How to be More Organized-Do’s & Dont’s

Organization and being organized is something that I always struggled with. I’m the kinda gal who’s really organized on paper but in real life (hello #planneraddict), my desk is mess and things are ALL over the place. I can tell you everything you need to know about planning 101 and how to use a planner and get everything done. But when it comes to keeping my vanity clean for ONE day- it’s a disaster. Like honestly when you’re beating your face, how tf are you supposed to put everything back as you use it. Am I right or am I right? 

I finally came to the conclusion that I just need to put certain things into practice in order for me to actually be more organized in life – not just in my mind or my planner. 

P.S. are you following me on instagram & twitter? You totally should anddddd snapchat (itsroxyjames)- just because I put my cute snapcode in the sidebar of my blog. 

Like I did in my Tips for Living a Better Life, I wanted to do it in the format of do’s and don’t because not only is that easier to remember, but it becomes more of an affirmation that you can hold yourself too. 

Of course, since I was making this for myself, I had to share it with you in case it can help you in some way or the other. Here are my fave tips on how to be more organized. 

For the DO’s list: 

1. A planner is so necessary because it provides a place where you can write down every single thing that you need to do. It’s like a home for your mind where you can clear your thoughts and visually see everything that you want to get done. Right now I’m using this planner and this one for my personal life & my blog/channel. 

2. Decluttering weekly (or even daily) is something that I desperately need to start doing. I feel like taking 20 minutes at least, to sort through paperwork, my emails, heaven knows my desk- then I can start the next week more productively. 

3. Having a place for everything is of course, something that will ultimately help you to keep your area clean. For instance, I love using these acrylic makeup draws on my vanity, because it helps me to keep everything organized according to categories like foundations, skin care, liquid lipsticks, concealers and all that makeupish things. Ikea is famous for their storage, but you can also find a ton of things on Amazon– which y’all probably know by now is my fave place to shop ever!! 

4. Having your mind organized leads to a more productive day/week and obv life. There’s nothing worse than waking up and feeling that strangling sense of panic because you’re late for a super important appointment, or you forgot you have a school assignment deadline. The best way to avoid disastrous moments like this is to plan and prepare for the next day. Pack your bags, check your planner and make sure you have everything you need to kick ass the next day. 

5. If you’re not into that whole paper planning shebang, there’s no excuse because you can still go digital. Practically every smart phone as a Reminders app that’s very functional & easy to use. TBH I love using it when I’m on the go and need to write things down super quickly. It’s a great way to clear you head and check things off when you’re finished. 

Now for the dont’s: 

1. OMG I am sooo guilty when it comes to hoarding. It’s like I can’t control myself and trust me when I say, the minute I throw away something, I need it the next day. Is it only me or no??? But recently I’ve begun to not be so attached to things because after all, they are just things. I’ve also learnt that by clearing out/getting rid of things you really don’t need, something new & even better will always come around, and there’s really no need to be fixated by collecting and hoarding so much.

2. A few years ago, I would buy so much unnecessary things, just for the sake of having it. It was a totally unhealthy habit and I worked very hard to curb it. I actually now have started saving & just spending on things I really need. I barely buy anything anymore except for food and occasional things for my blog/channel. By re-evaluating what you buy and focusing on what you need rather than just wants 

3. I won’t lie, at one point in time, I would always convince myself (foolishly ofc) that I didn’t have to write anything down and that I’ll remember it. Well, it’s good to say that I am no longer as daft because as we all know- and I’m sure- have experienced the phenomenon where we obviously never remembered what we had to do. Whether you use an app or paper to plan, be sure to write down everything that comes up. You’ll be so much more efficient this way and you can clearly see what you’ve completed and what’s left to be done still. 

4. There’s nothing as time wasting as procrastinating. Activities such as scrolling through social media mindlessly, staring into blank space, and doing everything else other that what you’re supposed to be doing, is never a good thing. If you have things to do, write them down and tackle them head on. 

5. The worst thing you can do is let things pile up. Leaving things to flow over into the next day can make life so much more complicated- especially since you never know what can come up! If you have the time to finish a task, use it wisely because after, who knows? You can find yourself with free time to move onto something more exciting, start a new project, find a hobby or just have some alone time. 

What tips do you use to stay organized? Share share share pleaseeee. 

Questions? Ask here. 

xo