The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about your New Year’s resolution.
Not sure what goals you want to make for 2020? Why not make a resolution to organize your life. Getting organized is actually one of the top resolutions made each year!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or out of sorts, organizing your life can make a huge change in your mental, and even physical, health. Keep reading to get a jump start on your organization resolution.
1. Start with a Planner or Calendar
If you’re wondering how to organize your life, start with a planner or calendar.
Writing down all your appointments is a great way to ensure you don’t forget anything. You’ll know what days you are free to add in new appointments and which days are going to busy. Some planners even break down days into individual hours for ultimate organization.
If you have a family or spouse, consider creating a shared calendar. That way you can keep track of all your family obligations in one place.
Whether you go with a digital or physical planner is up to you. Some people enjoy the permanence of writing down each appointment. But others like the convenience of accessing their calendar on their phones wherever they are.
2. Use To-Do Lists
Another great way to organize your daily tasks is with to-do lists. We recommend you have multiple of these for different time periods.
For example, you can have a monthly to-do list that includes larger tasks like cleaning out the garage or Christmas shopping. Then, you can also have weekly and daily to-do lists where you break down your tasks into smaller goals.
Not only are to-do lists great for keeping you on schedule, but it’s also a great way to organize your thoughts. Pick a time each week to sit down and add appointments to your calendar and create a to-do list. This time will get you organized for the week and set your sights on the week’s obligations.
3. Declutter the Junk
Now that your schedule is a little more organized, you can also work on organizing your home. While this may seem like an impossible task, just like most things it becomes easier when you break it down into smaller goals.
Start by making a list of all the places in your home that need decluttering. This could include your garage, bedroom, living room, and even kitchen. Renting a dumpster in Evergreen Park can be a big help to make room for waste collected during cleanup and help keep your home clean and clutter-free.
Then, go through each space and consider what doesn’t get used anymore. Then, come up with a gameplan on how you’ll get rid of it. For example, it’s time to get rid of that old car taking up room in your garage by simply searching “how to sell my junk car” online.
For each space, you can choose to sell, donate, or trash your clutter items. If you’re unsure about a certain item, place it off to the side for a few months to think about how it contributes to your life and home before deciding.
4. Clean Regularly
With fewer belongings in your way, cleaning may seem a little more achievable. But just like decluttering, you should separate the large tasks into achievable goals.
Pick a day of the week to do a specific room or chore. For example, Sundays could be bathroom cleaning day or a day for vacuuming. Once you create a routine, you can add the items to your to-do list and calendar to keep yourself on track.
Obviously a room may get dirty throughout the week. Set a time limit of thirty minutes each night for a quick clean around the house. Use this time to do the dishes, pick up toys, or switch over the laundry.
5. Keep Track of Screen Time
Wondering where you’ll find the time to do all of these tasks?
Well, the average American adult spends over six hours every day looking at a screen. If you made a conscious effort to cut back on even an hour of screen time a day, that’s seven hours a week you could dedicate to organizational tasks.
Instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media or watching yet another recipe video you could instead be cleaning or decluttering. If this task seems impossible, set a timer on your phone whenever you sit in front of a screen. Give yourself a time limit to enjoy the internet or watch a TV show and then when the timers up, switch to something productive.
Try cutting down on your screen time for a week and see just how much more you can get done!
6. Ask for Help
Odds are you aren’t the only person living in your house. That also means that you’re not the only person contributing to the unorganized lifestyle. It’s time to enlist the help of your spouse or family members.
If you have children, get them involved in your weekly planning session. Invite them to add their own events to the calendar and give them a rundown of what the week will look like. Also, consider using a chore wheel to get their help cleaning and organizing around the home.
The same goes for your spouse. The organization only goes so far if not everyone is on board. Tell them what tasks you need help with on which days and you may be surprised by how willing they are to help out.
Organizing Your Life Takes Time and Patience
There isn’t a magic spell for organizing your life. A task like this takes time and patience.
Start with just one of the items on the list and make it a habit. Then, once that task becomes natural to you, it’s time to add in another organizational tip. Over time, you’ll find your home and your mind becoming more and more organized.
Looking for ways to stay motivated throughout the lengthy process? Head over to the blog section of this site for more great content.
