Don't Waste Time: Organize, Clean, and Clear

Reviewing last week gave me pause.

After reviewing my last week of business tasks, I added don't waste time to my "notes" section on my weekly planner for this week.

Let me explain- with the goal of giving you pause.

I used to use a daily scratch pad/to-do list. And I loved it. However, I realized I was stretching the day into a multiple day list. My personal process for accomplishing goals and the way I work in my new life as a history blogger just didn't sync up with my old to-do list pad.

With that little bit of fear you get when you switch up a "process," I jumped online and ordered a "weekly plan" planner. After using it for about 9 months, I cannot imagine work-life without it.

Each week, as I set up my planner for new week, I review my habit tracker, my priority tasks, and all I've accomplished. As well as what I need to carry over for the new week.

What I realized this morning in reviewing last week: I wasted time. I tried to make square pegs fit into round holes. I spent a lot of time (HOURS) on the tech stuff for a project that, in the end, will not bring in income. It will not serve me or my business in a way that allows growth.

Thank goodness for my weekly planner, giving me this a-ha moment through an at-a-glance view of my week.

Lesson: do what works for you to keep you productive.

RELATED: Click here to open my post about personalized productivity in a new tab.

Necessary disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.



Photo credit: Daphne Reznik

Focused habit: Organize, clean, and clear.

Getting into the right mindset.

So yes, I'm adding the note "don't waste time" onto my weekly planner this week. And here's how I'm going to fix this little (big!) issue:

• review my guiding principles
• write "organize and promote" into my weekly planner's focus section this week
• add "organize/clean/clear" into my habit tracker with a goal of 7 days (yes, daily!)
• in the daily section of my weekly planner, I'll add OCC (for organize/clean/clear) for any task I accomplish that coincides

RELATED: Click here to open my post about creating guiding principles in a new tab.

Photo credit: Daphne Reznik

Defining OCC.

For reference, here's how I'm defining each aspect of OCC and two examples of coinciding tasks (one quick and one more in-depth):

Organize

Defined: processes and plans for goals, projects, and/or tasks. Having a method to your madness!

• 10-minute task example: set up a weekly focus and habit tracking, as well as top priority tasks and projects.
• In-depth task example: outline a project (I love using Google sheets) by listing all the tasks you must accomplish to complete said project.

Clean:

Defined: exactly as it sounds- no clutter and a streamlined space.

• 10-minute task example: file away (or toss) everything "sitting out" on my office desk.
• In-depth task example: reorganize my office. (and yes, I have tips from an expert on this one- right here on the blog!)

Clear:

Defined: getting rid of anything obsolete, irrelevant, and/or unnecessary.

• 10-minute task example: go for a walk- yes, clearing my mind in the fresh air, typically in the historic area of Colonial Williamsburg!
• In-depth task example: go through online files in my Dropbox and Google Drive accounts to delete documents I no longer need.

All of this with the understanding that my guiding principles will guide each action I take, big or small.

Succeeding should be simple. Whether a task is a 10-minute or in-depth one, there's room to make it happen daily, fitting it into my schedule and, ultimately, achieving an outcome.

The very definition of being productive, is it not?

Photo credit: Daphne Reznik, Colonial Williamsburg

My two planners.

To be honest, I use two planners, not one.

Planner number 1.

First, the weekly planner which lays out:

• a weekly focus
• habit tracking
• follow-ups for the week
• blocks for each day of the week
• high and low priorities

Click here to get the weekly planner I use!

Planner number 2.

And, of course, I still use the Epic Blog planner. In my opinion, it's not just for bloggers. It's for anyone running a business as a solopreneur. The Epic Blog Planner lays out:

• your goals, objectives and opportunities for products, services etc.
• demographic identification of your ideal customer/reader/client
• blank calendar pages (yes, you can fill in the months so you don't have to start with January- buy this planner anytime!)
• tracking sections for purposes of analyzing your expenses, income, and blog or online stats
• organizational outlines for marketing themes, collaborations, and new ideas

....and more.

Click here to get the Epic Blog Planner!

Cheers to being productive and adding some OCC to your life (and business!)

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