Organization is necessary to aid in productivity and keep your mind at ease. Without it, it can be easier to lose your sense of day-to-day direction and control. Here are 6 ways to organize your life:
Write a Daily To-Do List and Execute
Whether it’s written the night before or at the start of your day, writing a to-do list reminds you of your responsibilities and important tasks. More importantly, actually doing them brings you closer to the goals you set out for yourself.
It’s okay to slip up, but just ensure that’s not made a habit. You’ll be much more pleased with yourself knowing you followed through with what you said you’d do, especially if there was no motivation to do it.
This is a simple but effective step you can take to organize your life.
Clean Your Personal Space
Your personal space should be well-maintained because it accomplishes two things.
One, it allows you to navigate easier to whatever it is you might need. For example, keeping your keys and wallet in a storage box in your bedroom will help you remember exactly where they are when on the go.
Two, a clean environment can reduce stress. Just the sight of dirty clothes and an unmade bed is irritating, and that can set you off if you’re having an already bad day. In contrast, an organized space can be visually refreshing and remind you of how much you value self-care.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness” – John Wesley.
Develop a Morning Routine
Everyone wants to start their days in the best possible way, so rather than rush through your mornings, structure it with a set routine.
In order to avoid sleep inertia, ensure that you’re often waking up from your first alarm. See here for the importance of this.
It’s then ideal to tackle one or more of the major health pillars, such as sunlight exposure or exercise within the first hour. Doing so will stimulate your energy and focus for the day ahead, putting you in the best possible position for productivity.
Depending on how early you wake up, you might have enough time to do something after that you genuinely enjoy as a means of reward. Like a hobby or entertainment outlet.
The benefits from healthy activities coupled with an enjoyable pastime activity will be a morning routine you’ll look forward to repeating. Structure at the beginning of your day will make it easier to organize your life.
Track Your Expenses
Ideally you want to know when exactly your bills are due every month so as not to miss payments. Especially ones that will seriously impact your credit score, like credit card balances.
Writing out your expense due dates with amounts set a reminder to prioritize them in case life gets too busy before or on the day.
If written on paper, keep it in a clearly visible place in your room or work space. Otherwise digital reminders on your smartphone can work.
Make Exercise a Priority
Exercise is widely known to positively impact your physical and mental health. See here for more information on how.
Making the time for it consistently can enhance your discipline across other life domains, stimulate energy and focus, improve confidence and reduce neuroticism (among other things).
The benefits experienced from it have the potential to improve the quality of your life, so it’s best to make it a priority. Not to mention the routine in itself can further add organization to your life.
Prioritize Learning New Skills and Subjects
In this ever-evolving world, knowledge of both hard and soft skills come in handy for your own benefit. Whether in a classical work environment or as a means of starting something on your own.
To try something today, go with Skillshare. They have thousands of classes on learning hard and soft-skills, so I’m sure you’ll find something of interest to you. Get started with your first 30 days free here.
Further, industry and role-related knowledge can potentially enhance your competence in a work environment. Reviewing notes you take before actually practicing or vocalizing what you learn is vital so you know exactly what to do or say. And most importantly, you should actually understand it, rather than just regurgitate that information.
For example, I’m potentially transitioning to a more outbound sales role at the IT company I work for. To prepare for that I’ve taken a couple relevant courses like cross-selling.
I intend to review my notes before making a call, and in doing so really understand when the appropriate time is to recommend an additional product for a customer. Then, through trial and error, practice what I learned.
The sheer fact that I’ve taken the time to improve myself in this regard speaks to how much I value organizing my schedule in accordance with the future I want.