By According to National Geographic, various studies and findings have noted that cluttering and being well-organized impact various aspects of human life, from mental health to personal efficiency and lower stress levels.
However, being an organized person takes more than just ‘trying harder’. It requires a strategy and neuroplasticity to train yourself in a new habit. Tips on how to be more organized offer you a comprehensive systemic change to improve efficiency and regain control of your time.
Key Takeaways
- Anyone can learn how to be more organized through consistent effort and a structured approach by building the habit and using tools.
- Reducing both physical and digital clutter directly lowers stress and improves cognitive function.
How to Get More Organized in 15 Steps
Learn about the hacks to help you be more organized, which are structured into five key sections to provide a clear and actionable path forward.
Foundational Steps to Shape Mindset and Habits
1. Find Your Strong “Why”
Acknowledge that the emotional chaos of disorganization is linked to elevated stress and anxiety. This understanding provides the crucial motivation to get started and sustain your efforts.
2. Start Small, Focus on One Area
Instead of trying to reorganize your entire life at once, identify a single “weak spot” to tackle first, such as your desk or a messy inbox. This focused approach is an easy step to be more organized and makes the goal feel achievable rather than overwhelming.
3. Embrace Simplicity
Learn to let go of unnecessary items and tasks. The simplest system is often the most effective and sustainable in the long run. Organizing unnecessary items is a waste of energy, which means you need to prioritize what is necessary.
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How to Be More Organized through Planning and Time Management
4. Strategic Use of To-Do List
Utilize a to-do list, but let’s be smart about it! Incorporate a manageable number of items by applying a “one in, one out” rule for tasks, or by using the “3 Most Important Tasks” method to prioritize your daily workload. This strategy is key to managing your time and organizing your daily routine.
5. Use a Calendar for Everything
Beyond meetings, use a calendar to block out time for recurring tasks, report writing, and personal appointments. This helps you manage your time intentionally and ensures you do not miss important deadlines or events.
6. Split Overwhelming Tasks
Confront large projects by breaking them into smaller, more manageable subtasks. This easy step to be more organized makes the work less intimidating and helps you maintain focus and momentum.
7. Put What Is Used Away Now
Practice the habit of putting items away immediately after use. It’s a discipline that prevents clutter from building up and keeps your space tidy with minimal effort.
Taming Your Environment Physically and Digitally
8. Create a Home for Everything
Assign a specific, easy-to-access location for all of your belongings. This builds a simple system, ensuring you always know where things are when you need them.
9. Cleanse and Manage Your Digital Space
Apply organizational principles to your digital life. Create a clear filing system for documents, make a habit of unsubscribing from junk mail, and delete unneeded photos and videos. Mastering these digital practices is an essential part of how to be more organized in a modern workplace.
10. Automate Routines and Tasks
Identify recurring tasks, such as reporting or billing, and leverage technology to automate them. This saves you valuable time and allows you to focus on more complex, urgent work.
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Advanced Strategies: Projects and Team Collaboration
11. Take Control of Your Time
Be deliberate about how you spend your time by scheduling a recurring meeting with yourself for a “process review”. Dedicating time allows you to refine your systems and reflect on your productivity.
12. Delegate Effectively
Do not try to handle or tackle everything by yourself. Learning to delegate critical tasks to your team members frees you up to focus on the work only you can do.
13. Organize for Your Team
Extend your organizational habits to a collaborative environment. Proactively book recurring team meetings and ensure everyone has the right tools and resources to succeed.
14. Choose Tools that You Actually Use
Be it a simple notebook or a powerful project management app, the best tool is the one you will actually use and feel comfortable with over a long period of time.
Cultivating Sustainability and Self-Compassion
15. Don’t Beat Yourself Up
The ultimate hack out of the 15 tips to help you be more organized is to understand that setbacks are a part of the process. When you mess up, don’t dissolve into self-recrimination. Instead, focus on a sustainable solution and what you can do to prevent the mistake in the future.
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The Hardest Part of Being a More Organized Person
Learning and implementing tips on how to be a more organized person is about being intentional in building simple yet sustainable habits over time. This effort empowers you to move from chaos to calm control, refining both your life and the quality of your work.
The journey begins with starting consistent, small routines, which is always the hardest part. But, with practice, you will no longer feel like it’s a forced effort but a natural part of a more purposeful life.
