Many people live in constant frustration because they are surrounded by the chaos of tasks they just can't get done. Keeping track of all these things adds stress because you live in fear that you might forget something important. You can take charge and begin to bring your life back under control with just a few simple steps. You won't be able to prevent unexpected new demands, but you will be better able to cope with them.
Declutter Your Home and Office
An important first step to organize your life is to get rid of things you don't need so that you'll have fewer things left to organize. If the task seems overwhelming, schedule blocks of time to tackle one small area at a time. For example, you could devote an hour or two at a time, once or twice a week. If you find it difficult to let go of an item for emotional reasons, consider whether you might be able to retain just a part of it or perhaps a picture of it. For example, if you've kept a cherished childhood game as a memento of special times, you could keep just one game piece or a portion of the box lid with the name of the game. You still get to keep the memory, but it takes up a lot less space.
Make a Daily "To Do" List
Think of a "To Do" list as a battle plan for the day. Draft your list near the end of the day when you have an idea of what you won't finish that day. Set aside a 10- to 15-minute block of time to focus on tomorrow. List the things you absolutely must get done and then list things that you need to finish in the near term. Don't pad the list with things you do every day, like reviewing email or attending a daily staff meeting. You can use numerical ratings or stars to indicate the most critical tasks. To avoid frustration, leave room for unexpected tasks and events that may pop up. Don't stress out if you don't finish everything on your list--few people do. Just take whatever is left on your list at the end of the day and move it to tomorrow's list.
Establish Visual Cues
Some items just don't fit neatly on your "To Do" list. For example, if you must remember to drop the dog off at the groomer's on your way to work, writing that task on a "To Do" list you keep at work won't be very effective. Instead, you might put the dog's cage in the kitchen or front hallway where you'll see it, or, if the cage is upsetting to your dog, you could use a symbolic reminder, like hanging the dog's leash over the front door knob so that you'll see it on your way out in the morning. Be careful not to place so many visual cues around the house that they become "visual noise" that you tune out.
Make an Action File
With so many things to juggle, it's easy to find yourself in the midst of an errand or a project without something you were supposed to bring along, like the receipt for the dry cleaners or tickets for an event after work. Make yourself a portable action file that you can take along with you through the day. It can be a simple pocket folder, an accordion file, a pouch-style folder or something similar. Each evening, put in your action file things that you'll need for the next day and add items you want to work on, like a form you need to fill out or documents you need to review. During down times, like when you're parked at the school waiting for your daughter to come out, you can use the unexpected spare moment to work on an item in your action file.
Conduct a Blitz
Sometimes the demands of everyday life preclude you from doing things you really want and need to get done. These items aren't critical, so they never rise to the top of the "To Do" list. Yet, they nag at you and cause stress. This kind of background distraction can reduce your effectiveness at reaching your goals by as much as 30 to 50 percent, according to LifeOrganizers.com. To wipe away this nagging feeling, set aside a whole day, or even half a day, where you clear your schedule and devote yourself entirely to a blitz to attack the tasks you've never found the time to address. Even if you don't get all of these items completed, you'll feel a lot better.
