You may be the most organized person in the world—but this doesn’t mean that you’re excluded from having moments of chaos in your life. In this day and age, it’s the norm to be juggling a thousand things at once: family, work, love-life, friendships, hobbies, working out…oh my, it’s a lot! Add in having children or more than one job to the mix and things can get out of control fast. Because of this, it’s so important to have systems in place for staying organized. Would you agree? If you do, this post is for you! I’m sharing my staying organized tips below.
I recently got back from a vacation, and I realized I was feeling more scatterbrained that usual. While I was able to decompress and relax during my time away, the minute I got back to my everyday tasks, I felt behind on EVERYTHING and was so overwhelmed that I wasn’t feeling inspired or motivated! I knew right away I needed a system in place for moments like these. I started to think of my goals, both small and larger than life, and came up with these 6 steps to take when you’re feeling like everything that’s on your plate is a tangled mess.
1. Set goals and revisit them, often.
A lot of times when we set goals, we think our work is done there and they end up on the back-burner. The only way to make sure you are working towards your goals is to be mindful about them as often as you can. While overtime we create new goals for ourselves, going back to the original big-picture 3 or 4 that we’ve set for ourselves is an important reminder of our true priorities and interests.
2. Put It on the List
There is a power in writing things down. I don’t know exactly what it is, but putting an idea, a goal, or a to-do on paper not only makes it concrete, but it also helps to clear my head. It’s like the minute the ink is on the paper, it turns from just being a thought to becoming a task. Then, once you’ve completed your task you can cross it off your list—and honestly what could be more satisfying than that?
3. One word: Endorphins
For me, getting my blood flowing and working up a sweat first thing in the morning is the ideal way to clear my mind and start my day. The kids will even do some yoga with me if there’s time before school or on weekends. Even if I only have twenty minutes, I’ll make sure to go on a quick run or do a quick at home yoga session. Having this time for myself, instead of looking at my phone or my e-mail first thing, helps me to clearly picture the day ahead and remind myself of what I would like to accomplish. I think it’s good to teach kids too.
4. Never be Afraid to Ask for Help
Asking for help has a bad rap, which is so weird because it’s one of the most important things you can do! Often, people love to lend a helping hand. Take a broad look at all your tasks and goals, and find the areas where a little extra help would be beneficial. If dressing yourself in the morning is becoming a huge time-suck and source of anxiety, hire a stylist (of course, I’m biased!). If you love writing but feel like you don’t have the bandwidth to give it the time and focus it deserves, get some writing support. It’s amazing how even the smallest bit of delegating can make a difference in your stress levels and workload.
5. Hire a Nanny, Babysitter, or Consider Daycare
The best way to look for one is asking friends (even posting on Facebook asking for recommendations) because when you have a referral it’s easier to trust someone. Otherwise, they are agencies that specialize in that, or sites like Sittercity’s chime service. This site was recommend by Rainbow Partridge, founder of super powerful group, Mama Tribe Chicago. The sitters are reference and background checked and all are interviewed by chime. I personally work with an International agency that has majority Russian-speaking nannies which is super important to our family. My agent is Marina 847-529-2944.
6. In Favor of Multitasking
Multitasking is another thing that has a bad reputation. And yes, I can agree that sometimes multitasking is not the way to go. It can lead to sloppy work and missed details. BUT there is a way to multitask the right way. For example, I get a TON of my writing done at the hair salon. Getting my hair done requires zero brainpower (thankfully there is someone else doing the work there!), so instead of just spending the time flipping through a magazine or scrolling through my phone, I use it to be productive and get work done. Proofreading your work while on the elliptical, or taking a phone call while getting a pedicure are other instances where multitasking is the way to go.
Do you have any systems in place for staying organized that work for you? I would love to hear your ideas.
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I respect that you admit to help….weather it be help yourself or asking for help. I was always jealous of your perfection but you made me realize how normal you are.
Thank you Nancy, I appreciate this comment so much! I can’t imagine myself growing without help. And I can’t imagine being such a great mom, wife and business owner without my nanny 🙂 xo