How to Organize and Control My Life

Daily life can get so hectic, with young children, finances, high-stress jobs and relationship, friend and family drama. One way to gain control over a chaotic life is by organizing and structuring yourself, from your desk at work to your home. Strong organization can help lead to a life that is more satisfying, rewarding and relaxing.

Things You'll Need

• Binder
• Paper
• Pen
• Whiteboard
• Note cards

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Make lists. Put together short, concise and legible lists of the most important tasks that you need to do every day. Try to limit your list to about three or four tasks, such as getting the laundry done, planning a menu for a weekend gathering and scheduling a doctor's appointment. This will allow you to concentrate on the tasks at hand, instead of worrying about absolutely everything that is on your plate.

• 2

  Allow "no" to enter your vocabulary. Many people are afraid to say no, because they are afraid of letting others down or of coming across as lazy or weak. Do not overschedule yourself. If you do not have time to baby-sit your friend's child on Saturday, politely decline. If you are unable to fill in for a co-worker at your job, make it clear. Minimize your schedule in order to minimize stress.

• 3

  Get rid of clutter. Purge things you don't need, and do some spring cleaning no matter what the season is. If you have no plans to use something, or haven't used or worn it in six months or more, throw it in the garbage immediately. This goes for the basement, attic, all of the closets in the house and the kitchen cabinets.

• 4

  Take care of your health. If you personally aren't in order, then nothing else in your life will be. Allot yourself time for important things, such as eating nutritious meals, getting sufficient sleep every night (approximately eight hours) and getting routine exercise. It is also vital to put together some personal time in which no one can interrupt you. Some activities that are ideal for personal time include curling up and reading a good book, getting a massage, taking a walk alone, getting a pedicure or simply sitting and enjoying the silence.

• 5

  Keep your home life and work separated. If you have a busy, high-pressure job, try to turn your cell phone off at night or on the weekends. This can help you to reduce stress and give you time to collect your thoughts when you are away from your job. If you are trying to hold the fort down at home and are bombarded by thoughts of work obligations, you will likely feel out of control and overwhelmed.

• 6

  Introduce organizational tools into your life. To simplify and control your life, use easy tricks to remember what you have to do, such as writing on a whiteboard, color coding your daily task lists, separating necessary papers into a binder (with labeled sections such as "utility bills" and "important receipts") and bringing along note cards to help you remember important details and facts.