When it comes to being organized, where do you stand on a scale of 1-10? Are you highly organized? Somewhere in the middle? Or could you use some serious help?

No matter where you fall on the scale, you probably know that there are big benefits to being organized. According to Time to Organize, being organized helps you:

• To reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.
• To achieve more in less time.
• To gain a sense of control.
• To set a good example for your kids.
• To project a better image to your clients, colleagues, and friends.
• To reduce your stress level.
• To clear your head of all the clutter.
• To gain energy and calm from your space.
• To make better use of your talents and skills.
• To have more time to spend on what’s important to you.

So if you’re ready to make this the year you improve your organization skills, try a few of these tips to make it easier!

1. Use a notebook or journal to keep track of things: Keep a notebook or journal handy to keep track of your to-do list. While you may already create to-do lists, if they’re on single sheets of paper or post-it notes, they can easily get lost. And what happens when you don’t get certain things accomplished? Keeping your list in a notebook allows you to go back and refer to it when needed.
2. Keep a family calendar and update it daily: If you’ve got multiple people in your home, then you probably need a way to keep track of everyone’s schedules. If you have a “command center” in your home – make sure it has a calendar. This allows everyone to look at it and know what’s happening.
3. Pick up as you go: If your home is a little disorganized, it could be because you’re not picking up as you go. When you pick up as you go, it means there is no mess for later.
4. Plan your meals for the week: Is mealtime a struggle because you don’t know what you’re having? Are your kids constantly asking, “What’s for dinner?” Then plan your meals for the week – and post the plan for all to see. (This also helps you to plan your grocery shopping, too!)
5. Plan what you will wear the night before: Do you spend your morning going through your closet looking for something to wear? Do your children do the same? On Sunday evening, gather all of your clothes for the week and put them towards the front of your closet (this includes shoes and accessories). Then they’ll be easy to grab, and it requires no effort each morning.
6. Don’t let the clutter get out of hand: Is the clutter in your home taking over? Then declutter – and try not to let it happen again. Clutter makes your space look messy and can stress you out – so say goodbye to clutter.
7. Engage the family in a 5-minute bedtime cleanup: Before anyone goes to bed, engage them in a 5-minute bedtime cleanup. Kids can clean up their toys. Adults can pick up a particular room. Set a timer and use those 5 minutes to clean. You might be surprised at how beneficial five minutes can be! 
8. Do the “dreaded” tasks first each day: Every day, you probably have tasks that you don’t really look forward to doing. So you procrastinate – and maybe they get done, or maybe they don’t. Do your “dreaded” tasks first. This ensures they get done and leaves you feeling accomplished for the rest of the day.

Use these eight little ideas to get yourself organized. You’ll be happy you did when you start seeing all of the benefits that come from a little organization.