The organization is a big part of living a focused life. As much as I would love to float through life and do whatever I feel like at the moment, I also don’t want my life to end up being pointless. So I have to plan and be organized. Some days it’s more complicated than others, and I have an inconsistent schedule day to day and week to week.
So if you have the same feelings as me or don’t know where to start with getting organized, here are five things to do.
Make Lists
Lists are my best friend. I love lists. They help me gain perspective of what I need to do at the moment and remember what I want to do in the future. Make some lists. If you don’t know what lists to make, check out this post for some ideas. Or sign-up for my newsletter to get the Adulting Starter List talked about here.
Get a Basket for High Traffic Spaces
The stairs have always been the dumping ground for things. “I’ll take it with me next time” is the broken promise that gets murmured with each item placed there. So instead of having the stair cluttered, I got this basket to place next to the stairs. We can toss dirty dish towels in one side, and anything that needs to go upstairs in the other. When it gets full, I take one trip upstairs to put everything where it belongs.
The basket I got is no longer being sold, so here’s a different option.
Give Everything a Home
This one takes effort and some intentional thinking but it’s worth it. If there is something that keeps floating around, take a moment to think about where its home should be, even if it technically has one, that may not be the best home if it keeps floating around. Once it has a home, label it and put it back there every time.
Have Less Stuff
I can be so bad about this, but I’ve gotten better. I love things. I always have, but I’ve grown to hate clutter. So I’m working my way through getting rid of things and not replacing them. A big part of this is not collecting things or souvenirs that are just for looking. I used to collect music boxes, and it got extensive. By 20, I had shelves and shelves of music boxes. Some I couldn’t even remember where they came from, so I started purging. I think I have about eight boxes now, and I haven’t found a home for them yet, but they are extra special. I moved on to shot glasses after that, but it was more stuff. So now, if I can’t consistently use it, I settle for photos. And so far, no regrets.
Make a Routine
I’m still working on this because I think every month, something has changed in our life, making routines hard for us to keep. However, the goal is to make the perfect plan, then do what you can, and give grace where you can’t. Sometimes building a routine that works for you means going outside what is “typical.” Some people have morning and night routines, which work for them. Maybe you’re more of an “I do these things at some point every day,” and that will work for you. Remember, the best plan is the one that works.
If you’re looking for more help getting organized, check out my printable planning pages. They can be used individually or in a planning system and come in several sizes.
