ORGANIsE YOUR LIFE
IN 12 STeps
“How do you do it?” is a question I get asked on a daily basis. I have three daughters, a husband who works 70 hours a week and I myself work overtime with my full time job. It’s frightening just thinking about it. Just how do I do? No idea. I have the feeling that I’m always running around. It feels a little like walking on hot coals, if you keep going you’ll be okay, if you stop you burn your feet.
I worship the ground my parents and our nanny Stella walk on, because they are unmissable in my life. I don’t have time for washing, ironing, picking up medication from doctors etc. So my answer as to how I do it? Not alone. In all honesty, I could do with a little more structure in my life because I always seem to have lost something or forgotten to pay a bill (sorry about that) or have to cancel an appointment. So since time is tight and I need to make a change I searched the Internet and found these 12 little gems. Who knows, you might benefit from this too.
Get up early
Anna Wintour (and her daughter Bee) get up at 5am to always be ensured that she has a 2-hour head start on the rest of the world and no one can catch up. I used to go to the office at 8am. That hour before my colleagues arrived felt like half a day. Start your day organized so that you always have some space for those spontaneous in-betweeners.
Say ‘no’ sometimes
I find this really hard on a work level, but if you’re good at what you do, at least one person should be able to replace you. That is good management. At Marie Claire we had a saying ‘Everyone should be able to walk under a bus’, which sounds harsh but rings true. Preferably I would rather have a two-week holiday knowing the place won’t collapse. In my line of work there are always presentations, drinks, and opening parties. It’s simply impossible to go to all of them. Choose your battles and pick your parties. Besides, if you don’t always go it will be much more fun when you do.
Stop the pressure, be productive
If you’re not careful, pressure will be the reason you won’t be able to get to something important. Pressure can be a way of life. I used to run down the hallway to the printer huffing and puffing back. It may sound crazy but it shows you that you don’t have everything under control.
Stop multi-tasking
I am so guilty of this, trying to do forty things at the same time. Sending a text to a coworker, posting a photo onto Instagram, listening to our intern Maud about market research she’s done and making a tiny-url from the latest post and placing it onto FB. Sometimes, when I’m very unlucky, I’ll also be painting my nails. The result: At least one typo in my Instagram-post, zoning out on half the conversation with Maud, nail polish on my white Tod’s bag. In the end, doing everything half-assed costs more time and with less results.
Create a do-not-disturb-me bubble
At Amayzine we call it the ‘I’m off the air’ moment and let everyone know by putting your headphones on. A clear indication for your coworkers to leave you alone for a while. Another idea is to turn off your email and What’sApp so you don’t get disturbed when you’re writing an article or anytime you’re in deep concentration. You could also go and sit somewhere secluded. Ask your colleagues to respect this and you’ll see how well it works.
Make a Not To Do list
First make a To Do list of course. Try to break it up into bite size chunks or 10 minute tasks. I sometimes feel blocked by all the things I have to do, and could probably have finished 6 things in the time I spent stressing about it. Okay so a To Do list then. But a Not To Do list also creates space. Take a look at the priorities and what you can outsource. You’ll see, if you choose the right person, it will be like doing it yourself.
Tidy Friday
I found this tip from a life-organiser. Friday is the perfect day to clean up all loose ends lying on your desk, to see what still needs to be done and to make payments. Also so nice to run through the next week on a Friday, to decide what you need and to send friendly reminders to people for things you need. Also comes across very organised.
Work as if it were your last day
Not really your last day of course, but the last day before vacation. You can move mountains right? If you need to give some gas to get your workload back to normal proportions, imagine it is that last day and you’ll see how satisfied you will feel on your way home.
Chuck it out
Most important is to say that you’re drowning. Yes, you can even stamp your feet and cry. For a while okay. Then take an empty, organised note pad and your favorite pen. Make a cup of tea and start. Write down all that is blocking you and everything that still needs to be done. Chuck it out there. Then create order and group your tasks in order of priority. You’ll sleep much better afterwards.
Prepare
I had the intense luxury of having an assistant when I worked as editor-in-chief of Marie Claire. She always sent me an SMS the evening before with my agenda for the following day. So I could keep it mind when getting dressed or what to take with me the next day. Wonderful having a PA, but you can also scroll through your own agenda. Lay your clothes out the evening before, make sure your telephone and laptop are charged and empty the dishwasher. An oasis of peace the next morning.
Plan, plan, plan, plan
There are many great planners for sale. I love writing things down but there are also fantastic apps to help keep everything structured. The benefit of an app is that you always have it with you, because trust me to leave my planner somewhere or another.
Keep it real
You are human. Nobody will hold it against you if you don’t go to that one drinks evening or if you miss your neighbors birthday one time. And if they do say something about it, remember: Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. And so it is.
Good luck! I’m telling myself the same thing.
