MPmomof3Organization and Time Management
March 8th 2010 02:21
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Plan ahead to save time
Have you ever found yourself wishing that there were more hours in the day? Are you frustrated because you are constantly losing your keys, cell phone, bills, television remote, etc? Have you started your car, ready to race to work because you're late again, only to find that you've used your last drop of gas? If so, rest assured that you are not alone. Many people have trouble with time management because they have not yet found a way to get organized.
Organization may seem like something out of a fairy tale to you right now, but bear with me. It's all about baby steps. Below are a few practical tips to get you going in the right direction.
Tip 1: Begin by stream-lining your morning routine.
Personally, I have found that when I start my day behind, I usually end it behind as well. It's hard to "make up" time during the day. Even trying to do so makes me exhausted which, you guessed it, puts me further behind.
Thinking about your morning routine helps you plan ahead for it the night before. Even simple things like checking the weather and choosing clothing ahead of time can make a big difference. If you need to be at work early make sure that your clothing is pressed, matched and ready to go the night before. Another time saver, one I use frequently, is pre-filling my coffee pot. Both of these tasks are easier to do during the afternoon or at night before I go to bed because I am more coordinated at those times than during the early morning hours.
Tip 2: Organize the things you use on a daily basis.
My two big "must haves" for every day are my cell phone (I don't have a house phone) and my car keys. My husband and I used to constantly lose our keys until we came up with an easier system to keep track of them. I put a glass Pyrex bowl from our kitchen onto our living room coffee table. It is very easy to simply drop our keys into the bowl as we enter the house. When we need them, they are right there. When company comes it is very easy to move the bowl out of the way. Having a regular place where you put important items is a tremendous help in becoming more organized and saving time.
Tip 3: Find a system that works for you and your family.
The internet, magazines, friends, family and television shows about home organization can all be great sources of inspiration for time management and household organization ideas. In the end, however, you may need a bit of creativity to modify them to fit your lifestyle. Don't be afraid to make a few customizations to plans that have worked for other people. Take small steps and make the plan your own. Find something that works for you.
Organization may seem like something out of a fairy tale to you right now, but bear with me. It's all about baby steps. Below are a few practical tips to get you going in the right direction.
Tip 1: Begin by stream-lining your morning routine.
Personally, I have found that when I start my day behind, I usually end it behind as well. It's hard to "make up" time during the day. Even trying to do so makes me exhausted which, you guessed it, puts me further behind.
Thinking about your morning routine helps you plan ahead for it the night before. Even simple things like checking the weather and choosing clothing ahead of time can make a big difference. If you need to be at work early make sure that your clothing is pressed, matched and ready to go the night before. Another time saver, one I use frequently, is pre-filling my coffee pot. Both of these tasks are easier to do during the afternoon or at night before I go to bed because I am more coordinated at those times than during the early morning hours.
Tip 2: Organize the things you use on a daily basis.
My two big "must haves" for every day are my cell phone (I don't have a house phone) and my car keys. My husband and I used to constantly lose our keys until we came up with an easier system to keep track of them. I put a glass Pyrex bowl from our kitchen onto our living room coffee table. It is very easy to simply drop our keys into the bowl as we enter the house. When we need them, they are right there. When company comes it is very easy to move the bowl out of the way. Having a regular place where you put important items is a tremendous help in becoming more organized and saving time.
Tip 3: Find a system that works for you and your family.
The internet, magazines, friends, family and television shows about home organization can all be great sources of inspiration for time management and household organization ideas. In the end, however, you may need a bit of creativity to modify them to fit your lifestyle. Don't be afraid to make a few customizations to plans that have worked for other people. Take small steps and make the plan your own. Find something that works for you.
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