Ways I'm Staying Organized to End 2022
- SSF_I
- Nov 25, 2022
- 6 min read
It can be hard to stay organized and focused in our daily lives while the world is spinning faster and faster around us. Have you ever felt terrible when you know you are supposed to do something but have no idea what it is? Or do you have so many things in your head and don't know where to start? I know I have, more often than I would like to admit. In this blog post, you will get to read all about the methods I use to stay on top of my work to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. We are still human and mistakes will be made and projects won't be done on time and things won't happen exactly as you expected sometimes, but by following these simple tips you will see a big increase in the things you are able to accomplish and you will realize that you are actually getting more done throughout the day, and at the same time not forgetting as many things. One of the best things about this is that you won't have to rely on your memory alone for everything. By following my suggestions below you will give your brain a rest and make sure that you are accomplishing everything and not leaving anything behind.
Part I: Writing it Down
Writing things down is crucial because it will allow you to not have to remember everything. By writing things down you will also be able to visualize what needs to be done and what you have already accomplished. It will also allow your brain to fully relax when you know that you have accomplished everything you need to do, rather than worrying that there is something you forgot about. This can then further be broken down into two other subcategories.
Calendar:
For my personal use, I have chosen to use Google Calendar because it is easy to use and it seamlessly integrates between devices. The main point of the calendar is that you can visualize all your commitments and things that you have planned. If needed, you can schedule a time to see friends or time to be alone. It allows you to see all of your available time so you know when you are free to work or have fun. This also allows you the freedom to schedule something with your friends if you know that your schedule is open. I also like it because I know that all my meetings, classes, work hours, etc. will be in here so I won't be missing anything. It is easy to start worrying and getting anxious when you think you missed something, and this will help to combat that. I also recommend color-coordinating between work and personal activities (more on that later). The type of Calendar you pick doesn't really matter, it's just whatever works best for you. Some people might like the calendar app on the iPhone or other smartphone devices. While other people might like a physical planner that they carry around with them. All of these are great and serve their purpose well.
Daily To-Do List:
I've gone through a lot of different to-do list apps and currently, this one is my favorite for my personal life. I've found that it doesn't sync as well with some other types of to-do list apps but it seems to be the best for what I need it for. I think that to-do lists are great because it lets you know exactly what needs to be accomplished on this day. I recommend only putting the crucial things on here as it will get cluttered super quickly. This one is great because the reminder appears on the lock screen of your phone and it won't go away until you have completed the task. This really forces you to actually do it and not just blow it off. They have lots of options for timing and days, which is also super nice. I would highly recommend using this app if you have an iPhone.
This is the to-do list app that I use for all my work and school-related tasks. This one integrates super well between the phone and the computer. The layouts and things you can do on this app are really limitless, you can basically do whatever you want. I am still figuring it out and getting better at it. I just use a basic layout that allows me to see the days of the week and I can put in little checkboxes under each day of the things I need to get done, then I can move projects around depending on what I need. Using the basic layouts is very easy and perfect for working on long-term projects or just any work task in general. I would also highly recommend getting used to and using this app. :)
P.S. One honorable mention from this section that I used to use is WorkFlowy. This is another to-do list app that allows you to write everything down on a big list and you can pair certain ideas depending on when it needs to get done and so forth. I enjoyed using that but I like that with the reminders and notion you can plan out for the whole week, whereas with WorkFlowy it is a little harder to do. However, I still loved the app and you should give it a try to decide for yourself.
Part II: Staying on Top of Projects
These next two subcategories might seem obvious but I actually find them to be very helpful as I am going through my day. These two things really build off one another and the topics discussed above. All of these things are really interconnected and related.
Work-Life Balance
We hear it all the time, "you must have a healthy work-life balance!"Even though this saying is probably overused, it is still extremely important. If you are just completely burned out, you are not going to perform well in any area of life. This is going to make you not get as good grades, or make you mean to your friends or family. Separating your time when you are working and when you are not working is a crucial step in this whole process. Committing to deep work while you are at the office and not getting distracted is going to lead to the best results and will also allow you to spend more undistracted time with your family and friends. You will find that when you are undistracted at work you will be able to get more done than you ever imagined and this will allow you to spend more intentional time with your loved ones. This is also one of the reasons that I use the Reminders App for my personal projects and I use Notion for my school/work-related tasks. It is balance and also a distinction that is important to me so that way I don't confuse the two.
Staying on Top of Projects
As I mentioned before, these ideas are all really connected. This one especially so because if you write down all the things that you need to accomplish then it will be a lot easier to get them done on time. I find that when I stay on top of my projects I feel less stress because I am able to get things done with enough time before the deadline, I find that when I don't do this I am stressed to cram things in right before they are due. This leads to worse performance in all areas of life. Being prepared and knowing beforehand what you have to do will always pay off in the end and allow you to feel prepared and like you are ready to greet the day rather than being overwhelmed and stressed out. Not letting work pile up is really key. I have found that getting a jumpstart and having a plan is really what helps me to get my work done without feeling stressed or anxious about it.
By following these little tips I have found that I can stay more organized, get more done, and still not feel stressed or overwhelmed. This has also allowed me to develop a better balance in my life and be able to enjoy fun times with friends and family and not be stressing out about my work. I hope you have found just one small tip from this blog post helpful and you will give it a try today. Hope you have a wonderful day doing what you love! Until next time! :)
Weekly Recommendations
Fun Things I've read, listened to, or watched this week!
YouTube:
Fifteen Ways to be a Better Friend
Why You Don't Get Sleep at Night ft. Matthew Walker by Dr. Mike
Books:
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
Podcasts:
The #1 Way to Remove Resistance in Your Day by Greg McKeown
How to Stress Less, Sleep Better, and Optimize Your Health with Dr. Andrew Huberman (Whoop Podcast)
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