In this post I want to offer you six ways to get organized and with some work stay organized!
1. Use a day planner. At one time these books were used only by the big CEO’s, or the school academic nut. Not any more today! Look around for a bit before selecting one you like best. Make sure it suits your every need. You will find day planners in all materials and sizes. A day planner will help you effectively lay out your day on paper, so you know where you are going and what you are doing. These days even most cell phones have calendar and alarm features to help you track appointments and meetings with alerts.
2. Use a family calendar. This way, everyone in the family knows what everyone else is up to and when. You can plan much better this way. Consider buying those dry-erase boards available in most office stores I suggest a big desk calendar. Mom can put her important meetings on there, dad can put his travel schedule, and the kids can put their after-school events on it. Put it up in a convenient location, which might be the refrigerator or somewhere in a high-traffic area. My kids are old enough for on-line use so we use Google calendar and set it on our home page.
3. Learn to just say “no.” You are only one person, and you cannot do it all! Employ your stress management techniques by saying “no” occasionally when you are asked to do things that are of little priority to you. Remember some of the most important note we make are in the margins of book. Our lives too should have margin.
4. Take time to enjoy yourself. What makes you the happiest? Playing an instrument? Going out to the park? Indulging at the mall? Attending sports or movies? Take a minute or two and think of what you love to do most and then plan to do it! Schedule some “me time” in that great new planner you have bought and treat it like an appointment with yourself! Although doing something such as mowing the lawn may sound like a bit of a chore, if you find it relaxing, pencil it in. Everything has a time of its own so make time for yourself.
5. Take time to do a good clean up. When was the last time you organized that junk drawer, or sorted through your workspace? Is it time to catch up? At the same time buy some new hooks and organize your keys. When you walk in the door, they should be placed right there ready for next time. Chances are, you might be spending valuable time getting frustrated over missing items. Make sure everything is located easily with a place for everything. That way, you will know where to look next time. Maybe it is time to invest in some organizers or a new storage solution. They sure are worth while when you find your life just that much more organized. Sure beats searching around for hours to find your keys!
6. Establish a consistent routine. Keep writing in your planner daily and keep scheduling time for yourself. Throw in the occasional “no” and get into a consistent routine. Stick with your new routine and you will find you will be happier and with less stress.
You can create an ordered life. Life really does not have to be a mess. Taking a few steps to ensure that it is not and you will have time for the things that really matter to you most. You will have all the time you want for family, friends, work and more, and best of all, you will be sane. I think that is the number one benefit to being better organized is being sane!
