‘Finish one task, and then move to the other’

Roopleen Prasad

02-November-2012

Vol 0 | Issue 1

Success in any endeavor in life hinges on the ability to ‘get it all together.’ The main difference between high achievers and others is that the former are super-organized. They have mastered doing things in an organized and systematic way.

Many people live their lives rushing frantically chasing deadlines. They get late for work, struggle with keeping up with their schedule and appointments, are engaged in a last-minute scramble to get everything done and are often found searching for things they have lost or misplaced.

They never seem to figure out how to put it all together. A lot of their time gets wasted in unproductive chores. Working in a disjointed manner throws their system out of gear, clogs their life and takes their focus away from their goals. They literally live on edge, are stressed out and frustrated by the chaos that surrounds them.

To accomplish more in less time, you need to get organized. Successful people are highly organized. Their lifestyle is in perfect sync with their objectives, priorities and commitments. They know what they want and work deliberately in a well thought out manner to achieve their goals.

In today’s fast-paced life, the importance of being organized cannot be overemphasized. It is almost impossible to succeed without being organized. In fact, being organized is one of the essential skills that you need to structure your life.

There are two fundamental elements of being organized- de-cluttering and planning. To be well organized you first need to get rid of the already present clutter.

Just like before filling a container with something you first have to empty it of its contents, you need to begin organizing by de-cluttering. Get rid of the unwanted. Throw away all the junk lying around you, dispose of the excess- articles which are non-functional, broken or have lost their usefulness for a long time.

This will create extra space for the useful things which will be now easier to locate thus providing you with spare time and energy to focus on more important things in your life.

Plan your day instead of taking up tasks randomly. Think about the things you want to accomplish and plan about how you intent to go about doing them. By planning you can cut down substantially on the wasted time.

Also, when you chalk out a plan, you will look out for ways and means to execute your plan effectively and efficiently.

You will have a number of tasks to do each day. There really are only twenty four hours in a day and seven days in a week. Also, you have finite amount of stamina, you cannot possibly do everything. So set your priorities and mark your tasks so that the important things get done.

Write everything down. ‘A few drops of ink are better than a sharp memory.’ Keep a pen and a small notepad handy with you at all times so you can write things down as they come to you.

It is always a good idea to break down the plan into smaller, easily achievable steps both for clarity and precision. Piecemeal technique is the best technique. Don’t do things haphazardly. Finish one task, and then move to the other.

If you are not a master multi-tasker, focus on just one thing at a time. Concentrate on the task at hand. Make sure you are not generating any more stress being organized than you already are being disorganized.

Take periodic breaks. Create your personalized relaxation and de-stress plan. Don’t binge on junk food though. Eat food when required; don’t use it as a stress-buster, source of comfort and solace.

Your energy level is not the same throughout the day. Use your peak hours to do the most important tasks. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks to others based on their area of expertise.

Organizing, however, is neither a onetime task nor does it come overnight. It takes time, patience, commitment, regular practice and a lifestyle overhaul. But it’s a powerful tool that will not only help you focus on your goals and reduce stress but will also enable you to lead a quality life.

Getting organized can make all the difference in your life- you will be able to increase your efficiency, get more done in less time and secure a definite edge over others. So take the plunge, get organized and forge ahead.

The Author is a Motivational counselor, Speaker, Ophthalmologist, and Author of 'Principles of Success Made Easy-14 Easy Steps to Climb the Ladder of Success'