If you are anything like me, clutter is a big problem and it drives you crazy. I have found that I work and function better when my life feels organized. I am the kind of person who lives by the motto “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” Yep, that OCD person who is constantly moving, cleaning, or doing something. A busybody as some might call it. But, I have found that the key to staying on top of the many adult obligations I have is to lead an organized life.
Some may feel overwhelmed by those of us who are super organized but trust me; there is a method to the madness.
What are the benefits of living an organized life?
It can help to reduce stress
Think about it this way; you have a desk in your home that is filled with clutter. You are two days away from that fantastic vacation you have planned, but you cannot find your passport. What does this cause? Unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Remember when I said, a place for everything and everything in its place? I have a particular place that I keep my passport, and when travel time comes, the only worry on my mind is how many bathing suits to pack. I like to overpack too (better overdressed than undressed).
Greater productivity
When you are not spending tons of time searching for things and remembering where you put things, you have more free time. Time is our most valuable asset, and if you are anything like me, you are always seeking life hacks to make additional time for your most important tasks.
It can help you save money
When you lead an organized life, you do not find yourself in situations where you are spending money on things you already own. This is because you can easily access the things you need/already own.
What are some things you can do to help lead an organized life?
Clean regularly to avoid spending all day cleaning
Spending your entire weekend cleaning is a major waste of time. I like to clean my house as I go along. If I cook dinner, the kitchen must be cleaned immediately after dinner. I have a rule about not going to bed with dishes in the sink.
The bathroom is another place where you can save time on cleaning by introducing hacks such as investing in a hand vac to clean up hair. Each morning when I finish styling my hair, I do a quick run of the hand vac across the floor to clean up behind myself.
Clean the shower while you’re in it. Hopping in the shower? Grab your cleaning supplies and give the shower a good once over while you’re letting your hair conditioner sit on your hair.
Multi-tasking in some cases is not helpful, but when you are in the shower with a hair mask or conditioner that needs to sit for 5 minutes or longer, make effective use of that time by doing a bit of cleaning.
Use a blanket while you’re watching tv? Fold it and put it away before bed. Notice dust on your coffee table? Clean it while you’re watching your favorite television show.
Declutter your house
Because I live in Chicago and the seasons can be pretty nutty, I use each season as a chance to evaluate my closet. As a general rule of thumb, if I go a whole season without wearing something, I donate it. By doing this, I am doing good by giving to those who are less fortunate, but I am also decluttering my home.
Think about it this way. When you save clothes and things that you do not wear or need, you must make space to store them. Whether they are in storage bins in the basement or tucked away in a closet, they create clutter which makes more work for you when the seasons change, and you are looking to flip your wardrobe.
When it comes to decluttering your home, don’t try to do everything all at once. The best approach for decluttering is to do it room by room. Do not move on to the next room until you have completed the room or space that you are currently working on.
Jot things down
I would say write things down but in the age of technology, how many of us walk around with a pen and paper? Not I.
Use the notes section to keep a list of to-dos’ or to jot down important things that you need to remember to do.
Part of living an organized life is not cluttering your brain and trying to force yourself to remember every little thing. The scheduler on your phone can be a major asset in helping you to stay organized. I often think of things that I need to do at the most random times, so I keep my phone close by, and I add things to my to-do list as they come to me.
For my blog, I like to use Google documents to help me jot down ideas. There are many times when I wake up in the middle of the night with an idea, and I log it in my Google docs sheet to make sure I don’t forget it by the time morning comes.
Create deadlines
People who live an organized life do not waste time. You will hear me talk about time often because it is so precious and valuable. Creating deadlines and sticking to them helps to increase productivity. Additionally, working towards set deadlines pushes you closer to achieving your goals.
Highly organized people do not procrastinate. We set deadlines, and we get shit done. Think of it this way, the sooner you get it done, the sooner it comes off your list of things to do.
As busy adults, we all can identify with managing competing priorities and trying to shift things around to make sure we have the time needed to accomplish our goals.
Taking the approach of creating a self-imposed deadline, and getting your work or to-do’s done before that timeframe will help you with living an organized life.
Create a workspace that inspires creativity
If you work from home permanently, or from time to time, having a workspace that is free of clutter is key. The last thing you want is to be on a Skype call searching for a document or trying to remember where you put something you need for the meeting.
If you are working with a smaller space for your home office, build up. What does this mean? Add shelving to your walls to help you store books or folders that you may not use daily. For example, I keep all of my business-related receipts in a notebook; I add receipts to the notebook as I make purchases and then I put it back on the shelf until next time.
Make your space inspiring, add pictures or cute desk ornaments to make yourself feel inspired while you work.
Get rid of things you do not use from your desk. If you buy a new printer, donate the old one.
Set goals
This is a huge one. Especially for those of us who blog while working full time. But, also for anyone who is a business owner or looking to advance in your career.
Create a list of your goals. Be realistic in what you list out. Think about what can be accomplished in the short-term, and what can be done long-term.
Choose one or two goals that you can accomplish within a year’s time. What will it take to accomplish those goals? Look at this list on a regular basis to remind yourself of what you are working toward.
For those of us who blog, I recommend planning your content at least one month ahead to make sure you always know what you are going to write about for the month.
The most important thing is to stay on top of what needs to be done and to avoid letting your tasks pile up. Going at it little by little and tackling your to-do list are great ways to keep yourself on track. Leading an organized life is not difficult. It requires patience and dedication to holding yourself accountable.
Looking for more productivity and life hacks? Check out this post on being more productive at work and finding the balance between work and life.
What are some of your favorite ways to stay organized and on top of the things you must do each day?
My Top Picks for Creating an Organized Space
