Staying organized is something you should be prioritizing when running your own business. But let’s be honest, for a lot of us creative minded, free thinkers, keeping up with organization can be a full-time job in itself. Even if “master organizer” isn’t a skill you’d include on your resume, it is still such a crucial part of running a successful business and I’m here to tell you, it’s easier to achieve than you may think! 

Let’s break it down into six easy steps, shall we?

• Create working hours. 

In order to keep your mind organized and your personal life exciting, you have to create working hours and boundaries. Map out the hours you will work each day and be sure to communicate those hours with your team. And don’t be afraid to be very strict about those hours. We all know that as entrepreneurs, fires arise out of nowhere that need our immediate attention, but if something happens outside of your office hours that isn’t an emergency, work really hard to save it for the next day.

• Identify a workspace. 

No matter where you work, be sure to identify a functional workspace. In order to stay organized, try not to work one day from the couch, the next day from the car, and the following day from the dining room table. I think we all can admit to working on the go in any space that is convenient, but when you are able, work in a space that was created intentionally to meet your needs in order to experience an optimal, organized workflow. 

• Know your strengths. 

Knowing your strengths is so incredibly important to keep your business organized. Learn your strengths and abilities with a personality tool, like the Enneagram, in order to determine how you can best spend your time. Stop wasting hours on tasks that don’t bring you joy or align with your strengths as an entrepreneur and find people who can do those tasks for you. This will save you massive amounts of time and help keep you organized by focusing your time on your talents. 

• Seek accountability. 

Find a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and seek their accountability. If you struggle with meeting deadlines, tell a fellow boss babe your timeline and ask her to keep you accountable to meet it. Whatever it is, find people who will cheer you on and remind you to stay focused on the task at hand. 

• Plan your week.

Don’t end a workweek without planning for the next. Identify your “must do’s” and plan to tackle those most important things first. And when I say plan your week, I mean, schedule every single hour. Time blocking is so crucial for staying on top of tasks and remaining organized. Block out chunks of time to respond to emails, write blogs and newsletters, plan social media content, or meet with clients. Whatever your workflow includes, be sure to block out an appropriate about of time each day to complete it. 

• Leave time for “emergencies.”

When you’re planning your week and blocking out the hours of your day, don’t forget to leave parts of your day open for any “emergencies” that may arise needing your full, immediate attention. If you don’t make room for this time you’ll be left stressed to the max and forced to steal time from you non-working hours in order to get everything done. Save yourself the headache and frustration by making room in your day for the unexpected! 

And while these aren’t things that necessarily help keep you organized, enjoy the top three ways I get the most out of each and every workday!

• Exercise.

I work really hard to reserve at least 30 minutes a day for physical activity. Sometimes it is first thing in the morning. Other times it’s during my lunch break. But whenever I have the time, I make it a priority to my body in order to strengthen my mind for the work ahead! 

• Getting ready for the day.

Working from home makes it really easy to feel like I can work in last night’s pajamas with a messy bun and slippers, but for me, I find that taking the time to freshen up and get dressed makes all the difference in my workday. When I feel like a professional, I work like a professional.

• Planning time for dance parties. 

Okay, so I may not block out time specifically for dance parties, but I do make time for it whenever I need a change of perspective. You can find me in my office blaring Bon Jovi and grooving to the beat at any given moment and I have to tell you, it works every single time I am feeling in a funk. I’m not saying it has to be Bon Jovi (although it should be), but I am encouraging you to give it a try! 

If feeling organized is something you struggle with, make it a priority to implement these easy tips into your workday. I have a feeling it will help your business grow and make your mind feel at ease! 

What things do you do each day to help you feel more organized? I’d love to hear about them in the comments and add them to my routine!

 

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