How to Make Being Organized Easy

Are you usually late for work or losing your cell phone or car keys? Maybe you're constantly procrastinating, missing deadlines and forgetting to do important tasks. Becoming organized will increase your efficiency, save time and reduce stress. Many feel they don't have the time to become organized, but there are several simple steps that will make it easy.

Instructions

1. Create a daily to-do list. This will keep you focused and turn huge, seemingly impossible goals into manageable chunks. Before you go to bed each night, write down what you have to do the next day. As you complete tasks, cross them out so you have a visual reminder you are making progress.

2. Prioritize. Decide which tasks are most important to complete and tackle those first. Completing priority tasks can keep you from becoming stressed and overwhelmed, so don't scrub the pots and pans when you should be completing an important presentation.

3. Assign objects to specific places. This way you will no longer have to continuously hunt because you forgot where you put something. Assign a place for your car keys and cell phone, such as in a bowl near the door or in a drawer near the bed. Keep files for important documents and have them clearly marked. This will spare you time searching through documents or month-old receipts.

4. Discard what you don't need. Less clutter makes it that much easier to find the important things you truly need and spare you frustrating, time-consuming searches. Go through every room and throw out everything you haven't used in the last six months, including magazines you no longer read, abandoned birthday presents and unused clothing. Also clean out kitchen drawers, closets and the refrigerator.

5. Create reminders. Set the alarm on your cell phone, stick notes somewhere conspicuous like the refrigerator or computer screen, or ask a friend to call or email.

6. Stay consistent. It takes about 21 days to establish a habit, so keep creating daily lists, assigning objects to specific places and prioritizing tasks. Even if you skip a day and forget to organize, or fall back on old habits, recommit yourself to staying organized so it will eventually become second nature.

References

• Life Hackery: 10 Ways to Teach Yourself to be Organized
• Woman's Day: 100 Ways to Get Organized
• Mommy Savers: 10 Easy Ways to Get Organized