As we endure continuing anxiety over the global pandemic, its impact on the economy, the safety of our loved ones, and the realities of weeks of sheltering at home, many of us have become psychologically fatigued. The thought of binge watching yet another series or wearing sweatpants all day is no longer appealing. Our children’s online schooling is either too intense or not intense enough, our jobs are either complicated or nonexistent, and makeshift offices and gyms that symbolized adaptability just a few weeks ago, now seem messy and inefficient. Given this backdrop, it’s not surprising that the need to organize our surroundings and our time has become more compelling than ever.
Barbara Reich, professional organizer and author of Secrets of an Organized Mom, offers five tips to organize your time and space during these challenging times.
1. Make your bed.
As Charles Duhigg notes in his book The Power of Habit, “making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity [and] a greater sense of well being…” Completing one small task paves the way for larger accomplishments during the day.
2. Minimize clutter in your home.
Studies by Princeton’s Neuroscience Institute and the UCLA Center for Everyday Family Living show that clutter can decrease productivity and increase anxiety. Start by purging what you don’t need and clearing countertops in kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
3. Write your goals out!
At the end of each day, make a list of three items you want to accomplish the next day. By determining your priorities each day, you’ll be less likely to be sidelined or spend the day reacting to others’ priorities.
4. Schedule your day!
Designate hours for work and hours for leisure. Save pleasurable activities as a reward for completing your daily goals.
5. Sleep!
Maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Studies show that getting the right amount of sleep is critical for productivity and wellness.
Barbara Reich is the founder of Resourceful Consultants, LLC, a firm specializing in the organization of people, their lives, and physical spaces. Barbara is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the NYU Stern School of Business. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, WPIX, and New York 1 and has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Washington Post, and Time Magazine among other publications. She is the author of Secrets of an Organized Mom, winner of the Mom’s Choice Award.
Click here if you would like more information about Barbara Reich or would like to schedule a virtual organizing appointment.
