“Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail”
Planning and Organising is something that excites me. This is most probably due to my high levels of conscientiousness, detail-orientation, and need for order and structure. However, this is not the case for everyone. Some people want to run a mile when they hear the words “Planning and Organising”. Others may prefer to be flexible and spontaneous in how they approach their daily tasks. Despite our natural inclination towards how we prefer to approach our work, Planning and Organising is something that is critical to overcoming procrastination, making better use of our time, and, most importantly, reducing stress levels.
Planning and Organising our days can help us move from being aimlessly busy to being focused and productive. In order to be productive with our time, we need to prioritise what tasks are the most important. At the start of each day, I make a to-do list with the most important task right at the top. I then fit in less important tasks towards the lower end of the list, and I also keep space in between already established tasks to account for anything urgent that may pop up during the day (which is more likely than not).
Another “rule” that I have implemented for myself in the past few months is only checking my mailbox at certain times of the day. This allows me to complete tasks without notifications popping up every two minutes. It forces me to pay attention to the task at hand, which results in me finishing the task faster and more accurately than I would have if I were constantly checking emails and doing mundane tasks in between.
So, there you have it. Having a daily plan and structuring your day as best as you can, can significantly increase your productivity. You are more likely to get things done if you actively write down your plans for the day. Harvey Mackay said, “Time is free, but it is priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you have lost it, you can never get it back.” Use your time wisely.”
At The Human Route, we offer workshops on how to Plan and Prioritise your day effectively to improve time management and reduce unnecessary stress.
Micaela Helders, Psychometrist