Organization + Time Management = Life You Love
Master Organizer Sarah Sitham was the guest at my Coaching Circle last night in Pine Plains. Sarah shared with us her 6-step guide to becoming “truly” organized. Time is such an important factor to consider for all of us (how are we using it, where does our day go, why are we spending time on x, y or even z, etc.) and so, as we ready ourselves to return to school -or at least the reality of an impending Fall- her visit seemed especially prescient.
Sarah talked about the importance of looking at the bigger picture of your life when it comes to organizing, like I do with my own work. The clean desk isn’t going to be enough to motivate you on a daily basis but the peace of mind or pleasure that comes with entering your office which features a clean desk will be more inclined to satisfy you long-term. Just like the motivation behind changing careers needs to grounded more in future growth of Authentic Self than a basic like more money. The purpose of all of this organization is so that you can be effective in living that life you want.
In an effort to become more effective in my own life, I have started to use a time-log. The time-log available here and mentioned in Michael Stelzner’s post about time earlier this week was an intimidating idea –did I really want to see in black and white where my time goes? But here at Day #2 (granted it is only 6:40 am) I’m liking the accountability factor that accompanies the process.
Certainly there are other effective living tools than a timelog. Some people swear by a tea timer and set it for 50 minutes so they can work on a project uninterrupted. Sarah also recommends breaking down tasks into small bites e.g. taking 10 minutes to straighten the bathroom closet. For those who don’t have a planner, get one. Using one planner is essential; multiple planners or calendars take too much energy to maintain and also leave ample room for errors. Becoming “truly” organized means taking the time to create and maintain systems that work for you. It’s about getting you ready to take action, then taking action. It’s about being in motion.
What are the tools you use to create a life you love?