Organizational skills can be learned, and here’s a way you can develop them. Start with this:
- Get a physical organizer. Ok, maybe this isn’t for everyone. But most people I know with cluttered lives have realized what a huge relief it is to have everything organized on one big piece of paper. I organize all of my appointments, reminders, and notes with a physical “to do” list. This has allowed me to have more free time, and has also improved my productivity.
- Get rid of things that you don’t need. Ok, this is simple, but most people never get around to it. Get rid of all the junk that you don’t use.
- Write all of your important dates on your calendar. It’s easy to remember birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. But the hard part is getting yourself to remember anything that’s coming up in the future. Make a habit out of writing everything important down on your calendar.
- Get all your bills and bank statements together. You don’t have to keep everything, but it’s good to have everything in one place. A few years back, when I created a budget, I consolidated my bills and bank statements into a single place. This allowed me to have my checkbook balanced without having to write anything by hand.
- Get a desk calendar. A desk calendar is a great way to keep track of appointments, birthdays, and important dates.
- Write out your goals. If you have a long list of goals, put them all down on paper. This will make your goals seem more concrete, and will make it easier to accomplish them.
- Get your phone organized. You wouldn’t believe how much time is wasted by people who don’t have their phone organized. When you go through your phone, delete all the junk you no longer need.
