I should start by saying I was intending on doing this article yesterday, but my schedule got in the way as I had a few things to do and some people to meet. No surprises there.
I should also point out, at this stage, that I am not the most organised person you will ever meet. But, more importantly, I do get everything done on time or if there is no time limit I get it done sometime.
So, I've compiled a list of ways I have tried to use to organise myself:
Keep a To-do List
I use Gmail as my principal email and every time I'm on the computer I have it open. Gmail offers many great accessories and one of my favourite is the to-do list.
I find this a great way to keep up to date with what I want to and need to do. It is so convenient as when I'm home Gmail is always open.
However, there is one problem with this, I need to write on the to do list: "USE TO-DO LIST TODAY" because I get carried away with what I am doing and forget to use and update it. Thus I fall behind and chaos ensues.
A Day to Day Diary
This is probably the most traditional method of keeping a schedule. In theory it is simple: you write down everything you need to do and look at it regularly. Simple?
Well I'd say they're not all that simple. In fact they are the single most annoying book of all time – after the holocaust denying books though. They take so much attention: you have to take them everywhere with you, they make you carry a pen everywhere, you have to sit and read your indescribably boring scribbles and wade through endless scribbled/ crossed out material. It is so annoying I gave up with in no time.
It is obvious you have to be a very neat and extremely regimented person to have a diary and it is obvious that I am neither.
The Attack of the Sticky Notes
For a change, I can say this one works and it is truly simple. All that I do is take 10 or so sticky notes and deposit them in places I am most likely to see them - to the annoyance of the rest of my household.
For example, if I was going to do a talk/speech and I needed to remember a particular prop per say. I would go round the house and place sticky notes all over the house. Here is a list of what works and what does not:
Works
- Kettle
- Computer
- Desk
- Toaster
- The corner of the TV
- Doors
- Fridge
The book your currently reading
DO NOT TRY
- You're husband/wife's face
- The "girl next doors" butt (ect)
- A bald man's head (because there is nothing else there is not a good excuse)
Write it Across your Forehead
This really works. But it should only be reserved for the most important things that you must not miss – for example a job interview.
The idea behind writing something on your forehead is that everyone around you will comment on it and hence you will get constantly reminded about it.
Now, I don't do this very often for reasons that would be less obvious if I wrote them across my forehead.
P.S good luck getting it washed off.
Alternatively
Continuing on form the last point; if you are at least partially sane, writing on your hand may make more sense. I very seldom do this as the ink acts as an irritant to my skin and it is notoriously difficult to wash off.
Keep a Calendar
This is the only way that I keep track of birthdays. If I did not have a calendar I would get some very stern looks all too often.
A calendar is great for keeping track of what to do when and where but it lacks any sort of depth as the boxes are so small and there is so much you want on them.
Head for Schedules?
This way is very simple in some respects but horribly difficult in others. What I do with this method is to work out a mental schedule of what I have to do and when.
This, you would expect, to have huge flaws as you have a tendency to forget things. But incredibly it seems to work find for me and a few others I know.
The trick is practice: the more you use this method the more you get used to having to remember thing and the less likely you become to forget. Or that is what I find anyway.
All right then, there is the ways I have used in the past to organise myself and though trial and error I have found the combination that works for me. Yet, I am sure that you will have your own unique way of organisation which works for you.
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