Getting Organized for the New Year

  • Published
  • By Mater Sgt. Mark Watts
  • 9th AMDS
Beale Air Force Base, Calif. --  Have you ever heard the saying, "There are not enough hours in the day"? Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the number and complexity of tasks that need to be completed at work each day? As the days and weeks fly by, do you find yourself paying less attention to some tasks because other tasks keep landing on your desk? Do you find yourself constantly working longer hours?

We all know that if you manage your time effectively, you will get more out of the day. But did you know that good time management has important health benefits? By properly managing your time, you can decrease stress and improve your quality of life. With the start of a new year, it's a great time to try a new approach to time management. I would like to share a few tips that may improve your productivity and help reduce your daily stress.

By planning your day, you can accomplish more and feel more in control of your life. At the beginning of the week write a to-do list, putting the most important tasks at the top. Then as you start each day go over your list to make sure you are staying on track and re-prioritize as needed.

It is a good idea to block time on your calendars for your big tasks to stay on target. This will allow you to keep a schedule of your daily activities to minimize conflicts and last-minute rushes.

You may also want to limit distractions during the times you have blocked out on your calendar for big projects. If you can, close your door, turn off your phone, and log off email.

One pitfall for most people is not properly prioritizing their tasks. When you receive time-consuming but relatively unimportant tasks, it can consume a lot of your day. An important factor often neglected is failure to communicate with the task givers. Don't be afraid to ask the question, "When do you need this done?"

By knowing accurate deadlines, it will help you prioritize to ensure you spend your time and energy on items truly important to you. Sometimes you may have to say "No" to nonessential tasks. Always consider your goals and schedule before agreeing to take on additional work. Delegation can be another way to ease your work load when possible. Most of the time we have capable co-workers around us that can handle the task, but we fail to utilize them.

Take time to do a quality job. Doing work right the first time may take more time upfront, but errors usually result in time spent making corrections, which takes more time overall. If time permits, break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks. Work on them a few minutes at a time until you get them all done. Work on a dreaded task for 10 minutes each day. Once you get started, you may find you can finish it.

The most important factor in getting organized is making sure that you are taking care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. A healthy lifestyle can improve your focus and concentration, which will help improve your efficiency. Before you become burned out, take a break. Go for short a walk or do some quick stretches at your desk. Take a day of vacation to rest and re-energize. Too much stress can derail your attempts at getting organized.

Finally, time management begins and ends with the individual's efforts to plan, organize and control the valuable asset of time. Effective time management can be the primary means to a less stressful life.