January 7th, 2019 by Chris Chapman

“I want to be more organised this year,” is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions. However, getting yourself more organised is always easier said than done! That’s why many people give their resolutions a go for a couple of months before falling back into old habits through the year. No one is naturally organised; it takes a little bit of thought and effort on your part to stick to your goals, but it’s worth it! If you’re looking to be a bit more organised this year, follow the tips below for all the advice you could ever need.

Declutter Your Life

Decluttering is a big job, but having space around your home or office will help clear your mind and make you more productive. Think about all the times you’ve needed to write something down and been unable to find a pen or all the time you’ve wasted searching through piles of junk in your desk drawer for that one important piece of paper! Regular decluttering will help make this a thing of the past, so you can get on with the really important stuff without wasting time. A common mistake people make is that they only have a big clean-up once – either during the New Year or when they do a spring clean – and leave it at that. The thing about clutter is that it tends to build up if you don’t keep on top of it! Make a habit of regularly removing clutter from your home or workplace to help yourself stay more organised. It helps to have a ‘filing system’ of sorts for your clutter. Have a basket for things you want to keep, a basket for things you want to fix, a bin for any rubbish, and a bag for things you want to donate. The first big clean is hard work, but once it’s done it’ll be much easier to keep on top of! Combine it with some spring cleaning supplies to create a happier, cleaner, and brighter home or workplace!

Write Things Down

Writing things down is incredibly important. It’ll help you process your thoughts, remember your ideas, and helps clear your mind and focus on the task at hand. Study after study has shown that writing something, whether it’s a note to yourself, a diary entry, or a goal, is proven to help with your memory, focus, and mental health. When we write a thought down (either on paper or on an electronic device), our brain finds it easier to focus on it. If you never write anything down, your brain will find itself having to remember every little thing while also solving problems and dealing with other everyday stresses. When you put your thoughts on paper, it takes some of the pressure off your brain and helps it compartmentalise everything, meaning you can think more clearly and be more creative. That’s why to-do lists, calendars, and diaries have been around for so long – they really do help! If you’re dealing with a lot of stress, you should start a journal to help give you an outlet for your feelings (this can be public, like a blog, or a private diary). If you have a lot of goals or ideas for 2019, write them down; you’ll find it much easier to organise your life and work schedules and focus on the things that really matter.

Treat Yourself

The reason many people fall away from their New Year’s resolutions is that they never reward themselves for sticking to it. Being organised doesn’t have to be an endless cycle of cleaning, post-it notes, and spreadsheets – you can be more organised while enjoying life, too! Allow yourself a sweet treat after you’ve ticked something off your to-do list, or have an afternoon where you binge watch your favourite show after a morning spent cleaning. Really, you can reward yourself in any way that you like and it’ll motivate you to keep everything tidy and organised.

Make Schedules and Stick to Deadlines

Your time is important. It’s the one thing that nobody ever has enough of, so make sure you schedule your time effectively. A good schedule will help you balance your work and social life properly, while also reducing the stress and anxiety that comes from uncertainty. Most people can set times for special things, like important meetings or job interviews. However, many people forget to set time for more routine things! Food shopping, driving to work, and meal times can all be put on your schedule, and including these things in your schedule will help you have a better idea of the amount of free time you have every day. If you schedule these things to take place at the same time every day or week (for example, you wash your car every other Saturday, or de-clutter your house every Sunday morning), they’ll become second nature. When they become second nature, you’ll be able to carry them out much quicker and more easily. What this means is you’ll be able to make the most of your time, making it much easier for you to meet your own deadlines. Deadlines sound scary, but setting them gives you a concrete goal to work towards that’ll help you focus and apply yourself. It’s not all bad, either; when you meet your own deadline, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to treat yourself!

Get Enough Sleep

If you’re sleep-deprived you’ll find yourself in a constant struggle to stay motivated and focused. Whatever your goals are for 2019, getting a healthy amount of sleep should be your first step toward meeting them! When we’re tired, we’re more easily distracted and less motivated. As you can imagine, that’s not a good combination for being organised! When you’re well rested, you’ll feel good; and when you feel good, you’ll be much more productive! Try and go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, including on weekends. This will help you get into a regular sleep schedule, which is more beneficial for a restful sleep. The big question is, of course; how much sleep should you be getting? While experts recommend between seven and nine hours a night, everyone is different, so you may need slightly more or less sleep than this. Listen to your body and try to do whatever feels most natural. If you’re finding it hard to sleep, check out our top tips for getting a better night’s sleep!