5 Organization Techniques To Help You Be More Productive

Be More Productive Using These Organization Techniques

I am an organizer by nature; everything has to have a place. My heart goes pitter-patter over a well put together spreadsheet and a clean desk.  I have labels on just about everything you could imagine (and some you probably can’t). I used to consider my innate need to organize everything a curse, but it has turned into a blessing now that I am running my own business. I’m here today to share a few organization techniques with you so you can revel in your perfectly organized space and make room for more productivity.

#1 – Everything has a Place

Many years ago I had lost a book I needed for nursing school, and it was nowhere to be found. My friend told me “It’s in the last place you left it!” That really wasn’t the most helpful advice I’d ever received, but it did make me laugh. I have since learned that everything needs its own place. When I walk in the door, my keys and purse always go in the exact same spot. They then are indeed in the last place I left them, and I always know exactly where that is. The same goes for the important things I use each day. Each one of my bullet journals has a specific shelf it belongs on so I can quickly grab it when I need it. The pens I use throughout my day are within arms reach in cute little jars on my desk. Knowing where everything is at means I don’t have to waste time looking for it; I can just get to work.

#2 – Label It

Labels are one of my favorite ways to bring organization to any space. I should have bought stock in them! I have labels in my pantry on my glass jars filled with flour and sugar. There are tabs in all the journals that I use (we won’t go into how many that is). You can find some ideas here on how you can use tabs in your bullet journal. I have a document desk tray, and the shelves are labeled, so I always know what goes where. I even label everything in my digital workspace. Each client has a folder, so I know where to find the important documents I need at a moments notice. If you really want to make labeling quick and easy, you can always use a label maker. Labels seriously take your organization to the next level.

#3 – Use Your Space Efficiently

Take some time to think about what you use and how often you use it. From there you can arrange your desk, kitchen, and even your bathroom so that what you grab most often is also what is easiest to access. I have an L-shaped desk with 2 top drawers, and I keep all the items I grab at least daily, in those drawers. I happen to use a lot of pens each day in my bullet journal, so I keep them in containers right on my desk. If you’re short on space, you can always use a shelf for these things as well. Check out this post for more ideas on space-saving ways to organize your workspace.

#4 – Clean Up at the End of the Day

This is the one thing that is still a work in progress for me. Some days I just head to bed without putting the things in my workspace away. This ties back to the first tip – if you’ve put it away you know exactly where it’s at the next time you need it. It also helps you start your day off productively. When you can just jump in and start doing one of the tasks on your list you gain momentum for your day right from the beginning. Once everything has a place it really is a breeze to clean up quickly. I can do it without much thought about what goes where.

#5 – Add it to Your Bullet Journal

This may seem like a no-brainer, but really, put it in your journal! I can’t begin to tell you how much of an impact journaling has had on my life and my business. Here I thought I couldn’t get more organized, but man was I wrong. I add everything to my journal either in my trackers or my monthly and weekly spreads. This helps me stay on top of being a homeschooling, business-owning mom to 3 amazing boys. There is no way I could keep up with all the details in my life if it were not in my journal. I set aside some time each Saturday to plan the week ahead. I also review it each night to make sure I know what’s happening the next day. When I know what to expect I can tackle the tasks at hand with a lot more proficiency.

Take Control of Your Space

Shifting the balance from chaos to organization will do wonders for your productivity. Take a few minutes today to look around you. Evaluate what you can do differently with your workspace or even your kitchen and let me know! What did you change and how has it impacted your life?

Looking for more tips to help with the rest of your home? Check out this article on Redfin, which features Little Coffee Fox creator Shelby Abrahamsen: Create a Clean and Organized Home with These 35 Tips.