Life is hectic, but it can be tamed. Being more organized is one way to get your life under control. Most of us would love to have a housekeeper and personal assistant, but it’s not always economically practical. The next best thing is to take the reins and get it done yourself.

Try these ideas to organize your life and find greater control and enjoyment:

1. End your day by making a list. Avoid going to bed without knowing what you want to do the following day. There’s nothing worse for keeping a handle on your life than waking up without a clue about how to get started.
   • Set aside 10 minutes each evening to plan out the next day. Make a short list of the most important items that need to be accomplished the following day.
2. Begin your day with that list of important tasks. Once you’ve climbed out of bed and pulled yourself together, look over your list and get started. As much as possible, avoid doing anything that isn’t on that list. Keep at it until the items on the list have been completed.
3. Pay bills once each week. Choose a day and time to sit down with your bills and pay them. You’ll never have to pay late fees again, and you’ll stay much more organized. Make a habit of it.
4. Throw away junk mail immediately. When you bring your mail into the house, head straight for the garbage can. Throw away anything you don’t want. Put your bills and anything else you want to keep in the appropriate place.
   • Misplaced mail and bills can create a lot of challenges. Manage your mail.
5. Spend the last 15 minutes of the day cleaning your office. Avoid having to start your day in a cluttered space. Spend a few minutes and the end of the day getting organized and decluttered. You’ll feel better when it’s time to work again.
   • You’ll find that this habit extends to other rooms in your life, like the kitchen and living room.
6. Look ahead for potential challenges. Much of the chaos in life comes from unplanned obstacles. Look ahead for the things that might go wrong and have a plan for dealing with them. You’ll scramble around less, and the chaos in your life will be reduced.
7. Clean your car while getting gas. It’s boring to just stand there while you’re waiting for your gas tank to fill. See how much you can accomplish during that time. Clean out the trash in your car. Clean your windshield. Your car will be less messy and more enjoyable to drive
8. Use a wall calendar and make your family use it. Put up a big wall calendar that everyone in the family can see and use. It’s a lot easier to stay organized this way. At a glance, you can see everyone’s activities for the month. When something needs to be added, the responsible party can add it. Easy.
9. Delegate. You delegate at work, so you can delegate at home. You can delegate at home even if you can’t delegate at work. Give each person in the household a responsibility or two. Ensure that they’re following through. You’ll have a little more free time, too.

Being more organized can have several positive effects on our lives, including:

1. Reduced stress: When we are disorganized, we may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed. By organizing our lives, we can reduce the stress that comes with having cluttered spaces or an overloaded schedule.
2. Improved productivity: When we are organized, we can better prioritize our tasks and focus on what is important. This can help us be more productive and accomplish our goals more efficiently.
3. Better time management: Being organized helps us manage our time better by scheduling and prioritizing our activities. We can avoid wasting time on unnecessary tasks or distractions.
4. Increased efficiency: When we are organized, we can streamline our processes and workflows, which can increase efficiency and save time and effort.
5. Improved mental clarity: Being organized can help us clear our minds and reduce mental clutter, allowing us to think more clearly and make better decisions.
6. Improved relationships: Being organized can help us be more reliable, punctual, and efficient, which can lead to better relationships with others.

Overall, being more organized can lead to a more fulfilling and enriching life, where we can focus on what matters most to us and achieve our goals with greater ease and satisfaction. What matters most to you?