Tips for Staying Organized and On Schedule

5 things that made me WAY more productive Not “squeeze more into your day” productive. I mean: - Doing the RIGHT things - To make time for work AND life I’ve spent a lot of time reading and experimenting with productivity, happiness, and time management. Here are 5 strategies that completely changed how I structure my days: 1. Pick your top 3 tasks the night before ↳ Not 5. Not 10. Just 3. Write them down. ↳ The next day, you *must* finish these first before moving on. 2. Start with your hardest or most important task ↳ Pick the biggest hill to climb and do it FIRST. ↳ That early win sets the tone for the rest of your day. 3. Stack similar tasks together ↳ Block 60–90 mins for deep work (ideally in the AM) ↳ Schedule all your meetings back-to-back (when possible!) 4. Put your phone in another room ↳ Not flipped over. Not in your bag. Gone. ↳ You'll be infinitely more focused. 5. Schedule everything ↳ Workouts, deep work, family time, errands... ↳ If it’s not on your calendar, it probably won’t happen. And my secret weapon... As nerdy as this is: the Full Focus Planner. I loooove a good paper planner. What’s your favorite productivity tip? Help me build my list! —-— 👋🏼 I’m Morgan. I share my favorite data viz and data storytelling tips to help other analysts (and academics) better communicate their work.

We're all too busy at work…but we don't need to be. 7 ways to work smarter, not harder: 1/ Frontload your day: Put your most important tasks at the beginning of your day. You'll have more energy to tackle them early on before distractions pop up. Write down your top 3 tasks each day and do them. No excuses. 2/ Set shorter deadlines: Parkinson's Law says that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. If you're about to start a month-long project, ask yourself: "What does the 2-week version look like?" Shorter deadlines force you to focus on what matters. 3/ Track your time: Spend a week tracking your time. Record everything. At the end of 1 week, you'll likely find that you spend more time than you realize on specific activities. Adjust accordingly. 4/ Batch tasks together: Block out some time and blast through repetitive tasks such as: • Responding to emails • Checking slack • Pulling metrics You'll get into a groove and get through them faster. 5/ Do what gives you energy: At the end of your week, look back at the projects you worked on. Identify what tasks gave you energy and which tasks sucked. Figure out a way to delegate tasks that don't give you energy. Speaking of delegating... 6/ Delegate more: Delegating gives you more time to focus on the most important tasks. Try out the Eisenhower Matrix for decision-making: High urgency + High importance = DO NOW Low urgency + High importance = SCHEDULE High urgency + Low importance = DELEGATE Low urgency + Low importance = DELETE 7/ Take more breaks: This is counter-intuitive but works. If you go too long without a break, you will eventually get tired and make mistakes. Try the Pomodoro Technique: Focused work for 25 min. Then take a 5 min break. Repeat. --- These tips have worked for me. I hope they work for you too! Let me know if there are any good tips that I've missed 👇

Are you tired of feeling like a hamster on a wheel, constantly running but never getting ahead? After over 30 years in firms, I've learned and seen first hand that effective time management is the key to taking control of your workday and reaching peak performance. So, here I am, sharing my no-nonsense strategies to maximize productivity: Prioritize like a Boss: Take charge of your day by identifying your top priorities. Cut through the noise and focus on the tasks that truly move the needle. Don't waste time on the trivial stuff; tackle the big wins first. Time Block: Don't let distractions derail your progress. Take control of your schedule by blocking chunks of dedicated time for specific tasks or projects. This way, you can dive deep without getting sidetracked by interruptions. Delegate or Die: Superheroes don't exist in the workplace. Learn to let go and delegate tasks that can be handled by capable team members. Save your superpowers for the work that truly demands your expertise and amplifies your impact. Crush Distractions: It's time to put an end to mindless scrolling, relentless notifications, and unnecessary meetings. Close those extra tabs, set your phone on silent, and create a fortress of focus. Your productivity will skyrocket. Make Time for Breaks: Working non-stop doesn't make you a hero; it makes you burnt out. Take regular breaks to recharge your mind and prevent creative stagnation. A quick walk, a moment to stretch, or some deep breathing can revitalize your energy and ignite your productivity. These strategies have been battle-tested and proven to maximize workdays in firms all over the world. No fluff, no gimmicks, just solid techniques that allow you to dominate your schedule and achieve your goals. It's time to take charge and make every minute count. How do you maximize your workday? Share your tips below! #TimeManagement #MaximizeProductivity #WorkplaceEngagement #ProfessionalDevelopment

After working for 3806+ hours, I’ve cultivated a few habits that keep me productive, and no, it’s not some fancy “productivity tips” like other gurus give!   So, here are my 5 habits that keep me productive, and you can introduce them to your life too:   1. I take a few minutes every night to create a rough schedule for the following day. My to-do list is not always perfect; it is just a general outline of the most important tasks to keep myself focused and on track.   2. I dedicate 10–15 minutes to meditation each morning. This helps me clear my mind and reduce stress, allowing me to approach my tasks with a fresh perspective.   3. I always begin with my toughest task. I prefer to tackle my daunting projects first thing in the morning, when my energy is at its peak. The sense of accomplishment will propel you through the rest of your day.   4. I block out distractions during my deep work hours. I put my phone on silent mode, close unnecessary tabs, and let my family and friends know when I need uninterrupted focus time.   5. I do not multitask. Instead, I give my full undivided attention to one task at a time. Trust me, multitasking is just an overrated term.   See, I told you they aren’t any fancy tips, but they are capable of making or breaking my day. You can give it a try and let me know how it turns out for you.   P.S. What worked for me may not work for you, so don't be afraid to experiment and find the strategies that help you feel your best. #productivity #agencyowner #freelancing

If you can master your time, you can master your life - here's how: Mastering time isn't just about squeezing more tasks into your day. It's about making every minute count. The right techniques can: ↳ Amplify your focus ↳ Elevate your productivity ↳ Transform your workflow Let these time-tested methods guide you. You will not just work smarter, but live better. Which one is your favorite? __________________ Pomodoro Technique • Set a timer for 25 minutes of work. • Take a short 5-minute break. • After 4 cycles, take a longer 15-30 minute break. Eisenhower Matrix • Sort tasks by urgency and importance. • Do urgent and important tasks immediately. • Schedule, delegate, or delete others accordingly. ABCDE Method • Label tasks A-E by importance. • Focus on 'A' tasks first. • Delegate or eliminate 'D' and 'E' tasks. 80/20 Method • Identify tasks with the most impact. • Focus 20% of effort on these. • Expect 80% of results from them. 3-3-3 Method • Dedicate 3 hours to deep work. • Complete 3 shorter tasks. • Address 3 maintenance tasks. 2 Minute Rule • If a task takes < 2 minutes, do it now. • Larger tasks get scheduled or delegated. • Keeps small tasks from piling up. Eat the Frog • Start your day with the most challenging task. • Gain momentum and a sense of achievement early. • Makes subsequent tasks feel easier in comparison. Getting Things Done (GTD) • Capture all tasks. • Clarify and organize into lists. • Reflect and engage with action. Kanban Board • Visualize tasks in 'To Do', 'Doing', 'Done'. • Move tasks along as progress is made. • Optimizes flow and prioritization. Task Batching • Group similar tasks together. • Work on these in dedicated time blocks. • Increases focus and efficiency. Warren Buffet 5/25 Rule • List 25 important tasks. • Pick the top 5 to focus on. • Avoid the rest until top 5 are complete. Time Blocking • Dedicate blocks for specific tasks. • Include breaks and varied task types. • Ensures dedicated focus times. 1-3-5 Method • Choose 1 big, 3 medium, and 5 small tasks. • Prioritize this manageable daily task load. • Ensures a balanced workload. MSCW Method • Categorize tasks by necessity for project success. • Must-haves are critical, nice-to-haves are less so. • Defer won't-haves to future phases. Pickle Jar Method • Fit in major tasks first. • Slot in smaller tasks around them. • Regularly adjust and reassess priorities. __________________ 👇 Want a PDF of my top infographics? 👇 ▶️ Go Here: https://lnkd.in/g2xbnwhp Please repost to help others out there! ♻️

Busy Season Tips to Push on Through!! First of all, you got this!! Whether you are on the client side or a busy CPA in public accounting, deadlines are fast approaching. Busy season or not, effective time management is crucial for achieving professional success and personal well-being. Here are key strategies that can help you stay on top of your tasks without burning out: 1. Prioritize Ruthlessly: Not all tasks are created equal. Use the Eisenhower Box (urgent-important matrix) to distinguish between tasks and prioritize them accordingly. 2. Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time to different activities or tasks. This helps maintain focus and increases productivity by reducing the context-switching that drains energy. 3. Set Clear Goals: Start each day with a clear set of objectives. What do you want to achieve by the end of the day? This clarity propels action and reduces procrastination. 4. Embrace 'No': Protect your time. Politely declining additional commitments that don't align with your current priorities or values can save you hours of lost productivity. 5. Leverage Technology: Utilize project management tools and apps to keep track of deadlines, set reminders, and organize your tasks more efficiently. Remember, time management is not about squeezing as many tasks into your day as possible. It's about simplifying how you work, doing what matters, and getting things done in the most efficient manner. Let's share: What time management strategies have worked best for you? #TimeManagement #ProductivityTips #ProfessionalGrowth #WorkLifeBalance

We typically #schedule our days by writing down a task alongside a time to work on it. So, say at 9 am we write down that we'll work on the reorg project. At 10 am, we write down that we'll work on the monthly report. And so on. But what about flipping it around to *design* your day, so that you plan when to do tasks to match your level of cognitive resources available? Get to know when your attention is at its peak (when your cognitive resource level is high.) This is influenced by your chronotype (whether you're a morning or late type person.) Then, plan to do the tasks that require the hardest work and the most creative thinking during your peak attention times. Use the other times, when your attention is waning, to do what I call "subordinate work" (like email.) Think of your attention in terms of its peaks and valleys. Don't forget to be proactive and plan breaks into your day. We can do more when our tank of cognitive resources is not drained. #productivity #management #schedule You can learn more about it here:

What is your relationship with time? ▪ Is it a friend or foe? ▪ Is time working against you or are you working with it? ▪ Does it control you or do you control it? ▪ Is there not enough time or do you treat time as endless? ▪ Do you prioritize what is on your schedule, or do you schedule your priorities? Time is not outside of us. We have more control over our time, work, and schedules than we think. If we can change our relationship with time, we can change how we navigate through it. So, how do we do that? I just finished a presentation today focused on this very topic, and here are my top tips: ⏲ Call out your relationship with time. Do you approach time with a scarcity or abundance mindset? With a focus on urgency first or importance? 📑 Get organized. Do an inventory of what tools you use to capture your responsibilities. Are these working for me? Look for what’s accessible, easy to use, and reliable. Then, clarify what’s most important using a tool like the time management matrix or a PICK chart. Look at your priorities, to-dos, and calendar first thing in the morning INSTEAD of email. 🌞 Control your environment. As much as you can, find ways to manage distractions. Silence notifications, pause and batch your email, and block work/focus/thinking time on your calendar. 💪 Strengthen mental toughness. Sustaining success is not easy. We often feel overwhelmed and stressed as the work grows. This makes it more difficult to stay organized and manage distractions. Building and strengthening our resiliency is essential for us to be successful in the long term. Integrate mindfulness exercises into your day-to-day. Starting to feel the pressure creep in? Take two minutes to do a deep breathing exercise, meditate, or walk outside. Establish a good self-care routine. What practices have you adopted to improve your relationship with time? #timemanagement #learningjourney #growthmindset #relationshipwithtime #resiliency #prioritization #navigatingworkload