How to Organize your Life.
At some point in our lives, we start to believe we're lazy and can never attain or reach our goals. We notice it in mundane things. So I did what I thought was essential: purchase notepads, planners, and stationery items to remind myself that I should jot down my future plans. All of the to-dos so I could organize my life better.
That didn't really help.
With the technological progression and the rise of the app-store era, I started experimenting with tools and gadgets that could help make my life a little more orderly. I used the Reminder app on my phone to remind me of calls and follow-ups and create plans.
That wasn't sustainable either.
As I started reading books about self-help and ways to organize your life, I understood that the way forward is not focusing on the tools but on how I managed my life. And we'd like to share with you some tested methods for organizing your life.
Focus on building systems, not goals
At the beginning of the year, we usually have a moment of epiphany when we think of our future goals, But halfway through the year, we get disappointed in ourselves. That is when you start doubting your abilities and confidence in achieving anything.
The issue is not with our goals but with the systems we place to help us achieve them.
For example, your goal is to learn piano. For starters, you can start small each day, practice for 15 minutes, and compound your practice time to 30 minutes by the end of the month. In that way, you have created a sustainable, achievable system where you started small, and it became doable by the end of the month.
Start with planning
Planning can be underestimated, or people tend to think planning for your day won't help. However, planning can truly set the tone for your day. You can decide on planning a night before or a week ahead.
Sometimes it is good to plan your day and add the little things such as deep work blockers - to keep that in your calendar and free you from other meetings or chores.
Understand your Preference
We sometimes tend to want to do things or stick to a habit just because everyone is doing it. But sometimes, listening to your intuition, mind, and body is more rewarding.
We think we can wake up daily at 5AM until we realize that it might not be the thing for us. We sometimes think we can eat a plant-based diet until our cravings for rich, moist meat heightens. Understanding your natural preference can help you organize your life in a way that truly works for you, not because it is trendy.
Consistency over Perfection
Sometimes we strive to do things so well; at a certain point, we give up because we think the outcome is far from perfect. So we abandon it. Instead of aiming to have everything "perfect" in your life, try to do things consistently so you can continue improving over time.
For example, I wish to be an avid reader by the end of the year. I can start by reading 5 pages for 30 minutes daily, or maybe even less. If I keep reading for 365 days, I can achieve that goal and perhaps read more throughout the year.
Prioritization
"You can do anything, but not everything" – David Allen
We can be overambitious in our life. We want to do multiple things simultaneously because we see ourselves as superheroes. But the reality is that we can't have everything we want. Therefore, prioritizing what is crucial to you can help you focus your time, effort, and sometimes money.
We sometimes wish we could learn a new language, learn how to skydive, and travel to 120 countries within a year. Given the limited resources, we need to prioritize what is important to us. There are many ways to do it:
What is easy to do vs. What is more valuable
What is a money burner vs. what would require the least amount of resource
It is essential to prioritize the most important thing to you to organize your life in the most rewarding way.
All the notepads and planners in the world can help you keep your thoughts fresh and accessible. However, one thing we know for sure is that it won't help organize your life for you. I would like to hear from you; what do you personally do to organize your life?