2022 is fast approaching, and it seems like almost everyone is embarking on their new resolution for the year. For some, it’s to eat healthier, for others, it’s to begin exercising. For you, it can be to stay more organized.
Life can get tough and messy, so it’s important to stay on top of everything. Here are 7 simple things you can do to stay more organized.
#1 Journaling
We’ve all seen those TikTok and Instagram posts of these wonderful artist’s bullet journals and think to ourselves, “Wow. I wish I could do that.” Well, you can! Regardless of artistic ability, you can take 10-15 minutes out of your day to write down some thoughts, things you want to remember, a to-do list, or recent events in your life.
Keeping a journal can help you keep your thoughts organized and has been proven to relieve stress. Who doesn’t want that in their life?
If you want to go above and beyond, pull out your colored pencils and markers. You can create some pretty adorable and aesthetic illustrations. Journaling can be as simple and minimal, or as complex and elaborate as you’d like it to be. Your journal is your canvas.
#2 Make Lists
In everyday life, things to remember, chores to do, and items to pack or buy come at us fast. It’s hard to keep track of everything you need to do. Luckily, there’s a simple solution to how you can stay on top of all of the things you need to remember.
Make lists! Grocery lists, to-do lists, homework lists, packing lists, reminder lists, and any other type of list, can be helpful.
Making lists is also easy to do. You can use regular paper, a notes app, a reminders app, Notion, or any other type of platform that allows you to make checklists. Introducing this simple habit into your life may increase your productivity and motivation!
#3 Have a Weekly Clean-Up Time
Day-to-day life can get pretty tiring and chaotic. Unfortunately, cleaning can be hard. Finding the motivation, time, or energy to do so can be even more difficult.
To keep your living and working spaces as organized and clean as they can be, set a time every week when you will fully devote yourself to tidying up. Doing so, you’re more likely to get your cleaning done quicker.
Setting the same time for every week can create some stability in your schedules and routines, and can even make you more motivated to clean. For example, you can clean for 10 minutes every night. Anything that works for you.
#4 Start Meditating or Doing Yoga
It’s cliche, but introducing mindfulness activities like yoga and meditation are great healers for the body. Pull out that 10-year-old yoga mat or download a trendy meditation app. The choice is yours.
Yoga can give you the excuse to put on a cute athletic outfit while improving your mental wellbeing. Meanwhile, meditation can be done almost anywhere, at any time, and can do the exact same. Both can increase body awareness, relax the mind, and boost your mood.
Having a clear and sharp brain will allow you to become more mentally organized and on top of things. Making sure your thoughts are collected and calm can really be the difference maker when it comes to organization. It’s all in the head.
#5 Manage Time Well
This is probably the hardest thing to achieve on this list, but if you put some faith in yourself, you can do it. Staying on top of your goals and assignments is crucial. One way to not let those tasks overflow and get disorganized is to manage your time well.
Procrastination is so easy now with all the distractions like social media on our phones. You never want to be in a situation where you’re cramming for a test the night before because yesterday you wanted to scroll on TikTok.
Even though it sometimes feels impossible to avoid, if you plan your time out, it might save you lots of time. To put yourself in the best situation to succeed when it comes to not procrastinating, try to eliminate distractions and hold yourself accountable when you notice yourself getting off task. Managing time well is certainly strenuous at first, but everyone has to start somewhere.
#6 Keep a Calendar
Forgetting something is bad, but forgetting a meeting with someone is even worse. Life’s a blur and hard to track everything on your plate, but keeping a calendar can help you out. They come in both digital and physical formats and are great for organizing your upcoming schedule as well as working on time management. If you don’t use a calendar already, it may be difficult to get into the habit of plugging events into your schedule, but if you stay on it, soon, it’ll be second nature.
Not only are calendars great for keeping your schedule, but they can help you visualize your upcoming days and weeks to prepare. If you begin to mark notable events in your calendar, your brain won’t have to keep track of all the information regarding your plans.
#7 Treat Yourself Well and Avoid Unnecessary Stress
A large cause of disorganization is simply because you are too stressed out and never give yourself some time off. When you are mentally and physically tired, everything can become out of place and jumbled. In general, you need to treat yourself right.
Prioritize your health, always. Being able to stay on top of things starts with you, and if you aren’t at 100%, you won’t be able to do so. Because of that, take care of yourself and do things that make you happy. Use a bath bomb, do some skincare, or read a book.
Additionally, try to avoid all unnecessary stress. Stressing takes so much of a toll on your body and attitude. Don’t make yourself walk into a stressful environment if you don’t need to. A little stress can be good, but know your limits.
If you can implement a few (bonus points if you can do all 7!) of these things into your life, you’re bound to find yourself being and feeling more organized in at least one way. Finding yourself unmotivated to be organized may happen, but it’s all a part of your journey to the promised land of an organized life. Best of luck on that endeavor, and I hope these tips helped.
