Six Tips For Getting Organised

By Tarryn Hodgson –

As we head into the final quarter of the year, things can easily start to feel overwhelming, but this doesn’t need to be the case. Here are six tips for getting organised and ending the year strong.

1. Plan, prioritise and prepare

• Be a step ahead in your thinking by planning for tomorrow today.
• Planning and preparation time should outweigh performance time.
• Begin with the end in mind – what do you want the end product of an assignment to be? This will help you plan and prepare properly and enable you to set goals.
• Plan for as much of the year as possible. Spot busy and non-busy times and plan your rest around that.
• Share diaries with your spouse – unless you want a nasty surprise when someone rings your bell expecting dinner!
• Plan regular rhythms into your week of the routine elements of your job, then put other tasks and meetings around that.

2. Use lists with deadlines

• Write it down. Carry a notebook. Create a to-do list on your phone. An app I’m enjoying at the moment for this is Wunderlist.
• Write down all tasks even as menial as they seem. It feels great ticking something off your list even though your list is getting longer!

3. Handle emails efficiently

Use the 4 D’s to help you do this.

DELETE IT: Generally you can delete about half the emails you receive. Do you need the info? If not, hit that delete button.

DO IT: If it can be replied to or actioned in under two minutes then do it immediately.

DELEGATE IT: If you can’t delete it or do it in two minutes or less, can you forward the email to an appropriate team member who can take care of this task?

DEFER IT: Stick it on your to-do list with a deadline.

4. Train yourself to delegate

It is easier, but lazier to do it yourself. Delegate thoughtfully and thoroughly with clear communication about expectations.

5. Think twice before you say yes

Tell people you’ll look into it before just saying yes. It’s easy to over-extend ourselves especially in a high paced church context like City. When you do say yes or have already said yes, make sure you kill it! In other words, under-promise and over-deliver.

6. Manage your energy, not  your time 

We all have the exact same 24 hours in a day, and we have to use that time to manage our energy. Time management only allows you to be present physically but energy management allows you to be present emotionally and mentally.

Picture by Holly Perrett