This is our first “Manic Monday!” On Manic Monday, we’re going to offer you a tip or resource to help you get or stay organized, manage your time more effectively, or on self-care.
Today’s tip is a simple one. I just shared it last Friday with a group of students during a customer service training. A colleague of mine likes to call it “brain purge.” Here’s how it works:
At the beginning of each day, write down EVERYTHING that’s on your mind. It doesn’t matter if it’s personal or work-related. The goal is to get everything on paper (or in Outlook, Word, Excel, etc). Do what feels most comfortable for you. By purging your mind of “clutter,” it allows you to be more present and focused during the day. You are no longer worrying about what you have to do because everything has a place you can refer back to.
Next, pick the top 3 items on the list you need or want to accomplish. You will feel much more in control of your day if you have a plan of attack! I actually have an 8:00 – 8:30 am appointment on my calendar each morning to work on my Success List (the things I have to do) and task assignment (when I’m going to do it). I use Outlook to record everything, but a notebook will accomplish the same thing. I actually look forward now to doing my daily planning.
Give it a try for a week and see what you think! If you’d like to share how it worked for you, you can post your comment below.
Next month, we’ll talk about tips for managing your email.
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