9 Habits of Ridiculously Organized People (Most of Us Can Do #5)

9 Habits of Ridiculously Organized People (Most of Us Can Do #5)

What do organized people do differently from the rest of us?

I’m not the world’s most organized person, but I have studied organized people. No, I’m not a stalker, but I’ve found myself adopting habits from people I’ve met along the way, who seem to make work seem effortless. Why reinvent the wheel, when someone else beat your to it?!

Here’s just a sampling of some of the habits of highly organized people I’ve discovered. These may seem simple, but some I have been more successful at emulating others–that first one is a doozy for me.

Habits of Highly Organized People

  1. Get Started Early – While not all highly organized people are early risers, they all get started with their day right away. There is no wasting time checking the phone from bed. Get up and get ready for the day.
  2. Make a List–and Stick to It – One of the most effective organizational habits is to make a list. I regularly make daily lists, weekly lists, and longer-term lists. It is important to write things down, so you can stay on top of it all, but also, crossing items off builds such a sense of accomplishment.
  3. Set Priorities – By the same token, making lists help organized people set priorities. Setting and following through on priorities is key. It allows you to accomplish tasks in a streamlined and systematic way, which keeps you from wasting time by completing things out of order, or ahead of more crucial items.
  4. Implement Routines – Highly organized people are creatures of habit. While you may want (and need) to retain some spontaneity in your day, it can be helpful to follow a basic routine. Checking email first thing in the morning and after lunch, catching up on phone calls in the late afternoon, etc.
  5. Everything in Its Place – Clutter is kryptonite to organized people, and they learn to keep their physical and virtual spaces clutter-free. File papers and email away as soon as possible.
  6. Necessary Tools Should Be Handy – It’s also crucial to keep everyday tools at hand, so time isn’t wasted hunting for things you need.
  7. Practice Upkeep – Organized people maintain their stuff to avoid slowdowns, or worse, getting off task completely. Organized people are just as likely to get their cars tuned up regularly as they are to run regular malware and virus scanners on their computers.
  8. Clean Up As You Go – Whether you are working on a graphic design job on your computer or making a meal in the kitchen, clean up as you go. It keeps your mind from getting distracted by unnecessary things and just makes everything more pleasant.
  9. Get in the Zone – Highly organized people understand the need to compartmentalize. When you have set your priorities, get to work and get into the “zone”. You will be amazed how more you will be able to get accomplished.

Related on EcoSalon

6 Organization Tips for Repurposing Your Clutter

How to Declutter Your Desk and Increase Productivity

10 Ways to Get Organized and Remember Those Important Tasks

Image: Woman Working via Shutterstock

Jen Wallace

Jen Wallace shares her indie life by writing about making, creating, cooking, learning, playing, decorating, and pretty much anything else that strikes her fancy from indie biz tips to the modern history of the American hemline.