10 Smart Ways to Stay Organized This Year
Years ago, I walked into a colleague’s office and was struck by the jumbled mess on his desk. There were documents scattered all over the table, pieces of papers with jottings, books, envelopes of different sizes and two table trays filled to the brim. Even his laptop was balanced precariously on top of some documents. I couldn’t understand how someone would work effectively in such a muddled up space. I must confess, I put in a lot more concentration in minding my business and not saying a word about his pigsty office than into the conversation we were having. I later heard that he was involved in a corporate blunder that had lost the company hundreds of thousands of pound sterling. I stand to be corrected but I was sure that the required documents that they said were not filed were somehow buried under the pile of mess on his table.
In a fast-paced world filled with constant demands, distractions, and deadlines, staying organized is no longer optional — it’s a necessity. Whatever you are juggling – work, school, family, or personal goals, organization acts as the glue that holds everything together. Without it, even the most well-intentioned plans can fall apart under the weight of chaos.
Being organized doesn’t just present a good mental picture about you as a person, it helps you meet your obligations because it frees up mental space, reduces stress, and gives you more control over your time and energy. Organization goes far beyond the state of your work table or even your room. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or struggled to keep up with daily responsibilities, all you need might be better organisation of your obligations and time. The good news is that organization is a skill that can be learned and refined.
Here are ten smart ways to stay organized this year:
- Use a Digital or Paper Planner
The first step toward organization is knowing what lies ahead. Planners help you keep track of appointments, meetings, deadlines, and goals. Whether you prefer a physical planner or a digital calendar like Google Calendar, the key is consistency. Write down every detail and upgrade or adjust as more information comes in. When your schedule lives in one centralized place, you’re less likely to forget important commitments and more likely to use your time wisely.
- Set Goals
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re staring at a long list of tasks. Break your goals into weekly and daily segments to help you stay focused and motivated. Start each week by identifying what needs to get done, and then divide those items into daily goals. These smaller targets will keep you moving forward without feeling weighed down by the big picture.
For example, instead of saying, “Get ten clients,” your daily goal might be, “Make a list of 100 potential clients and their contacts.” Progress becomes tangible, and success feels within reach.
- Declutter Regularly
Clutter—both physical and digital—creates noise in your environment. A messy desk can hinder productivity, and a cluttered inbox can cause important emails to be missed. Make it a habit to declutter weekly. Clear your desk, organize your files, and delete unnecessary emails or documents. This simple practice restores order and improves focus.
Start with one area at a time. You’ll be amazed at how much calmer and more efficient you feel when your environment supports your goals instead of fighting them.
- Create a Morning Routine
A structured morning sets the tone for a productive day. Whether it’s meditation, exercise, journaling, or simply reviewing your to-do list, a consistent morning routine helps center your mind and prepare you for what lies ahead. You’ll start the day with intention rather than reaction.
Even a 30-minute routine can be transformative. Try waking up just a bit earlier and using that time to do something purposeful.
- Prioritize Tasks with a To-Do List
Not all tasks are of equal importance. Learn to distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s important.
Create your to-do list the night before or first thing in the morning. Rank tasks in order of priority and tackle the hardest or most important first. This keeps you on track and prevents decision fatigue throughout the day.
- Use Storage Solutions
Being organized isn’t just about doing things — it’s also about creating systems. Invest in storage that suits your lifestyle, whether it’s drawer organizers, digital folders, label makers, or baskets. Every item should have a designated place.
When your tools, documents, and personal items are easy to find, you waste less time searching and more time doing. Organization also creates a visually calming environment, which boosts mental clarity and reduces stress.
- Automate Where Possible
Technology can be a powerful ally in your quest for organization. Automate recurring tasks like bill payments, reminders, grocery lists, or email responses. Use tools like Trello, or calendar apps to schedule and manage repetitive responsibilities.
Automation reduces the mental load of remembering every little thing. It also creates routines that operate in the background, giving you more time and energy for tasks that require your full attention.
- Batch Similar Tasks
Multitasking can be tempting, but it often leads to reduced efficiency. Instead, try task batching—grouping similar activities together to minimize context switching. For example, answer all emails in one session, schedule all meetings on a specific day, or dedicate one afternoon a week to administrative tasks.
This practice allows you to enter a flow state and complete tasks more quickly and effectively. You’ll also find that your concentration improves when your mind isn’t jumping from one unrelated task to another.
- Review Your Progress Weekly
Review your progress at the end of each week to reflect on what you accomplished and where you fell short. Reviewing your progress helps you adjust your goals and stay on course.
You might also want to journal or track your wins and challenges. Over time, this habit builds self-awareness and resilience, helping you refine your systems for even better results.
- Limit Multitasking
Despite popular belief, multitasking often leads to poor performance. Our brains aren’t built to focus on multiple complex tasks at once. Instead, focus on one thing at a time. Whether you’re writing, attending a meeting, or cooking, give your full attention to the task at hand.
You’ll finish faster, make fewer mistakes, and feel more satisfied with your work. Mindful single-tasking also reduces cognitive overload, which contributes to mental well-being.
Organization isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Living an organized life has far-reaching benefits. You’ll feel less overwhelmed, make fewer mistakes, and enjoy increased productivity. When your environment and routines are structured, it becomes easier to make decisions, stay on top of responsibilities, and create time for the things that truly matter—family, creativity, self-care, or personal growth.
Being organized also leads to greater confidence. You’ll walk into meetings prepared, meet deadlines with ease, and handle challenges with clarity. Most importantly, organization fosters peace of mind. Instead of constantly playing catch-up, you’ll experience the satisfaction of being in control.
Cheers
Fatherhood with Ibe
A BATTLE OF HOPE
I decided to take my wife, Betty to our sprawling country home for Easter. I hoped the serenity of the environment and the large expanse of pure nature, coupled with the sonorous chirping of the birds and the uncomplicated friendliness of the villagers could trigger a nerve or two.
But travelling with Betty these days is beyond adventure. It has to be meticulously planned. Her maids, Muna and Galen, both Ethiopians experienced in the care of Alzheimer patients and our Nigerian nurse maid Vivian, began the arduous task of packing up. Packing Betty’s stuff upsets her slightly less than actually moving her from her comfort zone – our house in Lagos. But I decided long ago that she would occasionally move so that the experiences would jog her memory. The cost of travels is steep because you are dealing with flight tickets for many, pick up vehicles for many and flight seating arrangements that would suit her. Usually one maid would be with her in business class and the others in the first row on the economy seats. That way help is right next foot.
The waiting time at the airport is another big challenge so bringing along a game or two like scrabble or word puzzle can help tamper down the wait and of course, you pray that flight delays would not be long.
“What are we doing here?” Betty asked after the first thirty minutes delay.
“Our flight is delayed.” I replied, keeping my voice on an even tone so she does not detect any anxiety.
“They just announced boarding.” She noted.
“That is to Abuja.” I replied, massaging her foot.
“That flight will take us to Asaba too,” she said.
“Nope!” I dismissed her suggestion. “It is different flights for different cities.”
“Okay, but the flight will take us to Ikoyi, right?”
“Yes,” I replied, not wanting to stress her.
Just then the flight got called and we headed out to board.
The flight thankfully was uneventful, thanks to a recorded religious video that caught her attention.
We spent the Easter period at home in the village. The estate intrigues her. Over the next few days we turned the place into a health farm. Good fountains to animate her thoughts. Good music that she finds stimulating playing from discretely placed speakers on the lawns. Fresh foods she loves straight from the farms, and two swimming pools to lounge beside or actually swim in. I took her swimming the day before Easter. She does that in Lagos once in a while but Alzheimer affects the brain’s coordination of the hands and feet – a typical case of spirit is willing but flesh is weak. However, I found a way out; we lift her with my hands under her Tommy and paddle her around the pool. After a while, even with her fear and objections, she starts to paddle with her hands and strike out with her feet. We enjoyed this exercise for about twenty minutes, I felt she’d had enough so we put her into the jaccuzzi. (The warmth is good for her muscles and the sweat opens her glands).
The battle against Alzheimer is a hands-on creative therapy – full time endeavour. But my consolation comes in the smiles on her face and the fatigue that follows and makes her relax and sleep. Luckily, her cognitive stage is still good enough for recognition of family members especially the immediate family and few friends and she is conversational – if you don’t mind many repeats of the same sentence.
This Easter we attended the holy mass in the village and bravely she sat through the session but I could see the worried glances of many villagers who never knew what we were dealing with. I debated taking her home but erred on the side of ensuring that she leads a normal life. I was very happy that the reverend came down to her seat to bless her: that was good because in all this, her faith in God and her daily prayers are her constant pillars.
On Easter Monday, we had a pontifical healing high mass for Betty in the estate chapel with loads of priests attending, then a reception after at the Dome which is the estate events center. Her favourite opera and Christian music group from Port Harcourt featured and she stayed up from 8pm to 12midnight enjoying the event. We had over a hundred guests including chiefs, pastors, friends and relations. It was meant to be a small home coming stuff but one’s network can hold one captive and a lot more than we expected showed up, but it was good.
When Betty finally walked to her bedroom in her increasingly slow gait, she squeezed my hands feebly and whispered into my ears:
“God will bless you, my darling, for all you do.”
It meant the world to me that she noticed … meaning the brain is continuing to process.
“We are in this together, love.” I replied, adding “we will beat it.”
Hope, commitment and love are the tools after the medicine. And we will need all of that with Betty as things just got more difficult. In her last annual examination a few days ago, she was also additionally diagnosed with early Parkinson disease. But who cares!!! We will fight that with physiotherapy and prayers too. This is a battle of hope.
On the 25th of April, we had a mild celebration of Betty’s 66th birthday at Delborough hotel in Lagos. I was close to tears when I saw the many dignitaries that graced the exclusive ‘invite only’ party for 66 people.
God bless them and you all.