Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have it all together?
Why is it that some people exude an aura of calm confidence, and never seem to be rushed or frazzled?
The simple answer is – they’ve built habits to stay organized.
Being organized is the difference between starting each day in a calm, focussed state of mind, or feeling like you are already behind – spending your day trying to play catch-up.
Organized people know that being organized isn’t a once-done-then-forgotten thing.
They know that being organized requires maintenance and consistency.
But the good news is that by building some simple habits and processes, getting, and staying, organized is a lot easier than you think!
Here’s what highly organized people do:
1. They write stuff down
Organized people don’t try to keep everything in their head.
They have a method for capturing all of their thoughts, ideas, goals, must-dos, appointments, and to-dos (whether it’s a notebook, diary, planner, bullet journal, calendar, notes app, or a combination of a few).
Organized people know that writing stuff down will help them:
- think more clearly
- focus their mind
- retain information
- process information
- clarify their intentions and priorities
- track progress and boost motivation
They know that when their “must-remembers” are out of their head, they can use their energy for thinking and processing, rather than storing and remembering.
They focus, see what needs to be done, and prioritize what’s important.
Find out more:
- How Writing Things Down will Improve Your Life
- 31 Lists to Write to Feel Calm, Organized & Accomplished
2. They create a realistic schedule
Organized people know that scheduling time in their day for the tasks they need to do and the appointments they have is crucial to staying organized.
They understand how long specific tasks take and don’t overschedule their day – they leave wiggle-room in their schedule so they aren’t rushing to get to places or get things done.
Organized people know that when they schedule their tasks and to-dos to a specific time they’ll start their day with a clear view and a positive mindset of what can be accomplished in the time they have available.
3. They take breaks during the day
Organized people understand the importance of self-care and taking breaks during their day to recharge their energy.
They know that self-care isn’t selfish and that it can’t wait until they feel as though they “have time.”
Organized people know that they can’t be at their best if they are not taking care of themselves.
Taking regular breaks during the day helps them clear their head, reset their mind and focus on getting the important things done.
They know that taking a proper break (even if it’s just 5 minutes) will make a difference.
Find out more:
4. They don’t multitask
Organized people know that multitasking isn’t a good use of their time.
They know that when they try to do several tasks at once, it’s more difficult, less effective, and takes longer to get things done than if they were to focus on one thing at a time.
They understand that not only does multi-tasking make them less productive, it drains their energy as well.
5. They plan ahead
Organized people know that time spent planning ahead is never wasted, and that it will save them time, energy, and money in the long run.
They check their planners, diaries, or calendars ahead of time so that they know what’s coming up in the days and weeks ahead.
Organized people know what they want to achieve, and they plan for it.
They plan their meals in advance and create a shopping list for everything they need so they can shop before time – avoiding last-minute, stress-filled dashes to the store.
They also plan their finances – they know what their income and expenditure is and they make sure they have their upcoming bills covered.
Find out more:
6. They weed (stuff) constantly
Organized people know that clutter makes their home, and their mind, feel chaotic.
They don’t wait till they have a great block of spare time for a big clearout because they know that the longer they wait, the more overwhelming the task can become.
Organized people dedicate small amounts of time to decluttering and consistently weed out things that are:
- broken
- worn out
- don’t fit
- unused
- no longer loved, or
- don’t suit their lifestyle anymore
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7. They put things back in their place
Organized people have a place for everything.
They put things back in their place as soon as they’ve used them – or they spend time at the end of each day putting things back where they belong.
Organized people use simple solutions. They don’t have complex organizational systems that are difficult to follow or maintain, and they don’t waste time and energy trying to organize clutter (see number 6 above!)
8. They ditch perfectionism
Organized people know that perfect is the enemy of done.
They don’t waste time and energy trying to tweak something to perfection – they know perfection is a myth. Embracing “good enough” lets them get things done and move on to the next thing.
Organized people get started – and don’t let perfectionism stop them because they know that perfectionism doesn’t lead to results, but rather just causes anxiety and stress.
Find out more:
9. They don’t procrastinate
“Procrastination is, and will always be the enemy of organisation”
– Sarah Reynolds, Organised: Simple ways to declutter your house, your schedule, and your mind.
There’s nothing like continuously putting things off, or leaving things until the last minute to ramp up your stress levels.
Organized people understand that not putting something away, or not dealing with something there and then, will have consequences down the line. Whether that’s losing an important piece of paperwork, or wasting time searching for the scissors and sticky-tape next time you want to wrap a gift.
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10. They have systems and routines
Organized people know that creating systems and routines for their day-to-day activities makes their life so much easier.
A routine allows them to organize their time in a way that allows them to be intentional, rather than reactive.
This means that they get to decide how to spend their time, prioritize the important things in their life, and ensure they get done.
…the more systems you can create in your life, by organising your physical space and what you own, managing your time, prioritising and creating routines, the less your brain has to remember.
Sarah Reynolds, Organised: Simple ways to declutter your house, your schedule, and your mind.
Find out more:
Adopting habits that help you get and stay organized will have a huge impact on your life.
It’s an important part of self-care – taking the time to do the things that your future self will thank you for doing.
Self-care is about doing the things that are good for your mental and physical wellbeing – the things that help you feel calmer, more focused, and in control of your life.
Being organized is one of those things.
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