It is hard to stay organized when you don’t have the right tools. It is especially difficult to stay organized when you have a million things going on. I know because I have been there. I decided to make some changes in order to stay organized. Here are some tips I’ve learned from making these changes.
STEP 1: Get Organized
The first thing to do when you want to be more organized is get organized. Start by organizing all your papers, files, and important documents. You’ll have more time for things that matter if you have your files in a place where you can find them easily. This might mean getting a file cabinet or putting important papers into a folder.
STEP 2: Have A Plan
Once you have your papers in order, then you need to have a plan for how you want to use your time. There are two ways you can go about doing this. The first option is to write down your to-do list every day. Then every night, you’ll review your list and decide what needs to be done next. This is a pretty straightforward approach, but it can get boring.
The second option is to create a schedule for yourself. This can be an excel sheet, a wall calendar, or even a physical planner. It can be whatever works for you.
STEP 3: Prioritize
One of the hardest things to do is to prioritize. How do you choose between your to-do list and your priorities? Do you choose the things that will bring you the most joy or the things that will bring in the most money? What about the things you’ve been neglecting?
I recommend taking a step back and deciding on a priority list. This is a list of the top 5 things you really want to accomplish in life.
STEP 4: Work On One Thing At A Time
If you have a long to-do list, try breaking it down into smaller tasks. For instance, if you have 5 items on your to-do list, you can break down each of those tasks into 10 minute chunks. If you can’t complete one task in 10 minutes, then you can break it down even further.
Once you have all your tasks broken down into manageable chunks, then you can start working on them. Try not to focus on the big picture when you are starting out.
STEP 5: Keep Yourself Accountable
This is an important step. You cannot get organized if you don’t have someone checking in on you. You will end up forgetting to do something important. You will also end up getting distracted by the things that don’t really matter.
I recommend setting up a weekly or monthly accountability meeting. This can be with a friend or family member. Or you can set up a group chat with your team. Whatever works for you.