1. Plan Your Day the Night Before
Planning your day the night before will help you stay focused on important tasks and keep you on track. Something as simple as setting out your clothes the night before will cut down the amount of time you spend on your morning routine and start your day out on the right foot. I, personally, make a to-do list every night for the following day with every little thing the next day will entail. This helps to structure my day and to make sure nothing gets left undone or forgotten.
2. Declutter Your Space
Nothing is less motivating than a messy house or workspace. Get organized by throwing out or donating unwanted items and putting away things that you want to keep. Spruce up your space with a candle or a colorful plant. Having a positive and organized space will help you to get more done and feel more relaxed.
3. Give Anything and Everything a Home
Now that you have decluttered your space and gotten rid of unnecessary items, it’s time to give anything and everything a home. We’ve all been there: you are ready to cross an annoying task off your list but can’t find any of the paperwork or items you need to complete it. This only furthers your annoyance and makes you put the task off even longer. I find that having a home for everything, from important documents to something as small as batteries, helps me navigate tasks quickly and get them out of the way. Organizing tools such as filing systems and drawer spacers are great ways to get started.
4. Start Saving
If you haven’t already, start saving money. Even if you’re not sure what exactly it is your saving for, I promise you that there will come a time when you will thank yourself for having a savings account. For some of us, this may seem like an impossible task with smaller incomes or student loans, but even setting aside a dollar a day or even less will add up over time. You are never too young to start saving: the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.
5. Set Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Goals
When setting goals for ourselves, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Setting smaller goals to help you achieve the larger ones will help you get to the big picture faster. Breaking down your goals will help you design your to-do lists and make you feel more accomplished while working toward them.
6. Stick to a Routine
The amount of structure you maintain will directly impact how organized your life will be. If you never know when to do things, it can become very easy to procrastinate. Now, I’m not saying you have to plan every single detail of your life, but having certain times of the day set aside for your most important tasks will keep you focused. Starting and ending your day the same way is a great way to get a routine started; then, you can start to work in specific times for specific tasks.