There is a huge stress with disorganization
and there is also a cost to being disorganized.
Carolee Cannata
How we choose to spend out time says a great deal about who we are. We often find ourselves doing well in one area of our lives, while another is severely lacking. What we should be working toward, and what most of us really want to work toward, is balance. One of the keys to personal time management and living a balanced and fulfilling life is staying organized. But many people remained chained to their old ways, their old life, the things they want to start doing, and away from the things they’d like to add to their lives by their own habit of disorganization.
If you are finding that you are simply too tired or do not have adequate time to do anything in the evenings, then maybe your daily routine is out of balance and you need to consider making some adjustments.
Your work may be too difficult or unsuitable for you, but probably not. Perhaps the issue is that you are making full use of your hours during the day or evening, but still feel you should be able to get more fun stuff in. A good working balance of your time is needed for work, to reach your goals, spend time with family and friends in recreation, and time for relaxation so that you can re-charge your batteries.
So, where do you start? You start by taking a close look at your daily routine, examine your findings and come up with a do-able plan. You of course, must commit to following your plan for it to make a difference in your life, and to get back to balance. With your new balance, you should also become better organized.
Why be better organized?
Being overly busy will certainly keep your mind off worry while you are at work. But you must also learn to make good use of your time away from work to increase your knowledge base, to work on a personal hobby or project, and then to relax and be content with who you are and what you have accomplished. This is good balance.
I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability
of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.
Most of us use only a tiny portion of our minds and talents. We are capable of so much more. But the goal is not to overwhelm ourselves with more things, but to do the things we love more often; to spend more time with the people we care about, and who care about us.
The more organized you are the more time you will should have for yourself. As you become better organized, you can find time to take on new projects. Starting with something small, you can now work your way up to devoting more and more time to projects that stimulate your mind, and feed your heart and soul. Once you complete your new project, you will feel better about yourself and how you are spending your new, and better organized time.
My oldest brother had a phrase that he loved, if only because it made me nuts. “There is a place for everything and everything has its place.” But by trying to adhere to this philosophy, I have found frees the body and mind to take on newer and richer endeavors.
If you are under a lot of stress, a more passive and relaxing undertaking might help to relieve some of the stress, at least in the beginning. Just think, for just one day a week, or a few hours on certain days, you can set all of that stress aside and concentrate on your own unique enjoyment.
Take a walk in the park, listen to lovely music, read an interesting novel, leisurely work in the yard, or watch a bit of TV, these are all of the perks in time from staying organized.
When I go into my garden with a spade, and dig a bed, I feel such
an exhilaration and health that I discover that I have been
defrauding myself all this time in letting others do for me what I
should have done with my own hands.
Being well organized takes some time and effort and commitment. So, how are you going to remember all of the things you need to do on this new path?
1. Write it down
With all of the details that you have to remember in any given day, why are you trying to keep it all in your head? At the very moment that you remember something needs to be done, the best thing to do is write it down. Then, just as you need to recall it, it will be there for you in an instant. Use what works best for you. That may be a paper calendar (yes paper), smart phone, etc. Pick something that you will easily remember to look at, and that you can use quickly and efficiently.
2. Keep all of your notes in one place
Once you have developed the knack of writing everything down, your next step will be to keep your writing all in one place, so that you can find it. You will remember everything better this way. Otherwise, you are going to spend a lot of your precious time searching for your notes.
3. Keep on top of your health
A keen memory is a well-nourished mind. Eating healthy, getting plenty of rest and lots of good exercise are all ways to nourish your mind and body. And, a healthy mind has no problem remaining focused and staying alert.
More to come…
Photo Credit: Ojo de vidrio via Compfight cc
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