Organization is Everything
blog by Alexis Jones

I officially discovered the key to getting things done FOR REAL and it’s simple: organization and planning.

Sounds silly, but I’ve found that if I have a basic “to do” list, nothing EVER gets done. I start one thing and go onto another and never complete anything. Since I’m now in the 4th week of my boot camp, by the way, I have transitioned from the physical section of the program into the mental section. The whole first month I was focused primarily on creating physical discipline (working out 6 times a week and maintaining a strict meal plan) and now that I have achieved that to a certain degree, I am working on the mental discipline, which is WAY harder for me!

Already this morning I had three things scheduled to do before lunch: write a new chapter in my book, write this blog, and work on a PR pitch for the company. Now the good and bad thing about working from home is that it requires much more discipline to actually work. I come home from the gym and I am my own motivator in what I accomplish for the day or whether I do anything at all. By the way, I would never recommend running your own company if you are not disciplined because it’s increasingly difficult when you are your own boss. Anyhow, I have gotten up at least six times to get a snack from the kitchen or make more tea, checked my facebook or myspace at least five times, my email at least ten, made a few phone calls and checked on line for which new bands are coming to LA. I found myself creating reasons for why I needed to go somewhere. I thought I’d go grab coffee, make a run to the grocery store or even find a place to vote early that’s thirty miles away.

This is when it occurred to me that we have to work out the mind the same way we work out the body if we want it to perform at its best. I found that in my hour and a half yoga class, I totally became restless and honestly, it’s not our fault that we are all A.D.D. We live in a world where no advertisement lasts more than a minute and a half. We are bred to not focus for longer than ten minutes and then punished for not paying attention longer. So since we aren’t taught how to do it, it’s up to us to learn it and it’s a crucial lesson.

So here’s the deal, if I want to run a successful company with 17 girls working with me, I better learn how to manage my time efficiently and organize myself and my company or else it becomes the disastrous, fourth grade group project where nobody knew what they were doing and it was complete chaos. Again, I’m preaching to the choir because I’m certainly not where I want to be in this area of my life, but I’m just expressing how important it is to take into consideration.

The things I’ve learned that really help are below.
1. Plan specific times for what things you want to accomplish in the day.
2. Make realistic/attainable goals.
3. Avoid all distractions (allot yourself time to snack, check emails, make phone calls etc., but don’t allow yourself to interrupt yourself when you’re working).
4. When you start to get tired or restless stand up, stretch, or shake it out.
5. The real secret is giving yourself little rewards (ie: if I work straight until three, I’ll walk over and get myself a coffee, or I’ll pick up a frozen yogurt). I have to have things to look forward to in my day or else I lose motivation and focus.

Anyhow, I’m working to streamline my ability to get things done quickly and efficiently. I’d MUCH rather learn the art of efficiency and master productivity so I can spend less time working and more time playing. Who wouldn’t? The same can be said for girls who want great bodies, it’s one thing to want it, it’s some thing completely different to earn it. Mental discipline is certainly earned, but the payoff is better than any six pack I’ve ever seen.

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