How To Be Organized

Are you struggling with how to be organized as a work at home Mom? Here are some great tips.

7 Habits of Highly Organized People

Ok, I am going to be perfectly honest with you. I was not always a highly organized individual. In fact, when some of my friends from high school hear that I now run a professional organizing business, they are quite amused by it. I certainly wasn't a total "slob", but the word "organized" wasn't a word people used to describe me. I think out of necessity (job, children, business, etc.), I had to learn organizing and time management skills. And, what I realized was getting organized offers many benefits including: less stress, more time for fun, less embarrassment, money savings, success, pride...the list goes on and on. And, that is why I am passionate about continuing to learn about organizing and sharing what I learn!

In my mind, there are 7 habits that highly organized people practice on a regular basis. Here they are:

1. Plan your day.
Each and every night, make a "game plan" for the next day. This game plan should include your "to do's", errands to do, phone calls to make, appointments, etc. Prioritize what items need to be done first.

2. Start your day with a completed task well done.
Make your bed, do your morning dishes, straighten up your bathroom, etc. Doing your best at this first task will set you up with the right attitude for the rest of the day.

3. Spend 10 minutes a day straightening up your surroundings.
You will be surprised at what you can accomplish with 10 concentrated minutes! Make these 10 minutes fun by playing music and working as fast as you can.

4. Never leave a room empty-handed.
There is almost always something that needs to be picked up and put away (especially if you have children). When walking from room to room, take the opportunity to pick something up and put it in its place.

5. Use bits of time (e.g. waiting at the doctor's office, etc.) to accomplish quick tasks. Think of all of the things you can accomplish in 15 minutes: writing thank you notes, returning a phone call, opening your mail, reading an article, etc.

6. Do it right once.
Take the time to complete tasks to the best of your ability the first time, so you don't have to go back and re-do them later.

7. Create routines when possible.
By establishing routines in your life, you are more likely to stay on task and stay focused consistently.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristine Lewis helps people to live and work better by getting organized. Sign up for her weekly e-newsletter with more tips like these at www.anorganized-life.com.