ANNA - BEING ORGANISED

Hi, my name's Anna, and if you asked my colleagues, family and friends if they could describe me in one sentence, I suspect that many of them would say that I am very organised, among other things.

Hi, my name's Anna, and if you asked my colleagues, family and friends if they could describe me in one sentence, I suspect that many of them would say that I am very organised, among other things. It's probably not the most exciting personality description but, oddly, it is one that I am quite happy with. My significant other on the other hand is totally the opposite. Let's just be kind and say he is 'slightly' less organised than I am hehe but his strengths lie elsewhere. He has always been more spontaneous and carefree than me, but this works well for us both as we have been together for twenty-eight years and counting.

I'll start by saying that I am a list-maker at home and at work. I have been for as long as I can remember, and I have a confession to make - I love lists! I have two on my desk right now. A shopping list and today's to-do list. Neither are very long, but that is not the point for me. When I was asked to write this blog, I added it to my to-do list with a couple of bullet points next to it for inspiration.

I don't know whether it is the sense of achievement I feel when I have crossed off and completed everything on the list, whether it gives structure to my day, or whether it is just the sense of putting things in my head down onto paper in a list format? It could be all three but this final point, I have realised, does free up a lot of mental energy for me. I seem to have lots of projects that I want to start or ideas that are bouncing around in my head and I find putting them down on paper is very satisfying and it allows me to give the idea some commitment and to work out the finer details. Larger projects can be broken down into smaller, less intimidating and manageable tasks.

Simply put, being organised makes me feel like I am being productive and the lists I make are just goals and deadlines that I make for myself. It's about making things work better for myself and those around me.

How has being organised during this pandemic been useful for me? It is fair to say that I have had a bit more time on my hands than usual and I think I have put this time to good use. I have been re-arranging and de-cluttering our home as well as shredding years’ worth of paperwork which I no longer need as most of these documents can be accessed online.

When the pandemic restrictions ease, I will be donating all those items which I no longer need to the charities who do need them.

And finally, whilst writing, this blog is another thing that I can cross off my to-do list.