How to Organize Your Life and Reach Your Goals

Kids, pets, jobs, hobbies, travel and school all demand little pieces of time that add up quickly. With so many responsibilities, tasks and dates can quickly spiral out of control causing chaos in your world. While you may be having trouble balancing everything in your life, other individuals seem put together and make it appear easy to do so. What’s the trick? How do these individuals manage their priorities so effortlessly? Individuals who are highly organized and productive tend to abide by the following rules:

Rule #1: Create Long-Term and Short-Term Goals.

Without a plan, it becomes routine to trudge through life in the same manner that we always have and always will. What do you want out of life? What motivates you? Consider your goals, plans and aspirations for your life, and organize these prospects into meaningful goals.

You will need to break your aspirations up into long-term and short-term goals, as each type offers unique benefits. While long-term goals define where you want to be ultimately, short-term goals guide your daily routine. Achieving short-term goals can give you the confidence that you need to tackle more intense goals that may take more time to reach.

Rule #2: Write Down Your Stated Goals.

Why do so many people fall of the diet bandwagon just days after the New Year begins? Oftentimes, they haven’t made a commitment to themselves to stick with it, even when it becomes difficult. By writing your goals down, you are making a commitment to yourself to achieve them. Set due dates for your goals. Reward yourself when you reach specific milestones. Create intermittent check-ins to see if you need to adjust your strategy. Most of all, hold yourself accountable.

Rule #3: Organize Your Daily Life.

This rule may be easier said than done, but it is safe to say you will never regret trying. Use the momentum from the goals that you have developed and written down to help guide your success in your daily routine. Making room for more organization in your daily life can also affect everyone around you. Here are a few tips for organizing your daily life:

• Declutter: Though this may sound remedial, having clutter in your house can mentally distract you. You don’t have to clean your entire house to make a difference. Putting items where they belong, keeping up with the laundry, organizing rooms and tidying up can make a world of difference in your attitude.
  
  Getting rid of items, you don’t need can lift the weight off your shoulders and lessen anxiety. Start by committing to one task per day and donating one item per week. 
• Follow a Schedule: Setting times and dates for specific tasks can help alleviate uncertainty and ensure everything that you plan to get done, actually does. We all start the day with good intentions, but it is easy to get side-tracked by social media or binge-watching your favorite TV show. Before you know it, the day is gone, and nothing has been accomplished. 
• Get a Planner: Though most phones now have calendars built in, there is something about a tangible planner that shows you mean business. Search for planners that are adequate for tracking the tasks that you find most important. Notable recommended goal planners that work include organization tools for personal, financial and career areas. 
• Involve Your Family: Make creating a schedule a fun event. Let your spouse and kids choose dates and times for things they find important. By giving everyone an opportunity to pitch in, it creates a sense of unity within the household. 

Rule #4: Adjust Your Goals as Needed.

It’s inevitable that plans will go awry. Your ability to bounce back from hardships and inconveniences is what really matters. Don’t throw in the towel just because something doesn’t go the way you think it should. When problems arise, step back and re-evaluate your path and goals. Make adjustments, if needed, and continue. Any step forward is progress from where you once were. Keep this in mind when you become discouraged or overwhelmed.

Rule #5: Focus on What Matters to You.

All too often, we are so concerned with what others think and how they feel that we forget to stay true to ourselves. What matters to you and what your heart desires should be the driving force behind all that you do. If your interests change, so should your goals and aspirations. Don’t let anyone other than yourself determine your life’s path.

Rule #6: Get on Your Grind.

Once you decide on your goals, strategy and timeline, don’t waste time. Jump right to it. The longer you procrastinate and ponder about your choices, the more likely you are rethink their validity, wasting valuable time. Dedicate yourself to achieving your goals, and the rest will fall into place.


Rule #7: Visualize Your Results.

Visualization is so powerful that even professional athlete relies upon this technique for game prep. Use the following techniques to visualize your goals:

• Step 1: Translate your goal into words and pictures. Doodle, journal, create, schedule, do whatever it takes to put your goals into written language. 
• Step 2: Dedicate time and space. No interruptions, no work, no distractions. Let there be time for you to focus on your thoughts and desired outcome. 
• Step 3: Imagine it again and incorporate feeling. Visualize how you will feel when you succeed at your goals. What will it mean for your life? How will you react? 
• Step 4: Stick with it. Continue to practice visualization periodically, even daily, if needed. Promote positive thoughts and affirmations. 

Our Thoughts

Organizing your life in order to reach your goals can be a daunting task and a scary commitment to make. However, if you are tired of feeling overwhelmed, anxious and unorganized, it is time to make a change. Consider these tactics to gain confidence in yourself and your ability to take control of your life.