Getting organized is something many of us think about, sometimes every day. For some, it might not be just “thinking about it.” Sometimes, those thoughts might be more nagging than just thinking and even a bit overwhelming.
So what can you do to stop that internal nagging and start doing it? Let’s start by making a list of things you want to do. My list might look like this;
- Finish organizing my photos in FOREVER.
- Continue my family history book.
- Continue my own story.
- Solve the mystery of my DNA.
I’ve spoken about this before, but it’s important to remember to make these goals SMART Goals; otherwise, these are just wishes. So how can we do that? Let’s relook at the list and do a makeover of the list. But before I do the makeover, perhaps these four potential goals are too lofty, at least in the short term, so I might prioritize what I want to do first and what can be put off, at least for a little while.
So I might decide that the short terms goals are; to continue my family history book and to finish organizing my photos. I have chosen to do both because I know I’ll need my photos for my family history book.
I know I can’t put off my DNA mystery work (remember, I’m a DNA Nerd), so I must include that item in my short-term goals. My story can be put off as a project for later in the year.
So let’s look at those new short-term goals and revise them to be SMART.
- Organize the photos in my FOREVER account by the end of June by spending 15 minutes each day working on my account. Make a calendar appointment to remind me to get busy. 15 minutes doesn’t sound like much, but if you do the math that 65 days from today and 15 minutes each day equates to 975 minutes or 16.25 hours.
- Continue working on my family history book by writing one person’s story in my genealogy. Set aside one day a week to write their story and add it to my ongoing book. If I make my goal until December 31, 2023, that’s 35 weeks, and that would equate to 35 stories.
- Solving the mystery of my DNA was too large a goal. So I choose to look each day at my new DNA matches and see if I can place them in my tree. If I can’t easily do that, then I will dedicate a one-half day on the weekend to looking into these matches further. I’ll keep an ongoing list of people I need to address. I may have to look at this goal further if that list gets out of hand.
Continuing to work on my own story will be put off until June, and I can look at that goal and see if I can fit it in.
So now I have a plan, and I feel better already. Of course, I will want to add an item to my calendar in two weeks to check in and see how I’m doing with these goals. Am I staying on track, or do I need to further tweaks to refine my goals? Are there obstacles that have crept up? If so, I might decide to brainstorm those obstacles and see how I can work through them.
So now you see what my goals for getting organized are. What are your goals for getting organized? Why not write them down and set up some reminders. (I’ll be writing about a new to me tool that’s helping me track these reminders, watch for that upcoming blog). Be sure to check in after a couple of weeks to see how your plan is working. You may even want to set up an accountability partner to check in with.
Most important is to celebrate the wins. The first win is that you have a plan.. and in a few weeks, I hope you are celebrating that your plan is working. But even if it’s not, you can celebrate that you can fine-tune it and get back on track. Tell me about your short-term goals.
- If you’d like to organize your photos and you are just not sure how, then I encourage you to sign up at FOREVER using my invite HERE and then email me, and we can arrange an appointment to get you started.
- I’ve created a couple of videos you might like to watch. Just 15 Minutes a Day To Organize Your Photos , and FOREVER 15 to Organize Your Memories. I make videos regularly, so you may want to subscribe.
- If you choose to work on your own story, then you may like a product I have called The Story of You – The Star. This program provides weekly prompts to help you tell your own story your own way.