5 Essential Tips for Scheduling

With so much to get done, it is vital for you to keep some sort of schedule. Doing things randomly almost always results in stress and lost productivity. Here are my five essential tips for scheduling.

1. Make it concrete. Don't keep your daily schedule in your head. Jot your tasks, errands and appointments into your calendar or planner. As you complete each, check it off.
2. Write in pencil. Unexpected events are bound to come up. Your calendar will be much easier to read if you can erase something and rewrite it on another day and/or time. If you write in pen, you'll have to cross out. This can become very messy, especially if you have several appointments in one day.
3. Leave yourself breathing room. Avoid scheduling too much in one single day and pad a minimum of 30 minutes in between each major item. This will help ensure you don't get overwhelmed or feel super-rushed.
4. Schedule similar events together. Try to schedule similar things together. For instance, if you have to go to the grocery store, post office and dry cleaner each week, and they're all within close proximity of each other, schedule those three errands back-to-back on the same day. This way, you're not running back and forth to the same place ten times.
5. Check it twice. Look at your calendar or planner first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. You'll always know what to expect today, and tomorrow.

By Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now! Want to get organized? Get your FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak, filled with tips and ideas to help you organize your home, your office and your life, at the Get Organized Now! Web site http://www.getorganizednow.com