have less, want less. Does Your Storage Make Sense? What do your storage spaces look like? Do you know exactly where to go when you are looking for something? Is your system logical? Designing a meaningful storage space requires a lot more than just putting stuff in a closet, drawer, or cabinet. You need STRUCTURE -- some proven guidelines to follow while setting up your storage spaces. Organization Tips - How To Get Things Done What stops you from 'getting things done?'Have you ever started your day with good intentions of completing a task or project only to find that by the end of the day you've hardly worked on it?Or have you ever set a goal to attend a seminar, learn a new skill or just have more time out for you?I'm sure you have. I'm not going to write a long-winded explanation about the art of procrastination or "putting things off" but what I will do is share with you the secret of actually "getting things done". Your Organizing DNA Do you like storing your papers on top of your desk in trays, baskets or just plain piles? Do you have a preference for Post-it notes and maybe some colorful file folders? Or are clearly labeled files and file cabinets more your style? Do you 'file' or 'pile'? I make it a practice of testing my workshop participants for this very thing because of its importance in creating and supporting an effective, organized workspace.The brain's dominance factorResearch conducted in the late 1980's proved that human beings exhibit brain hemisphere dominance in early childhood. Saying Goodbye to Stacks of Paper and Distractions A daily journal will save you time, reduce stress and make you more productive.Several months ago, I visited the office of a million dollar producer. Choose Spice Racks That Help You Organize Your Home Today you have almost as many choices of spice racks as you do of the spices they contain. Spice racks are wonderful kitchen home organization gadgets. Four Tips For Clearing The Clutter Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake with bright new leaves, flowers begin to bloom and the grass becomes green once more. Get Rid Of The Clutter You really can have a successful business and a great life. Often we get caught up in growing our business or climbing the corporate ladder that we put our personal lives on hold.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
