How to Stay Organized When the Going Gets Tough

Your normally an organized person with plans and schedules but sometimes life happens. Things occur that weren’t expected and suddenly your well planned life seems to crumble around you into chaos. There are things you can do to prevent that from happening. Ironically, it does mean that you need to have been organized enough to plan ahead for these eventualities!

So what can you do when things aren’t going as planned so that you can stay in control and on top of everything?

Be Prepared

This really is the key to everything. By planning ahead you will know what to do when you’re snowed under with work and the kids have after school activities every day.

Get as much ready as you can for the next day before you go to bed. That includes clothes, work and school bags, your to do list and, if possible, breakfast and lunch.

Plan for the week ahead on a Sunday so that you know what the schedule is and have a meal plan in place.

Plan Your Meals

Meal planning may sound boring but it will save you time, stress and money. By planning meals ahead and doing as much prep work as possible in advance you’ll be less likely to head for the take out menu.

Keep a selection of pre-prepared meals in your freezer. Freezer cooking doesn’t have to be a chore as there are plenty of make it ahead dishes that can be frozen ready to cook in a slow cooker.

Turn off Technology

If you’ve got an insurmountable list of things to do then don’t allow yourself to be distracted by the television, internet, FaceBook, email or any other messaging service.

Once you’ve completed everything that needs to be done then you can go back to chatting with friends via Skype or watching your favorite tv show.

Prioritize

Don’t run yourself ragged trying to be a superhero and getting it all done. Instead take a look at your to do list and prioritize each item. Cross off or move to another day anything that isn’t essential. Check off anything that you’ve already completed. Delegate whatever tasks you can. Only do the things that need to be done and you’ll find you’ll feel more in control.

Remember: if it’s not important then ignore it.

De-Clutter

Clutter is easy to create. Don’t let it become a problem. Instead take a few minutes each day to put things away and throw away junk. Put the dishes into the dishwasher immediately instead of leaving them on the counter. Deal with the mail immediately instead of leaving it piling up on the side.

Get Up Early

While getting up early may seem pointless it can provide a really focused way to start your day. Especially if you create a miracle morning routine that includes power habits such as exercise, meditation or visualizations, planning and a healthy breakfast.

By getting up earlier you can start your day feeling both energized and organized by completing any essential tasks to make sure that you and your family are ready for the day ahead.

Take Care of You

Providing that you take care of your mental, physical and emotional health by exercising regularly, eating healthily and practising meditation or mindfulness you will feel more able to cope when things don’t go to plan or life spirals out of control. Don’t forget to get enough sleep.

No matter how organized and well planned you are, there will be times when life gets busy and you start to worry that you won’t get everything done. Following these tips will help you to stay organized and in control.