13 Tips to Plan And Organize For A Sound Mind in 2023

As solopreneurs, our minds are often racing a mile per minute. 

There.is.so.much.to.do.

It can make many of us feel out of control and unorganized, which in turn can lead to greater stress levels and decreased productivity.

So, how about we try to mitigate these feelings in the new year and discuss ways that you can plan ahead and stay organized so that you can maintain your sanity?

Some of these may seem like no-brainers, but others will hopefully provide you with a “why didn’t I think of that” moment.

Useful Tips to Help Solopreneurs Plan Their Days

Do the stuff you don’t want to do first.

We all know what it feels like to have a project or task staring you in the face that you don’t want to do. But have you ever noticed the longer you sit on it, the bigger deal the task becomes? Instead of creating this unnecessary anxiety for yourself, make it a point to get the hardest tasks done first thing in the morning. It will make you feel like you accomplished something big which will motivate you to get the enjoyable remaining tasks done throughout the rest of the day.

Make a short list of must-get-done items.

Ever get really optimistic over the things you can accomplish in a single day, only to make it to the end of the day and have only completed a small portion of your list? It can be discouraging. Instead, give yourself three must-get-done tasks that you have to do on a given day, and then a bunch of remaining tasks that would be bonuses if you got those done as well. Again, a feeling of accomplishment can go a long way and make you feel like real progress is being made (rather than always feeling like you’re always falling behind).

Only look at email a few times per day.

Email is distracting, and honestly, we could all fill our entire days just looking at and responding to emails. However, if we constantly look at our inboxes, how can we possibly get anything else done?

Do yourself a favor. Do not look at your email first thing in the morning. In fact, I’d wait a couple of hours. As mentioned, start working on one of your more difficult tasks first and once one is complete, look at your email. Respond to pressing issues, then leave your inbox alone again until midday to focus on other tasks, and then check it a final time before you shut your computer down for the night.

I know, it sounds hard. I was apprehensive at first as well, but what a game-changer it has been. I intentionally close my email tab for hours at a time and only reopen it to do my sporadic checks. It’s made me a lot more focused.

Develop a routine and time block.

Being a solopreneur comes with a lot of flexibility, but sometimes to a person’s detriment. Often, when people don’t have schedules created for them, they feel lost and directionless in the next steps they should take for their business.

To prevent this from happening to you, create a schedule for yourself and block out time for creative work, operations, client communication, etc. Create a routine so that you know when in your day you’re focusing on each item. 

This will help to ensure your business stays on track and that you don’t start to wander.

Create a 90-day plan.

On a macro level, a great way to plan out your tasks is to create a 90-day plan for your business. This allows you to plan far enough out that you have a plan to go after, but not too far that you can’t pivot if you need to based on feedback or external events. Then, at the end of each month, add another month to the end of the plan so that you always have a rolling calendar and know what’s coming next.

It makes everything very tangible and easier to manage. You’ll feel like you have a firm grasp on what needs to be accomplished and when rather than aiming for ambiguous dates far out into the future.

Review your task list at the beginning of the week and at the end of each work day.

Put your to-do list together at the beginning of the week so that you can have a plan and schedule in place. Then, at the end of each day, review the things that actually got done and those that still need to be completed, and adjust the schedule for the rest of the week.

This will help you stay on top of your tasks and will help you feel less overwhelmed.

Make sub-tasks your friends.

Often, solopreneurs are presented with large projects that can be extremely intimidating. You know the old saying, 

‘How do you eat an elephant?”

“One bite at a time.”

Well, that applies here. Turn big projects into a long list of to-dos. Break each section of the project down into sub-tasks and start checking those off. It will give you peace of mind to see that big projects are really just a blueprint for a long list of to-dos. Once you start checking items off your list, it will give you the momentum to keep going and will make the big-ticket work not seem so daunting.

Optimize for peak work hours.

You’re a solopreneur and can work the hours you want, so why would you work hours that you’re not productive? If you’re a morning person, start the day early and end it early. Vice versa for night owls. Use your time wisely and you’ll get optimal results.

Organization Tips for Solopreneurs

Declutter your space.

If my mom is reading this, I know she’s rolling her eyes because picking up my room is probably the thing we bickered about most when I was growing up.

I’ll admit it…Mom, you were right. 

Decluttering your space not only helps the area around you to look good, but it also helps to declutter your mind. Working in a clean and organized area helps to put your mind at ease and eliminates a stressor that will in turn make it easier for you to get work done.

Quarterly, make it a point to get rid of things you don’t need, physically and virtually. Cleaning up your physical and mental space on a regular basis will give you the restart you need to be your most efficient self.

My two favorite tips around this topic are:

• Deal with snail mail immediately. Don’t let it pile up. Deal with it as it comes in to avoid clutter.
• Have a system for your digital files. Whether you have a DIY system in place or rely on software, you need to develop a way to organize your files so that they’re easy to access. Otherwise, you risk wasting countless hours just on the hunt for things that should be easily accessible.

If it makes you work smarter, not harder, invest in it.

Automate, automate, automate. If there are things you can take off your plate by implementing systems and utilizing technology, do it. It will help you plan the to-dos only you can get done while staying organized, and it will save you tons of time to focus on other things that matter.

Step away from work and technology.

Want a sound mind in 2023? Take a break from work and technology… every day. Go for a walk, spend time with family and friends, or read a book. Do something you enjoy doing.

Being in front of a screen 24/7 and being a workaholic only contributes to the problem and builds stress. It’s important to take moments away for yourself.

We are total organization and productivity junkies here at LifeStarr. In fact, the idea for our company was first created after our founder, Joe Rando, read Getting Things Done, which changed his life. This probably goes without saying, but if productivity and focus are related to your goals for next year, you should probably pick up a copy of the book (not affiliates, just fans).

Another bonus tip? Check out The Solopreneur Success Cycle and let it help guide you on your journey to success.