|
Use These 3 Steps to Steal Back Time Guest Post: Teresa Hawthorne, www.thawthornelifesolutions.com  Are you being robbed? Willingly?
Here’s how you can tell. Are your thoughts filled with words like later, tomorrow, someday, or eventually? If so, a thief could be carrying away one of your most prized possessions. Do you often wonder how it could be that you’ve been busy all day, but haven’t completed much on your to-do list? If your answer is yes, a thief may be running off with a valuable asset. The thief—procrastination. Your precious commodity—time. Procrastination is the intentional choice to avoid or put off doing something that you know should be done. That’s right, it’s a choice. And if chosen often enough, it becomes a habit. The procrastination habit comes at a cost. In addition to stealing your time, it negatively impacts your emotions and leaves you feeling overwhelmed, unproductive, guilty, and full of regret. It’s also a barrier to your success because it delays the steps toward your goals, causes you to miss opportunities, and results in stagnation. You’re likely already paying the cost if the procrastination habit has found its way into your life. So here is some good news. Habits can change. Before you willingly allow this time-waster to rob you again, arm yourself with these three tactics to help you arrest procrastination and reclaim your precious time. Be On The Lookout It’s often said that acknowledging a problem is the first step toward a solution. That being the case, the next step with procrastination is becoming aware of why. Procrastination shows up for a variety of reasons. Look for these common causes:
Identifying why you avoid or put things off is key to overcoming the habit. To do this, be mindful of your thoughts and feelings. Is your mind filled with what-if scenarios? Do you believe the task is too challenging? Are you unsure of where to start? Do you think you lack the skills? Do you dread what will result from you completing the project successfully? Once you’ve recognized why you do it, you’ll need a way to fight procrastination when it tries to break its way in. Plan Your Defense Taking time to create a plan is your best defense against the procrastination habit. Having a plan gives you a structured approach, helps to identify a starting point, and provides a guided route from beginning to completion. When developing your plan, it’s important to consider your why. If the reason you procrastinate is that you are overwhelmed, for example, your plan should include breaking a project into smaller, more manageable pieces. If your why is that you’re challenged with time management, your plan could be to block time on your calendar and commit to working on your task or project. Of course, your plan will be foiled if you don’t execute it. Your next step is to take action. “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” Amelia Earhart Jump In and Attack In the words of Amelia Earhart, “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” You can fight off the time thief by simply getting started. A good way to jump in is to start small. Commit to working on your dreaded task or project for five to ten minutes, then add another set of minutes when you’ve reached the end. Successfully working for short periods will give you momentum to keep going, and before you know it, the task is done. Stealing your time back from a long-standing procrastination habit will take your focused and deliberate effort. Arm yourself with these three actions and you’ll be ready to identify and fight off this time thief when it attempts to creep back in. Procrastination is a time-waster that, left unchecked, can cost you your goals and dreams. Don’t let it! Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth Digital Detox: How to Declutter and Organize Your Digital Life for Improved Productivity Guest Post: Vincent Giacalone www.theorganizedguy.com  In today’s fast-paced world, digital clutter can quickly accumulate, affecting your productivity and mental well-being. Just as physical clutter can overwhelm your space, digital clutter can bog down your devices and distract you from your tasks.
Here’s how to declutter and organize your digital life for improved productivity. Step 1: Declutter Your Digital Devices
Step 2: Streamline Your Apps and Software
Step 3: Digital Maintenance Routine
Paper vs. Digital—Challenge Yourself As you embark on your digital detox, challenge yourself to assess your need for physical paper copies. Consider the following questions to help you decide whether to keep or discard paper documents:
By transitioning to a more digital-centric approach, you can reduce physical clutter and improve your overall organization. Decluttering and organizing your digital life is an ongoing process that requires regular maintenance. By implementing these strategies, you can improve your productivity, reduce stress, and create a more efficient digital environment. Embrace the digital detox and enjoy the benefits of a streamlined, organized digital life. Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth  Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ...
Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth |
Archives
January 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed