A question people often ask, and think is: how do I get my life organized? There are many key tips to get organized, and they aren’t hard to do, but for some reason are difficult to follow through with. These are things you know how to do, and you know you should do, but many people struggle with every day. If you continue with these tips, your life may feel less stressful, cluttered and hectic. 

When I interviewed my mom, 54-year-old Donna Reigle, who is very organized, she said, “I stay organized by writing everything out for the upcoming week that I need to get done or places I need to go.” When you google “how to get organized”, many articles will start by telling you to get a planner or start to write things down so that you don’t feel overwhelmed in trying to remember everything you need to do and it helps to have the days of the week planned out. It is very calming to know that you have all your plans set and you’re not going to forget about anything you need to do. This is also very effective for people because it gives you a purpose for your day so you don’t lay in bed thinking of everything you could have done but didn’t. It is good to lay down knowing you had a productive day and that you will have a productive day tomorrow.

Something that a lot of people my age really struggle with is having a mess and clutter. Whether you’re speaking about your house, your room, or even your car, when these places are dirty, it actually has been shown to stress one out more. My friend Teagan who is 17 always has a tidy bedroom and a clean car, and she said, “Whenever I get changed, I immediately put my clothes in the hamper. When I get out of my car, I bring everything inside with me to avoid a mess coming.” These are such simple ways to keep your spaces clean, but so many people struggle with this. Tomorrow morning when you get ready for your day, put your pajamas in the hamper when you get changed. Try making your bed; it can bring a sense of relief seeing your room look so clean, and it is a great way to wake up and feel a sense of accomplishment. 

The last tip is something that just makes me feel a little more organized.  It is something as simple as planning my outfit for the next day before I go to bed at night. This helps me feel organized because it is just one less thing for me to do in the morning, and it stops unneeded stress that could potentially put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. I think this is so simple but really very helpful because sometimes I wake up late or just don’t like anything I try to wear, and it really can put a bad vibe out for the rest of the day. This also prevents me from going out in my pajamas or throwing on sweatpants and feeling like a slob. These are just a few very simple ways to help make your life feel a little bit more organized and hopefully just help you feel a little more put together every day.