How To Be Organized

Are you struggling to find that perfect work-life balance? And do you also feel that you are running a marathon that doesn’t seem to end?

Do you always feel like you are playing catch-up with your work and commitments? It could all be the result of your disorganization. Disorganization is a menace. It plagues your progress, and it cripples your growth.

While the organization is one of the critical skills that will help you keep ahead of the game, it sometimes feels like a never-ending task and sometimes like a juggling ball game and gets overwhelming. 

Learning organization is one thing, but staying organized is a different ball game altogether. This article will explore some effective tips in “how to stay organized” – and keep it organized. The goal is to live life and not juggle it stressfully.

Benefits Of Being Organized

Some people naturally have the habit of staying organized, while some struggle with the same. But it is a habit that everyone should get into. 

“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” – James Clear

Staying organized is a baby step in the goal of self-improvement. Below, you can find some benefits motivating you to nurture this habit.

Increased Productivity

You will realize you can achieve more in less time. You will have more time to perform each of your tasks effectively. You will also be filled with newfound confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

Reduced Stress

Being organized will help you have a clear mind. You will not always be stressed and looking for things. You will be more relaxed.

Better Work-Life Balance

The organization is parallel to consistency. You will start to have a better work-life balance and more and more time for yourself.

Improved Health

Ask any doctor, and they will say that the root cause of most medical issues is stress and anxiety. Less stress will automatically improve your circadian cycle and, in turn, your health.

Stronger Relationships

Being organized will also allow you to forge stronger and deeper bonds with your friends and family. Due to reduced mental stress, you will have more time to spend with them and be present at that moment. 

How To Be Organized

Learning how to be organized can feel like a tedious task. But the only way to make progress is to start small. These tips will help you get on track and be more organized.

Set Clear Goals

Setting clear goals will help you prioritize your task. It will help you achieve your bigger goals quickly. Break down seemingly unachievable tasks into smaller targets and take them to step by step from there.

To-Do List

Every morning, set aside a few minutes to reflect on your day. Think about the things that you want to achieve during the day. List it in your journal according to its priority and stick to it throughout the day. But avoid making a long list. Make it very relevant and to the point.

Work With A Planner

Several AI tools and apps help you plan your work for the next week and stay organized. If not, try to use your calendar for the same. Make it a habit of checking your planner every morning, so you don’t miss out on any important appointments.

Minimise Distraction

In today’s world, it is very important to keep distractions at bay. Try to unplug for at least an hour every day. Also, plan regular detox days. This will also help empty your mind.

Declutter

Decluttering is one of the most important steps in staying organized as it is periodic in nature. You will always have to declutter to make more room for the relevant stuff. Decluttering can be done in the form of discarding or donating etc.

Set Reminders

One of the keys to staying organized is not trying to learn everything. Your mind can only do so much. Try to write it down instead. And set reminders. Try to use technology to your advantage.

Follow Through

It so happens that when we are learning to be organized, we tend to pressure ourselves. And sometimes, we give in to that pressure and become inconsistent. Following through with your friends and family will hold you accountable and maintain consistency.

How To Be Organized At Home

You must start by organizing your home. Home is where it all happens – organization as well as disorganization. 

Make Your Bed

Start by organizing your bed first thing in the morning after you wake up. 

“When you make your bed each day, you embody the identity of an organized person.” James Clear (Atomic Habits)

It gives you a sense of accomplishment. It will make you feel better about yourself, like you can achieve anything.

Donate

At home, some things become old and lose their importance in everyday use, but we still choose to keep them because of the emotions attached to them. Hoarding is good, but it doesn’t do it to the point that your home looks like a storage facility. Try to donate those items instead.

Take the Help Of Technology

Not everything has to be done by you. Use technology and order groceries at home instead of going shopping as it is more time-consuming. You can also make use of technology to simplify other tasks, such as managing your image files. Consider using an Image metadata checker tool to quickly and easily organize your photos according to their metadata. Additionally, you can set reminders and plan your image editing tasks well in advance to stay on top of your workload.Try to set reminders and plan your meals well in advance.

Include The Family

Take the help of the family members in organizing the house. The onus of cleaning should not fall on the female or only one member of the house. Declutter your house often.

How To Be Organized At Work

Second, to your home comes your work because you spend more than 7 hours of your day at work. Staying Organized for 7 hours every day can rocket your productivity to new heights.

Organize Your Life At Work

This can be done by planning your day in advance or the previous night. It will help you get on with your day in a more organized manner and will help you accomplish most of your tasks.

Declutter

Your desk, your drawers, your mail- declutter as much as you can. Keep things organized on your desk so that you are not always looking for that file your boss asked for.

Prioritise

Prioritize your tasks for the day. That important meeting has to be attended before submitting that report or review. Don’t fall into that urgency trap, and focus on the big picture.

Outsourcing

Don’t try to do it all on your own. Take the help of your coworkers where you can, and the rest others can be outsourced and automated.

Balance Work And Life Goals 

This is the most important thing to keep in mind because burnouts are real. You can love your job and still not be able to perform well as you are experiencing mental and physical exertion. Make sure to have some time for rest and recovery.

How To Be Organized In Your Social Life

The third most important thing in our life is our relationships. We are social animals. Our relationships can make or break us in life. If you have a good circle of friends, someone you can rely on, you can be sure that your life will always be a little less stressful and more fun.

Intention

“Life has shown me that strong friendships are most often the result of strong intentions. Your table needs to be deliberately built, deliberately populated, and deliberately tended to.” – Michelle Obama (The Light We Carry)

One of the most important ways we form our connection is through intention. Having clear intentions can help you forge a deeper connection with people.

Plan The Outings

The next step in forming a strong connection is keeping them strong. For that, you must be able to nurture it with your time and effort. You must plan your outings well in advance. Set aside time for it from work and every other thing that will demand your attention in ways that friendship seldom does.

Practice Consistency With Time

Consistency is the key to building lasting friendships. Planning outings and phone calls, and coffee dates are all part of consistency and the result of strong intentions.

Other Subtle Ways To Stay Organized

There are other subtle ways one can work on their organizational skills. These are not so important in your organization’s journey, but they can surely accelerate your journey. 

Saying No 

Time is money. Time is a commodity. And time is linear. Once lost, you can never get it back. Don’t try to give in to your habit of pleasing people, and learn to value your time. One of the most valuable skills you can learn is the art of saying no. Learn it and use it often.

Journaling

Get in the habit of journaling. Journaling might not help you in learning organization or even keeping organized, but it will help you declutter your mind. It will help you empty your mind, which in turn will create more room for you to focus on important things.

Ask For Help

Asking for help when you need it is necessary, as if you don’t, you are more likely to experience burnout and mental blocks. Some people have difficulty asking for help from people, friends or strangers alike. And I guess it is a very important skill which goes a long way in the process of self-improvement.

Avoid Perfection

Be aware of the fact that no one is perfect. Avoid trying to master things in the first go. It will only lead to you giving extra time to one thing, and that will result in the piling up of your other projects.

Reward Yourself For The Task That You Accomplish

Since childhood, we are subjected to positive reinforcement. We are conditioned to receive a reward after an accomplishment, and it gets carried into our adult and work life as well. Hence, don’t forget to reward yourself every now and then when you are in the process of building a habit. 

The Bottom Line

Lastly, remember not to get caught up in the small details of the organization and try to pay attention to principles. Organization skills can be applied to every sphere of our life and can help alleviate our life in phenomenal ways.

Also read: How To Cheer Yourself Up When Feeling Down