Streamlining My Excitement & Other Organizational Woes

Happiness comes easy to me. Not only is my glass half-full; "my cup runneth over."  Yet, sometimes all this happy can get a little frenetic. In an effort to contain my excitement, especially in the light of a new business, new clients, and super-awesome new projects, I realized I needed a refresher on.... streamlining my excitement.

I am not reinventing the wheel with these suggestions; however, this new journey has encouraged me to take a moment and figure out which of my habits work and which could use a simple adjustment. After all, who doesn't love a good lifehack? Maybe they can work for you too.

1. Work in Increments ~

I've always fancied myself skillful at time management and organization, but starting my own company uncovered weak spots. Early on, I searched for tips to increase my productivity. With zero oversight from a supervisor or managing partner, things can begin to enter the "chaos-zone" quickly. Working in increments has been one of the most efficient ways for me to hold myself accountable to a daily schedule. After all, now the only person I am accountable to is ... me. So, I tried these:

At the top of a piece of paper write the heading "If I had 15 minutes I would..." and then fill it up. Give yourself five, ten, or even fifteen tasks that will take 15 minutes. When you are suddenly surprised with an open block of time, consult your list. The last thing you want to do is to take up your 15 minutes of new-found free time thinking about how you can fill it.

A similar strategy is to set an egg timer for 48 minutes. When time is up, use the twelve minutes to stretch, use the restroom, fill up your coffee cup, or do a quick check of your emails. At the top of the next hour, repeat. I find this a great way to get through big projects and stay focused.

2. Use More Color (Effectively)  ~

Fun Fact: I have a long-standing love affair with sharpies. Truthfully, I have a long-standing love affair with color in general. I appreciate the subtle but important distinction between chartreuse and lime, and between coral and salmon. If we happen to take a trip to Lowe's or Menards, you can find me in the paint section checking out swatches. Color simply makes me happy. 

I also use color to work for me in business. I would color-code regularly in law school; using red highlighters for the holding of a case, green for general law, yellow for facts, etc. By coloring cases this way, I could see the way the case was reasoned, and it was easier for me to recall elements when called on in class.

Color functions as a powerful information channel to the human cognitive system and has been found to play a significant role in enhancing memory performance. (1) The power of color has been shown to boost employee output and creativity, and impact productivity. Challenge: Buy a pack of colored sharpies and color code your personal planner. Not only a great organizational technique, but the simple happiness it brings to look at a bright, cheerful calendar can be a quick mood-booster. If this doesn't work for you, well, you may just be grumpy. If you calendar your life via Outlook or Google Calendar, try the same. Make use out of all of those color shortcuts.  

Important tips: Do not overuse color. You will go cross-eyed. You will forget your previously awesome "system."  Your brain might explode. (Ok, probably not that one. I personally love the idea discussed recently in one of my favorite podcasts, "Happier," by Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft about having your own "signature color."  Check it out.

3. Find the Right Project Management Software for You ~

I love lists. Tell me I'm not alone. I love checking items off lists when my tasks are complete. But tasks lists and project management lists are two different beasts. This is why I have heavily researched hybrid options that will work best for BetterBridge Strategies.  If your company is not already using project management software, strongly offer this as a suggestion to your leadership team. It is a huge time.

I use Asana.com. It is Free, user-friendly, and visually-pleasing for me to track my tasks and plan my projects. I cannot stand a cluttered homepage. I also like that if I bring on employee(s) one day, it will be a simple transition from single to multi-user.

There are tons of similar products out there. Play around with a few. I found the reviews here particularly helpful.

4. Reward Yourself With Treats, a.ka., Treat Yo' Self ~

I'm not advocating overuse of the term, "YOLO" (stands for "you only live once," Mom). However, I do believe in the importance of strengthening good habits through the use of treats. In theory, these should be healthy and productive. Read: Not helpful to treat yourself with things that will only fill you with guilt or remorse. What will give you energy and make you feel cared for? I enjoy treating myself by listening to a favorite podcasts, spending the afternoon working outdoors rather than indoors, or buying a new scented candle.

Another strategy that works for me is to find the tasks on my weekly to-do list which I truly enjoy doing. Instead of doing these first and procrastinating the jobs that I like less, I save my favorite jobs as a treat. I reward myself by taking time to draft a blog posts or brainstorming new ideas. I also crave going to the library or the bookstore and paging through new books on my favorite marketing topics. This treat can only be saved until other projects are completed.

And for all you Parks & Rec fans out there.... Enjoy.

5. Get Centered ~

Since beginning my adventure with BetterBridge, I've often described what is happening in my brain as feeling like "a family of squirrels are bouncing around in my brain." It can get exhausting. Feelings swing between excitement to completely overwhelming, without warning. My mind races with new ideas. My imagination fills with worst-case scenarios.  Therefore, a newfound goal of mine is to recognize when the squirrels are getting out of hand and need to be told "it's nap time."  This is when I find a place to get centered. This, you might imagine, can be a challenge. 

Meditation or mindfulness is focused thought or concentration on the present moment, or shifting to a non-judgmental mindset. More simply stated, it is a deeper level of awareness. For me, a few moments of meditation teaches me concentration and focus. This undoubtedly brings additional clarity to my work. It helps me to broaden my perspective, open my mind to new ideas and helps me feel free. I never regret when I force myself to get quiet and get centered.

I recently came across this great article from www.99u.com "7 Apps for Unplugging and Powering Down." I realize the irony of using our tech-toys for the purpose of relaxation, but I plan on downloading some of these ASAP to try.