Organizational Skills for the Unorganized

You may have noticed that there are aspects of your life that are not well organized. You realized what's happened when you look at the chaos and feel defeated, but there is another way out of this.

The key to creating an organized life starts with an honest assessment and taking small steps. Do not attempt to change everything at once as you might end up creating a worse mess.

If you're serious about getting organized, then here are some tips and suggestions to follow:

1. Make Sure You Have A Place For Everything. Everyone has certain things they use or deal with almost every day. Start to make a point of creating a permanent place for these things in your house. For example, start with a hook by the door to hang car keys there every time you come in; always put your wallet back in your purse when you're done using it. When you remember to put things in the same place every time, not only are you getting organized, but you also end up saving yourself a lot of time.

2. Make Yourself A List. When you have things that have to be done, start by making a list of everything you plan to do in order to get them all finished. You'll find that by writing things down, it will help you visualize what needs to be finished. A list also helps to ensure you don't miss out anything.

* You also may choose to have two separate lists - short-term and long-term projects. Your short-term list can be things you need to accomplish each day or week, and long-term goals can be scheduled by the month or even by the end of the year.

3. Remember To Start Out Small. Rather than be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things you want to get organized, just pick the smaller pieces to start with. For example, if you want to get your house organized, start with the smallest area, such as your bathroom. Set a time-line for yourself to complete the reorganizing of your bathroom, and then once you're finished with it, move on to the other rooms.

4. Find a System That Works And Stick To It. There's a lot of different methods of organizing things that you can choose from, but the important point is to pick one and use it consistently. Be sure you understand how it works and then follow through with it.

* For example, there are a myriad of ways to get your bookshelf organized. You could put all the books together by authors, or you could also line them up according to genres. The point is, once you've decided on a system, make sure to follow it through all the way.

5. Get Rid Of All The Clutter. If you realize you're up to you eyeballs in clutter, it's time to start clearing out the junk. Perhaps it's a good tome to go through all those boxes stacked in the garage to make more room. As you wade through your collection of clutter, make an immediate decision with each item on whether or not you've seen it or used it in the last few years. If the answer is "no," then decide if you want to sell it or donate it to charity.

* Keep in mind your first thought or instinct is usually right. If your first thought is to get rid of an item, don't let yourself over think it. You might end up with something that you're not going to be using for another few more years!

6. Sort Through Your Mail. This tip is really simple, but can make a great difference. Your mail can multiply and stack up really quickly. So, from today onward, as soon as you receive your mail, sort through it. Toss the junk mail and then shred any documents you don't want/need that might have personal information on them. And by giving your attention to your bills immediately you would have freed yourself from worrying about them later.

7. Take The Leap - Go Paperless. This is the digital age, so start cutting out the paper and save yourself a few organizational headaches as well as help save the environment. You always have the option to go paperless with companies that bill you. Consider using this option to begin managing all your bill paying online.

Don't Allow Yourself to Be Overwhelmed

As you can see, there are a lot of options for you to get organized. All you need to do is to take a positive step forward every single day, even if it is a small one. Before you know it, you'll realize your life has become much more manageable, and you'll have a real feeling of satisfaction!