A Glass case of Thoughts

Here are 10 habits to develop for self organization. In my opinion, this looks like the most practical and a “follow-able” list.

How to use?

• Each of these habits should be learned and practiced one at a time if possible, or 2-3 at a time at the most.
• You don’t need to adopt all 10 habits. Habits 1-8 are essential. You can consider habits 9 and 10 if possible.

The subject:

1. Collect habit

Carry a notebook or whatever tool convenient to you and write down any tasks, ideas, projects or other information that pops into your head. Taking it out of your head and onto paper will help you to remember it.

What makes this habit pretty easy to follow is the freedom of choice of tool. I am using my unused visiting cards and used boarding passes to jot this down as they are pretty easy to carry along.

2. Process habit

Make quick decision on things that are in your inbox, do not put them off. Processing is anything like trashing, delegating, filing or putting on to-do list.

3. Plan habit

Each week, list the bigger tasks that you want to accomplish, and schedule them first.

Each day, create a list of 1-3 of such bigger tasks and be sure to accomplish them. Do these tasks early in the day to get them out of the way and to ensure that they be done.

4. Do (focus) habit

Do one task at a time, without distractions.

This is one of the most important habits to get into. You must select a task (preferably one of the bigger ones) and focus on it to the exclusion of all else. To get started with this, first remove all the distractions (email, internet, cell phones etc), then remove all the clutter on your desk, set a timer if you like or work as long as you can on the task utmost focus levels.

If you get interrupted, write down any request or incoming tasks/info on your notepad (convenient tool) and get back to your task. DO NOT try to multi task.

5. Simplicity & regularity habit

Keep simple lists and check daily.

Maintain a list for each context for e.g. @work, @home, @phone, @pending. Keep adding tasks to each of the context list. Choose a simple tool like a notepad for maintaining these lists. Focus on what you have to do right now and not on operating the tool.

6. Classification habit

Find a place for everything. Put things where they belong, right away.

All incoming stuff goes in your inbox, then on a context list and then to an action folder or a file in filing system or an outbox for delegation or in trash.

This keeps your desk clear so you can focus on your work.

7. Review habit

Review your system and goals weekly.

During your weekly review, you should go over each of your yearly goals, see what progress you made on them in the last week and what action steps you are going to take to move them forward in the coming week.

Once a month, set aside a little time more time to do a monthly review of your goals, and every year, you should do a yearly review of your year’s goals and your life’s goals. ß This appears too much to do for me!

8. Prioritization habit

Reduce your goals and tasks to essentials.

When you review your task list, try to prioritize and keep only things that are essential and focus on them. Make sure that all tasks line up with your yearly and life’s goals. Do this on a daily basis, during weekly and monthly reviews.

9. Routine habit

Try the habit of creating routines to see if it works better for you. Routines create structure in life. It is up to you how to set your routines.

For e.g. morning routine could include looking at your calendar, going over your context lists, setting the bigger tasks for the day, exercising, breakfast, processing emails and inboxes and starting with the first bigger task in the list.

An evening routine could include processing your email and inboxes again, reviewing your day, writing in your journal, preparing for the next day.

Weekly routines could include a laundry day, a financial day, weekly review, family day etc.

10. Choice of work habit

Constantly seek things about which you are passionate and see if you can make a career out of them when you find them.