Productive people aren’t simply more organized or efficient than others.
There are things they do consistently that others don’t do, or don’t do regularly. Now before you get upset or defensive remember I said what others don’t do regularly. I’m sure as you read the list you will find there are one or two you do all the time, a few you never do and the rest you do sometimes, and sometimes not.
Let’s take a look at this list.
1. Organized people do not rely on their brain to store information. Holding onto ideas, to dos, data and more in your brain is stressful, takes a lot of energy and you are likely to forget things and lose track of others.
Organized people have a system they use and they can trust. It may be a notebook or a technology tool, but it provides a way for them to keep track of what they need. If you want to have your system always available you’ll need to carry your notebook or find an electronic tool that allows you to have access to what you need, when you need it.
2. Things are labeled. They don’t have to open a closet and wonder what the bag is that’s in there without a label. Or the item in items in the freezer.
We have more remotes that I know what to do with. The universal remote we had needed changed every time we got a new electronic. Yet we could never seem to figure out what remote went to what. And we were terrible about throwing out remotes when the TV or whatever was replaced.
I purchased a label maker and they are all labeled.
The same goes with my tablecloths that are different sizes depending on whether I have 1, 2 or no boards in the table. I have a multi section box in my office that has labels for my fitbit, iphone charger, headset and more. It’s rare for me to pick up a charger or cable and have no idea what it’s for.
3. Organized people organized by their experience of what works for them, not something someone else suggested. If it makes sense to alphabetize things you should, but don’t do it because you are told to.
My books are organized by topics…leadership, communication, spirituality etc. and my cookbooks by baking, vegetables and so on. Files on my computer are organized by something that makes sense to me so I can easily locate them.
Organize your workspace, house, computer, garage…whatever you need to so it fits what works for you and how you would be able to find them.
4. They put things back when they are done. How often do you look for a piece of paper or a tool or something else and you can’t find it?
I’m betting that more often than not it’s because you used it and simply laid it down somewhere, instead of filing it or putting away. I’m pretty organized but this is one I admit I don’t do as often as I should. It wastes time, causes frustration and even occasionally we can’t find it at all.
5. If one is good, two is better belief. How often have you run out of toner, file folders or an office supply you needed and had to stop and go find it or purchase it?
Or supplies at home such as food staples, personal care products etc.
My family thinks I’m nuts as I have a closet in my basement full of extra food items. If I need flour or sugar (as I did over the weekend to bake) I always have an extra bag in the basement.
And when I take the extra out, it goes on my grocery list right then. The same goes for toothpaste, toilet paper and a multitude of other items.
Before I do any project I run through a mental list of what I need, check to see if I have it and if not go to the store beforehand so when I’m ready to begin I don’t have to stop mid way to run to the store.
Another example is I have a cloud backup of my computer that runs continually. But each week I attach an external hard drive and back up files, and alternate with a different one every other week. If for some reason my cloud backup fails, I have another one. Should I need easy access to a file I can grab it off the external drive.
6. Organized people have a mental list of what they need to take care of in their lives (and the lives of others). This includes them looking at all parts of their life and considering what needs to be handled and taken care of.
They are on top of doctor’s appointments, exercise schedules, supplies for their household and office, relationships etc. etc.
Think about all the parts of your life that need attending and list them. Then begin by considering what needs to be done to take care of each of those parts of your life and begin handling.
7. They buy what’s important to them, plan what they keep and purge regularly. I’m not suggesting they are minimalist. What I’m saying is they buy things that are of value to them, bring them joy and/or are utilitarian.
They also routinely go through those things and as “do I still need to keep this”. The answer may be yes, but it’s a thoughtful response not something they don’t pay attention to.
8. Organized people have a just in case belief. This is a bit like having extra items on hand but it goes beyond that.
When they travel they pack an extra charger for their cell phone. They make copies of their passport or credit cards in case they lose them and need a quick replacement.
When planning an event, project or anything else they don’t wait till the last minute, just in case. Just in case there is an illness, pandemic, weather challenges or anything else that can interfere with the end result.
They think several steps ahead and have I plans.
9. Everything has a place. Not only does everything have a place where it’s organized, things get put away so they aren’t working in a state of chaos.
Recently I reorganized my sewing room. I realized when working there because it wasn’t organized well, and everything didn’t have a place. I was constantly moving items to work on something, and having to move them to someplace that wasn’t convenient. I replaced the storage I had with more efficient storage and added shelves.
Now when I am working there it feels peaceful, instead of chaotic.
Everything doesn’t always go back to it’s holding place immediately but it does once I have completed part of the project.
Look around your office and living space and see if everything has a place, and I don’t mean the hall table where everything gets piled until it falls over.
Being organized is more than making to do lists.
Take a look at the 9 items I listed and evaluate yourself. Which are you doing? Where could you improve? What would make your life easier?
Working more does not make you more productive. In fact, just the opposite is true.
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