Often, the first step to getting more organized is to start writing things down.
But not just anywhere… and of course, not everything.
One of the reasons you might feel stressed out or overwhelmed is because you’re trying to keep track of too many things in your head.
If you systematically and reliably write down the important things — and then regularly review that list — you’ll start to trust yourself. When that happens, you’ll be able to focus better on whatever you’re working on in the moment because you won’t be worrying about things you may have forgotten or overlooked.
The first step in building a “writing things down” habit is to choose a place where you’ll write them down. I like to use a pen and a pad of paper for this, but you can use a Word document too. Or you might use the Notes feature on your phone.
The reason I like the old-fashioned approach is that I don’t have to flip between documents or programs when something occurs to me while writing on my computer. And for whatever reason, my brain believes me better when I write something down by hand instead of typing it out. But, this is about your system, so experiment with what works best for you.
The next step is to come up with some broad, rough-and-ready categories that you’ll use to bucket the things you’re writing down. Things like appointments, deadlines, chores, ideas, groceries, and miscellaneous.
After that, start working on the actual habit. Any time you have a thought interrupt your work, put it in your notebook or into whatever program you’re using to keep track of things. Make sure you tag it with the appropriate category.
Now, here’s the clincher. You can’t just write things down and never do anything about them. If you want this to work, you need to review your written list regularly — at least weekly. I do this when I’m planning my next week. Choose a few of the things from your list and add them into your schedule for the following week.
Doing this reliably means you’ll start to get more done and you’ll start to trust yourself that you aren’t missing steps.
From there, you’ll see your focus go up and your stress levels go down.
New on the Site
In case you missed our event last week where I did a live, on-the-spot (ish) assessment of several websites and emails, the recording is available. We had a good time, and I think you’ll enjoy seeing how small copy changes can make big improvements in how a site feels… and how a user feels reading it. You can view the recording right here.
When you learn how to manage your time, it lets you feel good about your workday and your non-work life. It sets you up for the win each and every day. In this featured article, Michele Peterson shares some of the strategies she uses to get things done while still having time left over to enjoy her life.
Have you ever found yourself listening to a podcast or a YouTube conversation, thinking, “I don’t agree with everything this person is saying, but they’ve made a point or two worth considering”? Suzanna Fitzgerald talks about tuning into people who have a different point of view than you, and the benefits it can bring to your copywriting. Give her newest Reality Blog on the lost art of disagreement a look.
Around the Web
When your clients ask you for social media guidance, these survey results from HubSpot might come in handy.
Are you looking to up your LinkedIn game? These suggestions from Hopper HQ can help you figure out your content creation strategy.
I like to look at my business as one big experiment. If you’re thinking about experimenting more with your business in the coming year, Optimizely has some ideas for you.
Need a little help choosing your niche. Check out this article from Growth Models.
That’s all for now. Make it a great week!
