Get Organized at Work | Career, Leadership, Project Management, Productivity, Time Management

Feeling overwhelmed at work—even when you have a planner, to-do list, or organization system that should be working?

In this episode of the Get Organized at Work podcast, Kayla Fahey-Ahrndt breaks down the real reason you feel scattered, distracted, or mentally exhausted at work—and it’s not your workload.

It’s what you’re carrying.

This episode dives into the concept of mental clutter and “excess baggage”—the hidden thoughts, worries, and unresolved decisions that quietly drain your focus, productivity, and clarity as a leader.

You’ll learn how to:

If you’ve ever felt like:

This episode will give you a simple, powerful reset.

✨ Because getting organized at work isn’t just about managing your tasks—

Want more support organizing your work and your mindset?

Join the Get Organized at Work Community where we go deeper into:

📓Get the OneNote Hub template I use to organize my work and leadership systems:

🎥If you want to watch my OneNote Hub tutorial, it's here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=nQtnaV3EQiqaQKas

🎥Watch the Active Projects List walkthrough in my OneNote Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDJl9M7178

🎥Watch the Daily & Weekly Dashboard tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/nWgmoIJBCPc

🎥 Watch the Leader Standard Work and Weekly Reflections Questions tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/JQ4IFTDQV9Y

🎥Watch the Goal Setting for Professionals in OneNote | Annual Goals + Self-Assessment tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/wf7qvyBNK5o

📱Join the Get Organized at Work community for deeper system training and support (plus my OneNote Hub and my 6 module Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course is included with your membership):

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

overwhelmed at work, how to stop feeling overwhelmed, mental clutter, productivity tips, organization at work, time management for professionals, leadership productivity, reduce stress at work, overthinking at work, workplace organization, OneNote productivity, leader standard work, task management system, focus at work, professional development, work organization tips

Performance review season can feel stressful — but it’s also one of the best opportunities all year to reflect on your work, demonstrate your impact, and design better goals for the future.

In this episode of Get Organized at Work, Kayla shares how to approach your self-assessment and annual goal setting in a thoughtful, strategic way.

Instead of treating goals as rigid checkboxes, Kayla introduces the idea that great goals act like vectors — providing direction and momentum while still allowing leaders to adapt as priorities evolve.

You’ll learn how to conduct a meaningful self-assessment, identify what worked throughout the year, and design goals that support growth, leadership impact, and continuous improvement.

Kayla also shares the annual self-assessment framework and goal-setting template she uses inside her Ultimate OneNote Hub, including how to review goals, track progress, and adjust throughout the year.

If you're preparing for a performance review or planning goals for the upcoming year, this episode will help you approach the process with clarity and confidence.

• Why self-assessments are essential for leadership growth

If you’d like to see how Kayla organizes her annual goals and performance reviews inside the Ultimate OneNote Hub, check out the YouTube tutorial linked here:

🎥Goal Setting for Professionals in OneNote | Annual Goals + Self-Assessment Template: https://youtu.be/wf7qvyBNK5o

📓Get the OneNote Hub template I use to organize my work and leadership systems:

🎥If you want to watch my OneNote Hub tutorial, it's here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=nQtnaV3EQiqaQKas

🎥Watch the Active Projects List walkthrough in my OneNote Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDJl9M7178

🎥Watch the Daily & Weekly Dashboard tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/nWgmoIJBCPc

🎥 Watch the Leader Standard Work and Weekly Reflections Questions tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/JQ4IFTDQV9Y

🎥Watch the Goal Setting for Professionals in OneNote | Annual Goals + Self-Assessment tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/wf7qvyBNK5o

📱Join the Get Organized at Work community for deeper system training and support (plus my OneNote Hub and my 6 module Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course is included with your membership):

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

performance review tips, self assessment for work, leadership self evaluation, SMART goals for professionals, performance review preparation, leadership goal setting, annual self assessment, goal tracking system, OneNote productivity system, professional development goals, leadership reflection

Are you ending each week feeling busy but unsure what actually moved forward?

In this episode of Get Organized at Work podcast, we’re talking about a simple but powerful leadership habit that helps leaders become more intentional, proactive, and strategic: weekly reflection through Leader Standard Work.

Kayla introduces her framework called The Proactive Success Algorithm, which explains how intention + awareness leads to proactive leadership and better strategic results.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn the six weekly reflection questions every leader should ask to improve decision-making, protect their energy, and continuously improve their leadership systems.

These questions help leaders identify what’s working, what’s draining them, and how to experiment with better workflows each week.

Kayla also explains how she integrates these reflection practices inside her Leader Standard Work system in OneNote, using her Ultimate OneNote Hub to stay organized and proactive at work.

🎥If you want a step-by-step walkthrough of how I use the Leader Standard Work template and reflection questions inside my Ultimate OneNote Hub, check out the full  tutorial on YouTube ➡️https://youtu.be/JQ4IFTDQV9Y

If you want to become a calmer, more strategic leader, this episode will show you how a simple weekly reflection practice can transform the way you plan, lead, and improve each week.

• What Leader Standard Work is and why it matters for leaders

📓Get the OneNote Hub template I use to organize my work and leadership systems:

🎥If you want to watch my OneNote Hub tutorial, it's here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=nQtnaV3EQiqaQKas

🎥Watch the Active Projects List walkthrough in my OneNote Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDJl9M7178

🎥Watch the Daily & Weekly Dashboard tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/nWgmoIJBCPc

🎥 Watch the Leader Standard Work and Weekly Reflections Questions tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/JQ4IFTDQV9Y

📱Join the Get Organized at Work community for deeper system training and support (plus my OneNote Hub and my 6 module Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course is included with your membership):

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

leader standard work, proactive leadership, weekly reflection for leaders, leadership self assessment, leadership habits, leadership development, one note for leaders, leadership organization system, leadership productivity, time management for leaders, strategic leadership habits, leadership growth mindset

Stop Reacting All Day: How to Create a Weekly Leadership Dashboard in OneNote

Are you ending every week feeling busy… but not strategic?

In this episode of Get Organized at Work, we’re talking about how to stop reacting all day and start leading with clarity by creating a Weekly Leadership Dashboard in OneNote.

If you constantly feel pulled into email, meetings, Slack messages, and urgent requests — this episode will show you how organized leaders take back control of their time using simple, structured systems.

You’ll learn:

How to define “success by Friday” before your week begins

Why decision fatigue is often a systems problem

How to create a Decision Parking Lot to reduce mental clutter

What high-performing leaders track weekly

How to build a proactive leadership workflow inside OneNote

This episode is perfect for:

Healthcare leaders

Managers and directors

Busy professionals balancing projects and people

Anyone using OneNote for work organization

Leaders building a second brain in OneNote

Your weekly dashboard isn’t just a to-do list — it’s your leadership operating system.

🎥If you want a step-by-step walkthrough of how to build this inside my Ultimate OneNote Hub, check out the full Daily & Weekly Dashboard tutorial on YouTube ➡️https://youtu.be/nWgmoIJBCPc

Stop reacting.

—

Keywords:

📓Get the OneNote Hub template I use to organize my work and leadership systems:

🎥If you want to watch my OneNote Hub tutorial, it's here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=nQtnaV3EQiqaQKas

🎥Watch the Active Projects List walkthrough in my OneNote Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDJl9M7178

🎥Watch the Daily & Weekly Dashboard tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/nWgmoIJBCPc

📱Join the Get Organized at Work community for deeper system training and support (plus my OneNote Hub and my 6 module Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course is included with your membership):

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

Why Leaders Feel Overwhelmed — Leadership Lessons from the Olympics on Letting Go, Trusting Systems, and Avoiding Burnout

Why do leaders feel overwhelmed — even when they’re capable, experienced, and highly motivated?

In this episode, I share the hidden cause of overwhelm that most leadership advice never addresses — and what the Olympics can teach us about letting go, trusting your preparation, and building systems that reduce mental load.

Watching Olympic athletes perform at their best, like Alysa Liu, you’ll notice something surprising: lightness. They aren’t gripping every movement or relying on memory. They trust their training, their systems, and their preparation. Leadership works the same way.

When leaders rely on memory to track projects, responsibilities, and priorities, everything begins to feel heavy. But when you build trusted systems — like a structured project management system in Microsoft OneNote — you create clarity, reduce stress, and allow yourself to lead with confidence instead of pressure.

In this episode, I share how I use my Active Projects List inside my OneNote Hub to organize leadership responsibilities, reduce overwhelm, and create lightness in my work as a healthcare leader, business owner, and educator.

If you’re a healthcare leader, manager, or professional who wants to get organized at work, avoid burnout, and build leadership productivity systems that actually work, this episode will help you understand how structure creates freedom.

• Why leaders feel overwhelmed (and the hidden psychological cause)

📓Get the OneNote Hub template I use to organize my work and leadership systems:

🎥If you want to watch my OneNote Hub tutorial, it's here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=nQtnaV3EQiqaQKas

🎥Watch the Active Projects List walkthrough in my OneNote Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDJl9M7178

📱Join the Get Organized at Work community for deeper system training and support (plus my OneNote Hub and my 6 module Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course is included with your membership:

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

How do you stay organized at work, lead multiple teams, run a business, and still protect your energy without burning out?

In this episode, I’m sharing the exact systems I use to stay organized at work and run my business using Microsoft OneNote and Notion. These are the real productivity systems I rely on every day as a healthcare leader, university instructor, business owner, and mom of three — not theory, but practical workflows that reduce mental load, improve focus, and create clarity.

You’ll learn how I use my OneNote Hub as my operational command center to manage projects, meeting notes, leadership priorities, and department initiatives across multiple hospitals. I also share how I use Notion for business planning, content strategy, podcast organization, and long-term vision — allowing me to separate daily execution from strategic growth.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by too many responsibilities, struggled to keep track of projects, or wondered how leaders stay organized without constantly feeling behind, this episode will show you how to build systems you can trust.

These systems allow me to stop relying on memory, reduce decision fatigue, and lead with confidence — without working longer hours or carrying constant stress.

This episode is especially helpful for healthcare leaders, managers, professionals, and business owners who want to improve productivity, get organized using OneNote or Notion, and create sustainable systems that prevent burnout.

• How to stay organized at work using Microsoft OneNote

• Microsoft OneNote for project management and meeting organization

📓Get the OneNote Hub template I use to organize my work and leadership systems:

🎥If you want to watch my OneNote Hub tutorial, it's here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=nQtnaV3EQiqaQKas

📱Join the Get Organized at Work community for deeper system training and support (plus my OneNote Hub is included with your membership:

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

Keywords:

stay organized at work, how to stay organized using OneNote, Notion business planning system, productivity systems for leaders, how to avoid burnout at work, Microsoft OneNote productivity, Notion workflow for business owners, project management systems for healthcare leaders, reduce mental load at work, leadership productivity tools

Systems That Protect Your Energy: Boundaries, Decisions, and Recovery at Work

Are you managing your time at work—but still feeling drained? What if the real goal isn’t better time management, but systems that protect your energy?

In this episode of the Get Organized at Work podcast, Kayla Fahey-Ahrndt breaks down three types of systems every leader needs: boundaries, decisions, and recovery at work. Instead of relying on discipline and hustle, you’ll learn how tools like Kanban boards, OneNote hubs, and simple human routines can carry the mental load for you.

You’ll discover:

• How decision systems reduce overwhelm and decision fatigue

Kayla also celebrates exciting progress in the Get Organized at Work community—including new founding members and Ultimate OneNote Bundle sales—as proof that organized systems create sustainable results without burnout.

If you’re a healthcare leader, working mom, or high achiever who wants to feel calmer—not just more productive—this episode will help you shift from managing time to protecting energy at work.

👉 Join the community with founding member pricing ($5/month) using code FOUNDER or FOUNDING before we move to our $9.97/month invested model.  Get access to the OneNote Hub, Blueprint Course, and weekly leadership prompts.

Reflective Question:

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

👉 Join the community with founding member pricing ($5/month) using code FOUNDER or FOUNDING before we move to our $9.97/month invested model. Inside the community, you’ll get access to:

My OneNote Hub

The Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course (6 modules)

Live trainings and replays

Weekly prompts and leadership systems

🎥Visit and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for Tutorials (OneNote, Teams, Kaban Boards, Microsoft Loop, etc.): https://www.youtube.com/@kaylafaheyahrndt?sub_confirmation=1

▶️The Ultimate OneNote Hub Template for Work Organization | OneNote Planner + Workflow System: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw

📒🔗Link to get this Ultimate OneNote Hub template: https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/ultimateonenotetemplate

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

📅Schedule a Organize My Work Consulting Call - Get Help Organizing Your Work

🌐Website: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org

More about Kayla: --Kayla’s “Why” and Leadership Journey: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org/meetkayla 

What if getting organized at work felt more like The Home Edit — and less like hustle, urgency, and mental overload?

In this episode of Get Organized at Work, I’m introducing the concept of Grounded Leadership Systems and sharing why the way we organize our work has everything to do with how we lead, decide, and protect our energy.

Using familiar metaphors from The Home Edit, I walk through how practical tools like Kanban boards, OneNote hubs, and visual leadership systems can function like an organized pantry, a color-coded closet, or perfectly sized storage bins — systems that support you instead of demanding more from you.

We talk about:

What grounded leadership actually means (and what it doesn’t)

Why overwhelmed leaders don’t need more discipline — they need better systems

How Kanban boards work like the “rainbow method” for organizing projects

Why a OneNote hub is the pantry your leadership life needs

How grounded systems reduce decision fatigue, urgency, and burnout

What “The Home Edit for Work” looks like in real leadership life

I also share how this idea ties into our Get Organized at Work community, where I’m hosting my Leading Through Challenging Times webinar and supporting leaders with tools, systems, and practical workflows that make work feel lighter.

If you’re a healthcare leader, manager, or working professional who wants to get organized at work without feeling rigid, overwhelmed, or behind — this episode is for you.

👉 Join the community with founding member pricing ($5/month) using code FOUNDER or FOUNDING before we move to our $9.97/month invested model. Inside the community, you’ll get access to:

My OneNote Hub

The Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course (6 modules)

Live trainings and replays

Weekly prompts and leadership systems

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals: https://leadership-unveiled-podcast-community.mn.co/landing?space_id=2638359

Grounded leadership isn’t about controlling more — it’s about building systems that hold you, so you can lead well.

✨ Resources mentioned in this episode:

Join the Get Organized at Work podcast community for tools, discussions, and leadership resources

Keywords: proactive leadership, reactive leadership, decision fatigue, leadership systems, organized leadership, planning without overplanning, OneNote for work, OneNote hub, leadership organization, healthcare leadership

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals to continue this conversation and engage more with Kayla and leadership professionals who love systems and getting organized at work. (Members get 20% off Merch inside the community, plus that's where all my freebies live!)

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

📅Schedule a Organize My Work Consulting Call - Get Help Organizing Your Work

🌐Website: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org

More about Kayla: --Kayla’s “Why” and Leadership Journey: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org/meetkayla 

getting organized at work, leadership systems, grounded leadership, work organization systems, Kanban boards for leaders, OneNote organization, leadership workflows, reduce overwhelm at work, decision fatigue, leadership organization, productivity systems for leaders

Leadership doesn’t scale through hustle — it scales through stewardship.

In this episode of the Get Organized at Work podcast, Kayla Fahey-Ahrndt explores what stewardship at scale really means for modern leaders navigating uncertainty, pressure, and complexity. This conversation moves beyond personal productivity and into collective leadership, showing how organized leaders build systems, communities, and structures that create stability — not burnout.

You’ll learn:

Why leadership at scale is about environment design, not over-functioning

How to steward time, energy, and systems without exhausting yourself

The difference between personal leadership and collective leadership

Why structure matters more than speed in uncertain times

How community becomes a leadership system, not just a support space

What it means to lead with presence, clarity, and calm instead of urgency

This episode also introduces a new leadership rhythm inside the Get Organized at Work community:

Monthly Community Leadership Meetups — a space for connection, Q&A, and support focused on leading in uncertain times, collective problem-solving, and sustainable leadership.

Leadership isn’t about doing more.

🎧 Listen now and reflect:

leadership systems, stewardship in leadership, organized leadership, leadership in uncertain times, time management for leaders, energy management, decision fatigue, systems thinking, collective leadership, leadership community, sustainable leadership, burnout prevention, leadership development, work systems, organizational leadership, leadership mindset, community leadership, leadership support systems

✨ Resources mentioned in this episode:

Join the Get Organized at Work podcast community for tools, discussions, and leadership resources

Keywords: proactive leadership, reactive leadership, decision fatigue, leadership systems, organized leadership, planning without overplanning, OneNote for work, OneNote hub, leadership organization, healthcare leadership

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals to continue this conversation and engage more with Kayla and leadership professionals who love systems and getting organized at work. (Members get 20% off Merch inside the community, plus that's where all my freebies live!)

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

📅Schedule a Organize My Work Consulting Call - Get Help Organizing Your Work

🌐Website: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org

More about Kayla: --Kayla’s “Why” and Leadership Journey: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org/meetkayla 

Proactive vs Reactive Leadership: How Organized Leaders Choose Better (Without Overplanning)

What’s the real difference between proactive and reactive leadership — and why does staying proactive feel so hard once work gets busy?

In this episode of Get Organized at Work, we build on last week’s conversation about decision fatigue and explore how organized leaders move from constantly reacting to intentionally choosing what matters most. We talk about proactive vs reactive leadership in real life, how to plan without overplanning, why motivation fades when everything feels urgent, and what it actually means to be strategic at work.

You’ll also hear how simple systems — like a calm OneNote hub — can reduce mental load and help leaders think ahead without burning out.

If you’re a leader, healthcare professional, or business owner who wants practical systems and realistic leadership advice, this episode is for you.

✨ Resources mentioned in this episode:

Join the Get Organized at Work podcast community for free tools, discussions, and leadership resources

Watch my YouTube tutorial on building the Ultimate OneNote Hub Template (https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=BLnrMeXuVACfCiDs)

Download the full Ultimate OneNote Hub Template (https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/ultimateonenotetemplate)

Keywords: proactive leadership, reactive leadership, decision fatigue, leadership systems, organized leadership, planning without overplanning, OneNote for work, OneNote hub, leadership organization, healthcare leadership

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals to continue this conversation and engage more with Kayla and leadership professionals who love systems and getting organized at work. (Members get 20% off Merch inside the community, plus that's where all my freebies live!)

HOW TO SUPPORT KAYLA & GET ORGANIZED AT WORK PODCAST

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

🗞Get My Newsletter

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

📅Schedule a Organize My Work Consulting Call - Get Help Organizing Your Work

🌐Website: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org

More about Kayla: --Kayla’s “Why” and Leadership Journey: https://www.Kfaconsulting.org/meetkayla