What can you do in a minute or two?

22nd July 2010

I do not want to burst your bubble but I’m no miracle worker that has suddenly discovered how to do big projects in a short time. Most of us haven’t got spare time, or do you have unscheduled time that is wasted? Normally one gets things done that are scheduled, so whatever you want to get done, you will have to schedule time for it, e.g. time for coffee with your friend or time at the gym. Another way to get things done is by using small increments of time which appear during your day. Set your timer to keep you on track and don’t take on more than you have time for.

I sometimes get asked, “How do you get all these things done?” I must be honest; it sometimes takes me weeks to finish a project, because I eat the elephant one bite at a time. I break down bigger projects into smaller tasks that I can do in shorter increments of time. I feel, that as long as I get started and stay at it, the task will eventually get done and it does.

It is a good idea to drop yourself a note in your diary when you get an idea or when you think about what needs to be done. Have a to-do-list of things that you really want to or have to do. Estimate realistic time frames for each task. If you then have a couple of minutes, it takes the indecision away of what can be done and you can get stuck right into it. Decide on which task will give you the biggest satisfaction on your investment of time.

Some things you can do quickly:

While waiting on the phone straighten out your desk. Put things away. Sort papers into categories to file and attend to it as soon as you put down the phone. Tidy up a desk drawer. Make notes into your diary of things that need to be done.
Every night. Take things out of the living area that don’t belong there. As you walk through the house clear surfaces from items that don’t belong. Put them away. Pack the dishwasher. Switch it on.
When getting dressed and seeing an item you no longer want. Place it into a give-away bag in the bottom of the cupboard.

These are just a few to get you started; you will soon enough find things that can be done in a minute or two…

Another way to get things done is to make a Challenge Box. I’ve allocated a small plastic business card holder for this. Cut card into pieces that will fit, standing upright in your box. Write tasks on them that can be done in a short time or break down a big project into smaller tasks. (Use a different colour for each big project). If you get a break or have allocated a small time pocket, take the card in front and do the task. Place the done task card at the back or toss it. Keep adding tasks as you think of them, once all the tasks are done you can start all over again. E-mail for FREE Challenge Box Ideas.

The secret:

Use any time that becomes available.
Choose a task from your Challenge Box or To-do list.
Know how long a task will take.
Set your timer
Get started.
Concentrate on the job at hand.
When you are done take pride in what you have accomplished in the time you thought you didn’t have.

With all this said and trying to use every moment of the day, the most important lesson is to always make time for yourself. It will lift up your spirit and enable you to take on whatever comes your way, because if you are tired and overworked, you have nothing left to give and you lose out in so many ways that you won’t even notice at the time, but will be time lost forever. So take time to smell the roses, read your magazine over a nice cuppa tea and take a deep breath.

In closing I leave you with a quote by Rabbi Hillel to contemplate:

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?” – Rabbi Hillel

Heidi Meyer

Professional Organiser