5 Secrets to Getting Organized

Ready to get organized? For a lot of people, getting organized is surprisingly tricky; if someone jumps headfirst into becoming an organized person with no plan, they’ll probably find themselves overwhelmed, and they’ll stay as they are: a disorganized person who dreams of being organized but just can’t make it happen. It’s a vicious cycle.

Thankfully, with the right strategies (and a little good time management), anyone can get organized, feel less stress, and keep track of their to-do list with minimal hassle (and their future selves will thank them for it).

Here are five ways busy professionals can build good habits that promote an organized life.

1. Get motivated about staying organized

Attitude is everything. If someone says they can’t get organized, there’s a good chance they won’t; and it makes sense. The self-talk a person focuses on is self-fulfilling. If a person believes they won’t get the stuff on their desk cleared and they’ll never tackle their to-dos, they’ll probably always find themselves feeling overwhelmed.

That’s why it’s essential to get motivated. Getting organized means building a life that lets them manage their schedule easily. Regaining time and desk space can lead to more free time, a streamlined daily routine, and plenty of other benefits.

2. Set goals and break it down into smaller tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed

Smart professionals start small: they make a list of all the things they want to organize. Maybe they want to declutter their garage, neaten up their office, or better manage their time during the work week. Then, after they’ve made that list, they choose one item from it. That becomes their major goal.

Then they plan ahead by breaking that major goal into smaller tasks to tackle. Those tasks become mini-goals that are a little easier to achieve. Then the tasks can be handled one at a time, making it easier to stay organized. Plus, ticking a mini-goal off the to-do list is satisfying.

Here’s an example of how someone might set mini-goals to organize their bathroom:

Major goal: Organize the bathroom.

Mini-goal 1: Organize the medicine cabinet.

Mini-goal 2: Organize the cabinet under the sink.

Mini-goal 3: Weed out the magazine holder.

Mini-goal 4: Set up separate toiletry storage areas for each member of the family.

Mini-goal 5: Clean up the linen closet.

3. Establish deadlines for tackling the to-do list

Everyone’s busy. And if a professional says they’ll get to their organization goals when they have the time, they’ll probably never get it done. A big part of moving a project forward is making time for it, and for many, that means setting deadlines.

It’s smart to set deadlines for major goals and mini goals alike. Those deadlines don’t have to be hard and fast (unlike work deadlines or tax deadlines), but they should be fixed enough to help a person stay focused.

Going back to the bathroom example, here’s a sample deadline schedule the soon-to-be organizer could set for themselves:

Deadline for mini-goal 1: March 04

Deadline for mini-goal 2: March 11

Deadline for mini-goal 3: March 18

Deadline for mini-goal 4: March 25

Deadline for mini-goal 5: March 31

4. Designate rewards

In order to really get motivated, many pros find it helpful to designate a reward for each mini-goal they achieve by the deadline they’ve set for themselves. The goal has to be something really enticing, that will only be available when the goal is reached (not before).

Each person will have a good idea of what rewards will be most enticing for them, but here’s a good rule of thumb: the final reward should be something really motivating. A few rewards for meeting mini-goals can give a little dopamine boost (especially mid-project when motivation’s running thin), but the “big” reward should be something really desirable.

Here are a few sample rewards for the bathroom organization project:

Reward for mini-goal 1: Take a 15-minute nap in the backyard hammock.

Reward for mini-goal 2: Designate tomorrow as a “Chore Free” Day.

Reward for mini-goal 3: Listen to a favorite album or watch a loved movie all the way through.

Reward for mini-goal 4: Buy a large coffee instead of a small one or a favorite specialty drink.

Reward for mini-goal 5: Buy a luxe towel warmer to add to the newly-organized space.

Many people find it helpful to post their goals, deadlines, and pending rewards in a prominent place, where they’re sure to see them every day.

Apply effective organizational systems

Whether someone’s taming the busy work that’s piled up on their desk or they’re tackling a high-impact project at home, once they’ve got this action plan in place, it’s time to get started. Most people find that getting organized (whether that’s in one room or across their entire life) helps them save time (and sometimes money), feel less stressed, and more, so it’s worth the effort to make it happen.

To anyone tackling an organizational goal this week: good luck!

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. For specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.