Included in the non-supportive habits that I encounter with clients, is the habit of dumping things onto to-do lists and calendars. What happens is things come to mind that have to be done or added to your calendar and you cram them in without even thinking about where they should go or if they even fit. A lot of times it’s because if you don’t, you won’t have a way to remember them.
We’re about a month into Spring and with the season comes the traditional “Spring cleaning” and truthfully, this a good time to clean, purge and organize your office too. If you didn’t purge and archive files at the end of the year, spring is a good time to do so. It’s also a good time to look at the systems and routines that you have in place to support you in your day to day activities. Your office isn’t the only thing that can get cluttered and disorganized. The same can happen to your calendar and your to-do list.
If you look at your calendar and don’t see time where you’re working on things that are relevant to your business goals and projects or meetings that are related to what you’re up to or where you’re going, then it’s time to clean up your act. Do you see blocks of me time or are you not even on your own calendar?
Spring clean your calendar by getting rid of the things that aren’t relevant. If something isn’t relevant it’s not worthy of your time. If you’re overbooked, reassess what’s there. Everything that you have scheduled time for should have a related priority. Allow those priorities to determine whether or not the items remain on your calendar.
To continue, look at your to-do list. Chances are it’s pretty full. Weed out the things that aren’t important and if there are things that you can delegate do it! The things on your to-do list should also have a level of priority assigned to them before things make it to your list. Not having a priority can cost you precious time.
These quick steps will declutter your calendar and your to-do list. To keep them that way planning is key. As you plan, keep your goals top of mind and don’t allow anything that’s not related to find its way in, and don’t over commit yourself. Know what you are capable of handling and be realistic. Before you commit to something, make sure that it’s relevant and that you have the time to dedicate to it. These things will greatly assist you in managing your work load and keeping extra hours and clutter off of your agenda.