How to Keep a Busy Life Organized

With multitasking now an everyday occurrance, and technology frequently outpacing ourselves, it is essential that a busy person stay organized.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Wall calendar
• Electronic calendar
• Note pads
• Pens
• Post-Its

1. Write down any outstanding tasks that you need to do.
2. Set aside a day or two (maybe a weekend) to get all of these tasks done.
3. Make a list at the beginning of the day that notes, in order of priority, the tasks you want to accomplish.
4. Tackle quick and easy tasks first so you can cross them off your list and feel as if you've accomplished a lot. This is great if you're prone to procrastinating or feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks.
5. Tackle large, significant projects if you feel that you won't have time to get everything on your list done that day.
6. Assign other family members peripheral tasks that can make your daily life easier, such as doing the dishes, putting away shoes and taking out the trash. Make these tasks regular occurrences so that you don't have to think about them.
7. Establish a routine to save time. Check e-mail once in the morning, once at noon and once before turning off the computer. Catch up on all correspondences before the next day. Set aside 20 minutes right before you go to bed each night to do a quick sweep of the house and get the little things in order.
8. Every two weeks, set aside on which everyone pitches in to finish things that might have been neglected.