I always find myself with mixed thoughts this time of year. I love the warm, relaxed, spontaneous, sometimes “lazy” days of summer. Like many of you, its a season that I tend to take extra time off to enjoy the great weather, outdoor activities, vacation and time with family and friends. While its hard to see those days coming to a close, at the same time, I look forward to the routine (and the productivity!) that Fall brings. There’s something comforting to me about routine; I find it easier to plan, and easier to focus, on things that I really want and need to get done.

For those of you that have enjoyed time off this summer the thought of going back to work this fall may be a bit daunting.  Here are a few back to routine” organzing and productivity tips that will help make your transition a smoother one.

• Get back into the habit of getting 8-9 hours of sleep.  Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. You will enjoy the benefits of more energy and of feeling well rested while at work.  You will also be more productive and effecient.

•  Plan out your weekly activities.  Take time over the weekend to have a family meeting and discuss your activities for the week ahead (who will be home for dinner what nights, who has committments or activies?)  This will help you to plan for meals, plan transportation and will ultimately save you time and money.

• Do as much as possible the night before.  If you bring a  lunch to work, prepare it the night before & leave it in the fridge.  Set the coffee pot on a timer so it is ready and brewed when you come down for breakfast.  Pack up your gym bag the night before. Set dry cleaning or any other items you need to take for activities or errands the next day right by the door.  By doing these things the night before, you will make your morning  less hectic.

• Prioritize your work day.  Once you arrive at your office immediately plan and prioritize your workday.  (Alternatively, this can also been done the night before so you can come in and hit the ground running). Focus on high-priority activities first.  Eliminate distractions (turn off email notifications, send your calls to voicemail, put a do not disturb sign on your door.)

• De-clutter.  Take a few minutes at the end of each work day to tidy your desk so when you come in the next morning, you have a clear space at which to work.  Put supplies back where they belong, file loose papers, put books and binders back on shelves,  and take a few minutes to get organized.

• Schedule appointments with yourself.  Block off time in your calendar to regularly de-clutter and organize.  If you don’t schedule time to do this, it won’t happen.  Take time to purge old papers you don’t need, supplies you no longer use and to weed out old files.

We have a GO (Get Organized) System Seminar coming up on September 23rd that is geared towards people in business who want to increase focus, organization and productivity.  If you or someone you know could benefit from this, please let us know.  To register or for more details, click here.