I’ve found myself in a position at work where I’m often asked about how I organize my time. I seem to have done a very good job inadvertently convincing the world I am some hyper-organized person. Which would make anyone who knows me well laugh.
Today my mentee at work asked for organization and time management advice, which I’m happy to give — I know the theory and different systems and how certain organization methods work for different people — but when she asked how I keep myself organized it’s a little bit of a mystery.
My current answer includes:
- I put things on my calendar. Aggressively. When I don’t do the thing I time block, I move it to a new time.
- I write down six priorities for each day and let that guide me.
- I scribble unintelligibly in my notebook and rarely go back to look at any notes more than three pages old.
- I remember? Most things. And when I don’t, I deal with it.
It’s not a great answer and certainly not holistic advice (there are some nuggets, time blocking and the Ivy Lee method are solid). My mentee then asked me what I was like outside of work — was I organized? Was I the kind of person who had an organized spice rack, for example?
Well, a definite no to that one.
Here’s how I described it to her. I’m generally the level of organized where I know where my keys are, but not the level where I stack my Tupperware. I don’t live in chaos, but my fridge doesn’t have much of a system besides ‘make enough room for the Diet Coke’ and ‘condiments on the door shelves. I leave clothes on the floor, but I pick them up before it’s a problem.
It works for me, so far. But I’m never going to lead a workshop on my personal organization strategy. There are better guides than me.
With Love,
Natalie