Are you looking to be more organized at work or home?

Do you want a refreshing and unusual change from conventional organization tips?

This may come as a surprise to some, but organization requires deliberate, careful choices, and actions.

In many ways, organization requires one to be fully present in any given moment.

In this post, you’ll find a few thoughtful ways you can be more organized at home or at work.

The next time you’re looking to put things in order in your life, consider using any one of these three approaches.

Who knows, you might find a convenient solution to a long-standing organization problem in a matter of minutes!

Correct an undesirable habit.

Poor habits often have a drastic impact on our ability to locate items or get things done.

Of course, we may not always consciously think of these habits as physical blocks to being more organized.

That’s why it can be useful to identify which habits frustrate or bother us.

Only then can we find a suitable (and preferably simple) solution.    

Here’s an example for you. Let’s say you regularly misplace your house keys when you arrive home…

Sometimes the keys end up on the kitchen counter, the bedroom dresser, or the living room sofa.

You’re flat-out tired of searching for your keys on a weekly basis.

A quick solution is to create a designated storage location for your keys.

This way, you know exactly where to place your keys upon your arrival home.

You could install a key hook near the kitchen door, or place a small bowl or container on the table in the hallway, or on the bedroom dresser.

When it comes to finding a smart organization solution for yourself, think about how you could identify, address, and correct an undesirable habit in your daily routine.

Plan your work in advance.

Unfortunately, being organized doesn’t just happen. It requires careful and conscious thought.

Fortunately, you can use this to your advantage. Doing a bit of planning can make your work even easier.

Once you’ve clearly stated your intentions, you can take action.

It’s much easier to book a flight to London when you know you’ve already made the decision to vacation in London, right?

So, instead of, “I’m going to organize my desk,” state specifically which steps you will take in order to put your workspace in order.

You may say, “I’m going to file the files in my inbox,” “I’m going to declutter the dried up pens and markers in my pen cup,” or “I’m going to clear a space on my desk for my desktop printer.”

What mini-plan could you make today or this week when it comes to organizing or decluttering a space or area?

Practice the art of preparation. 

If you’re looking to be more organized, you can’t go wrong by gathering or preparing physical items for future use.

Having items packed, prepared, and ready by a certain time can make all the difference in your schedule.

This includes items big and small, from physical items such as clothing, to more ephemeral items, such as thoughts.

For example, you could prepare your bag for work the night before, making sure you’ve packed your cellphone, wallet, ID, and keys.

Likewise, you could make a list of questions and concerns you want to share with your supervisor in advance of your weekly check-in meeting.

Think about the type of items you need for a particular event or function when you schedule an appointment, meeting, trip, or presentation.

Which items will you need to carry, have at your fingertips, or refer to in an instant?

How about you? Which of the above tips are you going to try out? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!