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Spring Cleaning Your Life

Q:   Dear Seymour, As Spring is in the air, I'm feeling like it might be time to do a little "spring cleaning" of my life. I feel like I'm unorganized and not as productive as I'd like to be in all aspects of my life, including my career. How can I bring more organization to my world?

- Submitted by Gayle Kahkrin, Hickory, NC

A: Dear Gayle,

Many times we find ourselves being very busy in our personal and professional lives, but not very productive. That generally means you've overextended yourself and need to take a step back and bring some organization to the chaos. Here are some tips on doing just that:

De-Clutter. First, try to remove items that perpetuate a chaotic environment, such as clutter, disorganization, non-used or broken items, and even a busy calendar. Really evaluate your work and personal calendars and eliminate tasks or obligations that are a waste of time or that aren't in line with your priorities. Have the courage to say "no" to unproductive uses of your time. This includes decluttering your work space. If you don't need it or use it, get rid of it. Instead of wasting time looking for files on your computer, arrange a file management system so you can quickly find what you need. Eliminate clutter from your desk.

Take control of your schedule. Once you've eliminated non-important commitments or tasks, now plan and manage your time to your advantage. This means staying focused on completing those tasks that are essential to achieving your goals. Every morning, proactively identify the important tasks for the day, and then specify what must be completed, what can be delegated and even what could be deleted. Be realistic about how many you can actually accomplish in a day. Cross off items as you complete them. Most importantly, schedule in free time to unwind, regroup with family and loved ones and focus on what's really important in your life.

Control your day. Net surfing, reading emails, co-workers who pop in to chat or making personal calls are time bandits. Save net surfing for after hours. For emails, set blocks of time specifically to manage email messages. Create an electronic filing cabinet similar to a physical one with folders to organize them. Let coworkers know that unless their needs are an emergency, you'll speak with them later during a break in the day. Personal calls should be made only during your personal time. Reduce distractions that absorb your time.

Know the time of day you are at your best. Use those better periods of the day to spend on the toughest tasks you need to accomplish. Leave the easier ones for the times when you are less energetic. For example, if you are a morning person, try to schedule an important meeting in the morning.

Getting organized often gets put on the back burner because more pressing issues need attention first. Start now. By getting organized, you can convert the time you may be wasting into time that can be used more productively.