8 Habits of Highly Organized People

Do you want to be more organized and productive? Highly organized people have a set of habits that allow them to get a lot done, and with lower stress than those who struggle to accomplish their daily goals.

Here are eight habits you can adopt to become more organized.

Plan The Day in Advance

Either the evening before, or in the morning, organized people plan what they’ll accomplish that day. This can even be the first thing you do when you get to work. This will help keep you organized and productive.

Keep a To-Do List

A to-do list is the centerpiece of any good organization strategy, and it’s an ideal way to plan your day in advance.

Keeping a list of what you need to get done serves a couple of important purposes. It frees you up to think about what you’re doing at the moment, rather than obsessing about everything you want to accomplish during the day. It also ensures that you won’t forget any of your daily tasks.

You can keep your to-do list in an app, such as a notes app native to your smartphone or a third-party app like Evernote. Or, you can use a small notebook. Moleskine notebooks are especially useful for this.

Prioritize Tasks

Some things on your to-do list will be more urgent than others. Highly organized people move these to the top of their lists or underline them, and get them done first.

If you can get everything on your list done in a day, that’s great! However, that’s not always possible. If you have to put some things off until the next day, do so with lower priority tasks.

Remain Flexible

Surprises and even emergencies come up sometimes, and organized people know how to be flexible. Suppose you’re working on a task, but your manager then contacts you and tells you there’s a higher-priority job that needs to be done. You should be able to set your current task aside and take care of the urgent task first.

Eat Healthful Food and Don’t Overeat

We all enjoy indulgent snacks now and then, like chips, candy, and so on. However, don’t let junk food with its empty calories be the center of your diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, get your protein and healthy fats and carbohydrates, and don’t stuff yourself. You’ll have more energy, feel better overall, and be more productive.

Keep Your Desk and Work Space Uncluttered

Whether working in a cubicle or from home, highly organized people keep their workspaces neat. This means dealing with clutter every day. Handle your paperwork, put supplies and books away after you use them, and keep your desk and office well organized. This will lead to fewer distractions and less stress.

Handle Correspondence Daily

Organized people check their mail, email, or Slack daily and respond when appropriate. This may be right away, or as soon as they have enough information to answer a question, or as soon as they’re able to pay a bill. If they can’t respond immediately, they put the task on their to-do list.

Do Something You Love

While it feels great to stay productive, even the most organized people take some personal time every day. So, during your breaks or in the evening read a book, watch your favorite shows, partake in a hobby, or spend time with loved ones. Not only will this lower your stress, but it will also remind you of what’s most important to you.

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