There are ways of thinking that put you on par with an organizer. They like to ask questions and find solutions! Here are some unique ways to approaching life that will have you getting more organized and less cluttered in all aspects of your life.
Ask Yourself
Part of getting organized is asking some tough questions:
- “Will I need this in the near future?”
- “What’s the worst thing that could happen if I throw this away?”
- “Why am I really keeping this?”
Answer them honestly, and you’ll know what to keep and what to toss. When you are realistic, it gives you less incentive to stick with old thinking and old clutter. This makes space in your home and your life for what you really want!
You Can Say ‘No’
Avoid answering “yes” right off the bat. Answering yes can become habitual, even when you truly mean no. This helps you to avoid getting bound up in obligations and other people’s demands and ending up with regrets.
Always remember to tell people that you will check your calendar and will be back in touch the next day when asked to do something or in making plans. Do not assume people know when you will respond; give a date, and be firm.
Rarely will a “yes” or “no” response be needed immediately, so having that thinking time will allow you to see how a “yes” response would affect aspects of work as well as your personal life. What kind of time commitment is this going to be for you and your family?
Make Your Priorities Your Priority
Planning makes all the difference between being reactive and proactive during your day. When you don’t plan, you inevitably end up reacting to events as they occur, instead of being proactive in what you want to achieve.
If you have 10 things on your to-do list, it’s likely that only 2 are really important. Knowing this, when you identify the 20 percent of your activities and behaviors that are most important to productivity, you can focus on improving those.
Make a Day of It
Designating certain days for certain activities is a great way to keep yourself on track and get things accomplished. Divide the week up in a way that makes sense for you and your family’s schedule. For example:
- Saturday mornings: run errands
- Wednesday: wash and fold laundry
- Friday night: fun activity
Break up chores into time segments. What needs to be done daily, weekly, monthly or yearly? Post them on the family calendar. Schedule in some fun as often as possible. Save one day of the week to dedicate to family time where attendance is required.
Be Decisive and Move On
Every minute spent being indecisive can slow down your ability to take action. Over-thinking and analyzing can really become a stumbling block.
For example, rather than spending an hour researching hotel pricing to attempt to save $20.00, give yourself 30 minutes to compare prices and make a decision quickly. The time you save is priceless!
These ideas can help you in the little things and keep them from growing into big things. Thinking like an organizer helps you to be more productive, decisive and confident in your life, and brings you peace of mind!