01/21/2019
New Year, New You! Or perhaps just new habits. If you found yourself stressed and unorganized through 2018, now is the time to fix it! With just three steps, you can have a brighter 2019.
1. Take Small Steps
It's natural to get excited about a new goal and become a little “overzealous” in your organizing efforts. But if you try to go from zero to sixty all at once, you're just going to run out of gas. You'll be more successful in the long run if you start out making small changes, maintain those for a while, then move on to the next level.
2. Develop a Daily Habit
One of the worst mistakes people make when trying to get organized is treating it like a big “project.” They set aside a weekend or two in January to file and toss and re-arrange, and are very proud of themselves once they've finished. Then they return to their old habits and are shocked when (about a month later) the office is a wreck and the paper has taken over again! The difference between a “project” and a “goal” is maintenance – while you may be able to complete a project and walk away from it, you have to put time in every day to keep moving forward on a goal.
3. If You Fall Off the Wagon
Just set aside a day or two to regroup – go systematically through the piles, create a list of to-do's in order of urgency, and tackle each task one step at a time. I promise that, with a little persistence, you'll regain your sense of control and be back on top of things in no time!