Three Organisational Tips To Make Your Day Run Smoother

We all like the idea of having a day that runs smoothly and efficiently, but depending on how organised you, and your systems and processes are, will reflect how well this occurs. Here are three organisational tips that will help keep things ticking over nicely, and minimise your stress on a day to day basis.

Schedule time during your week for bookkeeping

Putting off your bookkeeping can be a costly error. Not only may it mean that you are late with submitting your tax returns at the end of financial year, but it can also add a lot of unnecessary pressure to your day. Bookkeeping tends NOT to be a favourite task of business owners, but that does not give you permission to put it off forever. If you intend to do it yourself and not outsource your bookkeeping, then only by scheduling in a regular time will you manage to keep it up to date.

So bookkeeping may not be a highlight of your week, but by working it into your weekly schedule, you are facing it head on and getting it out of the way. Once done, you can reward yourself with a much more fun task such as munching on a decadent morning tea or afternoon snack. Continually procrastinating in terms of your bookkeeping and failing to get it done just allows it to pile up. And, the larger the pile it is, the harder you will find the motivation to get around to doing anything about it.

Manage your emails

If you have automatic notifications set on your computer or telephone, then you are doing it all wrong! These constant notifications will draw your attention away from your current task and interrupt your focus. It is easy enough to lose train of thought without having tiny bells beeping at you all day. Turn them off and set regular times throughout your day to read your emails and respond. There is nothing wrong with having an autoresponder provided you reply within the 24-48 response time you specified (not taking into account weekends).

This gives you time to properly read and assess the message, and determine whether it requires a straight reply or is a task that needs to be done at a later point in time (at which point you can schedule it on your to-do list). If a task has to be created and it may take a day or two to complete, then email with an update so everyone is automatically on the same page. This will reduce the number of follow-up emails required as well as the number of messages hitting your account on any given day.

Clear the clutter

Clutter can build up on your desk as well as on your computer or laptop. Try to stay on top of your filing pile to avoid those moments of wondering whether that particular piece of paper sprouted legs and wandered off. Clearing the documents off your desk will ensure that the essential paperwork is always at your fingertips. It will help you locate information quickly and easily, and free up your time so you don’t have to spend it trying to find the missing documentation.

Having less paper and files around your desk will provide you with a more streamlined and distraction free workspace – something we all need to tackle our tasks effectively. It will also increase your motivation to get the work done. Too much mess will drain you of your energy; therefore, make sure you file your paperwork at the end of each day, so you can start the next day feeling fresh and inspired.