Inhale…now Exhale!! Whew! 2020 was quite a ride…bumpy, topsy-turvy and just plain strange and an extremely difficult year for a lot of us, not just in the United States, but worldwide. Globally, we were all affected by the pandemic in one way or another. You may know of someone who has been affected, or maybe you yourself have been. Either way, this disease has impacted everyone’s lives. From shut downs to testing, we’re all in the same boat. We’re all connected, whether you know it or not. So, let’s leave 2020 in our rearview mirror, press the gas pedal and charge forward to a new year.
As a small business owner, I make it a habit to map out the year ahead of me and I would like to share my practices with administrative professionals nationwide and globally. Think of this as a virtual resolutions vision board. Feel free to create your own and share with others on my website in the comment section: https://yuvabusinesswriter.com or on my business Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YUVABusinessWriter.
Top 5 Resolutions for 2021 for the Executive Assistant:
- Clean your desk!!
- What does your desk say about you and your work style? Is it organized chaos or just chaotic? I understand if it’s the latter. 2020 was a chaotic year and you may not feel motivated to clear the clutter. But you can do it! Believe me, you will feel better once it’s done.
- One way to maintain an organized workspace is to create your own “one touch rule”. Commit to setting a special time of the day to address whatever has landed on your desk. Only touch it one time!! Whether you need to file, trash, follow-up or forward it…get rid of it as quickly as possible.
- Work Smarter…Period!!
- Use your resources to complete tasks that may be a challenge for you. I do this with my business. As a virtual assistant, clients contact me all the time about projects they need completed that I have never done before. This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill or database/platform. I typically reach out to other administrative professionals, or use Google or YouTube to learn what I need to complete the project. You would be surprised how much you can learn by just reaching out to others. Most times, people are very willing to help you learn what you need to accomplish your goal.
- Tackle that ‘To Do’ list!! Don’t allow it to bully you. I know, I used to hide my growing To Do list under piles of paper when I worked outside of the home. Now that I have to look at my desk for 24 hours a day, I have committed to clearing the clutter (see Resolution #1). I now place my To Do list in plain sight…there is no running from it. It’s still there, even if you hide it. Here’s how I manage my list:
- I have only 1 list and I add to it when necessary.
- I have committed to completing at least 1 task on my list every day, or 3 items per week, when the week is extremely busy.
- Address your stressors. Breathe, think…repeat.
- Lots of work or a demanding boss? Whatever it is, face it immediately.
- Sometimes, I walk away from my desk just to rest my eyes or take a power walk to clear my head.
- Breathe, think…repeat!! #RECHARGEANDRESET!!
- Expand your knowledgebase: Commit to Continuous Learning
- Learn a new way to accomplish an old responsibility. The new twist may just be what you need to destroy even the most mundane and routine task. This will allow you to diversify your way of completing projects and believe it or not, it will spark your creativity.
- Learn a new technology or discover a new app that may benefit your executive and/or team. In this digital age, everyone is looking for something to help them be more efficient. And who doesn’t like new apps besides CandyCrush? So hit the internet and discover something fun and exciting to share with your team.
