Busy volunteers are often jugglers. Sometimes we get to the end of a crazy, non-stop day and realize we didn’t get enough done! We talked to our friend Matti, a personal coach, to get some tips about how to juggle our time and get things done.

1. What Do You Really Need to Do? Write it down. Do a brain dump in the morning before starting work and list tasks for that day/week.
2. Most Important!! Prioritize! For example: #1 is for ”if I don’t finish this today the world will come to an end” tasks; #2 is for “If I don’t finish this today – I’ll live” tasks and #3 is for “If I get this done today I’ll kiss my own feet!” tasks.
3. Plot Your Course. Plan your day/week schedule. Prioritize tasks in your calendar or daily planner - schedule your #1 tasks first! Set a start and stop time for each task. Organize daily travel tasks to minimize back-tracking: choose the order of your destinations to eliminate wasted time.
4. Set a Daily Goal. Let’s be realistic. Checking off all your #1 tasks is reasonable. The goal of finishing every item on your list sets you up for disappointment. Focus on the most important tasks first; reschedule #2 and #3 tasks for later.
5. Monotony Within Reason. Try not to plan long, monotonous tasks in a row. Lack of variety can make you feel bored, unproductive and less motivated.
6. Under-promise and Over-deliver. Give yourself more time than you think you need. When scheduling tasks systematically add 50% extra time for each task. Reducing stress results in better work.
7. Do Not Disturb. Don’t text, email or answer the phone while working on an important task. Yes, you can do this!
8. Create a Fun Work Space. Colorful files, office ziplocks, trays, and containers make this easy to do. Keep it clean and organized. When your space is cluttered you’re distracted.
9. Give Yourself a Freakin’ Break – Will Ya? We know it’s so hard to place it in your flight plan but you must. You will feel more energized and be more productive.
10. What is the Easiest to Accomplish? When you are not sure what to focus on ask: What is the best use of my time right now? Listen to what comes into your mind or keep asking until you have an answer. Trust your intuition.
11. Don’t Be Afraid to Switch Priorities. The world does not always have to stay in order. The goal is to accomplish a task right now. If you are working on a scheduled task and something unexpected happens (phone, email, chocolate cake, screaming child), stop, take a deep breath and compare the importance of the new event with what you are now doing. Focus on the more important task and deal with the other later.

Matti Ameli loves exercise, reading, travelling and organizing fun  international get togethers with her friends in different countries. She is a certified personal and business coach with international experience who works with motivated individuals to achieve their personal and professional dreams. Matti has a Master’s Degree in Cognitive and Social Psychology and is a graduate of Corporate Coach U. She is also a Certified Professional Behavior Analyst and a Certified Corporate Business Coach. Have questions? Email Matti.