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Last updated on June 21st, 2023 at 03:43 pm
Finding time to organize is a problem that comes up again and again. The truth is, and I know you’ve heard it before, that you have to make time for it. In other words, make it a priority. And the best time to find time to organize is during your morning routine.
My homeschooling mentor always recommends getting all the school work done before noon. Why? Because it’s a known fact (shown by scientific studies) that the best time of day to work is between 8 AM and noon.
In Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Habit 3 is “Put first things first.” Essentially, those things that add the most value to your life should be prioritized in your schedule and done first if possible.
The best way to accomplish is by building a habitual morning routine that gets you working (or organizing) during your prime hours.
Should organizing your home be a priority? Studies have shown that better organization leads to better sleep, healthier eating habits, better exercise habits, and much more.
So, yes, I think it should be a priority. But that decision is up to you. Perhaps it isn’t as much of a priority to you right now. (Even if it’s not, this article can still help you to accomplish any of your priorities.)
Use the steps below to find time to organize during the best hours of the day.
Prepare the night before
Accomplishing what you want to accomplish begins the night before. Tidy up and set up the areas you’ll be using during your morning routine so you can dive right in. Write down your plan for the morning in a planner.
I do a Nightly Reset routine that sets up my home for the next do. If I wake up to a mess, I’ll put aside all my plans to clean it up. (I can’t focus when there’s a mess.)
For you, preparing the night before could mean programming the coffee maker or laying out your workout clothes.
Get rest
To be truly productive, you’ll need to manage your energy. Getting to bed at a reasonable hour does wonders. I’m not always the best at this but when I make an effort to get to bed earlier, and it’s an effort, I have incredibly productive mornings.
To help you get to sleep, refrain from eating snacks, dim any lights in your room, and leave your phone outside of your room. About 2 years ago I removed my phone from my room, and it’s so much easier to go to sleep.
I also recommend a sunrise alarm clock like these ones to naturally wake up. When we use our sunrise alarm (ours isn’t available anymore), I wake up feeling much more rested. A blaring alarm beeping throws off a restful night of sleep.
Get off the phone
Stay off social media and email until after you’ve done your priorities. I use an app on my phone during my morning routine. It takes effort to stay off the other apps. But iPhone has a “downtime” feature where you can shut off most apps until a specified time of day.
Set up a ritual
Decide what you’ll do each morning to get your head in the game. James Clear describes this as a “pre-game routine.” Rather than waiting for motivation to strike, you can schedule your motivation by making it into a habit.
For example, my “pre-game routine” is to make coffee, drink water, listen to the Bible while drinking the coffee, and spend time in prayer. Once I’ve completed these things, my mind is set and ready on what I have scheduled for my morning.
Schedule your tasks
Decide exactly what you’ll do after you’ve completed your morning ritual. Indecisiveness prevents us from accomplishing most of what we want to do. If exercise is the most important thing, then schedule it and do it! If organizing your home is the most important thing, schedule it and do it!
Research has shown that if you write down your goals, you’re more likely to achieve them. Writing down what you want to do each morning definitely counts as a “goal”!
When I write down my morning plans, I’ve noticed I’m much more likely to get them done. I love the feeling of checking it off the list!
This post will show you how to check things off your list by using a time-blocking strategy >>>
If you’re struggling to find time to organize, develop a morning routine that makes it a priority. It may sound like a drag now but by preparing the night before, getting sufficient rest, staying off your phone, and setting up a ritual, you’ll be motivated to accomplish your priorities.
Need help preparing the night before? Download the 10-Minute Tidy Tracker to reset your home every evening.
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