Out of time before you're out of tasks? Here's how to regain control

By Rachel Allen

December 23, 2004 | At the end of the day, do you feel like you could use just a few more hours before you go to sleep? Do you have trouble remembering the many things that need to get done throughout the week? Are you constantly looking for your misplaced wallet, cell phone or keys? You might just have an organization problem.

Organization is something that many people strive for. Being an organized individual tends to make you more productive, accessible and relaxed. As a student, juggling 12 or more credits along with a job and maybe even children, the thought of being organized is often viewed as simply a nice idea.

There are varying degrees of organization. An individual is not simply organized or disorganized they are usually somewhere in between. Some people are naturally organized while others have to work at it every day. Here are a few tips to getting your life organized.

Make lists. Whenever I got overwhelmed as a child, my mother would tell me to make a list of all the things I had to do. She told me that this would help me take one step at a time and not get stressed. I hated when she made me do this. I thought that making a list just gave me one more thing to do, turns out, she was right. Lists make it possible for you to temporarily forget about the other things you have to do and focus on the task at hand.

"If I don't write it down, it doesn't get done," said Keri Allred, a new mother and student at Utah State University. "That way it is on my mind and I don't have to take time during the day to think of what else needs to be done." This will give you more time to yourself and your personal goals. There is one catch though. As Donna Dunn says in her article Being Thrifty - Getting Organized, "I have gradually come to realize that for me to be truly organized, I actually need to do something with all these lists, since no matter how many lists I make, the organization part never seems to come to fruition."

Get up earlier. As Benjamin Franklin said, "early to bed, early to rise, makes men healthy, wealthy and wise." While this may not encourage the most exciting lifestyle, if your ultimate goal is success and organization, it is a good motto to live by. When we wake up late, our minds become frazzled and disorganized, we do the bare minimum required in order to get to work or school on time. This leaves no time to make sure that the house is in order, that we have everything we need for the day and that we put things back where they belong. Waking up early lets us take time to eat breakfast, make our list and get to work or school with time to spare. The morning is a good time to get work done, people will not be interrupting you with other monotonous tasks and so you can focus on organization.

De-clutter. Clutter can be a major hindrance to the organization of a lifestyle. Some individuals have had such problems with their clutter that support groups have been formed to help them battle their clutter. There are many stores and companies devoted to helping people organize their stuff. If there is a item that you are thinking of giving or throwing away, but are having trouble doing it, this quiz from unclutter.com can help you.

Don't procrastinate. Nothing can butcher your effort to be organized more than procrastination. Apply your new organizing skills to your schooling and career. Be prepared. Plan in advance. If you put tasks off, they will come back to haunt you.

Becoming an organized person is difficult, but rewarding. Patrick W. Cochrane, author of The Kitchen Table Millionaire believes that it is possible to organize your life in one week. Given his four day plan, Cochrane says, "It shouldn't be more than a few weeks before this powerful new habit becomes a permanent part of your new life. Don't forget to reward yourself!"

If you feel you have a larger problem than you are prepared to handle, you can talk to a professional, or join one of the many support groups that are offered: Clutterers Anonymous, Clutterless Recovery Groups, Inc, Messies Anonymous, or the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization .

NW
MS