7 Habits Of Organized People

If your room is filled with strewn clothing and old magazines, you know the envy of walking into someone's house that looks straight out of Pottery Barn. Although not everyone is meant to have a separate drawer for every type of underwear, there are certain habits of organized people you can adapt into your own life. Whether you want to keep your room cleaner or just fix up your desk at work, you can make little tweaks in your own life that can help you keep your life together.

"It takes the complexities of figuring out how to get things done using straightforward approaches to help [people], both personally and professionally develop good habits and techniques to improve productivity, effectiveness focus and reduce stress," says Mitzi Weinman, time strategist and author of It’s AboutTime! and Transforming Chaos into Calm, A to Z, over email. "Organization and planning are key components to figuring out how to get things done and taking more control in common everyday circumstances."

Just because you aren't organized now doesn't mean your life is doomed to shambles forever. If you need some inspiration to clean up your clutter, organize your to-do list, or get your ducks in a room, considering adopting these seven habits of super organized people.

1. Never Put Anything Down

"When you have an object in your hand (hairbrush, dog leash, car keys), don't just put it down anywhere, put it away," says organizing and storing expert Emma Gordon of Clutter.com over email. "When you challenge yourself to put things away in their designated places, not in the most convenient location at the moment, keeping your home organized becomes second nature."

2. Use A Calendar

Whether you're keeping track of your work schedule, your social life, or just your personal errands, a calendar is a great way to stay organized and ensure you'll stick to your intentions. "When you block off time in your schedule for specific tasks, not only do you give yourself the time in your calendar, but you also force yourself to stay focused on that task," says entrepreneur Ross Simmonds over email.

3. Avoid Multitasking

A study from Stanford University found that multitasking actually reduces your efficiency and performance, as your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. When you do more than one thing at once, your brain has to constantly switch back and forth between this activity. This can ruin your focus as well as weaken your memory.

4. Create A Place For Everything

"Be aware of every item that comes into your home or office, and immediately create a place to store that item," says professional organizer Nancy Haworth over email. "Use labels or Post-it notes to remind you where an item should be stored."

5. Allow Yourself Extra Time

"It is estimated that projects take three times longer than people think," says Adriane Weinberg, an organizing and home staging consultant over email. Build in extra time in order to complete interim and final deadlines on time. This includes whenever you have to commute somewhere, accounting time for traffic, unexpected phone calls, or general unforeseen delays.

6. Make Your Bed Every Day

Your mama always told you to make your bed every morning, and she was right. Keeping your environment clean and clutter free can help you keep the rest of your life organized. An added bonus: According to a survey by Hunch.com, people who make their bed report feeling happier and more productive than people who leave their bed unkempt every morning.

7. Get Rid Of Stuff

"Declutter your home two to three times a year by donating, throwing out, and or selling things you no longer need like books, clothes, kitchen gadgets, etc.," says psychotherapist Jessica Marchena, LMHC over email. You should periodically trash extra clutter such as junk mail to avoid a pile up.

Becoming organized doesn't happen overnight; it requires lifestyle changes that can help get you in the habit of keeping things together.

Images: Pixabay (8)