You don’t have to live with all the clutter and mess that everyday activities create. You may be able to con yourself into thinking that you can indeed tolerate it or that it is just a part of modern life. In reality, a few simple organization tips can help turn your surroundings into a functioning space. Here are some things that you can do to organize your life.
1. Look at your surroundings.
Do you see things that make you cringe? Maybe that bag of items you have been meaning to return or that stack of books you have been meaning to donate? For certain, these are the elements that create clutter and stress! They may be items that you need, items you cannot merely throw away when they are out of place. You never know when you will need these things, so a best practice is to designate an area for everything that you own. To get started, you’ll need reminders to help yourself remember where you place these things. Create a list and form a habit. You can also label shelves, and cabinets to help you remember to organize as you go. If your closet or dresser is a source of frustration, see our tips on Organizing Your Clothes.
2. Patience, patience, patience!
Make sure you have the right expectations and do not expect perfection from the start. This type of pressure on yourself will be counter-productive and just add another layer of stress on your day. Remember consistency leads to discipline which forms positive habits. There will be times when you will feel like you slipped back to your old ways. Whenever this occurs, think about the positive benefits that being organized brings, especially after you have made a conscious effort to get things in their designated spots. Just keep at it!
3. Create an easy-to-follow routine with to-do tasks.
Most importantly, make sure it is something that works for you. This way, you won’t forget anything, and it helps you maintain focus on elements around you. For example, what do you have to get done for the week? When can you fit in returning those items or dropping those books off as a donation? Create a schedule so that you can accommodate all these little tasks and avoid the thoughts of “where did the week go?”
Being consistent in following these simple organizational tips will help free your life by removing the clutter build-up. You need to practice this and integrate the values into your normal routine, knowing that the few extra minutes you spend daily will pay large dividends in reducing stress and improving your quality of life.