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Organizing A to Z

by Maria Gracia Updated November 8, 2023 Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. Organizing A to Z…now you’ll have all the important organizing concepts in one simple list. Enjoy! A: ACT - Don't put it off until later. Act on it now. B: BREAK IT DOWN - Anything you have to do is easier when you break it down into manageable parts. C: CONTAINERIZE - Keep small items sorted and organized by using see- through, plastic containers. D: DELEGATE - Delegate to family members and work associates whenever possible, use an outside company to outsource some of your work, or use technology to your advantage. Take some of the burden off your shoulders. E: ELIMINATE - Get rid of clutter, both physical and mental. You'll breathe easier and feel a sense of freedom. F: FILE - Don't allow your paperwork to grow into a mountain. File it away in an appropriate place if you need to refer to it again. G: GIVE - Give the things you no longer use or love to a favorite charity organization, a family member, or a friend. There are many people who would be thrilled to receive your gifts. H: HOME SWEET HOME - Find a home for everything you own, and keep each item in its place. When you need something in the future, you'll know its address. I: IDENTIFY - Before putting items in boxes for storage, or when you're moving, identify the contents by labeling the outside of the box. Identify papers in file folders by clearly marking the tab of the folder. J: JUDGMENT - Use your best judgment to prioritize your life. Be sure you're spending the majority of your time on the important stuff. K: KNOWLEDGE - Knowledge is power. In order to effectively organize something, be sure you're using the organizing systems that will work best for you. L: LISTS - Make lists for things you have to do now and in the future. Master Lists and To Do Lists will help you get things done. Packing lists will ensure you never forget something again when you travel. Shopping lists will help ensure you get everything you need at the mall. Telephone lists will remind you of who you have to call this week. M: MOTIVATION - A huge part of getting organized is motivation. Once you're motivated, there's no limit as to what you can accomplish. Get motivated by designating pending rewards for your accomplishments, involving family members or friends in your goals, and by making getting organized a game. N: NO - It's so easy to get stressed when you have a million things to do on your plate. If you're beginning to feel burdened with too much to do, learn to say NO to some of those things. O: ORDER - Rather than living in clutter and chaos, vow to live a more orderly life. You'll know where everything is, and you'll complete whatever you start. P: PLAN AND PREPARE - While spontaneity every once in awhile is fun and perfectly fine, having a good plan and effectively preparing will help you reach your goals and deadlines so you can enjoy maximum accomplishments. Q: QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY - It is much better to have a few treasures that you love and enjoy, rather than having lots of things you don't particularly care for. Always think quality, over quantity, and you'll simplify your life. R: REMINDERS - Use little reminder devices throughout the day to help you stay on track. Alarm clocks, timers, email reminders and sticky notes are all excellent memory joggers. S: SELL IT - Why not make some money by selling some of those possessions you no longer want? Try a rummage sale, consignment shop, or an online auction company. T: TOSS - If you don't want it, and you can't give it away or sell it, toss it. Make room for the things that you really enjoy or that make your life easier. U: UNUSED SPACE - Don't forget about the space in your home or office that is often forgotten about, such as wall space for shelves, hooks for hanging, or space under the stairs. V: VISUALIZE - Picture how wonderful your life is going to be when you're organized. Then strive to put yourself in that picture every day. W: WRITE IT DOWN - Don't try to keep everything you have to remember in your head. Write it down and refer to it when needed. X: X MARKS THE SPOT - Place an X next to each item you accomplish on your To Do List. At the end of the day, add up your Xs and celebrate for getting so much done! Y: YOU - Don't forget to make time for YOU. Remember, an appointment with yourself…time for you with no interruptions…should be one of the most important appointments in your day. Z: ZONE IN - Really define what you're trying to accomplish so you have a clear picture in your mind. Back to Organizing Strategies Index