by Kay Jamison, NAPO Member

“You’re so organized.” Ever wonder how some people seem so calm and organized while others are running out of breath while keeping up with all of the to-do’s, kid’s needs, chores and errands at hand? You may be thinking that organized people don’t have as heavy of a workload or have fewer kids or not as demanding of a job. The truth is, we all have a ton of responsibilities and face similar challenges each day.

Simply put, organized people think differently.

Organized people think in more linear terms and they break down tasks in a series of steps. This allows them to methodically and routinely finish even large tasks quickly and seemingly effortlessly.

They tend not to let things wait until the last minute and allow more time than they think something will take. They plan ahead for big things and small things. Whether it is a home remodeling project, a vacation or something as easy as making a grocery list. They make lists and keep a detailed timeline to keep them moving ahead on schedule.

The good news is that we are all capable of being the “organized one.” Here are the top ten things organized people do that keep them looking cool and collected.

1. They keep objects in the same room in which they are used.
2. They assign everything a “home” and store like objects together. This is a huge time saver because it literally eliminates the need to search for things.
3. They reduce clutter by not owning multiples of the same thing. Think about whether you really need 5 spatulas!
4. They make lists so they have less to remember. Even their mind is uncluttered. They keep common lists, such as a vacation packing list, babysitter list, pet sitting list, Christmas card list, etc.
5. They make routines. They do the same things at the same time and build that time into their day.
6. They plan ahead. They plan meals and a shopping list for the entire week, rather than stressing out every night before dinner time. Consider doing laundry one time a week, rather than daily so that your laundry room is clear of clutter for the rest of the week.
7. They purge items regularly. This makes the decluttering process less time consuming and not nearly as daunting as doing it once a year.
8. They communicate a game plan for family chores and set expectations for what needs to be done. The divide and conquer approach gives them more quality family time.
9. They are always looking for ways to save time and steps. If they are going upstairs, they take along something from downstairs at the same time.
10. They set aside time for themselves each day to avoid getting burned out. Set aside at least 15-30 minutes of “me time” every day.

If this list seems daunting, try to adopt at least one of these practices in the next week and see what a difference it makes. Then try another one. Soon, you will find you have a lot more time in your day and people will begin asking you how you stay so organized!

Kay Jamison is a Professional Organizer and owner of So Organized Solutions, LLC, in Cary, NC. After a successful career as a sales and marketing consultant and 12 years actively leading volunteer organizations at her kids’ school, Kay decided to dive into her lifelong passion of organizing.  “I started my organizing business because I love working with people to implement creative solutions that work for them. I know I have done my job well when I can transfer organizational skills that give my clients more time to relax and enjoy every space in their home.”