10 Fail-Proof Ways to Organise and Simplify Your Life

I remember a time in my life when I felt utterly overwhelmed by it all.

Work. Family. Friends. Side-hustle. Health. Fitness. Finances. Career. Life…

I was always late for meetings and appointments. I could never seem to find something when I needed it. I was always out of tampons at the most inconvenient of times. I even managed to forget one of my best friend’s birthdays (who politely reminded me when we sat down to breakfast AFTER a run together that morning). Awkward!

My life was all over the place. Plain and simple. 

Putting being a lousy friend aside (I paid for breakfast, don’t worry), you want to know the saddest part about being such a painfully disorganized person?

The big goals and bright dreams I had for myself remained just that, goals and dreams. 

The real issue was that I was going through life without any real focus or structure. As I mentioned, I was all over the place.

But somewhere along the way, I realised that if I wanted to accomplish anything, I needed to figure out how to organise and streamline my life to align with who I wanted to be and what I was trying to achieve. 

There are tons of benefits that come with being a more organised person, such as:

Less stress. Less overwhelm. 

More energy. More time. More money. 

Increased productivity and better time management. 

Improved health and relationships. 

Peace. Balance. Happiness.

Bottom line: life is just plain easier when you’re organized, and there really ain’t nothing better than feeling like you have your sh*t together.

Here’s a secret: being (and staying) organised is a skill. This is good news because, like any other skill, you can learn and practise it. 

Even if you are the most disorganized person on the planet, I’m here to tell you that you can turn it all around. You just need a little practice, consistency, and finding what works for you. If I can do it, then you definitely can!

Read on to find ten fail-proof ways to organize and simplify your life right now!

#1 Plan your week in advance

This is something that I love to do because there’s nothing better than feeling prepared and knowing what’s going on in your life.

Here are a few ways that you can prepare for the week ahead:

• Shop for your groceries and prepare your meals in advance

Anyone who works long hours or is insanely busy will appreciate this one! It’s so convenient to grab your lunch from the fridge when heading out the door in the morning. Or coming home after a long day and simply popping a pre-cooked meal in the microwave.

Deciding what you’re going to eat for every meal, going out to get the ingredients for it, and then putting time and effort into the actual making of it = exhausting (in my opinion anyway).

Doing it only once or twice a week makes the whole thing just that much easier. Plus, you’ll save yourself tons of time if you don’t have to cook every day!

• Plan your workouts for the week 

Plan the workout, your outfit, where you’ll be working out, etc. You might also want to make sure the weather lines up with what you plan to do. Or perhaps you want to schedule an active date with a friend.

When you know what you’re doing and when you’ll spend less time and energy trying to figure it out on the day. 

• Review your work commitments 

Consider any projects, meetings, and deadlines ahead of time to prepare you for any important or upcoming professional commitments.

• Social and family commitments

Review and schedule any social or family events, appointments, or errands into your calendar. Set reminders so that you don’t forget anything.

• Schedule some downtime 

Always make sure to make some time for YOU. Whatever that looks like to you, set aside some time to take care of yourself and do the things that you love to do. Read a book, take a bubble bath, sing, walk the dog, literally anything that fills your “cup.”

Be very strict on your “me-time” because you can’t be out here doing your best if you’re not at your best. And you can only be at your best when taking the best care of yourself.

#2 Write everything down

If you get into the habit of doing anything, make sure it’s writing everything down. Or as much as you can. Think lists, ideas, thoughts, or any important bits of info.

Writing things down is so important. Not only does it help you to remember things, but it also allows you to be more efficient and focus on the important stuff. 

When your mind is all over the place, the best thing you can do is put pen to paper. This allows you to organize your thoughts and gain some clarity in the process.

Get yourself a notebook that fits in your bag so you can take it wherever you go. If you need to write something down, you’ve got yourself covered!

#3 It’s all about time management (and effective planning)

Time management is about organizing your time and planning how to use it most effectively and productively.

• Prioritise your time wisely 

Make a list of priorities and then rank them in order of importance. Focus on completing one task at a time before moving on to the next one. At the end of the day, move the incomplete tasks to tomorrow’s list. Rinse and repeat.

If you’re struggling to map out your priorities, the ‘Eisenhower Matrix’ is a helpful tool you can use.

• Batch similar tasks

Organize your day into blocks of time, each dedicated to completing a batch of similar tasks. For example, spend an hour every morning responding to emails or 30 minutes in the afternoon running errands.

Batching tasks ensures that the day flows smoothly, which is good if you want to conserve energy and improve your focus.

• Make lists

Get into the habit of making daily, weekly and monthly lists. Write a to-do list for each day that is flexible to your energy level (e.g., a ‘must do’ list for urgent tasks, a ‘should do’ list for things that should probably get done sometime soon, and a ‘can do’ list for those days you feel like superwoman).

Do the same with your weekly and monthly lists, and your organization level will be through the roof!

• Be strict with your time 

Allocate a time frame for each task you schedule and avoid typical time wasters like social media and Netflix binges (there’s a time and a place for these lovely activities). 

Related post: Top Tips To Boost Your Productivity

#4 Declutter your closet

I’m the type of person who hates a messy closet. Not only does it burn my eyeballs, but it doesn’t make me feel too excited about finding something to wear, either. 

Find some time to go through your closet and set aside anything you haven’t worn in the last year, any damaged items, and anything that no longer fits you. Donate the pieces you can and only keep things you love or wear regularly. 

The idea is to reduce clutter and overwhelm by limiting your options. Because, let’s be honest, deciding what to wear can be an overwhelming task all on its own. 

Having your clothing neatly packed and organised will also save you precious time because you won’t need to hunt for something the next time you have to pick out an outfit.

#5 Budget for the month

Having organised finances is extremely important if you want an organised life! Budgeting is an effective way to plan, organise and control your finances. Use a budget to help track money coming in and going out.

Plan your financial month by listing your sources of income and your fixed and variable expenses. Your fixed expenses are the same each month, such as insurance instalments. The variable expenses differ each month, like how much you spend on groceries or make-up (jot down an estimated value for these and compare them with the actual amount at the end of the month). 

Don’t forget to make provisions for savings and donations if you can. 

Decide what you’ll spend each month and stick to this amount. Make sure to avoid impulsive purchases and unnecessary spending where possible.

#6 Create a morning (and evening) routine 

I was a disorganised mess before I created my own morning and evening routine. 

My mornings used to be super rushed, which stressed me out (not a good start to my day), and I’d spend my evenings watching endless Netflix episodes and scrolling through Instagram (not great for my insomnia).

Having a morning routine ensures that your morning runs smoothly and allows you to start the day off on a good note by doing things that are important to you. 

On the other hand, an evening routine gives you the opportunity to wind down from the day, creates space for essential self-care activities, and sets you up for a restful night’s sleep.

Related: How to create the perfect morning routine

#7 Tidy as you go

Things pile up quickly: dirty dishes, countertops that need wiping, and laundry that needs folding. 

Before you know it, you look around, wondering how you got to this life.

Put away the dishes as soon as they’re dry, pack away the laundry as soon as it’s folded, and throw out that old milk you find when you open the fridge for the 58th time. 

Part of living an organized life is having an organized home, and small, consistent efforts add up at the end of the day!

#8 Say ‘no’ more often

I love this one, and I’ve gotten SO good at it. When you have too much going on because you took on too many commitments, your life will inevitably feel chaotic sooner or later. 

Instead, make sure to choose what you commit to very carefully. You only have so much time in a day, so it makes sense to spend that time wisely. 

The less you have going on, the less you have to keep organised and stay on top of. Focus only on what’s important to you and your life. Do the right things instead of doing more things.

#9 Clear out and organise your inbox

You know what they say: a cluttered space = a cluttered mind.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t focus in a cluttered environment, virtual or otherwise.

Do yourself a favor and go through your emails and texts regularly, decluttering, clearing, and organizing as you go.

I promise, your mind will thank you for it!

#10 Be prepared

Be prepared for anything and everything. Well, as far as you possibly can be. 

Make sure you have a backup milk carton in your cupboard so you don’t have to face another morning coffee-less (I can’t imagine anything more terrifying). 

See to it that you have enough of that amazing shampoo or face wash you can only get online. 

Stock up on toilet paper, favourite treats, and a satisfactory number of clean socks… You catch my drift!

When you’re organized and prepared for anything, you’re sure to have everything you need at hand, exactly when you need it. 

Which tips are you going to try? Let me know below in the comments how it goes!