Getting Started: Organisation Tips
By Priya Visavadia (15 January 2021)
It’s been a tough past year, hasn’t it? I bet you’re also feeling a little shaken and tired from all the instability and uncertainty that last year brought. But that’s okay! If last year has taught us anything, it’s that we are stronger than we might think.
The trick to coming out stronger is identifying the problem and addressing it. For me, that was time management. I believe that managing your time is a crucial step towards helping you feel better, more organised, and ultimately, less stressed. Here are a few tips that certainly helped me, and I hope can help you.
1. Buy a calendar or diary
I used to be a bit of a scatterbrain, until my sister bought me a calendar and a diary. It may sound ridiculous, but that small gesture changed my life. It gave me clarity on what I had planned, what was upcoming, and most importantly, I could visualise how I was spending my time. I kept my weekly deadlines, plans, and appointments in my diary, whereas the calendar had my year goals, holidays, and occasions on it.
Suggestion: If it’s a calendar, hang it on a prominent wall in your workspace. If it’s a diary, keep it with you at all times.
2. Make sure you have a clear workspace
This tip is twofold. First, you need to create a designated workspace. Then, make sure it is clear.
As working from home has become the new norm, finding an appropriate workspace may have caused you initial stress. Not all of us have the luxury of having a home office, so it’s important to set up a workspace. For example, I have been using a specific spot at my dining table. I tell myself that when I am sat in that spot, I am in work mode. It really helps me to differentiate work time from leisure time.
The next step is to make sure you keep your workspace clear. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have a completely bare table, but what you should ensure is that you have an organised and distraction-free workspace. Only have the things that are essential for work on your table. That magazine or book that you’ve been reading in your free time shouldn’t be in your workspace because it will make things feel cluttered. An organised workspace = an organised mind.
Suggestion: Donate or recycle something you no longer need. Junk can accumulate quickly.
3. Set yourself smaller goals
While it’s important to have a big end goal to work towards, it can often feel a little out of reach. The key to change is progress. And how do you realise progress? By taking baby steps in the right direction. Setting smaller, daily or weekly, goals will help boost your confidence as you’ll be able to tick off things more frequently. Try setting yourself a goal each day. It doesn’t have to be a big one like running 10k, but it could be as simple as eating a piece of fruit. Accomplishing lots of small goals will make your big goal far more digestible and less daunting.
Example: Instead of setting a goal to write better, set a smaller goal to learn a new word each day.