Sep
Planning: Today and Tomorrow - Guest Post
Elisabeth of Turn Leaf Organizing tackles planning - a topic that you all know is near & dear to my heart. Could these tips help you have a calmer tomorrow? {Jill Marie}
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“Do not finish TODAY until you have planned for TOMORROW.”
I came across this fantastic quote this week (thank you Doug Stevenson), as I was preparing for a presentation for women entrepreneurs in the field of skincare. It really resonated with me, and reflects one of the main messages I give to all of my clients, including students, business owners and heads of households. Because we hit the ground running once that alarm had sounded every morning, we often do not take the time to plan for the day once the sun has risen.
By taking just 5 to 10 minutes before leaving the office or shutting down the computer each afternoon or evening, you can give yourself a head start for tomorrow. Here are the steps to take during that short- yet vital- window of time, before your professional mind goes “off-line” for the night.
- Reflect on what you accomplished today.
- Read over your To Do List to be sure you have checked or crossed off the finished items (doesn’t that feel good?)
- Look at the remaining tasks on the list, and re-prioritize based upon tomorrow’s schedule. Most To-Do Lists should have no more than 3-4 top priorities per day.
- Review your calendar for tomorrow’s scheduled meetings, appointments, and other commitments.
- Block off your remaining “unscheduled” time and enter in the top priority tasks from the To Do List. Now, those tasks have become part of the plan for tomorrow.
So I challenge you: try this each day for a few weeks, and I feel confident you will find that it has increased your productivity. Remember, if you repeat a single action ~21 days in a row, it becomes a new habit. So stick with this new plan, and you’ll have a new trick up your sleeve to better manage your time.
Staying Organized-
Elisabeth Galperin
