How to Stay Organised

While working from home, you would think it would be easier to stay organised. But that isn’t always the case. It’s easy to get distracted, forgetful and sometimes like lazy. So here are some tips on how to stay organised.

How to stay organised

Write a To-Do List

An obvious one, but it’s a goodie all the same. Whether you’re working or living it up at the weekend, write a to-do list. It’s the basic things you always forget to do: spray the kitchen counters, check your bills, put on a dark load, get some milk etc. The big things like going shopping, meeting friends or travelling are easier to remember but still satisfying to tick off at the end of the day. Also, to-do lists can be pretty fun to create! Just look at my old bullet journal for ideas.

Prepare the night before

If you know that the following day you’re going to be travelling or leaving the house, get everything ready the night before and leave it by the door. Pack your bag with your purse, phone, charger, tissues, masks, hand sanitiser, and whatever extras your need. That way, the following day you don’t have to rush as when you rush you tend to forget things.

Have a Morning or Night Routine

On work days in particular I find it super helpful to have a morning routine. It can be as basic as you like, but it also covers the basics. For me, it involves making the bed, brushing my teeth, doing my hair and make-up, making a cup of coffee and checking my emails. Simple as that. But it means that I’m not tempted to get back into bed, I’m clean and look presentable and I’m in work mode. 

In the evening, it’s good to have a routine that involves putting down your electrical a good hour before you go to sleep. That’s the time to have a shower or do a skincare routine, turn off all the lights and unnecessary plugs, read a book or make a cup of herbal tea or some juice before bed. It’s all about winding down.

Create an Archive in your emails

We all get emails that include spam, newsletters you’ve forgotten to unsubscribe to, sales alerts, delivery notifications and more. For me, I have created an archive – my version of a fuck-it-bucket – in order to siphon off the rubbish to the emails that actually matter. I created a rule that means all of the emails I receive from certain companies or email addresses go into this archive and then once a week – usually a Friday – I go through it and see if there is anything I actually care about in it.

It’s also a great way to unsubscribe from newsletters and company marketing that I’m no longer interested in as well, but without sitting at a desk for nigh on three hours scrolling through endless emails.

Focus on one thing at a time

I am a heavy multi-tasker, even though I’ve been told that multi-tasking is not a thing. It is. But, even I have begun to realise I need to start taking things one thing at a time – in particular when it comes to working.

When you have an influx of emails from different co-workers also asking for something it’s so easy to go from doing one job to another without a second thought, and then you end up juggling all of them at once. Focus on one task at a time, and as soon as that is done then get on to the next.

Explain to your colleagues that you’re in the middle of something and you’ll get to them as soon as you can – give a deadline if you’re confident – no one can blame you for doing your job.

Clean up at the end of each day

It’s very easy for clutter to grow throughout the day, without us ever knowing how. But don’t just ignore it. If the dishes are sitting in the sink, wash them at the end of the day. If there is clutter on your coffee table move it to the correct place rather than just ignore it. People like to leave their clutter to be cleaned up on the weekend – but who really wants to spend their weekends cleaning? Do it little by little and you’ll have a clearer head and a clearer space for longer.

Those are my top tips for staying organised. Simple and easy, but nevertheless effective. What tips would you suggest? Let me know in the comments below.

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