Successfully Changing to Become an "Organised" Person?

[vx220]

Just marry the most organised lady in the world! Worked for me

Took me a while to realise (admit?) that her way was better, but we're better off in every way

[Miguel Alvarez]

Another one who has read this and thought these are my exact words. I've made some considerable changes in my life but yeah I'm still a very laid back happy go lucky type of person. I think since having the baby I've realised enough is enough and I need to be more organised and talent/luck will only get me so far.

[Soovy]

Woodrow Wilson said:

Having always had issues with work/career, I've finally come to the realisation that many of my problems are as a result of a lack of "order" in my life.

From being an inquisitive, reasonably "bright" child who didn't really need to plan anything, through adulthood I've long relied on my initiative, memory and articulacy to get through life (I've generally preferred winging-it/freestyling to meticulous planning...). I have also often really struggled to engage with tasks that I'm not interested in. This can be fine for simple tasks, but my time management is terrible and is not the ideal approach for a job involving any sort of responsibility or management. Consequently, I struggle.

The past 15 years or so have been quite frustrating (at work -and outside of it, to a certain extent), with a strong feeling of a lack of achievement and failure/mediocrity, rather than ambition and success. I don't blame anybody else, but I feel that it shouldn't have turned out like this.

Many of the problems I have tried to ignore, but due to increasing feelings of stress and feeling 'bad' I can no longer do so.

I've read various books and articles (yes, self-help...) and I have begun to increase the "order" my life generally, but changing my attitude and approach towards work in the face of back-log, time/financial pressures and anxiety/stress is going to be difficult and I'm wondering how much it is possible to change long-term for the better.

Has anybody else had a similar experience?

Has anybody managed to change from a dis-satisfied, disorganised person who is just about hanging-on into a super-effective, high-achiever with a strong sense of purpose?

1. Buy a proper diary. Fill it in for the coming year as much as possible
2. Each day, before bed, write down the "stuff" for the next day, adding those which have come up that day.
3. Cross tasks off as you do them next day
4. Back to 2 each day carrying over those things you didn't manage to do.

5. Have a clear out. If it isn't beautiful and doesn't add value, throw it out. No mercy.
6. Every night before bed, get your sh*t sorted out for next morning - shirt ironed, suit hung, shoes polsihed, pen filled, bag ready, papers ready etc etc.

This will make a huge difference to your level of organisation, and lower stress significantly.

Edited by Soovy on Tuesday 8th January 13:50

[Otispunkmeyer]

GroundEffect said:

I have a real ambition and feverish drive to succeed...but god am I unorganised and 'messy' in how I do it. I wish I was better

I am the same. Seems a lot of academic people are. My desk is a mess of papers! but that is mainly because I can't just throw stuff away as its all confidential. Doesn't make sense to leave it lying on my desk but then again no one can come in and root around my desk except me. I may just black bag it and burn it...sod feeding it all through a shredder.

Unless its something that really has my interest I can't seem to work on it for more than 20 minutes before switching off. Quite scatter brain, lose track of things easily etc because I can't always keep focus.

I do have attempts at being organised... I got myself a white board so my most immediate/mid term tasks are staring me in the face all day (I am fairly forgetful, especially if its not something that has my interest. Though can remember engineering formula and theory like I just learnt it). I have also just installed Wunderlist on my devices so that said white board can follow me about all day too! Thats working well at the moment as it can actually sync itself to all your other devices and is cross platform and will send you notifications.

One thing I need is space... but I dont have that here or at home so everything is cluttered even when its tidy. I need space to be organised.


Perhaps the worst thing though, is this sort of nagging doubt/uncertainty about what I am capable of and I guess anxiety about going to see people or go talk to people. Many times now people who see my work after having known me a while tell me I am far too modest and do more work than I let on. In my 2nd year mock viva exam, the examiner wrote that I deliberately under sold myself because of things I didn't feel where worth mentioning (either because they weren't difficult or because it was surely common knowledge/sense). I don't like to show off, or boast... and feel uncomfortable when people ask me to.

As for the other thing. This really annoys me. I never used to be like this. Its just slowly overtaking me. Some of my tasks involve going to see others to ask for advice, ask them to make something for me etc. But just before I get out me seat to go do it, something stops me. It puts me off going to see them for fear of god knows what. It means these tasks take much longer than they should because I am trying to force myself to overcome it.

I am absolutely ste at explaining things and talking to people. Even simple things can come out baddly, which gets me all in a muddle even though its perfectly clear how things work in my head. My logic seems completely different to everyone elses. Then there is my accent. I am from the north east and it seems many midland/southerners just aren't able to listen to me properly. Talking on the phone is a nightmare, my accent and the tone of my voice don't seem to carry very well down a telephone line. I usually end up repeating myself many times or even resort to spelling things out letter by letter. So I just avoid it... everyone who's known me a while can hear me clear as day. But they've had time to tune in.

I need to get better at all the above...running out of time on my PhD now!

[Otispunkmeyer]

Woodrow Wilson said:

Ordinary_Chap said:

You will never be effective without planning, organization and discipline.

I don't particularly enjoy it either however, I recognise its value in delivery. This is no right and wrong amount of planning if you are effective. I go to work a bit earlier than most (as a senior manager it comes with the territory).

However I always look at my diary and plan my activities for the week.

I start by doing this;
- What am I going to complete today?
- What am I going to complete this week?
- What do I need to complete the month/quarter?

If you have no route to success then you are simply a ship at sea with no compass most likely going around in circles.

It shouldn't take too long and it shouldn't be too painful. However if you don't complete these activities you know you'll continue to be frustrated by a lack of results and it may cost you your job at some point.

I'd recommend you read 7 habits http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Habits-Highly-Effectiv...

I do, of course, make an attempt at planning my time.

I work in a project management role in which the "goalposts" are often moving. Having planned out what I'm going to be doing, invariably incidents occur (as a result of the actions of others or myself) that require almost immediate action, some of which keep on returning, planning for it is difficult. An environment like this is challenging for somebody with good organisational and managerial skills, but for somebody who doesn't have them it is very unsettling. It is difficult to feel motivated when you are constantly having to "fire-fight" and forever trying to just "catch-up". It's the wrong role for me, but I do need to improve my organisational skills and focus on non-engaging tasks, in whatever role I end up in.

I do have a copy of the 7 habits Covey book, although I've not read it.

Edited by Woodrow Wilson on Monday 7th January 22:53

This is why I shy away from anything more than a semblance of a plan. Anything more is wasted effort because nature will see to it that your plan goes to rat st.

[Salgar]

trashbat said:

Become a software engineer? We're probably all like that. I hope so anyway, otherwise someone might notice.

You clearly don't work where I work.

[shep1001]

[quote=Soovy]


1. Buy a proper diary. Fill it in for the coming year as much as possible
2. Each day, before bed, write down the "stuff" for the next day, adding those which have come up that day.
3. Cross tasks off as you do them next day
4. Back to 2 each day carrying over those things you didn't manage to do.

5. Have a clear out. If it isn't beautiful and doesn't add value, throw it out. No mercy.
6. Every night before bed, get your sh*t sorted out for next morning - shirt ironed, suit hung, shoes polsihed, pen filled, bag ready, papers ready etc etc.

This will make a huge difference to your level of organisation, and lower stress significantly.


This is good advice. From an early working age I have worked from home with nobody to check up what I am doing and when as my employer is based hundreds of miles away. I have to organise and motivate myself, if sh*t does not get done then there is no excuse as its down to me and me only most of the time.

It would be quite easy to do the absolute minimum and get by without being noticed. Thing is I found Organising myself not only sent my efficiency through the roof but I could achieve substantially more for very little increased time/effort/stress once I got into a routine which is a win win. You can apply it to your home life as well