So many times do we feel as if we just can't take on one more thing! There just isn't any more time in the day to do anything. Our plate is completely and utterly full to the brim and we will never find the necessary time to build your business or organize your home. It seems hopeless.
Building a solid foundation can change everything. It is necessary that your foundation for your home and office be sturdy, strong and confident. Knowing what and how you manage your day to day business will allow more time to creep into your day. How can you free up some time or streamline your processes to get more done (and still be able to take time for family, friends and outside activities). Here are some tips to build your foundation strong and get more done:
1. Build Habits - We have all heard that it takes 21 days to build a habit or make a change. The problem with this philosophy is that typically we give up long before the 21 days are up. The good news is that you can always start over again...you won't be breaking any rules - but will you start again or just give up? Use a Daily To Do List, Weekly Plan Sheet and Monthly Calendar to make sure that you hit your target every day.
2. Planning out your day will allow you the opportunity to get more work done. Just going from one activity to another may "seem" productive but at the end of the day I promise that you will get more done if you plan out your day. Anything that lasts more than 15 minutes should be scheduled.
3. Keep your foundation strong by allowing others to be your mortar. You don't have to do it all yourself. In order to get more done, you must be willing to allow others to be a part of your process. When you concentrate on controlling every aspect of every event of every day, you won't be able to find more time in each day to get more done. In order to move forward and get more done, it is necessary to allow someone else step in and be your assistant. It doesn't even matter if it is just a few hours a week! Those few hours will allow you enough time to concentrate on what is important in order for you to grow as a person and a business. Remember, it doesn't have to be done perfect! Being excellent will suffice.
It's just like we learned in Sunday School as a little child. The foolish man built his house upon the sand, the rain came tumbling down and the house went flat...because there wasn't a stable foundation for the home. But the wise man built his house upon the rocks and that house stood firm!
Eliminating Overwhelm
I have found my new favorite television show. The Anderson Cooper Show - which replaced Oprah here on the East Coast. He discusses topics that are slightly controversial but mostly real life stories that we may not hear about and that touch your heart.
On the October 25th show he discussed society's need to be "connected" electronically. With the use of blackberry's, smart phones, ipads, xbox's, mp3's (which may be outdated now), and multiple laptops in every family, we are becoming disconnected from each other and the need to be connected is causing an increase in stress and anxiety.
A family of 4 sent over 7,300 text messages a month, had 5 cell phones, 3 laptops, an ipad and 3 televisions in the home. When they took a look at the amount of time that each family member spent checking electronic devices, etc. it was estimated that this family of 4 actually spent 30 minutes together every day. The day was even checking his email while he was shaving and brushing his teeth in the morning! The challenge was to spend 24 hours totally disconnected from all electronic devices. Anderson Cooper even admitted that when he monitored himself, he checked his blackberry every 3-4 minutes - just in case someone sent him a message.
What does this have to do with being organized? I think it is totally related to our daily increase in stress and anxiety. Feeling the need to be connected "all the time" has become our lifestyle. I don't remember the exact percentage, but most people even sleep with the cell phone right next to them and get up in the middle of the night to check emails. WHAT? I'll admit that I use my cell phone as my alarm clock because I am an early riser, but to sleep with it in bed?
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