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10 Things to Do Daily to Be More Organized

an organized home office

The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

Organization doesn't come naturally to everyone, but that doesn't mean you can't become more organized. Forming good habits and establishing a solid daily routine are two key practices for getting your life and possessions in order. Little by little, as you continue to practice these changes, your life will start to feel more organized.

Here are 10 tricks for getting organized that you can start doing today.

  • 01 of 10

    Keep Essentials in One Place

    keys on a console table

    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

    Leave your keys, wallet, cellphone, headphones, and other such accessories you carry daily in the same place every single time you walk through the door. Have a spot in your entryway for these items, so you are never running around late, wondering where your keys and phone are hiding.

    Tip

    Buy or repurpose something decorative to hold your "smalls" (e.g., keys and phone). Items such as an entrance table or wall-mounted key organizer are great for storage.

  • 02 of 10

    Create a To-Do List

    a to-do list on a bulletin board

    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

    Make a new to-do list every day based on the previous day's list and anything that came up since the last list was created. Even if you're not a big list maker and only jot down the big projects, look at it every day and cross off what you've completed (or what you've deemed no longer relevant). Not only will this help keep you on top of your tasks, but it will also make you feel productive when you cross off that item after it's been completed.

    Tip

    Make your to-do list at either the beginning or end of the day. Mid-day is too late for the current day and often too early to have a real sense of the following day.

  • 03 of 10

    Go Paperless

    woman using a cell phone

    Bonnin Studio / Stocksy

    Minimize paper clutter by getting bills and statements delivered to your inbox. You likely pay them online, so there's no reason not to get the bill online, too. Do a regular quick scan of your checking and savings accounts. Keeping an eye on your financial accounts allows you to see what you spent the previous day, so spending doesn't get out of control. Plus, looking at your savings puts you in the right frame of mind each morning to continue saving.

  • 04 of 10

    Carry a Notepad

    a notebook in a totebag

    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

    A pocket-size notebook is essential to an organized life. Use this to write down items for your shopping list, errands, to-dos, and random thoughts, and carry it with you everywhere you go. It is endlessly portable, is user-friendly, and never needs recharging. You never know when you'll need to quickly jot something down, such as upcoming events or shopping lists.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below
  • 05 of 10

    Declutter Your Wallet

    a man decluttering his wallet

    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

    Organizing your wallet is one of the quickest and easiest organizing projects to instill as a daily habit. Tackle this one whenever you have some downtime—like sitting on a train or in front of the TV on a weeknight.

    Declutter your wallet by first filing away any receipts you need to hang onto and then shredding and recycling the rest. Then, go through your cadre of rewards cards, making sure the ones you use the most are front and center. Don't forget to remove any loose change and store it in a jar or other designated container in your home. There's no need to carry around the extra weight.

  • 06 of 10

    Make a Meal Plan

    groceries on a countertop

    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

    Check with your meal plan either every single day or every few days to make sure you're still on track. Daily is best because then it becomes a habit, and you can update it as necessary while you also look at your calendar.

    Daily meal planning to-dos include checking out any meals you know you'll need to make and adding the items to your shopping list. Then, cross items off your list you've already purchased. Finally, schedule time to grocery shop and cook.

  • 07 of 10

    Lay Out Clothing

    the next day's clothing hanging on a rack

    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

    Laying things out beforehand makes you feel more orderly and efficient. There is no time that is more critical than in the morning when you're rushing to get yourself (and possibly others) ready for school or work.

    That's why we recommend laying your clothing out the night before. It saves you time in the morning from staring into your closet wondering what you should wear. Once you get into the habit of prepping things before you need them, you'll never go back. 

  • 08 of 10

    Create a Launchpad

    an organized entryway

    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija 

    Much like laying out your clothes, prepping your foyer or launchpad area is going to make you feel good about getting out the door quickly the next morning.

    How you prep your launchpad will depend on your life and schedule. Maybe you need to lay out the ingredients for breakfast and lunch. Or you need to repack and refresh gym bags, work bags, and school bags. Check the weather report and locate umbrellas if necessary. The more you can do in the quiet evening hours, the less hectic your morning will be on the way to work and school.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below
  • 09 of 10

    Follow a Routine

    woman writing down in an agenda

    Trinette Reed / Stocksy

    Have a plan of what you need to get done and when you're going to check those action items off your to-do list. Sticking to a routine helps to automate tasks that need to get done —whether you dread them or not—because doing something every single day will make your brain happy and help to create good habits.

    Try this out by making a general plan for your day, and stick to it for a week.

  • 10 of 10

    Do the Dishes

    woman washing dishes

    Leah Flores / Stocksy

    Many people will tell you to make your bed every morning to start your day off right. And you should—this can help set a positive tone for the day.

    There's another way for you to feel more organized and less cluttered: Do the dishes. If you cook most weeknights, make sure the dishes are done every night before you go to bed.