When you get organized, many aspects of your life will improve. You’ll be more relaxed, you’ll be more successful in your work and relationships, and you’ll have more time and energy to do things you enjoy. I know that’s a lot of return for just getting organized. But if you consider the pivotal role that organization plays in many of your activities, you’ll see its value.
The title of this article says “simple” ways to get organized. The 10 ways that I present are generally simple. However, “simple” doesn’t always mean “easy” when getting organized. Some of them require some work. A couple of them require some hard work. But all of them offer some advantage or benefit.
Let’s get started!
1. Get the right mindset
Appreciating its benefits is the key to getting and staying organized. Once you see the value of this discipline, you can establish a mindset that will get you there and keep you on track.
I wrote an article entitled “25 Reasons for Being Organized” about this aspect of getting organized. If you haven’t read it yet, it might help you find the motivation to complete this project and make this discipline a part of your lifestyle.
2. Use lists to your advantage
I wouldn’t be nearly as organized if I didn’t make lists. I use 3×5” top-bound spiral notepads with college rule paper inside for my lists. The metal spiral on the top allows me to have several lists working simultaneously while keeping each attached. I buy them in a package of 5 or more pads.
I use them to make to-do lists, project lists, talking-point lists, shopping lists, and notes during a speech or lecture. I have a pad on my desk, on the table next to my bed, in my car, and my travel bag, and I often carry one in my pocket when I go out. The one beside my bed has been invaluable for recording ideas and solutions that came to me while sleeping.
3. Get a day planner organizer
Having a day planner organizer is essential if you want to get organized like a pro. I used the paper version of the Franklin-Covey day planner for years. The Franklin-Covey product is outstanding.
I have used a software day planner organizer on my computer for many years. I was amazed at how this software made organizing and planning much easier and more efficient. Had I known what I came to discover about this software, I would have switched years ago. Get more information about this organizer software here.
4. Create an annual calendar
Enter all business and personal information, including deadlines, payment due dates, expiration dates, vacations, and birthdays. If you complete this task thoroughly and carefully, you’ll be able to relax knowing that your calendar will remind you when things need to be done.
One of the great things about organizer software is that you can schedule items that repeat every year, decades into the future, with a single entry. You can also set up reminder alarms, emails, and text messages for each item.
5. Create to-do lists
Having a to-do list is one of the basics of getting organized. Creating to-do lists helps you to organize needed items, tasks, and steps.
Although I still use my 3×5” notepad to make a to-do list for things I’ll be completing right away or for a simple project, I usually just enter them into my organizer to-do list. What’s great about this software is that unfinished to-do items are automatically transferred to the next day. You can also easily reschedule them to a future date.
One thing I didn’t like about the paper version of the Franklin-Covey day planner was that you had to manually transfer unfinished to-do items to the next day. It’s a time-consuming task that I thought was a little absurd.
I encourage you to choose a software day planner organizer over a paper version because it is an easier and more efficient way to get organized.
6. Get rid of your junk
The first step in physically organizing your home or business is to get rid of all your junk. Junk is stuff that is unused, overstocked, worthless, obsolete, and broken.
I recommend you approach this project this way: Go through every room, storage area, closet, cabinet, shelf, and drawer in your home or business and quickly decide whether an item goes or stays. Your mindset should lean toward getting rid of stuff rather than keeping it. Once you’ve removed the junk, you’ll be ready to clean and organize each space.
Start by cleaning the space. This means wiping, sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, polishing, and mopping. Be sure to use an antibacterial disinfectant. Then, organize the stuff by putting things together in logical categories. I’ll give you more tips on organizing your things in a later section.
You should have a HUGE amount of junk at the end of this process! So, how do you go about getting rid of it? Getting rid of your newly designated junk is easy, and it can be profitable. “Profitable!” you say. Yes! One person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Here are three possibilities.
- Have a garage sale. If you do it right, you can make serious money. I’m pretty good at it, so I’ve written everything you need to know to succeed here: “Garage Sale Tips for Making Serious Money.”
- Donate it to a non-profit charitable organization. This is an excellent choice since you could help people and get a tax break. I’ve done this with unsold items from garage sales.
- Contact a junk removal service. I have no experience with these services, so I don’t know how much they charge or if they’ll pay you for more valuable items.
7. Reduce and reorganize whenever you move
Moving your home or business to a new location is the perfect time to get rid of your junk and get organized. If you take full advantage of this opportunity, you can transform the organization of your home or business.
You do it in two stages: when you’re packing and when you’re unpacking. Here’s how.
- As you pack, quickly consider whether you should get rid of each item or group of items.
- Organize and categorize as you pack. Designate a box or boxes for each category.
- Pack high-use and low-use items separately. You might consider leaving the low-use items in their sealed boxes and putting them in a storage area at your new location. For example, if you’ve got three (3) sets of dishes and glasses and have only used one (1) of them in the last five years, then maybe you should keep two boxed or get rid of them.
- Unpack only what you need for one year and keep the rest in boxes. Seal the boxes on items you know you won’t need, and keep the boxes unsealed and in a handy location on items you’ll likely need in the short term.
- Clean all storage areas in the new location as described in the previous section.
- Determine the best locations for your stuff before you start unpacking.
- As you unpack, carefully organize the items in their new locations.
I know how much work and stress moving involves. I’ve done it quite a few times. But suppose you can generate some extra energy by getting excited about your move and applying it to this project. In that case, you can maximize this ideal opportunity to get organized.
8. Keep the boxes from expensive purchases
You will not find a more secure box for your television, computer, printer, and kitchen appliances than the one it came in. Packing engineers designed these boxes.
These boxes are perfect for storing items, returning/exchanging items, shipping items for warranty repairs or to a friend, or safely packing items when moving.
When these boxes are empty, you can organize them by putting them inside one another and by storing other items in them.
I think you’ll be very happy that you kept these boxes for the reasons mentioned.
9. Organize using boxes, bands, and bags
I mean shoe boxes, rubber bands, and food storage bags. These common things can be used to organize and categorize identical and similar items.
Shoe boxes work well for organizing similar items like health supplies, sewing materials, and household repair tools. Rubber bands can be used for many purposes, including organizing pens and pencils and arranging electronic and appliance cords and wires. Food storage bags keep valuable items clean and protected from dust and moisture.
Boxes of various sizes are handy for organizing items into categories. Some categories have large items or high quantities. Others have small items or low quantities. So, get as many boxes as possible from local businesses before organizing your stuff. I have found that most companies put them outside near their trash container. Be sure to check various companies, as each may use different types of boxes. Avoid grocery stores as their boxes are generally wet from the food and refrigeration, or flimsy since they usually don’t hold valuable merchandise.
10. Organize and secure your important documents
Do this digitally whenever possible by saving receipts and important documents to an organized set of folders on your computer and/or cloud storage. When this is impossible, especially with older documents, follow the system described below. You can also adapt it to organize digital documents.
The best way to do this is to get some hanging folders, folder tabs, tab inserts, and a file container or cabinet. Using this proven system, you’ll be able to quickly and easily file and retrieve these materials.
The first step is to create a list of all the names of the files you’ll need. Some examples of these names would be taxes, mortgage, rent, utilities, receipts, warranties, computer, vehicle, banks, credit cards, medical-dental, vacation, etc. When you’re done making your list, write the names on the tab inserts, put them in the tabs, and then attach them to the hanging folders. Then, logically place the hanging folders into your file container.
Review each item before you insert your papers and decide whether it should go into the file or be shredded. Then, as you add your documents to each file, arrange them logically or chronologically. If you already have a set of files in your home or business, you should do the same to them as I just advised.
You need a fireproof safe or strongbox for irreplaceable, valuable, and essential documents and other materials. Another option is to get a safe deposit box at your bank. Some banks offer these for free if you meet specific criteria.
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When you fully appreciate the benefits of this discipline, getting organized can be enjoyable. Once the work is done and you’re reaping the rewards, you’ll be inspired to maintain it.