Banish chaos and restore order to your home, office and personal life.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
1. Create a “launch pad”
Banish manic mornings by creating a space next to your main point of entry and exit, and use it for things that are travelling in and out of the house with you. A bookshelf with open baskets, coat hooks or a pigeon hole system work well. When you come in, simply deposit your keys, cellphone and handbag in the basket or on the hook. Place things like rental DVDs or library books here too, for easy pick up on your way out.
2. Do what comes naturally
If you always drop your towel on the bathroom floor, put up a hook or rail. If you leave your keys or reading glasses on the kitchen table, put an open container on the counter. And if your laundry never makes it beyond your bedroom door, place an open laundry basket nearby and simply do what you’ve always done.
3. Zone it
Designate zones in each area of your home. Decide what the main function of the room is and then focus on what you need to fulfil that function. So create preparation, cooking and cleaning zones in the kitchen, and keep relevant items in these zones, like washing up liquid, gloves and scourers in the cleaning zone, and pots, pans and spices in the cooking zone. Keeping like items in the same area saves you time, and creates a designated space for each item.
YOUR TIME
1. Set goals
Having clearly defined goals will keep you balanced and focused: mental (work, finance), physical (health, wellbeing), emotional (self, friends, family) and spiritual (religion, spirituality). Knowing what you want to achieve and committing to what you need to do to achieve it allows you to live your life on purpose, and with purpose.
2. Multitask
Don’t have enough time to see your friends as much as you’d likeu Look for common interests and schedule a regular get-together, like a book club, poker evening or movie night. Create a roster for the year with your close group of friends, and whoever is in charge of a particular month gets to choose when, where and what activity you’ll be doing. Or schedule time to work out together with one or two friends — you’ll be accountable to each other and have more fun as you exercise.
3. Just say no
You don’t have time to do it all, so identify those goals or activities that are most important to you, and make those your priority. If something comes up that doesn’t feel right for you, simply say no. Don’t compromise your time, hobbies or goals. Follow your truth and value your time, or no one else will.
4. Choose your attitude
Your thoughts determine your actions. So change negative thoughts that aren’t serving you, like “I’m stressed and frustrated”, by replacing them with a positive affirmation like “I am calm and capable”. Repeating this will help you take control of your thoughts, making you feel less stressed and more empowered and liberated.
OFFICE SPACE
1. Organise your inbox
Your inbox is an action box — it needs to act as an extension of your “to-do” list. To save time and keep you focused, aim for a maximum of 60 e-mails in your inbox. If it’s already bulging, create a folder named “old inbox” and drag your old e-mails into it. Now start afresh and make immediate decisions to file, delete, delegate or follow up on all new e-mails.
2. Clear your desk
File, don’t pile. Toss out your old in/out tray and replace it with an A4-sized, four or six drawer unit available from most stationery stores. Label the drawers “To file”, “To do”, “To pay” and “Scrap paper”. Place your papers into the appropriate drawer as they land on your desk, instead of adding to a growing, meaningless pile. The bonusk You only file when the drawer is full, your desk stays clutter-free and your papers are pre-sorted and easy to find.
3. Cross things off your list
Keep a running list of everything you need to do, prioritise it and schedule three tasks a day in your diary. Reschedule whatever you don’t complete for the next day. And don’t waste time listing anything that can be done in two minutes — just do it!
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