By Amy Applebaum
Many of us incorrectly equate our stress levels with how much we have to do in day. Our stress levels correlate, not with the amount of stuff stacked up on our to-do list, but instead with how well we handle that list! The more organized you are, the less stress you’ll experience. Seems like a pretty simple concept, right? So why doesn’t everybody get it together and live their life with more structure and less stress?
The answer is that while it’s easy to SAY that you want to be more organized, GETTING IT DONE is another thing entirely!
You can pick up 100 of the best books ever on organization and it still won’t help you unless you execute the lessons found in the pages.
You need to commit yourself 100% to not just writing out a To Do list every day, but finding a rhythm and a plan for getting the items on that list CHECKED OFF.
So how to do you pull this off? You’re going to have to think outside of the box here – and really find some unique solutions to your stress/organization problems. These are the actions that will take you from talking to doing!
Brain Drain! Grab a couple of sharp pencils and a clean pad of paper. Now write down every single thing you have to do. Big task or small, as long as it’s pending or incomplete, then it goes on the list! Put things on your list that you need to do as well as those big ideas you’ve been meaning to act on.
Break your lists up into manageable pieces. Now that you’ve gotten the list out of your head and onto paper, it’s time to prioritize. Assign a letter to every task on the list – “A” (high priority), “B” (to do soon) or “C” (to do at a later date) according its importance. Breaking up the tasks will enhance your organization even more and keep the list from appearing too daunting. Our brain immediately goes into shutdown mode when we see there’s no way that list is going to get done. Completing each section of the prioritized list will give you a terrific feeling of accomplishment – and spur you on to the next chunk of things that need doing!
Keep the list in a prominent place. The best way to stick to your To Do list is to keep it somewhere that you’ll see it all the time. Place your list on the fridge, the bathroom mirror or in your car. Anywhere you spend a lot of time and can’t help but see it and be reminded of what you need to do! And never underestimate the therapeutic stress relief of crossing things off your list. The more you get done, the more you’ll be able to do it!
Add some serious accountability to your actions. Make a complete, prioritized to do list and then print out a copy for a close friend or spouse. They will be your “supervisors” and will check in often to see how many things you’ve accomplished. Make sure whoever you choose to supervise your list is comfortable with harassing you about your progress. Know someone else who needs to get organized? Have them create a list too, and then make a game out of it. Compete with one another to see who will complete their list first. A friendly wager might also sweeten the deal!
Don’t be afraid to get help! Some of the most successful people in the world turn to personal coaches for help with stress and productivity issues. And if you need someone who is going to “crack that whip”, then find a coach with an in-your-face, result-oriented style. One of the greatest gifts a coach can give her client is just being there to provide accountability. To be that person who MAKES YOU do the things that need doing. And the best part about it is that you’re going to reduce stress 100-fold by making this ass-kicking coach a part of your life.
Getting organized can reduce stress in your life. But without taking action and implementing your plans – the whole is nothing more than an empty to do list!
To find out more about how to be successful, visit Amy at www.AmyApplebaum.com or www.ReleaseYourInnerMillionairess.com
Amy Applebaum, founder of Amy Applebaum, Inc.®, coaches female entrepreneurs all over the world. Her success has lead to appearances on ABC, CNN, TLC. Amy is an expert for the: NY Times, Herald Tribune, Cosmo, Figure, Diet.com and Woman’s World.
