Organize and Energize: 5 Ways to Stay on Track with Your Errands
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
I was asked a great question by one of my clients. “How do you organize all the errands you have to do on a weekly basis?
I first asked her if she worked off a to-do list. She said, yes. I then asked her if it was a weekly or daily to-do list and she said it was a weekly.
If you are working off a weekly to –do list, are you feeling a little overwhelmed? With a weekly to-do list, you have a long list of things you need to accomplish and they are in no specific order. It’s just a bunch of stuff that you need to get done. You may take a look at that list and say “forget it” there is too much to do and you probably won’t do half of it. You may also find yourself driving all over the state during the week tackling your errands. By breaking each day out, you can have a plan for each day and it won’t be as stressful to tackle and you will feel better about the week ahead.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHere are 5 tips to keep you on track.
1. Get rid of the weekly to-do list. How is your weekly to-do list working? Do you feel overwhelmed? Do you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Switch to a daily to-do list and it will be more manageable.
2. Plan your week. Here is where this comes in handy with running errands. On Friday, take out your calendar, pen and paper. If you prefer, you can use your tablet or phone, whichever you prefer. If you are using paper, take 7 pieces of paper and write the days of the week on each sheet. Each day will have its own piece of paper. Grab your calendar and take a look where you need to be next week. Never again ask yourself, what am I forgetting? You will never forget an appointment again.
3. Make your to-do list from your calendar. Transfer everything from your calendar to the daily to-do list. You may say this would take too much time, it sounds like it would, but trust me on this it’s going to be a breeze. On Friday afternoon, take 10 minutes to create your to-do list for the following week. Write everything down on this to-do list. Get everything out of your head and onto paper.
4. Coordinate your errands. You know you have to go to the mall to return something and then you have to go to Staples to pick up office supplies. You need to get pet food, and you need to also drop something off at your mom’s house. You get the picture. Take a look at your daily to –do lists and see when you are going to be in the vicinity of the errands you need to run. Put those errands on your to-do list. This is going to save you so much time, save you money, reduce your stress and save you gas.
5. Utilize your daily to-do list. Using this to-do list will keep you on track with tasks, save you time, decrease stress and release mental clutter. Good reasons to utilize one, right? Here are 5 reasons to use a to-do list.
Tackling your errands in an efficient and productive manner is all about planning and preparing. It’s about being organized and being able to maximize your time. Try practicing this method in the week ahead. Let me know how it works for you!
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on http://www.talkstreamradio.com.
Related Slideshow: 5 Organizing Blunders
Avoid these mistakes and your project will take less time than you expected. You won’t be as stressed or as overwhelmed as you anticipated. You will be amazed at what you have accomplished. You will be motivated and energized to tackle another project.
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