Written by Anonymous
It can be so easy to get caught up in the stress of managing school, work and extracurriculars that the idea of staying organized through it all can seem like another added chore.
However, staying organized is not about having the perfect system that we must dedicate hours to achieving. Instead I like to think of it more as building small consistent habits that help to reduce stress, improve productivity and keep me focused.
During my time in my undergrad I have developed a few key habits that have changed the game for how I keep organized:
1. Write everything down
Avoid keeping everything locked up in your memory. You can use any type of tracking system like your phone or pen and paper to keep note of different thoughts and tasks you need to remember. This can look like starting a to-do list for what you want to complete for the day or doing any type of note taking during key moments. By developing a system to keep thoughts and tasks written down it can allow us to stay focused and keep ourselves accountable.
2. The 2-Minute Rule
If any task takes less than 2 minutes to do, complete it ASAP. These tasks can look like cleaning the dishes, hanging up a coat or even replying to a quick email. When you end up putting these tasks off for later, the burden of completing them grows the longer they are ignored. Therefore as soon as you are presented with the opportunity to complete the 2 minute task try to complete it right away before they start piling up.
3. Assign everything a “Home”
Most of the physical clutter in our spaces is a result of not assigning them a proper home. This can be a lip balm or pair of headphones that are constantly being thrown around your room looking for the nearest clean flat surface. But once you give these items an established home, it’s bound to make its way back there through habit.
Organization is not about perfection- its about maintaining a system that works for you through consistency. By implementing simple habits like these they can allow us to feel a little less overwhelmed during busy periods. If you find that you need a few organizational fixes to your current routine, try some of these out and see what works best for you!