There’s a lot going on in my household. School has started, my business and my husbands business have been picking up, I’ve received more freelance writing opportunities, my classes start on Sept. 7, and I’ve opened a new bank account.

With all of these major things going on, I’ve been doing a lot of research on how to keep everything in my life organized, to keep it from exploding in my face one day.

So I’ve come up with 10 habits that I hope to adopt within the next month to make our lives run a little bit more smoothly.

1. Create a home for everything. Everything needs a place to live when it’s not being used. It’s impossible to use every single item you own at the very same time, so where are you going to store things in the mean time? Piled up on the kitchen counter is not an option. Store frequently used items out of the way, but in easily accessible locations so it takes only a matter of seconds to find what you need.

2. Put things back in their homes. This is extremely important for living an organized lifestyle. To maintain organization you must put things back where they belong each and every time. Whether it’s done immediately or some time during the day, the point is that it gets done. Thrive on the joy and satisfaction of walking into a clutter-free room, knowing everything is in its place.

3. Schedule time to declutter. There are certain areas in a home that unintentionally tend to function as dumping zones (i.e. coat closets, kitchen drawers, guest bedrooms, garages). It’s important to regularly make time in your busy schedule to sort through and organize such hot spots before they get completely out of hand. Having a favorite charity in mind for donating unwanted items to is helpful. It’s easier to let go of things when you know they’re going to a good home.

4. Shop with caution. Beware of bargains! Just because something is on sale, doesn’t automatically mean you must have it or that it’s of good quality. Practice great impulse control when shopping. Before buying ask yourself, “do I really need this?”, “will I actually wear this?” and “if I bring this home do I have a place to store it?”. If the answer is ‘no’ to any of these questions, it’s best to walk away and leave it at the store. You will be glad you did later.

5. Make Lists. We have so much to do and remember each day, making lists is an effective strategy in making sure it all gets done and nothing gets forgotten. Did you run out of coffee or eggs? Write it down on your grocery shopping list. Do you need to mail a birthday card, take out the trash cans, or pay a bill? Write it on your ‘To Do’ list for the day. The best part about making lists is that you get to cross it off when you’re done. Immediate gratification!

6. Create files, not piles. Just like everything else, papers need a home too. Think vertically rather than horizontally. Create files for your important papers and what you may need to refer to later. It’s so much easier to open a filing cabinet drawer and find the appropriate file than to frantically search through piles of papers while saying to yourself, “It’s got to be here somewhere.”

7. Plan well. At the start of each new week plan out everything you’d like to accomplish in that week. Use a time management device such as a paper or electronic planner for scheduling appointments and activities. Planning ahead keeps things running smoothly and helps you to stay on top of your ‘To Dos’.

8. Give yourself buffer time. To avoid being late for appointments, always leave a few minutes early. If unexpected things come up such as, traffic, or you have trouble finding the place, or you need to stop and get gas, you’ll still be able to arrive on time.

9. Make your bed every morning. A simple task, but yet so effective. A made bed has a dramatic impact on the look and feel of a room. In addition, if your bed is made you’re more likely to feel pulled together and ready to take on your day.

10. Ask for help when you need it. It’s okay if you can’t do it all on your own, all of the time. Accept the fact that asking for help is not a weakness, but considered a strength. Don’t be afraid to delegate house chores to family members and outsource large home or business projects to qualified individual

How do you keep organized? What tips do you implement on your day to day basis?

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