5 reasons to expense Mind Tools Learn more
Mind Tools annual discount
20% off your first year of Mind Tools
Don’t be bound by training course schedules. Our on-demand e-learning resources let you learn at your own pace, fitting seamlessly into your busy workday. Join today and save with our limited time offer!
Get 20% off
Mind Tools explore annual discount
20% off your first year of Mind Tools
Don’t be bound by training course schedules. Our on-demand e-learning resources let you learn at your own pace, fitting seamlessly into your busy workday. Join today and save with our limited time offer!
Get 20% off
MAIN MENU

Sign-up to our newsletter

Subscribing to the Mind Tools newsletter will keep you up-to-date with our latest updates and newest resources.

Close
Working on it...
Successfully subscribed to the newsletter
Sorry, something went wrong
February 16, 2016

How Organized Are You?

Keith Jackson

,

Share this post:

From childhood, through school and into the workplace, we are encouraged to be organized. Parents want bedrooms kept tidy, teachers want exercise books to be neat and ordered, and bosses want to know that tasks will be completed on time.

But not everything that is organized is a good thing. Organized crime is a bad thing. Organized religion is a… well, I don’t think I'll stick my fork in that particular toaster!

And not everything haphazard and disorganized is a bad thing. Albert Einstein's desk was reportedly a complete shambles. But, 100 years on, 21st century scientists with mindbogglingly powerful computers and telescopes are still playing “catch up” with a man armed with a just a pencil and an unruly moustache.

I have to admit to being fairly disorganized. Actually, I operate in what is called organized chaos. The papers and printouts that spill across my desk each day are both a comfort blanket and weapons of expansion. I need to hold and read from paper, and on a good day I can annexe parts of the desks next to mine!

But I have embraced one organizational tool with a passion. Before joining Mind Tools, I’d either do my best to commit tasks to memory or jot them down on random bits of paper. Here, I was introduced to the humble to-do list. A revelation! Everything I need to do is now neatly noted and prioritized, and ticked off when completed. Too bad I can rarely find it under the avalanche of paper I still generate!

You can find more useful organization tips and tools in our article, How to Be More Organized.

How Do You Stay Organized?

We asked our friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook, "What are your top tips for organizing your workload?" And it seems time management and prioritization were among the most popular strategies. Here is a selection of their excellent replies:

  • ‏@kevdaly7: working for BMW taught me many things, the most important of which, is time management. Use a time management diary.
  • @janegray: I was a fan of the stickynote – now embracing Trello.
  • ‏@KreativeFdns: by completing project overview forms/project plans, we work more efficiently...knowing exactly where we left off & what's next
  • @AndrewJoachim1: I use the full suite of MS Outlook tools: calendar, tasks, notes, etc
  • ‏@alllette10: I do the heavy & nasty stuff first thing in the morning!
  • @p_raegan: my two tips are 1) Knowing when to say “No.” 2) Trim down big tasks into actionable chunks.

Facebook user Mbadugha Peter suggested a methodical approach to completing tasks. He said, "If it is largely paperwork, heap the papers together and start taking them one after the other from top to bottom. This requires discipline and focus and concentration."

Elaine McDermott is a happy planner. She said, "I use a monthly, weekly & daily planner. I need to see the list & cross it off. #satisfaction." Alla Pastuh added, "never plan more than you can do!'

Pawel Urbanski said, "I think for a while about consequences of doing and not doing any major task. Everything that is not important and shouldn't take a lot of time gets moved for a day or two, then I can do them in bulk."

Perhaps the last words should go to Jane Preece (@h3jwp), who provides us with the 7Ds of Organization: "don't dither - deal, defer, delegate or dump. Done!"

Thank you to everyone who replied. We are always grateful for your input, and your comments are welcome, below.

Share this post:

2 comments on “How Organized Are You?”

  1. Set realistic deadlines
    Allow time for interruptions
    Structure your workload
    Keep a log of your work

  2. I keep a daily to-do-list
    Separate items for morning and afternoon and,
    My list allow for 15 things! The items not completed go to the top of the list for tommorrow.

    1. Hi Lourie,
      thanks for sharing your tips.
      I think it's a great way to keep track and record what needs to be done, and what doesn't get done, gets on the list for tomorrow.
      Zala - MT Coach

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Offer ends soon - save on Annual and 3-Year memberships

Don’t be bound by training course schedules. Our on-demand e-learning resources let you learn at your own pace, fitting seamlessly into your busy workday. Don't miss out on 20% off your first year of Mind Tools. Ends March 31.
Get 20% off

You may also like...

November 16, 2023

Digging Into Conflict: How to "Play Nice" at Work

"It leads to what the author calls “assertive play” – not brick-on-skull assertive, but self-confident engagement, where people know they have things to contribute, and stake their claim."- Jonathan Hancock

, ,

October 11, 2023

Accepting Praise – How to Own Your Achievements

There's a lot of advice on giving praise, but how can we accept it gracefully? Mind Tools' Assistant Content Editor, Alice Gledhill, explores why accepting praise can be so difficult.

, ,

September 28, 2023

How to Find a Right-Fit Job: My Expert Interview With André Martin 

For a long-lasting, fulfilling experience at work, it pays to think carefully before applying for a job.

,

© Mind Tools Ltd 2024. All rights reserved. "Mind Tools" is a registered trademark of Mind Tools Ltd.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram