How Organized Do You Have to Be?

“Being organized” means different things to different people. Some think it’s unacceptable to have anything out of place in their home, and will pick up a glass that a guest has set down on a coffee table within seconds after it’s placed there.

(I had this happen once and never forgot it. The impression I got from the host was that she was overly anxious about appearances. There were several people in the room as guests, which meant the host stayed pretty busy clearing tables.)

That is one extreme.

The opposite of this would be when someone leaves dirty dishes or open notebooks scattered in different places in each room of their house for days (or weeks) at a time.

If you were to visit either of these homes, I’m guessing you might not feel completely comfortable.

Finding Balance

As with so many things in life, going to extremes with anything – including organization – is never good.

For some, organization seems to come naturally, while others are always looking for the “perfect” organizer or Day-Timer or appointment calendar to help them stay on top of things.

I believe it’s possible for people to be organized in some parts of their life and very DIS-organized in other parts. I also believe that our ability to become (and stay) organized can change over the years.

For example, when I was in my early 20’s, I seemed to have no problem setting up a logical system of staying on top of interviews I was having and résumés I was sending out. I simply used a recipe box with index cards, alphabetizing the companies I’d contacted and writing notes about each one.

Keeping track of important records (like receipts and statements) was also easy for me back then.

Fast-forward a few decades, and organization is no longer as simple as it once was.

Reasons You May Be Struggling

If you’re like most people, you’ve accumulated more “stuff” and responsibilities over the years. But the tendency to become more disorganized as time passes can have other causes, too. Here are just a few:

?? Major life changes

?? Health issues

?? Loss of motivation

?? Burnout (due to stress)

According to Jo Burgess, creator of an app that helps families stay organized (Life Sorted), the #1 secret to becoming organized is to DE-CLUTTER OUR BRAIN. In an article she published in August 2019, Jo lists 5 reasons people are often disorganized … and the way to fix each of those.

YOUR BELIEFS. If you find it difficult to let go of things from your past, one step she recommends is setting an end goal and breaking that down into smaller tasks.

PROCRASTINATION. One of her suggestions is to add exercise into your day … no matter how busy you are. “You’ll be surprised by the “mindset benefits of exercise,” she says.

PERFECTIONISM. Jo often reminds others that “Done is better than perfect.”

LACK OF FOCUS. Streamlining, systematizing, and automating are the 3 things Jo does in order to help with this.

INDECISION. Using a system like the 4-D Framework can help you decide whether to DO, DELEGATE, DEFER, or DITCH a task. Learning how to tell the difference between urgent and important is something else this system teaches you.

Benefits of Being Organized

Being organized boosts your PRODUCTIVITY and your CREATIVITY.

Figuring out which tasks need to be done first is a big part of being productive. Setting up systems that help you work faster makes it easier to schedule regular breaks for yourself, increasing your chances of staying focused AND productive!

Creativity gets a boost for two reasons. Removing both physical and mental clutter helps the mind relax and become more receptive to new ideas. Replacing clutter with things that inspire, amuse, or comfort you will help shift your focus into more positive directions – important for creativity.

It can also improve both your PHYSICAL HEALTH and your MENTAL HEALTH.

Less stress and the ability to create good habits (like getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and planning meals) are two important ways that being organized can benefit your physical health.

Mental health is impacted by reduced anxiety and more time to relax. Self-esteem is also boosted when you start feeling more in control of your time and your surroundings.

Being organized can also unlock your POTENTIAL for GROWTH and SUCCESS.

Setting (and achieving) goals becomes easier when you’re used to breaking down big tasks into smaller ones, prioritizing, managing time, and improving your systems. ANOTHER BONUS: New opportunities feel less intimidating.

Tips for STARTING to Get Organized

ORGANIZE YOUR TIME AND YOUR SPACE.

Trying to decide which type of calendar is best can be frustrating, but years ago, I was told that a weekly calendar (WEEKLY SCHEDULE) is best. It allows you to see today’s tasks, along with tasks that need to be done in the near future.

REMEMBER: Prioritize! Schedule your most important tasks the same way you’d schedule appointments.

“DE-CLUTTERING” is the best way to organize your physical surroundings. You do this by removing things that aren’t necessary and organizing the things that are left so they’re easy to find. Leaving open spaces on shelves and tables will help add a sense of calm to the room (and your emotions).

Tips for STAYING Organized

SET SMALL GOALS.

Most large goals will never be achieved without following this step of breaking down the “big things” into the “little things” first.

CONTINUE WORKING AT IT.

Explore new methods, tools, and systems – anything you think would enhance the way you offer services to clients and customers. Embracing new ideas and being adaptable are two qualities that will serve you well as your business grows.

(This mindset is important for non-business owners, too.)

So ... how organized do you really need to be?

As you develop your skills in this area, you’ll figure it out a little at a time.

Remember ... IT'S ABOUT PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION!