Why an Organized Routine is Essential for Success and tips on how to get there
Being organized is not an inherent trait and can be learned and developed over time. Organized people have higher efficiency and less stress as they have set routines and organized systems to deal with day-to-day tasks at home and professionally.
Being organized is about more than just becoming the next Marie Kondo. Even though I love her work and organizing strategies, you can implement systems that work best for you.
In the book Atomic Habits James Clear talks about Oswald Nucklos, an IT developer from Natchez, Mississippi, who is lazy and wants to organize his room, starts implementing cleaning habits by priming his environment. He called his strategy “resetting the room.” He organized himself simply by cleaning up after his last activity instead of leaving it to be done later. For example, whenever he finished watching television, he placed the remote back on the television stand, arranged the pillows on the couch, and folded the comforter. When he finished cooking, he threw away the trash immediately. When he showered, he wiped down the toilet while the water was warming up. He explained that the purpose of resetting each room was not to clean up afterward but to prepare for the following action.
Nucklos further explained that doing this helped him stay organized. People thought that he worked really hard, in reality, he is a very lazy person, who chooses to be proactively lazy.
You can be one of the laziest or busiest people, but if you wish to develop a habit that eventually makes your life more efficient and manageable, you can do that. Let’s start with some of the simplest and easiest tips to a more organized and efficient routine.
Habits / Schedule
One of the easiest ways to get organized is to develop habits and build a routine. This gives you a structure, and once you are in a routine, you repeat these habits almost regularly as an automated routine driving towards a targeted/ successful outcome. A lack of structure can have you spending your day unplanned, which will lead to a lot of waste of time.
Habits should be developed based on the outcome you are looking to achieve, and the schedule should be planned based on priority and feasibility. For example, if you are looking to improve your physical fitness, getting into the habit of starting a fitness routine would be a great idea. If you already have a busy routine, scheduling physical activity first thing in the morning will help you stay consistent.
Good Habits & Schedule | Bad Habits & Schedule |
10:00 pm bedtime / 8 hours of sleep | 12:00 pm bedtime / 6 hours of sleep |
Reading 1 hour every night before bedtime | Watching 3 hours of TV every night |
Meal prep every Sunday | Eating takeaways during the week |
Plan Ahead
A little planning goes a long way. Of Course, there are times when you may have to be flexible in your schedule, but if you are planning in advance, it makes things more accessible, and you don’t have to rush. Use an app, journal, or your Android/ IOS calendar on your phone to plan ahead by scheduling the events, meetings, and chores you expect in the weeks and months ahead.
This includes recurring events such as work meetings/ events, bill payments, doctor appointments, birthdays, personal chores such as laundry, meal prep, fitness routine, and anything that requires you to reserve a certain number of hours on your schedule. In isolation, they might seem small, but they do add up.
Dedicate half an hour on your weekend to plan and check your schedule for the week ahead. This keeps your memory fresh and up to date with what your week will be like.
Be Consistent, not an Overachiever
Instead of trying to be ideal, choose to be consistent. Small actions done consistently over a period of time add up to unimaginable results. There are no shortcuts in life. If you are starting a new habit, you will be very motivated initially, but if you are overdoing it, you will likely burn out quickly. New habits take time to root; consistency should be one of the top priorities in the initial stages of a new routine.
For example, instead of planning to go to the gym 5 days a week, try setting a routine for 3 days a week and being consistent with it. Instead of cutting off social media altogether, restrict yourself to 5 hours per week. Change the never eating out narrative with eating out once per week.
The idea here is to build good habits and consistently do them more often. When you force a routine on yourself entirely out of proportion, you set yourself up for failure.
Embrace Your Inherent Tendencies
Not everyone has to be in the 5:00 am club; some work better in the 7:00 am club. Personal motivation and inherent tendencies are vital in forming habits and getting organized. When copying someone else’s idea of being organized, you leave out what works best for you. Inspirations are always good but must resonate and align with your natural tendencies.
If you are an insomniac, waking up at 5:00 am may not be optimal for you, and therefore, you should set a routine that aligns more with your needs and tendencies.
Working with natural tendencies is much easier than working against them. If you are someone who doesn’t like ironing, try buying iron-resistant clothes. If reading books is not your thing, try listening to podcasts or watching documentaries. If you don’t like doing the dishes and that’s stopping you from cooking, look for one-pot recipes that create less mess in the kitchen.
Look for the path of least resistance that saves you time and gets you the exact outcome you seek.
Declutter Your Life
Organizing your routine can feel overwhelming if you have a thousand things on your list. Declutter your mind and your to-do list using the prioritizing method. Always look for opportunities to cut down on the excessive stuff physically, digitally, and mentally.
Plan regular wardrobe decluttering sessions, and tidy up your house and workspace. Give out the old clothes and household things that are not in use. This is very important as our physical environment is vital to how we feel mentally. And always remember that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, so it’s an act of generosity.
Frequently tidy up your calendar/taskmaster. Delete the recurring events that are not applicable anymore to create space on your schedule.
Write down your thoughts as it helps with clearing the mind. Make notes of important things so you don’t have to keep reminding yourself of them and reduce the mental baggage. Take time to meditate or practice mindfulness to create mental space.
If you are a HerMeNow participant or alumni, book your free coaching session now through the HerMeNow website https://www.hermenow.com/wellness.
Anam Anjum
Wellness Consultant
+971 52 629 9656