Q&A for How to Stay Organized

The bedroom is really for sex and sleep and that's it. Anything that doesn't apply to those two things should not be in the bedroom, like computers, books, notepads, pens, pencils, work stuff, etc. Your nightstand should also be cleared off. You really want to reduce the stress in the bedroom. So if there's a lot of clutter in the bedroom, you really want to remove anything that isn't necessary.

Designate each drawer for a certain type of clothing so you have socks in one drawer, underwear in another drawer, T-shirts in one drawer, and so on. Also, always take the extra time after you do laundry to fold everything and put it away properly. If you're in a rush and just throw everything in your dresser, things are going to get disorganized quickly.

The one thing that's going to help you the most is giving yourself five minutes when you get home every day to go through your purse. Take out the receipts from the day, any trash in there, the loose change on the bottom, etc. Taking the time every day to clear out clutter will really help prevent your purse from becoming disorganized.

It can be hard at first, but you don't want to keep everything that is useless. Start with small items, then go into the big ones.

Start by tidying up anything that looks cluttered. If you are cleaning a large room, consider starting at one side of the room, and working your way around it clockwise. You can also create a to-do list for the whole day.

Just think of how much it will help you. You'll be able to find things easier and cleaning up can be fun. Turn it into a game. For example, if you are trying to put laundry in the laundry basket make the laundry basket into a basketball hoop! Reward yourself every time you get something big accomplished by taking a break, having a snack, etc.

The main idea of organizing is to put things where they belong. For example, if you have trouble putting your bag away, then make a place where you can just drop or throw, and it would be put away. You can do this with a lot of items.

If it is in the bathroom, arange your products from tallest to shortest. If it is in your bedroom, get Mason jars and label the outside with decorative paper and put your stuff in those.

When I'm sick or when my depression comes back, I put things in a basket by my bed to deal with later and make sure my area is sanitized more frequently. I find that a cleaner environment helps me feel more motivated, and elevates my mood.

Get lots of binders and dividers for your classes and label them for each subject (math, history, English, etc.). Keep a notebook for each subject and an extra notebook just in case. Always have an extra pencil on hand as well. Keep an umbrella in your locker, just in case it rains. Try using a daily planner notebook or an agenda to help keep track of upcoming events, field trips, projects, tests, etc.

You can put your books in a closet shelf or under your bed. Put your books someplace where they are out of the way, but can be easily reached.

You could plan the night before what you want to get done, get up earlier, eliminate all the unnecessary things you do throughout the day, change your studying method and be active in class and not just mindlessly take notes as the teacher is talking.

Try using labeled boxes, and make sure you give yourself enough time to organize your things after you're done with them.

Start by getting rid of anything you don't need, including furniture. Buy storage containers for your papers and odds and ends you have lying around. Paint the walls one neutral shade, like eggshell or off-white.

To stay organized, you can: use drawers and boxes to store your things, so that they aren't cluttered and all over the place. A healthy, clean working environment will make you feel more organized and productive. Then, you can make sure you have your own study space, with no distractions and write a to-do list.

Use a color wheel, or decide on some favorite shades. If painting, put cards of some colors you like on what you're painting, or in the room you're decorating. Look at the colors throughout the day to decide which you like the best during all times of day, for example if you have yellow lighting, it may make a color look odd.

Try the methods in Organize Your Backpack .