Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or an entrepreneur, having an organized home helps you reduce stress and anxiety. It also makes your life easier and enables you to get things done in a timely manner.
If you want to get organized, you need to start with small steps and build up your organizing skills over time. Here are some tips on how to do just that.
1. Make a list
A list is a great way to organize your daily life, and it can help you stay on track with everything that you need to do. You can use a pen and paper, task-planning app, or even a printable planner to make your lists.
You can also use your list to brainstorm ideas and keep track of your progress toward goals. This can help you feel more organized, motivated, and clear-headed throughout the day!
Another great reason to make a list is that it’s a good way to declutter your brain. A lot of times we have things in our heads that aren’t important or need to be done, but they can be distracting and cause us to lose focus on our priorities.
It’s also helpful to use a list if you have multiple tasks that need to be completed at the same time. Keeping these tasks together can help you accomplish them quickly, which can also save you time and energy.
If you’re working on a project, it’s also a good idea to have a list of steps that need to be completed so that you don’t forget any critical details. This will also help you stay focused and ensure that you get the work done on time.
It’s also helpful to start with the most important tasks, and then move on to the ones that require less time. This helps you avoid the Zeigarnik Effect, which states that we remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones.
2. Purge
Decluttering is a process that involves clearing space, throwing some things out, and organizing what’s left. Purging, on the other hand, is a much larger undertaking, involving getting rid of everything that doesn’t belong in your home and putting it into a state that serves you.
Even if you’ve decluttered many times in the past, it can be difficult to let go of some items, especially if you’re emotionally attached to them. It can also be hard to decide what to keep, trash, or donate.
To make the purging process easier, it’s helpful to use a system for sorting your possessions. One popular system is the Three-Box Method, which forces you to make a decision item-by-item.
For example, if you’re going through your closet, you’ll want to create three piles: keep, trash, and donate. The keep pile should include any items you don’t wear or haven’t used in the past year, and the trash and donate piles should contain anything that you plan to sell, donate, or throw away.
This will help you get started, and will give you a framework for the rest of your purge process. When you’re finished, your home will be more organized and less cluttered. Plus, you’ll be more motivated to continue the purge. In fact, you might be able to actually finish your purge in just one weekend! Try it out and see how much lighter your home feels!
3. Organize
Organizing your schedule is one of the most important skills you can learn. Not only can it help you stay organized, but it also helps you feel more in control of your life and reduces stress levels.
Getting organized doesn’t have to be a complicated process, and it doesn’t even have to be difficult. In fact, it can be a fun and rewarding activity that will make you a happier, healthier person!
A great way to get started organizing your schedule is by focusing on one priority at a time. This makes the task feel less overwhelming and allows you to focus on completing it without distractions.
Another way to get organized is by assigning a fixed location for everything in your home. This will allow you to find things quickly when you need them, and it will save you a lot of time in the long run!
For example, you can set a shelf in your bathroom for all of your skincare products. Then, another shelf can be assigned for your hair products.
You can also organize your closet by setting a zone for each type of clothing. You can have a section for your winter clothes, a separate section for your summer clothes, and a zone for your workwear.
A lot of people tend to overstock, so it’s a good idea to periodically go through your belongings and donate what you don’t need any longer. This can help you to stay organized and also give your home a fresh look!
4. Schedule
A schedule is an important part of getting organized. It helps you to identify what is most important and gives you a clear idea of when it is best to do things. It is also useful for ensuring that you get the most out of your day and avoid being overwhelmed by work and personal commitments.
Organize your time blocks, ensuring that you allocate enough time to each task and allow for a buffer in case you have unexpected events interrupting your schedule. For example, you might add an extra 25% to your time for tasks that take longer than expected so that you have a cushion to account for travel times and transitions between tasks.
It is normal to re-jig your schedule as you find out what works for you and what doesn’t. Just make sure you have a plan in place for any adjustments and communicate them with your team to avoid confusion and possible over-work.
To get a clear picture of your priorities, it is often helpful to color-code the items on your list. The color-coding of your tasks can help you understand where you have the most free time and where you need to prioritize the most effort.
In addition, it can also help you to understand where you are struggling and whether there are any areas where you need to improve. For instance, if you have a lot of red (work) items on your calendar but very little pink (exercise), you may need to increase the amount of time you spend exercising.
5. Donate
Donating is an excellent way to declutter your home, while also doing some good in the world. By following a few simple steps, you can make your donation process easier and less stressful.
Whether you’re planning to donate to a local charity, second-hand store, or fundraiser, there are some things you should know before you go. First, make sure to read the guidelines of any organization you plan to donate to – this will help you ensure that you’re following social distancing and safety guidelines.
Once you’ve selected an organization, you’ll need to find a location for your donation drive. You should consider hosting your drive at a convenient, accessible location that will allow people to drop off items easily and safely.
Before your donation drive starts, make sure everyone knows what will happen during the collection days. This will help you get donations into the hands of the people who need them most.
After you’ve finished collecting items, count and post your donation totals. This will let you show donors how much impact their gifts have made. It will also help motivate people to give in future drives.
It’s also a good idea to have a reminder on your calendar for when you need to take your donation items to the charity. This will help you keep it in the back of your mind and prevent you from letting them pile up in the garage or basement for too long.
6. Stay organized
Organization is a skill that can take time to build. While it may not come naturally to everyone, establishing good habits and a solid daily routine can make it easier for you to stay organized.
When you are more organized, you can get things done faster and feel less stressed. You are able to focus on the important tasks and avoid distractions.
Being organized also allows you to be more productive at work, and it makes it easy for you to meet deadlines. It also helps you maintain a healthy work-life balance.
While being organized can take time, it is worth the effort. In the long run, it will save you a lot of time and stress.
A good way to get started is by using a planner. It will help you track your schedule, appointments and other important things.
You can also use it to organize your finances, health and project planning. Having a minimalist planner will keep you on top of everything and help you to be more organized.
In addition to organizing your daily tasks, it is important to purge your closet and drawers. Getting rid of items that you no longer need can help you to feel more organized and less overwhelmed.
Another tip for keeping your home more organized is to set a laundry day every week. This will make it easier for you to have clean clothes and save you time from doing laundry on other days.