9 Easy Ways to Be More Organized Today

Close up of a book, fruit bowl, and cups on a table

Do you want to be more organized…today?

Are you looking for tips that will help you tremendously in the days and weeks to come?

The good news is that you don’t have to devote large portions of your day overhauling, sorting, or organizing your home or office.

You can make a few slight adjustments to your regular habits and routines.

Once you’ve done that, things will be a little bit more orderly, neat, and tidy.

In this post, I offer a collection of nine simple ways to help you be more organized, right here, and right now.

Create a checklist.

Jot down a set of recurring or regular tasks you must check on or complete every month. These could be tasks related to housework, office work, or school work. Hold an impromptu brainstorm session and let ideas come to you. Then, organize those ideas into a tidy list. Store your list in a safe location

Automate a system or task.

Could your daily routine benefit from automation? Why not set up a convenient auto responder for your email account? How about scheduling a couple of bills for automatic online payment? What about having your cellphone messages converted to text or email messages?

Tidy up at the end of the day.

It’s important to keep frequently used rooms and areas of the home and office tidy. Begin by selecting a table top, counter or workspace. Set a timer for five minutes…and get to work! Return items to their proper storage locations, put away supplies and materials, and clear out clutter and trash.

Start a go-to resource.

Make a mini-resource to help you get through all those little things that come up in life, be it last-minute holiday celebrations or mending a piece of clothing. For example, you could create a gift box in your home filled with several birthday, wedding, and thank you cards, postage stamps, wrapping paper, and tape. Or you could prepare a DIY sewing kit with spare buttons, needle, thread, and a pair of small scissors.

Contain similar items.

Look around your home or office for an empty box, container, or basket. Then, fill up your box with whatever items you’re trying to contain, be it books, paper files, or nail polish. At least now you’ll everything in one centralized location!

Label something.

Always scratching your head when it comes to figuring out which box is which in your closet? Or if that PDF file on your desktop is the right PDF file? Take a few minutes to label something clearly and appropriately. You could label a frequently used box, a file folder on your computer, or that collection of similar looking spices in your kitchen.

Prepare a note for your future self.

Write detailed notes of a project you’re handling right now. For example, if you’re sorting out issues related to your car insurance, write down the status of your claim, the conversations you’ve had with representatives via phone or email, and any payments made. You’ll have a handy reference ready for yourself in future!

Assemble several travel kits.

Be ready for anything, whether you’re carrying your purse, workout bag, backpack, or sitting at your desk or the driver’s seat. Prepare a couple of travel kits for yourself. Stock up on trial or travel-sized personal care items and store your goods in individual zippered plastic bags.

Drop detailed information into your schedule.

What to do with all that miscellaneous information about that upcoming business meeting? Add it to your schedule! You can write in the room name or number, street address, attendees, items needed, and anything else you need to reference.

How about you? Which small organizing project are you going to take on today? Join in the conversation and leave a comment below!

A version of this post appeared on the blog in 2014.

5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook Mockup
About the Author

Rashelle

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity consultant who helps successful entrepreneurs and business owners manage their time and energy so they can reduce stress, work less, and make more money in their businesses. She has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic. Get her free guide, 5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook, by clicking here.

2 Comments

  1. Amy Tang

    Great advices. So useful for me. Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      You’re quite welcome, Amy! Thanks for your comment.

      Reply

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