Buzz
A hectic lifestyle filled with a full-time job, family commitments, social obligations, and various leisure activities can easily lead to chaos and disorder. When disorganization enters the picture, it can feel overwhelming to accomplish everything on your plate. Mastering organizational skills is crucial for effectively managing your numerous responsibilities, although it can be challenging to achieve. However, once mastered, you'll experience increased efficiency and gain a competitive edge, leading to a more fulfilling and sustainable life.
Strategies
Organizing Your Thoughts
Establish a daily task list. Jot down all your tasks for the day and check them off as you complete them. Creating a daily to-do list eliminates the need to remember tasks, and crossing items off provides a sense of productivity. You can even add tasks you've already completed to enjoy the satisfaction of crossing them off.
- Arrange your to-do list from highest to lowest priority by assessing each task's urgency and importance. Determine the one task you must complete if you could only do one thing today—make it your top priority.
- Consider creating a to-do list for the following day and review it before bedtime. This allows you to wake up with a clear plan of action in mind.
Maintain an ongoing list for continual additions. Keep a running list of things you want to read or places you want to visit. This list should be accessible at all times to serve as a reminder of tasks that don't require immediate attention. Consider using a physical notebook or an online platform like Dropbox for easy access.
Take notes during conversations. Whether it's a business discussion or a casual chat with friends, jotting down notes can help you remember important details or tasks. You don't need to document every word; simply make a habit of noting one or two key points from each conversation.
Utilize a planner. An annual planner can be invaluable for organizing your schedule and commitments. Use it to record appointments, travel plans, and future events. Regularly refer to your planner and update it with long-term obligations to stay organized.
Clear your mind of clutter. Just as you declutter your physical space, it's essential to declutter your mind. Practice meditation to alleviate stress and negative thoughts, allowing you to focus better and maintain mental clarity.
Organizing Your Living Space
Get rid of unnecessary items. The first step to organizing your home is decluttering. Empty out drawers, dispose of expired food, donate clothes and shoes you haven't worn in over a year, properly discard expired medications, consolidate or dispose of half-empty toiletries, and eliminate any other items you don't really need.
EXPERT TIP
Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer
Board Certified Professional Organizer
Set up donation bins. Place a donation bin in a hallway closet and another in your clothes closet. Whenever you come across items you no longer want or need, place them in the donation bin. This includes clothes that no longer fit properly. Donation bins provide a convenient way to declutter your space.
Organize important documents with labeled binders. Create separate binders for categories like 'Auto Insurance', 'Vacation', 'Receipts', 'Budget', and other essential aspects of your life. Consider color-coding them for easy identification (e.g., blue for receipts, red for insurance). Keep the binders neatly arranged on a dedicated shelf.
Utilize vertical space with hooks and shelves. Maximize the vertical space in your home by installing hooks for items like bikes in the garage and floating shelves for decorative and efficient organization.
Optimize storage with bins and baskets. Invest in bins and baskets of various sizes to categorize and store similar items efficiently. Develop a system for organizing the bins, and use them for organizing utensils, makeup, food, shoes, and more.
Enhancing Workplace Organization
Get organized with storage bins. Visit stores like The Container Store, Walmart, or Target to purchase a variety of bins to accommodate different items. Invest in bins, baskets, and file drawers to keep your workplace tidy and well-organized.
Invest in a labeling machine. Ensure your storage bins are effectively utilized by labeling each one appropriately. For instance, designate a bin for 'Writing Supplies' containing pens, pencils, and highlighters, and another for 'Tools' housing scissors, staplers, staple removers, and hole punchers. Label everything including files, drawers, and cabinets.
Organize your files by usage. Rather than organizing items based on their origin, categorize them according to how you'll use them in the future. For instance, file documentation for your upcoming business trip hotel under 'New York' instead of 'Hotel'. Create sub-files for frequently visited cities.
Create an office outline or 'Table of Contents'. Compile a list detailing the contents of each box or bin in your organized office for easy reference. This list will aid in returning items to their designated places after use.
Establish 'to do' and 'done' zones on your desk. Allocate specific areas on your desk for pending tasks (e.g., papers to sign, reports to read) and completed assignments. This separation prevents confusion about pending work.
Declutter unnecessary items. While organizing your belongings, discard items you no longer need such as those untouched for a year, broken items, and excess supplies. Consider shredding old papers or donating items you're hesitant to throw away.
Ensure your computer is organized. While organizing physical objects is important, an untidy computer can hinder productivity. Create folders and subfolders for files, tidy up your desktop, remove duplicates, use detailed file names, and uninstall unnecessary apps and documents.
Maintaining Organization
Devote ten minutes daily to quick clean-ups. Preserve the organization you've achieved by spending ten minutes each night tidying up and ensuring bins and baskets remain organized.
Adopt a 'one in, one out' rule. Before acquiring a new item, discard an old one. For instance, remove a book from your shelf before purchasing a new one. Consider donating or disposing of two or three items for each new addition.
Keep a 'Donate' box accessible. Maintain a designated box for items to donate and promptly place unwanted items into it. Dispose of items that cannot be donated immediately.
Close open drawers promptly. Maintain organization by closing drawers and tidying up immediately when you notice something out of place. Make tidying up a habit to maximize effectiveness.
Utilize technology for organization. Explore the plethora of organizational apps available, such as to-do lists like Evernote, reminders like Beep Me, travel organizers like TripIT, and task prioritization apps like Last Time. Look for apps that sync across devices for accessibility anywhere.
