People ask me how to feel organized and still get home on time. This is a really big topic, and I am going to give it to you from a concept standpoint. I have books, references, and all kinds of detail elsewhere, but the concept is what will change your day.
Short answer: How to feel organized and still get home on time comes down to two things: say no to more things, and work in one-piece flow. Get to work early, before the chaos of the day starts. Use the Eisenhower matrix to sort everything into do now, plan, delegate, and don’t do. Rely on a to-do list and calendar reminders, and let AI handle as much email as possible.
Three Ways to Feel About Your Workday
There are a few different ways this plays out:
| Situation | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Behind and working late | You are never on top of things, and you stay late trying to catch up |
| Ahead, but working late | You feel ahead, but only because you keep working late |
| Ahead and home on time | You feel ahead all day and still go home on time |
I am talking about the third one, feeling ahead without having to work late.
Why Should You Get to Work Early?
The biggest one is to get to work early. Let me say that right out of the gate. If you get to work at four or five in the morning, before the chaos of the day starts, you can really stay ahead. Trying to do it in the afternoon is not a great idea. I understand that some people are night owls, and some people have spouses who are nurses or work odd hours. But if you are able to do it, please do.
Most of the time, I get up at six and help the family until 7:45, when the kids get out. By the way, I am not really a help, but I try. I get to work by eight, get done at 3:30, play with the kids until I put them to bed at 6:30, and then work from 6:30 to 8:30.
Recently, I was still on Budapest, Hungary time, which is nine hours different, so I woke up really early. The kids were on vacation and sleeping in, so I got to work at about five. It was quiet. I was jamming out to music. By the time the day started, I was ahead of everything. I got more done that day than I have in a long time.
Then I felt ahead during the day, and I was effective during the day. When I went home, I felt ahead. When I went to bed, I felt ahead. And it just kept going. That feeling is what I want for everybody, every day. On a jobsite, that might look like a superintendent who has the day planned before the first crew arrives.
What Is the Eisenhower Matrix?
The single biggest thing that helps you feel on top of things is saying no. I use the Eisenhower matrix and put everything into one of four columns:
- Do now.
- Plan.
- Delegate.
- Don’t do.
I am almost to the point of being irresponsible, and I am very good at deciding not to do certain things. I whittle my day down to only the most important things, and I only do the things I must do.
I also use AI. I use ChatGPT for creative items and Claude for anything that deals with words, and I have Grok Bots for as many things as I can possibly program them to do.
Work in One-Piece Flow
The other key is that I work in one-piece flow. I finish one thing before I start the next, and that is what keeps me ahead.
And you have got to get rid of email. I may be wrong, and I am very anti-email, but with AI bots now, you can make a bot in charge of managing your email, and you will be just fine. I know some professions, like sales, probably cannot get rid of email the way I am talking about.
What If You Still Feel Behind?
If right now you are worried about everything you have to do tomorrow, you have not done one of these things:
- You have not delegated.
- You have not deleted.
- You have not set up a to-do list, or a calendar that will automatically remind you about certain things.
And if you have whittled it down and you are still nervous, then:
- You are doing too many things at once.
- You are not relying on your to-do list and your plan.
- You are not focusing on one-piece flow.
If you want the details, you can read Getting Things Done by David Allen, read our book Elevating Construction Project Teams, or order our personal organization planner. Getting organized is a system, not a personality.
So here is the challenge. Before you leave work today, put everything on your plate into the Eisenhower matrix. Delete what you can, delegate what you can, and plan tomorrow so you can work on one thing at a time. Then, if you are able, get to work early and see how it feels.
Bottom line: Say no to more things and work in one-piece flow, and you can feel organized and still get home on time.
If your project needs superintendent coaching, project support, or leadership development, Elevate Construction can help your field teams stabilize, schedule, and flow.
On we go.
FAQ
How do you feel organized and still get home on time?
Say no to more things and work in one-piece flow. Get to work early, sort everything with the Eisenhower matrix, and rely on your to-do list and calendar.
What is the Eisenhower matrix?
It is a way to sort every task into four columns: do now, plan, delegate, and don’t do. I use it to whittle my day down to only the most important things.
Why get to work early?
If you get to work before the chaos of the day starts, it is quiet, and by the time the day begins you are ahead of everything.
What if you still feel behind after making a to-do list?
You are probably doing too many things at once, not relying on your to-do list and plan, or not working in one-piece flow.
Should you get rid of email?
I am very anti-email. With AI bots, you can put a bot in charge of managing your email, though some professions, like sales, may not be able to.
People Also Read:
Clean, Safe, and Organized: The Foundation of a High-Performing Job Site
How to Organize a Construction Schedule with Filters and Views
The Truth About Overtime
If you want to learn more we have:
-Takt Virtual Training: (Takt Virtual Training)
-Check out our YouTube channel for more info: (Elevate Construction on YouTube)
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Elevate Construction Podcast)
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Training Programs and Certifications)
-The Takt Book: (The Takt Book on Amazon)
Discover Jason’s Expertise:
Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction. As the company’s Founder and COO, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.