The lockdown is starting to ease, and there’s no better time to set your year plans than now. For some, this might mean setting fitness goals. For others, it could be something as simple as reading a set number of books throughout the year.

Whatever your goals are, they’ll be much easier to reach if you get yourself organised first! Abodus Student Living recommends multiple smart hacks to help you through your day to day life as a student. Check out these five easy steps to get you on your way to an organised life!

1. Plan Everything

The first step to getting organised is to get all your plans written down in one place. You don’t want to miss anything you love, so be sure to get an excellent diary where you can keep all your work schedules, finances and study plans. Here is a good one from Ultimate Planners.

Having everything in one place allows you to digest everything at once, and it cuts down on the clutter— both physically and mentally! Our top tip for you is to sit down at the end of each month and fill in your diary for the month ahead, prioritising your to-do’s. Keep your diary in plain view and check it daily so that nothing falls off your radar. 

You can also keep a daily or weekly to-do notepad at your desk or study space if that is more digestible for you. Here’s one of our favourites that won’t break the bank. If you prefer to do things digitally, you can utilise your phone’s notepad app or even download one from your app store like this one from Any. do.

2. Develop Habits and Routines. 

Developing good habits and healthy routines is the key to productivity, and if you are productive, you will most definitely find yourself closer to the goals you’ve set for yourself this year! Get yourself into a solid daily routine and try to stick to it. To organise your day, aim to wake up and go to sleep at the same time each day. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, limit screen time to an hour before bed and read a book instead. You can also drink a mug of chamomile tea and do some meditation. Not sure where to start with meditation? Apps such as Calm are a great guide for beginners.

Moreover, Try planning your meals ahead. Meal planning on the weekend ensures that you are filling your body with great nutrients even on busy days. Check out this free meal prep and shopping list duo if you wish to have everything in one place.

Also, start exercising daily, even if that is just for half an hour. It will raise your energy levels, and it is also great for your mental health!

3. Set Deadlines and Stick to Them. 

This step is vital in keeping yourself organised. Whatever you’ve got in your diary – especially those prioritised to-do’s – needs to have a deadline attached to it. Results are easier to achieve when you have a tangible timeline attached to them. Saying that you’ll work towards a goal and saying that you’ll reach that goal by a specific date can make the difference between success and failure. You are less likely to give up on your goal when you have a deadline! 

While it is easy enough to set your goal in your diary or on a wall calendar, you want to make sure you’re reminded of it daily, so why not create a vision board like this one from Spiritually Inspired? If you’re having trouble getting started, watch this YouTube video from OhhMyAnnie on how to create a vision board that works for some inspiration.

4.Keep Your Living Space Organized.

We just can’t think of anything better to set the tone of getting your life organised than an organised living space. When you’ve got a warm, cosy, inviting and most importantly, clutter-free space, it is so much easier to reach your goals! How pleasant is it to sit down and fill out your diary in a clean room? In fact, maybe this should have been step one, as it truly does set the tone for every other step in getting your life organised! Purge your space regularly, with The Minimalists’ “one in, ten out” rule, and make sure to clean as you go. If you’re unsure of where to start with organising your living space to give off some zen vibes and achieve your organisational goals, check out our blog on organising your flat here.

5. Find balance. 

When you are organising your life, especially with end goals in mind, be sure to find a balance around your schedules and routines. Do not overcommit to any activities or tasks, and if you ever feel overwhelmed, do not be afraid to say no. 

Remember that this is why you have developed habits and routines, why you keep your diary up-to-date and why you have set deadlines for your goals – So that you know just how much you can afford to take on and just how much extra you can commit yourself to. On this note, if there are things that you need to get done, but you cannot possibly juggle them on your own, it is okay to outsource or delegate some of your responsibilities or even to ask for help flat out. If ever in doubt, just remember the saying, “Work smarter, not harder.” 

With these five basic steps in your back pocket, you should feel ready to tackle organising your life and to meet (and hopefully exceed) the intentions that you’ve set for yourself!