How to Get (And Stay) Organized
Keep reading to learn more about the importance of organization and how to organize your life.
If you’ve ever had the experience of frantically searching for lost keys, rushing to a forgotten meeting, or struggling to articulate an idea amidst a storm of thoughts, you’re familiar with the importance of organization.
Organization is a broad term that can be used in many different contexts. For example, we might organize a drawer, a calendar, our thoughts, or a group of people. In the most general sense, organization can be understood as the systematic and thoughtful ordering of things in space and/or time that turns a collection of pieces into a functional whole (Cwerner & Metcalfe, 2003).
Benefits of staying organized:
● Reduces stress
● Better sleep
● Healthier diet
● Decreases overwhelm
● Increased productivity and efficiency
“An organized, trained and focused mind has perfect control over its thoughts and emotions. Such control over thoughts and emotions further channelizes our energies in the right direction.” ―
● Declutter by category – Professional organizer, Marie Kondo, suggests that the most effective way to declutter is to do so by category in the following order: clothing, books, paper, miscellaneous items, and sentimental pieces. Sort through all of your items belonging to each category and keep only the items that are useful or that spark joy.
● Create a home organization routine – Creating a routine is a great way to ensure that you stay organized. An organization routine might be something you perform weekly, such as sorting your mail, or something that you do less often, like donating clothes once per year.
● Stack storage – Storing items in stackable bins is an easy and effective way to maximize space while making sure that your stored items are still easily accessible.
● Use a pegboard – A pegboard is a unique and flexible way to store everything from kitchen utensils to exercise equipment. Pegboards allow you to move shelves around to fit your needs as you gain, discard, or replace items.
● Furniture with built-in storage – Getting furniture that can also function as storage space is another great way to get organized and maximize space. For example, beds with built-in drawers are a great way to organize if you are low on closet space.
● Mind map – Mind maps are a way to visually organize your ideas by category. To create a mind map, start with a central topic, such as new years’ resolutions, and write it down. Next identify primary categories related to the central topic. For example, your new years’ resolutions might be to get in shape, read more, and spend more time with friends. After writing out each of the primary categories, identify the important elements of each one. In other words, analyze each primary category and determine the important details. In the new years’ resolutions example, you might define what you mean by “get in shape”, articulate what your specific goals are, and write out the steps you plan to take to accomplish those goals.
● Bullet journal – A bullet journal is an organization method designed by Ryder Carroll that helps with organizing schedules, to-do lists, brainstorms, and reminders. You can check out the Bullet Journal YouTube page for ideas on how to use a bullet journal.
● Create a list of priorities – Clearly identifying the things that are most important to you can be a useful place to start if you are struggling to organize your time. When putting a schedule together, start with your top priority and move down the list. Once you’ve set aside time for the most important things you can fill in the rest of your schedule with everything else.
● Do a time audit – A time audit is an exercise in which you record what you do in a day that helps you to better understand how you are spending your time. One way to conduct a time audit is to write out everything you plan to do in a day on a notecard and check off each item as you complete it. On the back of the notecard, record everything you did but didn’t plan to do. Do this every day for a week to help reveal patterns of behavior that might be consuming more time than you realized. Once you notice these patterns, you can take action to change them.
● Use the Pomodoro Method – The Pomodoro method is a time management technique that promotes focus and helps break down complex projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. To use this method, all you need is a to-do list and a timer. Simply select a task and set your timer for 25 minutes. During these 25 minutes, your focus should be solely on the task at hand. Once the 25 minutes is up, take a 5-minute break. After 4 blocks of 25 minutes, take a longer break (about 15 to 30 minutes).
Organization is critical for our well-being. It reduces stress, improves our health, and increases our productivity. Though organizing the various aspects of our lives is not always simple, a little creative problem-solving and helpful tips can help us achieve order and tranquility in a world of chaos.
● Cwerner, S. B., & Metcalfe, A. (2003). Storage and clutter: discourses and practices of order in the domestic world. Journal of design history, 16(3), 229-239
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