I used to be so disorganized and it really wore me down. But then, something clicked. Don't know what the trigger was but I no longer procrastinate or let myself be disorganized anymore. (I'm not hyper-organized but enough to ward off insanity!)
My tips that help me:
1. Go through the mail immediately by tossing out the junk right away in a trashcan and place the bills and work mail in my inbox. I don't touch them until I'm ready to deal with them.
2. Toss out trash, packaging and unnecessary things right away. Keeping out junk makes being organized so much easier.
3. Stop buying unnecessary junk. My kitchen and office are streamlined. I can't believe how many pots, pans, baking sheets, plasticware and dishes people keep. I'm a cook and I only have a few.
4. Keep things in their place. Keys always stay in one place by the front door. I keep three pairs of reading glasses in three regular places so they're always on hand. When things have their own place, I always know where they are!!! Surprise!!! I used to lose my keys all the time but now, never! It's wonderful, wonderful, I tell you!
Books are on the shelves, although not in any particular order (my friend actually alphabetizes hers according to author like in a library!) I'm just glad they're not stacked on the floor! At least they're grouped according to subject.
Paperwork is in a different inbox. Works in progress in its own drawer. Bills have their own accordion file. I just jam them into the file according to month instead of being REALLY organized and filing them by type (electricity, etc.) but I'm not THAT organized. I just survive! And it looks organized and I know where to rifle through them if I need to find a bill.
Grouping things together is the best way to start living an organized life. I clean my mom's place and I always start by throwing out trash and then grouping things together. Laundry, books, beauty supplies, etc.
Ten years ago, no one would believe that I could be organized. I fool them by only looking organized but I'm not totally chaotic either! By keeping trash out and then keeping things together in the same place, I'm much happier--and more sane.
