10 Habits of Highly Organized People

Ever looked at someone who’s super organized and thought, What’s their secret? Well, as it turns out, there are certain traits that most organized people share. And, the best news is, you, too, can cultivate these traits!

Being an organized person isn’t a magic trick – it’s merely all about forming healthy habits. Here are the ten habits of highly organized people:

1) They write things down

Organized people know that there’s only one way to ensure that you’ll remember to do something – by writing it down.

If you rely on your memory alone, chances are that you’ll never accomplish what you wanted to. Take the time to write down things that need to be remembered each day, like important dates and to-do’s.

Maintaining your day-to-day life via Google Calendar or a planner is crucial. And, what’s also crucial is the practice of jotting down ideas and observations. Why? Because writing down random thoughts and ideas helps to clear your brain.

This will in turn help you stay organized AND help you remain creative and open. Start making writing things down part of your regular routine, and get ready to reap the mental health benefits.

2) They have routines

How you spend your days is how you spend your life, which is why it’s so important to carve out daily routines. If you’re staying organized in your day-to-day life via a few mini-routines (no matter how inconsequential this seems), you’ll create an overall life pattern of organization.

So, with this in mind, try to develop a morning or evening routine for tasks that happen daily or weekly. For instance, depending on your schedule and when you’re busiest, you should consciously carve out 10 minutes per day to complete certain tasks – things like sorting through the mail, take out recycling, and other quick cleaning tasks.

Do your best to stick to this daily routine. Besides making you feel more organized, you’ll also save a lot of time.

3) They know how to ask for help

Being organized doesn’t mean being strong all the time and doing everything on your own – organized people know both their strengths and their weaknesses, and they know when and how to ask for help.

Remember, your time is valuable, and NOT asking for help when you need it can result in a lot of wasted time and energy – not to mention, this can be an unnecessary source of stress.

4) Their to-do lists stay current

It takes a certain amount of planning, when it comes to being organized and efficient (no matter how effortless it may seem). Which is why we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to keep detailed to-do lists for virtually everything you need to get done.

Use a notebook and keep it with you at all times, if you’re the type who prefers writing things down; or, using your phone’s calendar or Notes function works, too. Just be sure to continually update your list as you go – staying current with your to-do’s is key when it comes to staying on top of projects!

5) They purge clutter on a semi-daily basis

You can’t expect to feel organized when you live in squalor! Truly organized people see the value in de-cluttering as often as possible, to create an orderly environment.

Why wait for a weekend or free day to de-clutter when you can constantly throw things away or donate items each week? It’s important for organization to become a daily habit, not a special event. And of course, it’s always way easier to get and stay organized when you have less stuff.

6) They have a place for everything

Sound simple? In theory, sure, but in practice, it’s anything but.

If you’re the type who tends to scatter clothing and random items around your house (which, let’s be honest, is like most of us!) then this tip in particular should come in handy. Create a space for everything in your home, and put everything in its place. By taking a few extra seconds to put something away, you’ll be surprised at the time and effort you’ll save later on.

7) They’re optimistic and goal-oriented

No one’s cheery all the time, but organized people do tend to make the choice to be optimistic – as much as possible. Having a can-do attitude can go a long way in the quest to stay organized!

In addition, staying goal-oriented is crucial. Truly organized people are not just keeping everything in order for their own amusement; they’re always doing it for a reason! Staying focused on a goal while also remaining optimistic is key.

8) They don’t put things off until later

Putting things off is a death knell, if you’re trying to stay organized. Whether we’re talking about hanging up clothes or finishing up a big DIY project, an organized person always takes care of business ASAP. This isn’t to say that you can’t move a few items for this week’s to-do list to next week’s list, if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Rather, the trick is to have a do-it-right-now attitude in general, as opposed to always procrastinating. Easier said than done, maybe, but making this adjustment is life-saving.

9) They come prepared

Organized people tend to be prepared for most things that come their way. Successful time management skills, of course, go hand in hand with this. Knowing how much time you have to complete a task, and leaving enough time to do so, is virtually the only way to stay on top of things.

Being prepared is key!

10) They know how they need to de-stress – and they do so

Everyone de-stresses in their own way. Some people like to run, some like to cook a delicious meal at the end of a long day, and some of us like to indulge in a hot bubble bath before bed. You’re the one who best knows your own body and mind. De-stressing in the way that works best for you is important, when it comes to getting and staying organized.

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