Staying organized and focused on your goals

When running a medical practice (and in most areas of life), organization can help you stay focused and goal-oriented, leading you to your desired results. Organization comes naturally to some, but for most people, it’s learned through trial and error. Everyone is different, so one individual’s system for organization may look very different from their friend or co-worker, and that’s okay! Finding what works for you is a process worth putting effort into.

What are the top ways to get organized?

1. Understand your goals

To start getting organized, the first task is to understand your goals. Take some time to think about what you are hoping to accomplish by being organized. You may have one big goal or several small goals (or a combination), and that’s okay! Write down your goals and pin them above your desk! This can help you stay aligned with your goals as you work every day.

2. Work in a distraction-free environment

When working on your goals, try and create an environment conducive to working. Some people need complete quiet, so it would be important for them to close their doors, turn off any media playing in the background and put their phones on Do-Not-Disturb. They may even invest in some noise-canceling headphones to keep their space peaceful. Others like to have music playing, and if that works for you, go for it!

3. Write a to-do list

You wrote down your goals; now it’s time to break down how to accomplish your goals into bite-sized steps, so you can start making some progress! Take some time to create a list of tasks that you can accomplish, and knock them out one by one! It’s okay if you have a long list – you’ll work through it quickly if you are setting small, doable goals.

4. Keep track of progress

When working towards goals, it can be easy to lose sight of progress and forget how far you’ve come. Be sure to track your progress in some way so that you keep in mind what you’ve done and what is still ahead of you. Some people use progress-tracking apps, but journaling your progress can work just as well!

5. Use a calendar

Even if your goals are personal, it can be very beneficial to work off of a calendar so you can see when you expect to complete each task and each goal. Set personal deadlines or use existing deadlines, and mark them on your calendar to help you be sure to meet them. You can even create a task for each day to help with time management!

6. Rest!

Finally, don’t forget to take time to rest. Taking breaks is actually very productive. They will allow you to return to work later refreshed and rested.