Photo: davidsilver / Flickr

According to researchers, most people on average spend a grand total of two and a half years of their lives wasting time. Most of the wasted time is due to poor planning and being disorganised. A lot of time is also wasted on unnecessary things that are done out of habit. If you feel you’re wasting precious time, perhaps you could consider organising your life better – which all starts with planning. From there, you can look forward to a more streamlined life.

Use a diary

When you have structure to your day, you’re more motivated to attend to what you have to do and less likely to entertain time wasting or time wasters.

To make the most of your time, keep a diary with a to-do list and write down everything you need to achieve in a day. At the end of the day, cross off the things you’ve accomplished and transfer those you haven’t to the following day.

At the same time, review the day ahead and identify what you’ll be doing and what that entails. Update your to-do list and review it before you put your diary away. By keeping a daily check on your tasks, you’ll be able to sleep soundly.

Categorise and organise

To become a to do list pro, it helps to categorise things according to your daily life. Divide your to do list into three sections: one for work, one for home and one for you. Having everything in one diary means you can keep your eye on the lot at a glance.

It may be convenient to have a separate list for home if you want to include your family in your planning. You can have a dedicated board in your kitchen or keep a list on the fridge door. The important thing here is to cross-reference with your diary.

Schedule smart

When it comes to scheduling your tasks, try and work according to your natural body clock. Schedule important work between 9 and 12 am ‑ especially work that requires sharp thinking and communication because this is when your brain is at its most alert. Get the hardest and less desirable things on your list done during this time, if possible.

Schedule easier and hum drum tasks between 2 and 5 pm. By now you should be feeling a sense of accomplishment. Cross the niggling leftover things off your list or transfer them to the following day if you haven’t had the time – in which case you can end your day without feeling irritable and possibly depressed.

Get some exercise after work if possible, since your circulatory system is functioning optimally from around 5pm. Dinner and socialising can follow between the hours of 6 and 8 pm when your brain is alert and your liver is at its most efficient. By now you shouldn’t have a care in the world and you can rest assured that you’ve made the most of your day.

Tags: organisation