With all of the distractions that come our way today, it can be difficult to get things done in a timely manner. According to Forbes magazine, Washington D.C. ranks fourth in their list of America's Most Stressful Cities, and since many Baltimore area residents regularly commute to Washington, DC for work, this statistic realistically covers Baltimore/Washington DC metro. The other annoying problem we have is traffic congestion, which not only adds to the stress, but wastes a lot of time. Being as productive as you can in the time that you do have control over can make all the difference.
Planning your day, with clear and achievable deadlines will go a long way, but here are some additional productivity tips that you can apply immediately, to help you to stay focused and organized:
- Have confidence in yourself to get things done: If you keep telling yourself that you have a poor memory, it’s unlikely that you’re making the effort to improve it. Find ways to motivate yourself and keep a positive attitude.
- Write things down: Don’t try to keep everything in your head. Use a planner, calendar and set up reminders. This is particularly helpful when you are working on a new habit.
- Take care of you: If you are not taking care of yourself, you will feel tired and unmotivated. Try to get some exercise and eat right, and you’ll be more productive.
- Stay on task with timers and alarms: Do you plan your day, but often get sidetracked and end up spending time working on unimportant tasks? Timers can help to remind you to get back to the task at hand. Set a loud timer to go off periodically to remind you to stay focused.
- Take advantage of new technology to help you stay organized: Learn about new tools that can help you to stay organized and remember important details. For smart phone users, look into phone apps like Evernote and Remember the Milk.
- Keep your notes and to-dos in one place: If you prefer to keep your to-do lists separate from your calendar or planner, pick one notebook. Avoid sticky notes and miscellaneous slips of paper, which are likely to get lost. However, don’t underestimate the power of a post-it note for last minute reminders. If you have a habit of leaving things at home in the morning, post a sticky note on the door as a last minute reminder!
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Baltimore Organized Families writer, Jacquie Ross also shares organizing tips in her Timely Tips e-newsletter. Subscribers are eligible to receive a free email declutter course when they sign up. Get your decluttering course now by clicking here.
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