20 Surefire Ways to Organize Your Life in 2010

Ah, organization. It’s one of those states/traits/qualities we all strive for, but can sometimes be quite elusive – or even an exercise in frustration. But you know what? It doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, once you get your life organized in a way that works for you, it will be easy to keep it up, and in fact, you’ll find that you waste less time and stress a little less.

So what, really, are the best ways to get your life organized and keep it organized? Check out these 20 surefire ways to organize even the most hectic lifestyle. Implement them today and save your sanity tomorrow:

1. Ditch the Stuff
   You know that junk drawer, cabinet or tote that’s filled with, well, stuff? Stuff that has no purpose? Stuff you don’t know why you kept in the first place? Stuff you haven’t looked for or used in years? Yeah – THAT stuff. Get rid of it. If it’s not useful, it’s gone.
   

   Don't let "stuff" get the best of you

   It’s just dragging you down. If your life won’t change without it, toss it. If you have other similar items that get more use, consider it gone.  Staying organized is much easier when there’s less stuff to deal with.

2. Start Small
   Want to quickly overwhelm yourself? Set a goal to organize the entire house. While that’s a great goal, it’s also a huge goal. Instead, set a goal to organize your kitchen or office.  That’s a much more manageable task, and once it’s accomplished, you’ll feel more motivated to tackle another area that needs organization.
3. Put it Away NOW
   This one is kind of a no-brainer, but it’s important. In fact, most of us learn it in kindergarten.  Fast forward to now, and many of us are not so good about it. Once you’ve finished using something, put it away. Not in a pile for later, not on the stairs to grab as you pass by. Right. Now. And remember to teach your kids to do the same thing. They may grumble, but it’s best that they get in the habit now.
4. Clean Up Along the Way
   Some people love cooking. Some people enjoy scrapbooking. Others enjoy woodworking. But I don’t think I know anyone who enjoys cleaning up the mess afterward. While the mess won’t just go away on its own, cleaning up along the way, rather than waiting until the end, will go a long way toward streamlining the clean-up process and keeping things in order.
5. Create a Routine
   Are you a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants person? Great! Your life may be full of fun and surprises. But it’s not so great if your goal is to have an organized life. While a routine may seem boring, it’s actually a great way to find some extra time. For instance, if you have a nighttime routine that includes preparing for the next day (briefcase, backpacks, lunches, choosing clothing), your mornings will be more organized and less rushed.
6. Don’t buy More Stuff
   Novelty, bargains, effective advertising all conspire to make us buy more stuff. But before making an impulse buy, ask yourself: Will I use this? Where will I put it? Do I already have something similar? Will my life suffer if I don’t have it? Answer these questions honestly to avoid accumulating more unnecessary stuff that you’ll just have to try to organize later.
7. Delegate
   Want to keep your life organized? Don’t try to be a superhero. Keep control of the things that are most important to you, and then if there are tasks that can be delegated, do it. You’ll accomplish more in less time and you’ll stay organized.
8. Just say No
   When did ‘no’ become so difficult for so many of us to say? Of course we all want to be perceived as helpful and friendly, but you can say no and still be both of those things. Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything, plus the things others want you to do. Taking back control of your time and priorities will help keep your life more organized.
   

   Do it, delegate it or decline it

9. Don’t Procrastinate
   Everyone has things they don’t want to do, whether it be finishing a project for work or cleaning the bathrooms at home. Since your magic wand probably isn’t going to take care of those things for you, the best plan of attack is to just dig in. Do it now so you can cross it off your list and it won’t be weighing on your mind.
10. Make a List and Check it Twice
    Yes, I know. We’ve all heard the advice to make a list of the things you need to accomplish each day or week. And many of us do make lists. But how many of us actually use those lists regularly? If you want to stay organized, you have to go beyond putting your tasks on paper (or on your computer) and actually refer to your list often.
11. Prioritize
    So many things to do, so little time. If you’re staring at a to-do list that’s a mile long, take a deep breath, and then take a closer look at your list. What are the most important things on it? What absolutely has to be done today? Move those things to the ‘priority area’ at the top of your list. Accomplish those high-priority tasks and then move on to others as time permits. If some of the remaining tasks need to be moved to later in the week, do it. If there are things you can eliminate or delegate, do it, and don’t look back.


Turn to time limits to tackle tough tasks

12. Beat the Clock
    This tip is especially helpful for tackling things you don’t really want to do. Set a time limit (or even a timer) and tackle that project for the time you’ve allotted. Most people find they can do pretty much anything if they know it’s only for a limited amount of time. You’ll probably accomplish more than you thought you would, plus you’ll keep your time more organized.
13. Manage Your Master List
    I have a list that includes things such as ‘paint the interior of the house’ and ‘update lawn landscaping’. Every week I transfer those tasks onto my current to-do list. But really, that’s just ridiculous. In addition to your daily or weekly to-do list, keep a master list (someplace separate from your daily list), and then chose one of the larger projects and break it down into smaller parts that you can fit into your daily or weekly schedule. Seeing those huge projects staring at you from you list each day is a definitely not motivating.
14. Be Decisive
    Organized people are decisive. They make decisions in a timely manner and then eliminate what they don’t need. Next time you’re tempted to leave a pile of mail for later, don’t. Sort through it quickly, toss the junk and move on. If you want to keep your life organized, spending time sorting through a pile of junk mail that’s been sitting for weeks is counterproductive.
15. Eliminate Homelessness
    Everything in your house should have a home. No boxes filled with a random assortment of hardware and paperwork, no catch-all consisting of menus, mismatched socks and old rubber bands. Invest in some boxes or plastic totes, put like things together and then clearly label them. Knowing where to find things is a big step toward keeping your life organized.


Give everything a home

16. Location, Location, Location
    Do you have to scrounge around for a pen and paper every time you take a phone message? Or go to a closet down the hall when your printer runs out of paper? Keep things where they make sense. After all, you wouldn’t keep toilet tissue in the garage, would you?  Organizing your home or work space in a way that makes the most sense will save you time and increase your productivity and organization.
17. See Double
    Even though it’s advised to not have duplicate ’stuff’, there are some exceptions. Items that are used frequently by more than one person or in more than one location may warrant duplicates. If you routinely use scissors for a project in your office, and also routinely uses scissors in the kitchen, keep one in each place. Likewise, it would make sense to keep paper and a pen at each phone in your home.
18. Bunch Up
    Need to make a bunch of phone calls? Answer a bunch of emails? Run a bunch of errands? Do one thing at a time. Make all of the phone calls in an allotted time. Answer all of the emails in an allotted time. Same with the errands. Your life will be more organized, since your focus will remain on one task at a time.
19. Find a Drop Zone
    No, this isn’t your target for when you parachute out of a plane. It’s the place you put your car keys, cell phone, permission slips, movies that need to be returned, and the like. And it’s the same place, every single day. This eliminates frustrating searches each day to find these things.
20. Befriend Your Calendar
    It should go without saying, but a calendar is one of your greatest allies for keeping your life organized. From written day planners or refrigerator calendars to electronic calendars or shared online calendars, there are calendars to suit everyone’s needs. Find the one that works for you and then use it to your advantage.


A calendar is your ally in organization

Tagged as: Goal Setting, list organization, organization, prioritizing, productivity tools, staying focused, to do lists