Top 8 Organizational Tips

There is no catch-all to organizing. Each person is unique, processes things differently, and has a set workflow that works for them. So organizational tips such as “get a planner” or “write everything on a chalkboard” aren’t always the most helpful.

Here are the top 8 organizational tips to include in your organizational journey!

1. Color code your planner: Color coding your planner or calendar can help you determine where you need to put your energy and which tasks that you need/want to prioritize and get done first, second, third, etc. For example, if you have certain ongoing tasks, tasks you need to complete that day, and tasks you need to complete that week, give each type of task a set color. From there, you can mark those tasks accordingly with the correct color each day so you know where to start first, with the tasks that are due that day! Or, say you have a large calendar in your home that your whole family uses, have a designated color for each person in your family so it is easier to follow and see who needs what and where they need to go on a given day.
2. Keep a to-do list: This seems simple, but it is helpful. Keeping a to-do list and putting everything you need to do, no matter how small, on a physical list can help remove all of those constant thoughts in your brain. It also gives you something to physically tick, check, or strike off when you are finished, hopefully, making you feel more accomplished and assured that you did all you needed to do in a given day, week, or month.
3. Start with the smallest task: This plays in with keeping a to-do list and how to tackle it no matter how larger or small that list is. Start by doing the easiest or least time-consuming task on your list and work your way up to the biggest or most time-consuming task. This way, once you get to that big daunting task, you already have everything else that you needed to do checked off your list and feel accomplished. It also allows you to better focus on the larger task and give it the dedication it needs.
4. Dedicate tasks to specific days: To accomplish all the things you want to do in a week or month, pick a specific day to do recurring weekly or monthly tasks. For example, if you know that you must do the laundry every week, pick a day that works for your schedule to do the laundry. Then do the laundry that same day every week. Or, say you are working on your flight training or an instrument rating, pick a specific day(s) of the week and a lot out a set amount of time for that task. Now stick to doing that task that set day and time each week. Once you have scheduled your recurring weekly tasks, you can schedule them in your non-weekly. It takes away some of the weekly pre-planning stress and helps you allot enough time for what you need to do.
5. Be efficient with your time: Identify where you spend a lot of time on things and if you can be more efficient about that time. For example, if you are cooking dinner and your pasta is boiling, what can you do while that pasta boils? Can you cut vegetables for the sauce? Can you put the dishes away? Can you vacuum your bedroom? Or while you do laundry and are waiting for clothes to dry, can you mow the lawn? Can you organize your drawers? Can you clean the bathroom? Look at how you execute tasks and how you can be more efficient by using your “down time” or “dead time” between tasks or during the day to do get more things done. But remember, don’t wear yourself down. Make sure you are giving yourself some time to relax—that is just as important as checking off your to-do list.
6. Be realistic with yourself: One thing that is easy to do is load your calendar, to-do list, or day with things that you need to do and want to do. And then, when you get to the end of the day, you realize that you still haven’t done half of your list. So, be realistic about what you can actually do in one day, week, month, etc.. Overestimate how much time you need to do each task. Create an “if you have time” section on your to-do list so if you do have time to do them, you can, but if you don’t, they aren’t in your actual to-do list and you won’t feel “bad” that you weren’t able to do it.
7. Get rid of your concerns: Have you ever been working on something and all you can think about is the dirty dishes piling up in your sink? Or the budget that you haven’t outlined for the rest of the year? Or the census you haven’t done and submitted yet? All of those get in the way and take up mental space and stress while trying to complete a task at hand. So do the things that are distracting you from focusing on your to-do list first.
8. Evaluate your time and identify what you value: Saying no to things or feeling bad about doing one thing more than the other is a real problem I think many people face. To make sure you are giving time not to just what you need to do, but what you want to do, look at everything you do in a week or a month and make sure it aligns with your values in your life. For example, if you value a clean home over going out, make sure you are allotting enough time to tidy up. Or, let’s say you value you having time in your evenings after work to relax, consider meal prepping during the weekends so you are able to do that.

The most important thing to remember, though, when getting organized is to allow time for yourself and to be flexible. Life is every changing and every day can be drastically different from the next, so be patient and flexible with yourself and your to-do list. Acknowledge that you might need to make changes where and when necessary. And don’t get down on yourself when if you aren’t completing your to-do list every day or any day. Find patience with yourself and find a system that will work for you.