Is 2025 your year to get organised? To dedicate a bit of time to setting up systems for yourself so that things stay in order and you’re making the more efficient use of your time. Little and often is the way to go with being organised. Create routines and habits for yourself, and don’t stress if they don’t work; ask how they could work better for you and tweak them. It’s about making your life easier.
Organising your time
Organising your time effectively will reduce stress, increase productivity and help you achieve your goals faster.
1. Use a digital calendar
Use something like Google Calendar, which is synced across your desktop and phone, and add all of your meetings, tasks and deadlines to it as soon as they are agreed upon.
2. Set phone alarms
Spend the evening setting alarms 15 minutes before each meeting or appointment you have the next day.
3. Time block
Block out time in your calendar for specific tasks and focused work without interruptions.
4. Family time
Use a shared calendar for family activities and put them in before your work commitments if you can to ensure you get you priorities right and get good work/life balance.
5. Pen and paper
If you use a paper diary or notebook for your tasks, make sure you carry it with you at all times.
6. Use one thing
Don’t use different things or scattered notes for to-do lists, decide on one system, whether that be phone notes, a notebook, Trello, etc. and a way you can prioritise within it.
7. Project books
Have separate notebooks or folders for different projects or subjects.
8. Plan monthly or quarterly recurring tasks
Look at a month or a quarter and split the business activities that need to be done within that time by week. And repeat.
9. The 5-minute rule
If something will take less than five minutes and needs doing, do it straight away (this includes email replies)
A little bit of effort now to save lots of time in the future
Turn short-term effort into long-term gains you’ll benefit from again and again.
10. Always do what you say you’ll do
If you say you’ll do something, write it down on your to-do list or as a task in your calendar straight away so you’ve committed to it and you’ll remember. Ideally block out time to do it too.
11. Learn to say no
If it’s not a priority for your business or you don’t want to do it, set boundaries and say no.
12. Invest in smart software
Use a CRM system and a project management tool.
13. Get an accountant
If finances aren’t your jam, get someone to do them for you and use accountancy software to automate your bookkeeping.
14. Get a Virtual Assistant
Outsource your admin and any tasks you don’t need to do so you can use your time for more valuable activities.
15. Direct debit
Set up automatic bill payments.
16. Team birthdays
Add them to your calendar, and then jot down their favourite chocolate or drink as a note when you find them out. Keep a stack of birthday cards in your drawer too.
Tidy workspace, tidy mind
A cluttered environment can make it harder to think clearly and concentrate.
17. Have a big tidy-up
It’s hard to feel organised if you’re surrounded by clutter, so have a clear and sort out.
18. Get a cleaner
Cleaning is another easy thing to outsource that probably isn’t the best use of your time. If cleaning your house or workplace hangs over you or you like to use it as a distraction, it will also free up brain space.
19. Keep a tidy desk
Instead of getting to the point where you have a very messy desk, get into the habit of giving it a quick clean at the end of each day.
20. Make a space
Create dedicated places for things.
21. Put things away
If you use the kitchen table or a shared home space for work, put things away at the end of the day so you can switch off.
