It’s a new decade, and with that comes new beginnings. It’s time to admit that we all need some help organising, to make our hectic lives that little bit easier. Here is the ultimate guide to getting organised for the new year.
Declutter
A good clear up and declutter after the festive season will freshen up your space and help you get organised. If you have a desk space either in your home or in an office, it is important to clean it weekly. When sitting in the same space for a long period of time, it is vital that the area is clean and tidy, as essentially, this will make you more productive. If you are looking to declutter your entire living space, get three bags and label them’ keep’, ‘donate’ and ‘rubbish’. This will ensure that belongings are organised effectively. Keep the items you use regularly and throw away/donate the things you don’t. If you have lots of things to keep but you have no space to house them, it may be worth investing in some self-storage to reduce further clutter. Find out how to make the most of your storage unit.
Ditch the paper
In your office, tackle the stack of paper you have looming in the corner. Create two piles, ‘to do’ and ‘bin/shred’, so that you can clearly see what needs to be done. Put the papers that you don’t need in the recycling bin, and then allocate a day or two to go through all of your other paperwork. You can even digitally file your work, keeping it safe on your desktop. In future, consider using a notes application on your computer or even a sticky notes tool, to prevent you cluttering your desktop with unnecessary paper.
Update your calendar
Your calendar is what keeps you up to date of what needs to be done. It is also a great way to hold information externally. Be precise about dates and times whilst keeping a note of what needs to be done in the future. You can include birthdays and holidays, to ensure that you are on top of card/ present giving – you will only complicate things if you keep them in your head! After a day has gone by, look back at your calendar and tick off/ delete items that have been completed, so that they no longer clog up your mind space.
Batch cook your meals
The less time you spend cooking, the more time you have to spend organising other things. It is a great idea to batch cook your meals for the week ahead. If you work during the week, perhaps cook your meals on a Sunday so that you can plan for the upcoming week. You can keep microwavable boxes in the freezer and then simply pull them out and heat it up for your dinner. Some meals that work well for this include chilli, curries and pastas, all of which work great as leftovers.
Follow a routine
It is important to have a plan of what you need to get done each day. Make a checklist of things that you need to do throughout each day, following a specific order to help get you into a routine. Sticking to this plan every day will help you organise your day and make further plans more effectively.
Is keeping a tidier home on your list for 2020? Find out how to declutter and make space in your home.