My life is crazy and it’s not going to get any easier. I have 2 kids, a husband, a full-time job, two small businesses and a blog to run. I’ve considered cutting something out but my kids, I kind of love them both and my husband is pretty awesome so, I just can’t seem to cut anything loose right now. The best I can do it try to streamline and get organized.
I’m also a Pinterest addict, who isn’t…am I right?! So, here is my quick and easy 5 steps to getting organized in 2016. Subscribe below for a printable for a blog planner and the launch of my new newsletter!
1. Find A Favorite Calendar Or Organizer
Last year, I received the Kate Spade organizer for Christmas last year and I loved it! I carried it everywhere and it actually made it with me until September and then all hell broke loose and I dropped off the organization bandwagon…I was so close! The part that helped was that I really liked the organizer, it was a great size to throw in my purse and that made it easy to keep with me. Go search the organizer aisle at Target or Office Depot. Make sure it has what you need. Splurge on the “pretty one”, you’ll be more inclined to want to pick it up often if you really love it.
2. Try An Organization App
I have 2 kids, I write this blog and I have 2 Direct Sales Companies that I’m running…oh, yea and a full-time job and a husband. I’m not always home, I’m in the office or at appointments. Sometimes I need things to ping my phone and remind me. I’ve used the Asana app for work and it’s actually really great. You can use it to remind yourself of follow-up items, create a task list, project and even collaborate with others. For example, say I have to plan a birthday and I need my husband on board to help. I can plan it out as a project, make him sign up and assign him “To-Do” items and it will send him reminders.
Running a direct sales business means I have a lot of things that I need to keep on top of there as well. So, this year I’m looking into 2 apps that can help me get organized and keep me on track. I read about Pocket Parties and myConsultant on the Beths Bagz and More blog and I can’t wait to take them for a test drive.
3. Pick A Day To Get Everything Organized
Schedule your day/time to organize, make it a priority. I’m putting this in writing for my own accountability. I spend my work time keeping everything organized and in line but my personal time is never scheduled. Our personal time is just as important. Whether you run a household of schlepping kids around or a thriving business, everyone needs some “office” hours to keep everything in line. Put it on the calendar and it’s less likely that it will be pushed to the wayside.
4. Declutter Your Main Work Area
Clear away the distraction. Give yourself a sanctuary to work in. Decorate it in your style, make it “you”. When you have a space that is your calm-in-the-storm it gives you a place to go get centered.
5. Schedule Monthly Check-Ins
Again, if it’s on the calendar it’s probably important. If it’s important, you’re less likely to skip it. Schedule monthly check-ins to see how you are doing. Is your calendar still up to date? Are you giving yourself realistic time frames to complete tasks? It’s important to set yourself up for success and checking in and getting a sense of how things are going is the best way to do this!
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Love #1 and #5 will def be adding to my mix ! Thanks ! Laci
I too dropped off the agenda bus towards the end of the year but definitely getting back on for 2016! It was so much easier to get things done Shen I had everything planned out!
Your suggestions are spot on. I particularly liked your mention of the Direct Sales apps. I'll be checking those out right away. I also need to look into Asana. Great tips!
My best tip is schedule your organizing time on your calendar. 15-30 minutes doesn't work for me, I work in hourly blocks (think like a school schedule, just the way my brain works) so carving out an hour for chores and organizing is what I do.
I set up calendar reminders for my cleaning that isn't daily or weekly: like windows and curtains. It makes one less thing I have to remember.
Fabulous tips! Finding an organizer that works for you is so important, if you don't like it, you won't end up using it. I've recently fallen in love with a personalized one from personal-planner. I also like tip # 3. One of my goals for the year is to make Sundays my week prep day. Prep my planner, prep food, prep my outfits, and prep alot of my social media.
Good luck with 2016!
I am such a big fan of planners and calendars! They have saved my life so many times.
I find myself very busy with school and work and a blog so I'm excited to use some of these tips. Will be bookmarking for future days when I forget and feel like I'm drowning in work.
Happy new year!
Ana (dearanaaa.com)
I'm looking forward to us Organization App because I'm kind of mess with calendar or classic organzer. Great tips!
Great ideas! I've been decking out my new planner for the new year. It's keeping me focused and organized 🙂 ~Jenn Peters
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I'm a big fan of Asana, have used it for years both for large projects that include other people and the day-to-day stuff.
You may want to check out Wunderlist – it's a great app for staying on top of your to-do's and you can share your lists. It makes it super easy to stay organized for around-the-house stuff with your significant other. 🙂
~Liz (@lizdaponte)
I like the idea of marking it on the calendar for a monthly check it! If you remind yourself and took the time to write it down then it must be important. Lovely tip.
I am currently working on the main work area declutter. I am a paper hoarder. It's a problem.
I love the idea of monthly checkins. I need some help with planning out my year I have a long way to go but I am getting there!
Organization is my goal for 2016. I find I lose focus and don't get half of my things done. So I am using planner and really trying to keep my goals
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I so needed this post in my life. This definitely gives me a starting point to get my life in perspective .. well try to anyway!!
I definitely need help being organized. I started for the first time using a planner fully for everything!
I've just found a new planner to try out this year that I'm so excited about! It's helping to separate everything for my personal schedule, family's schedule, and business stuff. I definitely need to declutter my workspace, though!
I love these tips – so simple and to the point! I need to take a day to get organized and I'll be good to follow the rest of the tips!
Great tips. Is it weird that organizing relaxes me? Ha!
I like the idea of monthly check-ins to see how you are doing and to figure what is working and what isn't. I will be incorporating this tip in 2016.
I have an Erin Condren Life Planner which I love! This year I am going to incorporate more functional stickers. Partly to keep me motivated (cleaning schedule, ha!) and partly because I like to have it as a memory keeper as well. My kids definitely keep me on my toes, and we homeschool…so I understand a lot on your plate! I need to sit down and work out my goals for 2016!
Pinterest can be pretty addicting. Sometimes, it feels like it's a full-time job to search, Pin, and find time to do all of the things you'd like to on there. I just de-cluttered my main work area, and it really made a world of difference in my concentration and productivity.
Love this 5 step organizational process. I will definitely try it out! between school a job and the blog I tend to just work as I go, but I have come to the conclusion that in other to fully succeed, organization plays an important role!
xoxoAna
Wow that does sound full on indeed! I am completely with you on the Pinterest addiction – almost up to 15k of pins! eeek! Also I'm all about the calendar app – I actually love the google one since they've updated it and it also shows my work calendar and husbands calendar all on my phone which really helps. Good luck and wishing you a happy and healthy 2016. x