If
disorganization is congesting your life and you're feeling scattered and
frustrated as a result, it's time to get organized.
To achieve organization on the outside, you will need to take steps on the inside, by clarifying your priorities, objectives, and how you want your belongings and lifestyle arranged.
Try to keep stuff where it belongs. Know what you need/want to do, when you are going to do it, and avoid the stressful situation of not knowing what needs to be done. Organization takes time, but when you get into the habit of it, life becomes so much easier!
To achieve organization on the outside, you will need to take steps on the inside, by clarifying your priorities, objectives, and how you want your belongings and lifestyle arranged.
Try to keep stuff where it belongs. Know what you need/want to do, when you are going to do it, and avoid the stressful situation of not knowing what needs to be done. Organization takes time, but when you get into the habit of it, life becomes so much easier!
EditSteps
Everything
in Its Place
1. Organize
your space.
Whether it's your home, bedroom, kitchen, home office, computer,
closet, desk, or locker, you need to see what's in there, throw away anything
you don't often use (or put it efficiently in storage), and give everything
else a convenient and clearly designated space.
Organized
doesn't just mean tidy. The purpose of organization is to be able to find,
exchange, and evaluate items quickly. However, organization can also help keep
them tidy by providing a quick, logical system for adding and removing things
from easy-to-use, somewhat uniform-appearing groups, and by preventing
unnecessary purchases on account of misplaced items.
Example: If
you have a lot of books and fill a bookshelf with them in order of size,
they'll look neat, but you'll have to skim over them one at a time whenever you
don't remember where one is - maybe even move some if you've put one row of
small paperbacks in front of another - and rearrange many whenever you need to
add a few more. If you give each category its own shelf area, and leave some
extra space at the end or between bookended groups, you can find a book quickly
by glancing at the category layout and skimming just the few books in the right
category, and add or remove books here and there without disrupting the overall
layout.
Computer
scientists are smart people who help stupid machines handle billions and
billions of things fast. They've invented "B-trees" for quickly
looking up, adding to, and deleting from huge databases, so they should work
just great for your humble piles of clutter. Don't try to follow the
programming rules perfectly - just apply their principles.
By
organizing your items hierarchically, you'll just have to make a few decisions
as you work your way down the hierarchy into increasingly narrower categories
(e.g. rack, shelf, crate, bag), rather than browsing. For instance, you could
put all your sports stuff on a shelf with a crate for each sport and small
items like golf tees in a bag in the golf crate. A few big odd things like skis
would go elsewhere. You could put cleaning supplies on another, sorted by the
kind of area they clean.
Don't
overdo it, because it's much faster to look at several items than to open and
close or remove and replace a container. Two or three levels is plenty.
Organize electrical, electronic, computer parts, cords, and other very small or
awkwardly-shaped items that tend to sink to the bottom of piles or tangle by
putting them in more accessible, jam-free containers like slippery plastic
zipper bags.
Leave some
empty space in each of your storage areas to add things without disrupting the
scheme. Set aside a "buffer" space[3], such as a small table or
shelf, for items that need to be put away in order to avoid misplacing things
or too-frequently being distracted from other activities to deal with sorting,
and save time by putting things into a given storage space a few at once rather
than individually.
Some items
need layout or ordering rather than just grouping. Frequently used unique
items, like spices, should be kept handy and each viewable and accessible, not
tucked away with something they're somehow related to. Perishable items, like
food, should be consumed on a first-in, first-out basis: you could load stacks
from underneath, or rows from the back.
Interchangeable but not identical items
in which one enjoys variety, like clothes, should also be queued or
periodically churned so nothing lingers at the bottom of a pile. Very large,
messy or dangerous items may need special places.
Clean out
your belongings before you think about organizing (organizational tools,
furniture, etc.). Don't do it the other way around. You can only really
accurately know what space you have when you've cleaned up. If you don't really
take a hard look at what you're stuffing in your spaces, you'll waste time and
money organizing stuff you don't need anyway.
Observe how
you use your things and work out how to use your space efficiently. If it's
inconvenient to get to things (or to put them away), your organization system
is more likely to fail. Make it easy to get to and put away the things you need
most often. In that vein, put things where you use them most. Pots get stored
near the stove, envelopes and stamps are stored in the desk, stain remover and
bleach goes in the laundry room or linen closet. (It sounds obvious, but you'd
be surprised how many people just put things "wherever" and then are
surprised when doing anything is tremendously inconvenient.)
Do you have
items in your house that just take up space? Be sure to de-clutter regularly.
Good questions to ask yourself in deciding: Do I need this? Will I need this in
a year? Have I used this in the last year? Do I really love it? Is there
someone else who could use this more? Do I have more than I could reasonably
use in foreseeable future? Will I miss this if I don't have it? If I do happen
to need it, can I replace it with an equivalent easily?
Know what
"organized" looks and feels like. Organized spaces are simple to use.
They have enough room for the items there. It makes sense. Every item in your
home has a location. Organized spaces also feel calm, open, and welcoming.
Use timers.
Set a timer for how long you think a cleaning organizing task should take then
work like crazy to get it done in the allotted time.
Have a spot
for all bills. Open all mail immediately and dispose of the outer envelope with
the junk mail. Keep only the bill in a prominent location.
2. Put it
back. Right now.
Once you establish where everything belongs, you need to get
in the habit of putting it back there as soon as you're finished using it.
Don't put it on the kitchen table or on the couch and move onto something else,
thinking to yourself that you'll put it away later. That's a big no-no.
Always put
your keys in the same place.
Always put
your cell phone in the same place. Have a cell phone charging station set up.
3. Reusable
plastic baggies (like Ziploc bags) are your friends.
Store away items in
plastic bags. This way, the items will be compact, clean, and dust-free. But
they will also be all over the place if you don’t have a storage system! Place
the bags in closets, desk drawers, cabinets, and other places. Ziploc bags are
convenient, useful, and cheap, so use them!
Try drawer
organizers for drawers that are enclosed. You can purchase a wide selection or
make your own by slicing off the tops of empty plastic bottles of various
sizes. Milk jugs are handy because they are fairly square, but any bottle or
jar will do if you can trim it so it fits in the drawer.
Use a
Calendar, Planner & Smartphone
4. Use a
calendar.
Get a calendar and put it in a place where you see it every day,
preferably in the morning. For most people, that's on the refrigerator, on
their desk, or on their computer desktop. Wherever you put it, make it part of
your routine to refer to it every day. For example, you can put it on the
inside of the bathroom cabinet where you get your toothpaste. Every morning,
while you're brushing your teeth with one hand, touch today's date on the
calendar with the other, and look to see what's marked for today and for the
upcoming week.
Keep your
calendar close at hand when sorting papers. Often, you can file or even toss
the announcement for an event if it is recorded in your calendar. Your calendar
can remind you to do things on time. There's no need to rely on that stack of
paper.
5. Use a
planner.
A planner is especially useful if you have a lot of appointments and
your days are so varied that you have trouble keeping track of your schedule.
For example, if you travel a lot or attend classes at various times of day,
it's much easier to carry a planner with you to consult frequently--you can't
do that with a calendar. You can also usually fit more information in a
planner.
6. Try a
smartphone.
A smartphone, particularly synchronized with network-based personal
information manager[4] software running on other computers, is even better than
paper calendars and notes because the data is searchable, it can easily be
entered into phone or Web-based tasks that need to be done, and reminders of
urgent information and purges of unneeded information are automatic.
Make a List
7. Write it
down!
A short pencil is better than a long memory. Anything and everything you
need to remember should be written down. Even if your memory is great, nobody
is perfect and it doesn't hurt to put it on paper, just in case. Record phone
numbers, appointments, birthdays, shopping lists, and things to do, and record
them where you can easily find and refer to them when you need them.
8. Make to do
lists.
Make a to
do list for your day. Your daily or immediate list should never be more than 5
items long, or else you're taking on too much and setting yourself up for
failure. Mark one or two of those items as things you absolutely must get done
that day, and pursue those tasks relentlessly until you get them done.
Make a to
do list for the week. Appropriate items here would be: Grocery shopping, fix
air conditioner, etc. Draw from this list to make your daily to-do list. A
white board or board with erasable markers can help to remember all one has to
do every day, or long term goals.
Make a to
do list for the month. This list would have more general tasks like: Birthday
gift to Jill, get car serviced, dentist appointment. Draw from this list to
make your daily and weekly to-do list.
Make a to
do list for your life. Drastic, yes, but why not use this time to rethink your
life and where it's going? Getting organized is all about priorities, and it
never hurts.
9. Taking the
time to organize receipts for things going back, whether to the store or to the
library, can really help.
It creates order and structure, and will also help
avoid not being able to return things to stores and fines.
Keep to the
Schedule
10. Follow
through.
There's no point in making a to-do list if you don't discipline
yourself to complete the tasks you've assigned yourself. There are many ways to
stick to your to-do list. Stop procrastinating, remove or ignore distractions,
and hop to it.
If
something keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list, take a good look at
it. Is it really important? If so, get it over with, or at least get it
started. If not, put it back in the long-term list for "someday" or
get it off the list altogether. Don't let yourself get hung up on something for
too long.
If you find
yourself bored, or your normal routine interrupted, you might distract and
satisfy yourself by attacking the to-do backlog.
11. Setting a
time frame in which each task has to be done through out the day is another
good way to keep one from procrastination, and keeping to their agenda.
Having
a time frame is a very effective way to organize one's day. Knowing that one
has designated a time slot for each item on the list lets one know that there
is no need to rush to finish things. Just take the time that you have granted
yourself and do the job well. Don’t rush to finish it. If one were to rush to
finish a task, it might not have been done as accurately as if one had taken
the time and done it gradually and more effectively.
3Combine
similar activities. Make all your phone calls at one time. Do all your errands
at the same time. Pay all your bills at the same time. Do all shopping in one
trip.
Multitask
12. Multitask.
Task-switching takes time, so don't try to think about one thing, like a TV
show, while thinking about another, like studying. It's most effective to
multitask when one task is mindless, like folding towels, or can be set aside
for automatic processing for a length of time. You could load the washing
machine, send some emails or load a stew pot while it churns away, load the
dryer, arrange your travel supplies, then hang the clothes as soon as they're
dry so they don't stay wrinkled.
Just keep
in mind that some studies have shown that multitasking may diminish one's
ability to focus on one thing at a time.
Delegate
13. Delegate
responsibilities.
Make sure the person you appoint to do the task has all the
tools necessary to do the task. Remember that most things are much better done
than set aside for doing perfectly, and that doing them can teach the person
(maybe a child) not only how to do them but how to address related problems.
It's hard to be organized if you insist on doing everything yourself.
Get it
Done!
14. Make more
decisions.
Clutter and disorganization is often the result of failing to decide
what to do about, or with, something. Start flexing your decision muscles with
little things, and you'll soon find yourself more confident about taking action
on the stuff around your home, on your desk and in your office. Try it today!
Keep your
surfaces clear. Reducing visual clutter helps reduce mental clutter. Get rid of
stuff you don't need - so that you can put things you do need away and out of
everyday sight. You'll feel instantly calmer.
Make sure
you always have what you need for the day with you.
Do the task
you're least looking forward to first from your to do list. Most
procrastination is due to someone not wanting to do the task that they put off.
If you make the effort to do that task first you'll feel better and won't spend
the day dreading the task that you will eventually put off!
Remember:
"Organized minds make successful people."
When
running errands, map out the best path so you get the most done and keep chit
chat to a minimum. Don’t get sidetracked. Target what you need to do. If
something else comes to your mind, write it in your notebook to do at a later
date.
It's a good
idea to carry a notepad and pen with you at all times so you can write things
down as they come to you (usually at the most inconvenient times, which is why
they're so promptly forgotten). If you're worried about fitting a notepad in
your pants pocket, don't be. Check bookstores and office supply centers to find
a notepad and pen short and slim enough for any pocket and some wallets, or
just use a small stack of self-adhesive notes and a golf pencil. Of course, if
your planner is compact enough, it can serve this purpose as well. Another idea
would be to have a PDA, Blackberry or Palm Pilot. Some cell phones have
notification or note-taking menus. If you are using one of those, they may be
practical too. As a last resort, call your own phone number and leave yourself
a voice mail.
Sticky
notes (Like Post-it notes) are your friend. Put them in nifty spots as
reminders. For example, if you know you need to wash your car, then put a note
on your steering wheel so that next time you get in your car, you remember to
get it done. Other good spots for sticky notes are doorknobs, mirrors, and PC
monitors (the borders, not the actual screen).
"A
place for everything and everything in its place" is always a good
organizational rule of thumb to live by.
If you know
that you're not naturally inclined to be organized, you can change that by
starting with one small area of your living space and focusing on keeping that
small area organized. Keeping a small area organized over time is easier to do,
and it will help you build a new habit. After about 2-3 months of keeping one
corner organized, you will naturally tend to expand your new-found organizing
instincts to other areas.
Treat
yourself right - get plenty of sleep the night before and eat healthily (or
healthier). To accomplish anything you need to be able to think clearly and
need energy to do it.
When making
your to-do list for the week, remember things may occur that could be entirely
unexpected. So, do not set in stone what you need to do - be flexible when
circumstances change.
Warehouse,
office, and restaurant-supply dealers have all kinds of stronger and more
functional but less pretty bins and shelves than closet and home-improvement
shops tend to have. They're great for where looks don't matter much, like a
basement, garage, or closet. Try commercial establishments' moving sales for
bargains.
Start your
phone conversations with "I only have (number) minutes to talk." Then
stick with it. When calling for appointments, make sure you have all
information you will need and write down any questions in advance.
There are
many valid ways to get organized. One person might organize a sock drawer by
color. Another person might simply fold pairs of socks together and dump them
in. Yet another person might buy a whole bale of socks all alike and not sort
them at all. Regardless of what you are organizing, choose the system that
makes most sense to you.
You are
able to log the divide in time spent on productive pursuits versus those times
you spend on unproductive pursuits with the aid of chess clocks.
Once you
get organized, you may go back to your old habits. Just keep pushing yourself
and you'll eventually get organized for life!
Don't
expect to get organized overnight unless you're really fast at it, or it's a
small area.
Don't rush
everything, but more importantly, take your time to develop a habit of
organizing behavior.
Take a day
off out of your own time and dedicate it to organizing your life and the things
in it. It will surely pay off the next day!
Don't expect
your family and friends to instantly jump on the organization bandwagon, but do
stick with it. In the long run, you will be glad you did.
Don't worry
if you're not "perfectly" organized, as long as your area is safe,
sanitary, and reasonably efficient for you.
Don't try
this if you have a newborn baby. Wait a month or two.
EditThings
You'll Need
Equipment.
Whether it be paper and pen, or boxes, files, chess clocks, or labels, assemble
all the equipment applicable.
Patience.
The habit of becoming an organized person may take quite some time to acquire.
And remember, not everything works the same way for everyone. It'll take time
to find out what works best for you.
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