Get Organized Pittsburgh

Recently we posted about the value of lists, but what now?  Now, we will go on to explain what kind of lists can be helpful to you. These formats and structures are not absolutely necessary, but can help you be 10 times more effective.

Brainstorming List

This list is ideal to get all of your ideas out of your head and on paper. From there, you can tangibly see what needs to be done. This is ideal for people who have a lot of great ideas, but feel overwhelmed or just have a hard time making the decision to actually get it done. If you have trouble getting to sleep at night because all of your to-dos are replaying through your head, keep a notepad by your bed. When you think of something you need to do, you can simply write it down for later and enjoy the time you have to rest now. In no time you can begin crossing off those to-dos into to-dones.

Daily List

In a daily list, you can prioritize what needs done today and organize it in a fashion that best suits you. For example, some people may find making their calls an easy and productive way to get into a working mode. That person would begin with calls and then make time for running errands after the calls, etc. In a daily list, you can divvy up tasks in manageable, easy-to-follow time slots to help you see how much time you really have in your day and utilize for all that it’s worth.

Weekly List

With a weekly list, you can sort through your priorities and place them in their appropriate day and time. This is helpful for upcoming due dates, knowing your appointments, and understanding the importance of completing what was assigned for today.

Monthly List

Monthly lists or calendars are a great way to project what objectives, appointments, and goals that need to be accomplished in a month. Throughout the month, you can refer back to your monthly list to see if you are meeting or changing the goals you set for the month.

Personal List

Lists don’t just have to be for business or chores; You can create a personal or fun list. Here, you can jot down all of the fun things you enjoy doing and make time for when you can do those things.  If you are not having fun with what you are doing, then why are you doing it? Don’t forget to relax and have fun.
What happens when your list becomes too big? Instead of being a helpful tool, you feel overwhelmed and terrified to even begin looking at the list of things you made for yourself to do. Start small. Take each task as a baby step. If it’s helpful, pick the top three most important things that you need to accomplish today, complete them, cross them off, and savor the moment of accomplishment. You can repeat the same thing tomorrow, and maybe eventually tackle more than just three tasks. Overall, be happy that you can set a goal and accomplish it. Three goals a day is much more effective than none and days full of needless anxiety over what needs done.
Remember that balance is essential. Get done what needs done, enjoy the feeling of getting through what you’ve set up for yourself, and remember to breathe and have fun.

Check out some list templates to help you start:
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