One of the areas that you can work on with one of our life coaches or career coaches is your organizational structure. You want to be more organized, but you don’t know where to start. You may even think you’re stuck in a chaotic rut, and you’ll never be the type of person you want to be when it comes to organization. While some people are born with an organizing preference, others struggle in this area. Still, it’s vital to remember, that no matter your preference, creating habits take time and dedication. Here are a few tips on how to be organized from our coaches you can try today that will bring more order into your life.
Write It Down
To begin with, we all know someone who seems to remember everything: meeting times, names, phone numbers, their obscure aunt’s birthday. These people don’t have photographic memories: they write things down.
Writing down important information can help you be much more organized. You won’t miss that meeting, forget the dry cleaning, or leave that loaf of bread out of your grocery cart. Writing down people’s names shortly after meeting them can also help you avoid embarrassing moments of trying to figure out who you’re speaking with.
Take notes on sticky notes and stuck in places where you’ll see them often; you can carry a small notebook; utilize a planner; and even download applications for your smartphone or tablet.
Prioritize
So, let’s face it. We’re forced to multitask. We frequently have two, or more, things vying for our attention, so we try dividing our time up equally, and, usually, everything ends up being neglected. This is why it’s important to prioritize your activities.
We don’t need to be preoccupied with activities that are only stimulating for a few minutes, instead we should focus on what will benefit our goals in the long run. Calling a potential client is much more important than browsing the internet. While there’s nothing wrong with taking a break, it’s fundamental to prioritize our necessary commitments; they should come first.
Declutter
Do you find yourself digging through the stacks of paper on your desk to find something? Closet overcrowding to the point where you can’t find an outfit to wear? It might be time to step back and decide what’s most important to you.
Purging papers — like old meeting notes, junk mail, and unused magazines — help you feel like you’re on top of things. If you know you’re not going to need that scrap of paper, recycle it! Don’t let it gather dust on your desk.
Going through old clothing can help as well. If you’re not going to wear it, donate it. Not only will you be doing a good deed, but it can streamline those mornings when you’re running late and don’t know what to wear.
Don’t Procrastinate
We’ve probably all done it: we put things off in hopes we’ll feel like doing them later. And guess what? We usually have to rush to finish them. Completing tasks in a timely manner can make your life less messy and more organized. Stop stressing about a last-minute deadline you have to meet; it’ll already be done.
Not only is this tip helpful for work-related activities, but is also a great habit to create in every aspect of your life. Our number one suggestion in this area is to complete the task you least want to do first. As Brian Tracy says in his useful procrastination book, referring to this very suggestion, “Eat That Frog!”
Conclusion
Having an organized life may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. You can become the person you want to be by creating new, small habits, and these small changes, can transform your life. There are more tips on how to be organized, but these points should be a good start.
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