Stay Focused

Are you so distracted with everything else going on in your life that you find it hard to stay focused?  With the daily demands on our time, it's no wonder we're not focused.

Let's take a look at how we can change and get & stay on track!

If you're like me, your Outlook calendar is the first thing you look at each morning.  Instead of jotting down notes, which lay all over our desks; begin adding ALL of your information into your Outlook calendar.  Scheduling in all of the details of your life will help you stay on track.  And if you've got to be the one to remember your spouse's appointments to the Doctor or your children's practice schedule, you definitely need to make room for it in your calendar.  Having to try and retain all of your activity in a week is exhausting in itself, but adding activities for others is too much to try and wrap your head around.

Adding the schedules of others into your Outlook calendar can be simple.  Add a label to the name of your spouse or child, then add a splash of color for them; such as Aqua.  So, when you look at your calendar and notice an Aqua color swatch on your calendar this week, you'll quickly recognize the appointment as being one for your child or spouse.

When you're scheduling out travel time for yourself or others, be sure to add in the driving time to your schedule.  If your hair appointment is at 6:30 and it takes you 30 minutes to get to your hairdresser's shop, schedule it into your calendar for 6:00.  Of course you'll want to add a reminder for yourself that will pop up about 15 minutes before you are to leave so it will give you enough time to prepare to head out the door.

Written reminders are great, but they're not going to work if you can't find them on a messy desk.  So, if you don't have a cell phone that allows you to sync your Outlook calendar, be sure you're using a written schedule to keep yourself on track.  At-A-Glance has some great day planners that could be of help and you can easily pick them up at your local office supply store.

Setting daily priorities for youself is also a great way to stay focused and not forget anything...even if your priority for today is going to the grocery store for milk.  Having even the most trivial of information floating around in your subconscientious is distracting and is enough to keep you off focus.

Add phone calls that you need to make to your calendar.  Not only will it remind you of who you need to call, but it also blocks out time for you to make that call.

Are you always forgetting your grocery list on the kitchen counter?  Add your grocery list to Tasks or Notes in your Outlook calendar.  If you're using At-A-Glance, there's a place for you to make notes also.

And above all else, don't forget to schedule your free time.  Blocking out your family time or some down time for yourself will keep you from adding too much into your weekly schedule.  Your mind and body need a rest also!

Carrying around your information, or as I like to call it...my brain, will help you stay focused and stay on track for the day.  Writing EVERYTHING down will help keep your mind from over-load.  And may make room for other things; maybe even some creativity will blossom!

Give yourself the freedom to focus on reaching your goals.  And when necessary, adjust your plan.

Enjoy your new found freedom from over-load ;-)

Your Faithful VA...Sherri Fowler

"Faithfully Assisting You...Virtually"

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