Sometimes getting organized means more than just making sure everything has a place or that we check off our To-Do List. Often times, becoming organized is mainly about avoiding the things that can cause us to become disorganized, especially after we have already started the process of changing our ways. When we make ways to stay organized as part of our regular habits, we won’t have a need to give in to reasons for disorganization.

Keeping Everything

We are all guilty of trying to keep things that we don’t necessarily need. It’s usually contributed to the thought of “Well I might need it one day”. When we keep old or expired items and paperwork, we don’t realize that this can actually contribute to further disorganization rather than helping us in the future. Although we feel we have to keep everything, we can actually throw out over half of our saved items or documents without consequence. Avoid building up the clutter, also known as hoarding, by examining what you are trying to hold on to and pin point its purpose in your room, apartment, or office area. If it doesn’t serve an immediate purpose, throw it out. (It is a good idea to ask parents and trusted others if you are new to this before throwing things away).

How do you determine if it needs to be kept? When was the last time I used or needed this? What purpose does this serve me?
If I get rid of this, what will happen?

Will I need this in the near future?

If I get rid of this, can I access it later somewhere else? (i.e., online, office copy, etc.)

Not Being Consistent

Repetition is the key to learning, and these repeated and consistent behaviors are the key to developing good habits. When in the process of getting organized, we set ourselves To-Do Lists and actions that we take to keep ourselves organized (such as sorting emails right away or keeping supplies close). When we become inconsistent, such as forgetting to turn off our cell phone before starting a project or just throwing the unopened mail on our desk one morning, we are leaving room to become disorganized again. After one slip, it becomes easier to forget what we have learned and begin to fall into our normal pit of excuses or procrastination. Once we have established good organizational habits, it is important to stick to them and be consistent in our actions.

Not Following a Schedule

For many people, not sticking to some sort of routine or schedule can cause them to become disorganized and procrastinate. Ask yourself why you need to follow a schedule. What is that schedule meant to help you accomplish? A schedule can be simple and flexible, such as creating yourself a To-Do List and sticking to it, or schedules can be more definite and set, such as outlining specific tasks and timelines. While schedules are not set in stone, they are supposed to provide a sense of structure when completing tasks, projects, and activities. If schedules are ignored or forgotten altogether, it can lead to wasted time management or prolonged duties.

Bad Habits

Being organized is all about creating good habits that we can stick to in the long run. Unfortunately, we all have bad habits that can steer us away from getting on the right path. Habits such as leaving work or books on our desktop ‘for later’ or keeping every school or employer newsletter you receive ‘to go through’.

Sometimes we do not even recognize when we have developed a bad habit that is keeping us from becoming more organized. Take a look at some of your everyday actions and determine if you have, or are developing a bad habit that keeps you disorganized at home, school, or at work. Once we discover the problem, we can work to correct our habits and change them for the better. By making small, incremental changes, we begin to gain more confidence in ourselves and feel more empowered to kick bad habits once and for all.

Characteristics of a bad habit:
Doesn’t offer an immediate benefit
Creates more work to do later
Doesn’t make us feel more confident Contributes to procrastination or disorganization

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, in Boca Raton, FL.