One of the best things to keep in mind when organizing your work is to not give yourself more to do than you can manage. Set priorities and work through your to-do list at a sustainable pace, starting with the most important or urgent items and doing what you can each day. Then you will have the satisfaction of knowing you used your time and energy wisely, and you will be that much closer to your goals when you start work the next day.

Getting the job done right is the most important thing. Accuracy is more important than speed. Typing tutors emphasize that speed will come with practice, and the same is true of most work. Over time, positive results will come more easily and quickly, and eventually they will come almost automatically. Don’t rush or push; just focus on getting it right, and as you gain experience, you will naturally gain speed.

Racehorses can spurt for a few rounds around the track, but that’s it. They’re extremely highstrung and not good workhorses. Pack mules and donkeys, on the other hand, are plodders and load carriers. You cannot rush them, but they can carry heavier loads and negotiate trails that horses would never survive. Some people struggle at their work because they approach it like a racehorse rather than a pack mule.

Other people’s troubles stem from the fact that they have no regularity, no schedule, no scientific organization. If they would keep a chart or spreadsheet or even a simple prioritized list, they would know at a moment’s glance where their work was at and what to concentrate on next. Getting and staying organized may seem like extra work, but it saves a lot of work in the long run.

That is also the best way to avoid last-minute cramming and the stress that comes with that. Having everything planned and scheduled and charted is a far more effective and pleasant course of action than constantly rushing to meet the next deadline.

Most large companies have what they call “efficiency experts” or “time management consultants” who hang over the shoulders of the workers to figure out how they could do their jobs better, cheaper, or faster, as well as what they’re doing that they don’t need to do. You can do that for yourself too. By planning your work, keeping records, and evaluating the results, you can significantly improve your work habits and productivity. Now that is working smart!

David Brandt Berg (1919–1994) was the founder of The Family International.