Do you want to be more organized? It’s easier than you think. Check out our top 10 must-read life hacks to help you get started
1. Don’t rely on memory
Let’s face it; we’re all too busy – and we’re faced with more distractions than ever before. Our brains are constantly over-stretched as our attention spans get shorter and shorter. Things are bound to fall through the cracks, even for those of us with the best memories! Don’t rely on memory; the most organized people write things down. Save important links to a Wakelet collection, add reminders to your diary, and write a to-do list to keep on top of everything.
2. Back-up your back-ups
Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to lose important information. Whether it’s a document or a treasured photograph, the best way to ensure you don’t lose it is to keep a copy online. With Wakelet, you can save all of your Google Drive documents into a collection, upload copies of your photographs, and even save special Tweets that you don’t want to lose. That way, you always have a back-up, even if your computer crashes!
3. Little and often
Organization can feel overwhelming. You might be facing a huge pile of junk, a folder stuffed full of disordered documents, or a bookmarks bar that’s full to bursting. The secret to getting started is to think, little and often. Set aside time every day, even if it’s just 10 minutes, and pick just one project to work on. You might not feel like you’re making much of an impact at first, but you’ll be surprised at how much you’ve been able to tackle by the end of a week. Keep going for 30 days and organizing will become a part of your daily routine.
4. Make the most of apps
Today, there’s an app for almost everything. An app to order your coffee, an app to play music, an app to book your next haircut, and a whole host of apps to help keep your organized. Our advice? Download them all! The more information you have at your fingertips, the easier it’ll be to stay organized – plus, you’ll be able to complete everyday tasks in just a couple of clicks. With the Wakelet app on your phone, you can quickly and easily save links from across the web, straight to your collections, to revisit whenever you like.
5. Create a central information centre
One of the biggest wastes of time is trying to find things. If you’re anything like us, you’ll have a lot of ‘important’ places to keep things – folders, drawers, photo albums, hard drives, the Notes app on your phone etc. Save time by choosing one central information centre and store as many of your important documents and sentimental items as possible in that one spot. When it comes to important online content, a platform like Wakelet that allows you to save everything in one place is ideal – save links, articles, images, videos, songs, documents from your Google Drive and more.
6. Write a weekend bucket list
We all often complain that there just isn’t enough time but, in reality, we often waste it. How many times has an empty weekend flown by in a haze of Netflix binges and duvet days? Being more organized when it comes to your weekend not only helps you make the most of your free time, it also helps you have more fun! Try creating a weekend bucket list. Create a Wakelet collection of all the places you want to visit, the hobbies you want to try, the books you want to read, or even the films you want to watch. That way, whenever you have a free weekend, you can refer to your list. You’ll never waste a weekend again!
7. Purge paper
Not only is it good for the planet, but cutting down on the amount of paperwork you keep can help you get more organized too. Choosing the paperless option for as many of your household bills as possible is a great place to start – just make sure you have a secure login and password. Next, try to reduce the amount of paperwork you already have. Scanning documents and saving them to the cloud will also ensure you have a digital back-up, just in case. Try to keep printed paper to the essentials only.
8. Focus on the positives
Don’t let the prospect of organizing get you down. Getting organized can be tough, especially when it doesn’t come naturally to you, but it’s important to focus on the positives. Visualize an organized life. What will that mean for you? How much more time will you have? How much joy will it bring you to come home to a clean house at the end of a long day? Focus on the good feelings that being organized will bring rather than the sometimes-painful process of organizing itself.
9. Organize your profile
Wakelet is a great organizational tool, even if we say so ourselves! However, once you start creating collections, it can be hard to stop. That’s why we introduced sections. They allow you to organize your profile in the way that works best for you. You can categorize your collections by subject or function. Maybe you’ll have a section dedicated to your work, one for your travels, and one that’s home to your creative portfolio? Take advantage of Wakelet’s organizational features and filters to make your profile work for you.
10. Only save what matters
Curation is an important skill to have if you want to be organized. You need to be able to discern what’s important and what you can do without. That’s true whether you’re organizing your wardrobe or curating your collections on Wakelet. Aim to save only what matters. Avoid duplicate content, articles with only one useful line or phrase, and content that you don’t think you’ll ever revisit. This principle can be applied to everything. Ask yourself a few key questions. Have you used or worn it in the last year? Will you need it for a special occasion? Does owning it make you happy? If the answer is no, don’t save it.
