Getting organized in your life can be a challenge if you’re not a naturally organized person. If you want to bring some more order to your life instead of all the chaos, follow these tips to bring a more streamlined feel to your life.
Get properly organized to perform better at work, better enjoy your social life and find some balance between the two.
1. Don’t rely on memory your memory.
Instead, make sure you write everything down. Keep track of where you’re supposed to be and when, and write reminders to yourself on post-its on the fridge, in a paper planner or in the notes app on your phone, wherever you find most useful.
Notes, to-do lists, and appointments properly recorded will help you stay much more on plan. If you’re stuck for a planning system that works, take inspiration the business world and turn to guides like 12 Free Employee Scheduling Software Tools for the best calendar planning ideas.
2. Make sure you have back-ups of everything important.
Remember to backup your computer files to save drama in case of technical issues. Cut duplicates of your home and car keys and give them to a trusted friend or family member so you have spares in case you get locked out and need rescuing.
Scan important documents like your passport, ID and bank details and put them in a secure folder. Keep any professional qualification documents, children’s birth certificates, insurance documents and any ownership deeds in the secure folder too.
3. Have a place for everything.
Organize your home into categories, and set up dedicated storage spots for everything. At the end of the day, spend some time returning everything to its designated spot, whether it’s putting the laundry back in the wardrobe, or storing away electronics that you aren’t using.
4. Scan and backup pictures.
If you’re worried about losing sentimental pictures of friends and family, scan your favorites and back them up in the cloud. That way, even if you lose your pictures or they get damaged by a fire or flood, you can still get copies printed and protect those precious memories.
5. Watch out for areas that attract clutter.
If you have a habit of dumping clothes on a chair in the bedroom, scattering clutter onto the hall table or are losing the coffee table under a pile of remote controls and books, dedicate some time to clearing these areas and find a way to control the clutter.
For the hall table, you could add some coat hooks, a letter rack and a dish for keys to keep your homecoming mess under control. A tray on the coffee table can be used for remotes, and make sure to tidy away other clutter at the end of the night before bed.
6. Manage your money.
Being disorganized often connects to bad money habits. Get your spending under control with a money management app. You can document your spending, which might shock you into dropping bad habits when you can see just how much money you’re wasting.
Being on top of your finances is good practice, as you’ll easily be able to see if there are any discrepancies.
7. Declutter your life.
Clear out clothes you no longer use and books you won’t reread, and either donate or sell them. Get rid of out of date makeup, and thin through kitchen clutter. Streamlining your possessions to the thing you really need and love will feel much better and you’ll be able to make better use of the things you like when they’re not hidden by a lot of items you don’t want.
8. Go through the food cupboards and the medicine cabinet and check the expiration dates on everything.
Many of us keep stock of things like painkillers for months, but don’t realise our supplies have gone out of date. Canned goods are another culprit that languish in a cupboard for a long time. Throw away anything that is out of date, and remember to go through everything regularly.
9. If you live with others, make them part of the declutter and cleaning routine.
A cleaning rota works well for housemates, whereas for families, a chore chart for kids can be a great way to teach them to be in charge of their own tidying and decluttering. Find a list of age appropriate chores here for ideas. Make sure your spouse is helping too, and divide up the chores between you.
10. Take some time to go through your inbox and unsubscribe from any email newsletters that you’re no longer interested in.
A more streamlined inbox will help you properly deal with the email you do want, and could mean you’re less tempted by online shopping if the sales emails aren’t coming anymore.
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