--- title: Year End Tips: 7 Ways to Reorganize Yourself description: Pursue one ambitious goal at a time. canonical: https://time.com/4151596/year-end-time-management/ author: TIME article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-12-22T13:00:37.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:45:10.601Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 7 Ways to Reorganize Yourself During the Busiest Time of the Year og:description: Pursue one ambitious goal at a time og:url: https://time.com/4151596/year-end-time-management/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltab4d76d98156c5cc/698875a30b72e3661e6e74c4/wall-clock.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5238 og:image:height: 2946 og:image:alt: wall-clock og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 7 Ways to Reorganize Yourself During the Busiest Time of the Year twitter:description: Pursue one ambitious goal at a time twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltab4d76d98156c5cc/698875a30b72e3661e6e74c4/wall-clock.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 7 Ways to Reorganize Yourself During the Busiest Time of the Year > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. 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It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ## Video: How to Deal With Cell Phones in Meetings [Watch (HLS stream): How to Deal With Cell Phones in Meetings](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/rsmZCkVK.m3u8) (1:37)  _Published 2015-03-23. Want your colleagues to stop texting and start paying attention in meetings? Donna Rosato explains how to do it._ by [John Rampton / Entrepreneur](https://time.com/author/entrepreneur/) ## John Rampton / Entrepreneur Dec 22, 2015 1:00 PM UTC  Wall clock Wall clock Getty Images by [John Rampton / Entrepreneur](https://time.com/author/entrepreneur/) ## John Rampton / Entrepreneur Dec 22, 2015 1:00 PM UTC Do you know someone juggling a million different projects, yet looks fit, healthy, happy and is somehow reliably there to tuck their kids into bed? They have day jobs, yet they’re always looking to the next thing. They go on vacations, or run successful businesses on the side, or have heavily demanding jobs that they love. I want to be one of like those people. But how do they do it? Of course, the key is no big secret once you dig in, they’re still living to the same clock as you or I; we all have he exact same hours and minutes in a day. These people simply have amazing time management skills and are focused on the things they want to accomplish. I’ve learned in studying 1000’s of successful entrepreneurs that most of this success comes from being extremely organized. Here are a few things I’m working on in my life to have a healthier and more organized life: **1\. Organize with a realistic goal in mind** People who try to make a significant change in their lives with only an abstract idea of their goal find themselves falling back to their old habits. There are thousands of reasons why people may want to organize or re-organize their lives. Perhaps you want to be a better boss or just have a little bit more time at night with your kids. Whatever your goal, it should be fully visualized and attainable with small, actionable, day-to-day steps. **2\. Refocus your schedule on your most important daily priorities** Your schedule reflect your goals. Right now, my goal is to be more fit. I mark everyday from 11-12 to go to the gym. I have to schedule this time so that I go. It’s the same with dinner time at home or going out with your spouse. If you don’t prioritize it, it generally doesn’t happen. Cal Newport, who runs the Study Hacks Blog, recommends scheduling every minute of the day the night before (what he calls [Time Blocking](http://calnewport.com/blog/2013/12/21/deep-habits-the-importance-of-planning-every-minute-of-your-work-day/)) to maximize your productivity by avoiding time wasted time between tasks. That puts you in control of the time you dedicate to creative endeavors. **3\. Automate whatever possible** Some things some of us do daily or weekly don’t deserve our time. Updating your computer, planning meals and even household shopping [can be automated](http://lifehacker.com/5982949/top-10-hacks-for-automating-your-life), depending on how much you’re able and willing to pay for the convenience. Setting up an automated payment plan for your bills is a no-brainer, and you’ll save money by never paying late fees! **4\. The KonMari method is a huge overhaul and a new frame of mind** For an organizational overhaul there’s no better guide than [_The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up_](http://tidyingup.com/), by Japanese “organizing consultant” Marie Kondo. The has swept over the world with a wave of joy-sparking decluttering ideas. The KonMari method is elegantly simple: get rid of anything you own that no longer sparks joy in your life, from items in your wardrobe to kitchen gadgets. Once that’s out of the way, reorganize your items to fit your most practical life. The KonMari method includes respecting your belongings by teaching you to properly thank the items to be discarded for their service and giving more respectful treatment to the items you keep (“Never, ever ball up your socks… They take a brutal beating in their daily work”). Regardless if it sounds a little dippy, [those](http://www.buzzfeed.com/arabellesicardi/what-to-do-in-your-house-after-you-breakup) [who have committed to](http://www.wsj.com/articles/marie-kondo-and-the-tidying-up-trend-1424970535) the [Konmari treatment](http://www.popsugar.com/home/Proof-Marie-Kondo-KonMari-Method-Works-37622676?stream%5Fview=1#interstitial-1) are [overwhelmingly supportive](http://www.marthastewart.com/1106009/konmari-trendy-new-organizing-method) about [its results](https://www.happier.com/blog/5-life-changing-lessons-the-konmari-decluttering-method-taught-me). **5\. Pursue one ambitious organizational goal at a time** After applying the method above, give yourself a little break. I recommend a day. This allows you to settle into your new decluttered environment, get familiar with your newly re-empowered items, and learn to live with a cleaner home and office. Then, try to implement organizational goals one at a time. It takes at least [21 days for a new habit to form](http://www.johnrampton.com/21-days-form-new-habit), whether it’s as small as making your bed every morning to working out every day, so go slowly and don’t overwhelm yourself. **6\. Don’t interrupt important work looking at your smartphone** Anyone, even the most organized, laser-focused worker bee is susceptible to FOMO (fear of missing out), Internet addiction, and mobile rabbit holes. The insidious nature of smartphones befall all who bow at the altars of the Android and Apple gods, which is why the key to a focused workday is a hard and fast rule: put away your phone. Don’t even look at it. Nothing that can be transmitted in a pop-up notification can’t be checked later, and you risk derailing ten minutes to checking it, checking your feeds, clicking on a catchy headline, commenting on it, then waiting for a response. Stay socially active by scheduling time to check your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram. Keep a timer running — in the next room, if you have to. **7\. Talking remains the most efficient way to communicate** The fewer emails you send out, the fewer emails you have to check! It’s much more efficient to pick up the phone or walk down the hall to talk with coworkers and clients whenever practical. By getting the answer you need on the spot, you waste less time waiting for a response. _This_ [_article_](http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/253106) _originally appeared on_ [_Entrepreneur.com_](http://www.entrepreneur.com) _More from Entrepreneur.com:_ * [10 Questions to Ask When Making Your Personal Life Awesome](http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229392) * [10 Simple Productivity Tips for Organizing Your Work Life](http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242359) * [How to Start a Conversation With Strangers at a Networking Event](http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244553) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] It happens all the time, you're speaking at a meeting, or you're giving your presentation, you look around the room and half the people are looking at their cellphones. Sending texts, or checking their email. We're all guilty of this, at times. But, when you're the person in front of the room. You don't want to waste valuable time, or a good opportunity to have face- time with your boss, and your colleagues. Here's how you can get people to pay attention. First, set expectations up front, if it's going to be a long meeting. Say, two hours, let people know there's gonna be a break, say 15 or 20 minutes, so that they can get away and check their email, and check in with the office. Also, if it's gonna be a short meeting, say, you know, I know I need. need your attention for 15 or 20 minutes, I'd appreciate if you would put the cell phones away. You can also be very strategic about how you set up a room. People are gonna feel very uncomfortable looking at their phone if they're really close to the person speaking or presenting. Set up the room in a U shape so that more people are sitting close to you. If it's a big audience, get a wireless microphone and walk among the audience. [ UNKNOWN ]. Another trick is having people sit close together. Get a good head count of the people who are supposed to be at the meeting or at the presentation, and don't leave extra chairs. If people are sitting close together or there's not an empty row in the back, people are gonna be much less likely to be staring at their phone. If you're gonna talk the talk, walk the walk, too. Next time you're in a meeting. Turn your cellphone off so you're not going to be tempted to do that too. 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