1. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN
Lists and diaries are your best friend when it comes to staying organised. Carol says that if she doesn't write down her appointments, contacts and reminders, she'll forget them. "Relying on your memory is exhausting!"
2. NO DISTRACTIONS
Don't stop working."If another task comes to mind while you're working, don't stop what you're doing," says Georgie. "Simply write down the thought on a sticky note and get back to work."
3. PRODUCTIVE DAYS START THE NIGHT BEFORE
Chelsea spends 15–20 minutes at the end of each day tidying the house, cleaning up from dinner, putting toys away, turning the dishwasher on and doing a load of washing overnight. "When I get up in the morning, I'm not waking up to chaos."
4. GIVE EVERYTHING A HOME
"Create a home for everything," says Carol. And that goes for things you're thinking about buying for the home. She doesn't buy anything unless she knows where it will go.
5. SET REMINDERS
"Set reminders for your appointments. Not only does this help you remember them, but having an electronic record of things like doctor's visits can be helpful down the track," says Georgie. Printing out electronic calendars is helpful, too, as you can then fill available blocks of time with small tasks.
6. TIME MANAGEMENT
Time management is more than just keeping a diary, says Linda. "You also need to factor in how much time it'll take to get to your appointment and back, and ensure you include that in your diary as well."
7. CREATE FOLDERS FOR YOUR INBOX
Save time sifting through hundreds of emails and keep important files and information handy by keeping your inbox organised. "I have a folder for each client, for instance, so I don't get confused," says Carol.
8. SYNC CALENDARS
Share your online calendars to cut down wasted time. Use iCal or Google Calendar to sync your calendars with your partner or people you work closely with.
9. DON'T MULTITASK
While Carol acknowledges that to-do lists will always grow longer, doing more at once isn't the answer. "Keep chipping away at one task before moving on to the next. You'll be more productive and get more done."
10. TAKE A BREAK
On that note, shorter bursts of work are better for productivity. Georgie follows the Pomodoro Technique — 25 minutes work, then 5 minutes rest — while Chelsea does 45 minutes of work with a 15 minute break. Choose what works for you.
11. TACKLE TASKS WHEN YOU CAN
If Linda has 30 minutes to spare, she'll pick a surface that's become a dumping ground and focus on putting everything away. "If you focus, it doesn't actually take too much time."
12. IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
"Do little things every day to stay on top," says Carol. "Clean your kitchen before you leave for work, put a dishwasher load on before bed."
13. NO MORE "STUFF"
Got more stuff than you know what to do with? Instead of asking for things for your birthday or Christmas, ask for experiences such as movie vouchers or restaurant bookings.
14. DELEGATE IF YOU CAN'T DO IT YOURSELF
"If your computer isn't working, don't ignore the problem; hire someone to fix it," says Carol.
15. SAY NO
Doing too much is what makes us feel overwhelmed, and then it's impossible to stay organised," says Georgie.
16. UNPACK AS SOON AS YOU GET HOME
Whether it's shopping bags, your handbag, or even your luggage when you come home from a holiday, doing it right away wipes the slate clean.
17. HAVE A ROUTINE
Chelsea says that a weekly routine — one that's uncomplicated and flexible — will help you plan. "Have a day for groceries, a day for washing your sheets, a day for catching up on 'life admin'. This will also allow you to find blocks of time for exercise, catching up with friends or even sleeping in!"
18. WRITE LISTS
Georgie swears by making to-do lists and shopping lists to stay productive. "Lists help you focus and give you a sense of achievement as you tick things off!"
19. LABEL IT
Linda uses labels on everything, not just so that she knows where everything is, but so her family does, too (so they don't have to ask her constantly)!
20. DECLUTTER — RUTHLESSLY
This is one thing all of our organisers could agree on — regular decluttering is the number one way to stay organised and efficient. "Having only items that you love or that serve a purpose in your home is not only refreshing but it is easier to keep your space neat, tidy and organised," says Chelsea.
Full Article: https://www.homestolove.com.au/20-tips-professional-organisers-swear-by-12294