Get Organized

Are you dealing with clutter in your space? Have you told yourself recently that you need to throw away things in your home/office? Did you find yourself spending an enormous amount of time last year trying to remember where you placed things?

This is the year to get organized. You owe it to yourself to go through this year having better mental and physical energy. When you get organized, you will increase your productivity and your peace of mind.

This is a lesson I started to consciously live in 2017. Recently, I was reviewing one of my professional development books where I was reminded again of this lesson. In theory, it's good to do. In reality, it can be hard to do. However, if you follow these three tips, you will find the strength to get organized in 2020:

1. Throw away as much as you can: It isn't necessary to hold onto information you can get from someone else (e.g. co-worker, colleague, family member) or somewhere else (e.g. archives, Internet, shared drives). Consult those places, if and when, you need the information. For things you haven't worn or used in three plus years, you can donate them to family, friends or charity.

2. Keep what you use often within easy reach: It's important to not waste time looking for things, such as, your phone, that report, file, stapler, Post-it® Notes, pen, or computer. If you use it regularly, it should be where you can get to it easily.

3. Use a calendar system to track your major priorities and responsibilities: I'm sure you're like me. You find there are times in your day, week, month, and year where you have many things to do but only so much brain power to remember to do it. This tip will help you to remember the most important priorities and responsibilities you want to get accomplished. Use a wall calendar, desk calendar, yearly planner, The Happy Journal, Outlook, or your mobile device. Whatever you decide to use, make sure it works for your style. Making it visible increases your chances of getting it done.

What are your thoughts? Have you used any of these tips consistently? What type of results did you achieve?

This is a brand new year and we all want more from it. Therefore, let's make a plan to get organized!