Organize your Life

With the New Year in full swing, it’s  a perfect time to evaluate your organization. Whether it be organizing your home, desk or your schedule, keeping order can make your life ALOT less stressful.

Here are 10 tips to help you organize your life. You don’t have to implement all of them but just a few can make a BIG difference.

1.       Buy a planner.  This is the best "first step" you can take to organize your life. Keeping track of important dates, times and events is crucial. If you have a place where you have all that information, it allows your mind to rest! You can find great planners anywhere from Target to a local invitation store. Some planners have just monthly calendars and others have daily agendas. I suggest buying a planner that has both monthly calendars and daily agendas. I think of it as the "big picture" and the "detailed picture". 

Ballard Design

2.       Baskets are your best friend.  I really love baskets! Baskets allow you to keep stuff off the ground, but have it in a convenient location. For example, put a basket of blankets in the living room. The basket is appeasing to the eye, yet blankets for chilly nights are handy. Also, baskets are great for collection random items throughout the house. I personally love the baskets that fit on the staircase. I can foresee throwing kids toys/books in those and assignment a basket for each child. 

3.    Declutter aka THROW OUT! Set aside 2 times a year to clean out closets, drawers, anything that "collects stuff". Throw out or donate anything that you haven't used in that 6 months. 

4.       Make everything visible. This is especially important for closets. When you open up a linen closet (for example), you should be able to see all the items in the closet, without rummaging through the stuff. In an effort to help, drawers or baskets may be helpful. 

5.       Make lists. I am a professional list maker. If I don't write it down, the chances of me remember are minimal. Posts are perfect for this. Have a pack of "Post Its" in each room and in your car/purse. If you think of something, write it down on a "To do" list. Writing it will help you remember, as well as provide a visual reminder. 

6.       Set a schedule. People that have set schedules tend to forget less and have better productivity. Try to make a schedule for each day or week and stick to that schedule as best as possible. Consistency is KEY. 

7.       Pick and Choose. There's an old saying that it is better to do one thing well than to do many things subpar. Pick the most important tasks to complete. If some things have to wait that is OK! You will be productive if you choose a few items rather than halfway complete several. 

8.       Do one thing at a time. Pick 1 task to complete and don't begin another task until you've finished the first. 

9.       Color Code. Whether it be your towels or clothes, having items in color code will help with the overall organization.

10.    Make your bed! I sound like my mother!!!!! BUT...the older I get the more I enjoy having a "made bed". Your home will feel more organized if you come home to a bed that is put together. Also, it creates a more relaxed feeling in the room and less stressful. This is a great habit to teach your kids. Give them some responsibility with it. 

      I hope these tips help make your life/home/routine a little more organized. I am definitely going to try and implement a few of these! Remember, it's what works for you and your house! If something isn't working, change it! Let's make an effort to get organized in 2013!!! 

                                                                                                                        ~ G 

Disclaimers: I am by no means an expert organizer, just a normal Type A personality that likes "things" in its place. Also, I do not have children...but I hope that I can implement some of these tips when I do have kiddos in the house.