I often find myself wishing there was an extra day in the week where I could catch up on all the little tasks on my to-do list that I’ve let fall behind. Becoming more organised with your everyday tasks can greatly improve your lifestyle, due to stress reduction. Many people complain about never having enough time to get anything done, or always leaving things to the last minute. Yet, I’ll bet almost all of those people have found some time in their day to scroll on Instagram or catch up on their favourite TV series on Netflix. Sound like you? Keep reading for four effective tips on how to become more organised, use your time wisely, and eliminate stress.
1. Make a schedule/ routine (and stick to it!)
A common mistake that people make when creating a schedule is making one that doesn’t line up with their personalities. It’s easy enough to tell everyone you’re going to start waking up at 5 am instead of your usual 11:30, but the chances of you sticking to this are very low. Try starting small to let your body adjust to new routines, but at the same time, make a routine that is realistic to how you operate. It’s all about finding that balance between pushing yourself and following your intuition of what works for you.
Once you have a schedule figured out, you’ll realise that there is plenty of time in the day. If you have set times allocated to certain tasks and activities, they are more likely to be completed on time! Write to-do lists, draw up calendars, cover your house in sticky notes, set reminders on your phone, whatever works for you.
2. Reduce Clutter
Another huge way to become more organised is to reduce the amount of clutter in your space. This could mean your office space, home, or car. Set aside some time each week to reset and tidy up. A clutter-free desk will allow for fewer distractions when you’re trying to work, and it also means that you are more likely to locate things quickly if needed.
3. One step at a time
It can be easy to get overwhelmed if you’re trying to manage multiple tasks at once. Remember to slow down and breathe. It’s better to complete one task fully, using all of your efforts and brainpower, rather than completing a bunch of tasks halfway through. Once you’ve come up with your to-do list or schedule, begin tackling one task at a time. Don’t move on to a new one no matter how boring your first task is. Better yet, I’ve found it helpful to arrange my to-do list from most interesting to least interesting. Getting all of the boring tasks out of the way first, while you have the most energy, frees up time for you to do things that you enjoy more: like a reward.
4. Get Over Procrastination
Putting things off until tomorrow or next week is a vicious cycle. Procrastination can often lead you to unnecessary stress closer to the deadline that could have easily been avoided by planning things out and chipping away at tasks early on. It can also lead to rushing through tasks and not completing them to the best of your ability. A great way to combat procrastination is to force yourself to work on the task for at least 20 minutes straight. This will involve self-discipline, but you’ll find that once you get yourself into a rhythm it will be easier to push through and smash out the entire task then and there. This will free up time closer to the deadline and ensure you are staying organised. Easier said than done, I know.