Systematic and Organized: 8 Tips for an Orderly World
Photo by BLW Photography
Staying organized is easier said than done. It is harder than many would assume. Getting organized once is easy, but staying organized requires a lot of dedication and self discipline on your part. It is because you need to keep on repeating the actions that made you organized day after day after day. Doing it once or twice is not enough. You may have to start all over again.
That’s no big deal because if you prefer to live in a chaotic manner, you will find that picking up things you need takes as much time as you would take if you stack them systematically everyday. And there are additional benefits too. What you need to do is really simple. And it becomes fun and a habit once you choose to be systematic. But for those who want something new in life, this system seems to be boring. What they need to realize is that these repetitive actions are necessary for an orderly life that is not chaotic.
Staying organized made simple with these 8 wonder tricks
Find out actions that lead to your remaining disorganized and try to rectify these problem behaviors
Some of the common behaviors that are problematic in this regard are laziness, dilly dallying attitude, and leaving things to be done for later.
Point out exact places for organizing things
You work and school schedules are structured in the sense that they begin and end at specific times. You get little time in between. What you can do is to find a time slot before and after. You can take some time before you leave for work to do a little bit by your daily chores such as doing crockery in the dishwasher. You will find yourself in a cheerful mood when you come back as the dishes are all clean and stacked properly in their place. Similarly you can certainly find some time in the evening when you return from work and utilize it to checking your mail and responding to any voice mails that you may have received in the course of the day.
People who are leading a retired life lack this systematic work schedule but it is rather more important for them to stay organized. They can utilize the whale of time that they have at their disposal to stay organized. Once they start maintaining a routine, they will find a new purpose in life.
Include the most important organizing activities into your work schedule
Everyone has a routine and he knows the tasks he needs to perform in that time slot. You get up, have tea, shave and bath, dress up, eat breakfast and cleanup dishes, and check on your mails before you leave for your work. Similarly, while returning from work, you have a routine that includes purchasing things for the grocery, checking on mails, preparing dinner, helping kids with their school work, having dinner, watching TV, washing dishes etc. before you go to bed. In between all the daily chores you can include some tasks that pertain to organizing things around you. In due course of time you will find that they have become part of your daily routine and not something that you consciously choose to do.
Give a pat on your back when you change behavior
I will let you a secret that will be most helpful. Repeating a task twice or 4-5 days in a row does not make it your habit. It takes 21 continuous days of repetition to make an act into a habit. When we try to inculcate a new habit, it gets resisted by ourselves. But if you are determined and continue it for 21 days, it becomes a part of your routine and you do it on your own. It is easier said than done, and you may find it difficult to do something continuously for 21 days. You may face several breaks and repeated attempts to continue for 21 days, but when you finally manage it, you can celebrate as if you have done something special and give yourself a small treat in whatever fashion you like.
Give yourself several chances, but if you fail, take help from professionals
Well, you pay to get your car started, don’t you? To accept that you failed in your efforts to organize is difficult and hurts, but that’s the way it is. You have to accept that professionals and experts know it better than you and they invariably do a better job as they hold you accountable for a job not done. They set goals for you which you have to achieve to learn to stay organized.
Pay others to do jobs that you can’t do and can’t find time to do
If you find yourself doing it clumsily or not doing at all despite repeated attempts, paying others to do the job for you is not a bad idea. They do it better, and on time, making you goal of staying organized achievable, and in style.
Involve family members in staying organized
Having a systematic and organized place that is in order is good for everyone in the family. Invite your wife and kids to share the work load and assign duties to every member which will make it easier for you. Let the kids understand in the beginning of their lives, that they are responsible for their actions, and that staying organized is a job that has to be shared. It is fun for them as they learn it quickly and you will be amazed how systematic things become if you involve family in your efforts to become organized. Praise your kids for their efforts and occasionally reward them for their efforts. In due curse of time, it will become a habit for them which in itself be a reward.
Do not be too harsh on yourself, and accept frailties
Women folk think that they are responsible for keeping the house clean and systematic and develop a guilt feeling even when they work outside and also have to look around the kids and also have to do all the cooking. With kids under the age, accept that the house will never be as systematic as you want it to be. If however, you get help from others in the family in keeping thing orderly, you can heave a sigh of relief and will not feel stretched to limits.
Priorities change with age and changing times. While raising kids, all the attention is diverted to their well being and when they grow up and leave, you feel less pressure on yourself. Once you get retired, you find that you have a lot of time to get organized lead an orderly life. But you miss out on the work schedule and become a little lethargic as you have no deadlines to meet. Fight the urge to drop your routine and engage in activities that will take up your time.
When you lead an orderly life, you always have a clear vision of how to move forward and achieve your goals. Investment of just a few minutes per day is not bad, if you are getting peace of mind in return.
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