Download Article
Download Article
If you see scattered papers, piles of dirty clothes, and miscellaneous pieces of trash when you look around your room, you're definitely not alone. Cleaning and organizing aren't the things most people want to be doing in their spare time, but they actually aren't that hard to keep up with, and they can even be fun once you get into a routine! In this article, we'll help you establish your own routine so you can keep your room, locker, and any other spaces you use neat and organized all the time.
Steps
-
Choose a day where you can sit down and plan for the week ahead. A good time to do this would be Sunday night. Most people don't have anything to do on Sunday nights, unless you have other activities. If so, maybe Saturday night will work. You need to get to know your routinely schedule, or else things will get complicated.
-
Make goals for each day of the week. The goals should be S.M.A.R.T. Each letter stands for a word, as stated below: [1] X Research source
- Specific: Say exactly what you need to get done. Be precise! For example, imagine that your goal was to get fit. You could plan to exercise everyday for a limited amount of time. However, rather than saying "Exercise," you should jog
- Measurable. You should have a certain way to measure your aim. For example, jogging can be improved by jogging for twenty minutes or so.
- Achievable. You need to set goals that you can do. Do not cram too much in at once. For example, do not jog for one hour if you are not fit enough. Instead, jog for fifteen minutes and increase your time as the days go on.
- Realistic. Be realistic with your goals, this is not fantasy. Do not jog for twenty minutes on four days, even if it is likely that bad weather will stop this from happening. Instead, say "Weather permitting, jog for twenty minutes on four days."
- Time-Based. Finally, add a time for your aim to be completed by. For example, 'Weather permitting, jog for twenty minutes on four days,' could be further improved by adding 'this week' to the end.
Advertisement -
Tackle each goal one at a time. Each day, do all of your goals, starting with the most important, then working to the less important goals. Keep an actual to-do list if it will help you track all your goals; you can even maintain multiple lists, like a short-term one for daily tasks and assignments, and a long-term list for goals that you want to accomplish throughout the semester or year. [2] X Research source
-Step-1-Version-3.jpg)
-Step-2-Version-3.jpg)
-Step-3-Version-3.jpg)
Advertisement
-
Create a place for everything . Being organized starts with knowing where things should go - this comes in handy during clean-up and helps you maintain order along the way, so that big clean-ups actually become less necessary. [3] X Research source
- Use storage bins, containers, and drawers to help you keep your things organized and prevent clutter from building up throughout your space. [4]
X
Expert Source
Christel Ferguson
Professional Organizer Expert Interview. 17 December 2018. - Try decluttering by getting rid of things you don't need, like duplicate items. This will make staying organized a lot easier. [5]
X
Expert Source
Christel Ferguson
Professional Organizer Expert Interview. 17 December 2018.
- Use storage bins, containers, and drawers to help you keep your things organized and prevent clutter from building up throughout your space. [4]
X
Expert Source
Christel Ferguson
-
Do a daily room clean up. [6] X Research source
- Pick at least 10 items off the floor each day (If there are that many to pick up).
- Aim to remove the biggest problems in the room first.
-
Do a weekly clean up. This is the time when you will put everything left on the floor back to its place. A thorough room cleaning is a must every now and then, even if you work to keep things clean on a regular basis.
-
Put items away as soon as you have finished using them. Don't just think you can do it later.
-Step-4-Version-3.jpg)
-Step-5-Version-3.jpg)
-Step-6-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-7-Version-2.jpg)
Advertisement
-
Don't try to cram too many after-school and extra-curricular actives into your schedule. It only adds to the pyramid of stress with school, friends, and alone time.
-
Always have all your equipment for the day. If necessary, make lists of what you'll need for given classes and activities so you can make sure you don't forget anything.
-
Avoid absences when possible. If you are absent for just 5% of days, you lose 9 days of school time. This is approximately 45 hours of learning lost (presuming you have 5 hours of lessons each school day, not including break times).
-
Try to always be on time . If teachers are unsure which grade to give you, they will often check how often you are late to school. Therefore, being late, even if only late by a few seconds, will result in lower grades.
-
Keep your schedule organized. Use a calendar. Carry a personal planner around so you can mark down any important notifications. Keep track of academic, extracurricular, and social/family obligations so that you can be sure you don't miss anything important. [8] X Research source
-Step-8-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-9-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-10-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-11-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-12-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-13-Version-2.jpg)
Advertisement
-
Have a daily personal care routine. Sticking to the same general approach to self care each morning can help you stay organized. [9] X Research source
- Take a shower every day or at least every second day. It makes you smell fresh.
- Make sure to take care of other daily needs, like brushing your teeth, keeping your hair clean and tidy, and wearing clean clothes. While not everyone is focused on beauty, staying generally neat and clean makes for a good first impression throughout your life.
-
Learn to do your laundry . While it may be easier to rely on your parents to keep your clothes clean most of the time, it's even better to learn early on how to take care of these chores. That way, if you need a particular outfit clean at a certain time when the regular family laundry hasn't been done, you can take care of it yourself, and maintain your neat and clean appearance.
-Step-14-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-15-Version-2.jpg)
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWhat if I live in a trailer and don't have a room?Community AnswerTry to keep your personal belongings organized, avoid making messes in your living space, and make sure to keep on top of your responsibilities.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Experiment with different approaches and habits that work for you. Not all organizational techniques will fit the bill for all people, but some ideas can get you started, and finding out which ones are successful for you is key to being neat, clean, and organized in the long run.Thanks
- If you fail to be organized in the first few days, don't be discouraged. Consistence is key to being more organized. Patience will help you but also remember your goals.Thanks
- Maintain the neat, clean and organized theme. It will surely help in the long run, to be frank.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-organize-your-life-10-habits-really-organized-people.html
- ↑ https://zenhabits.net/27-great-tips-to-keep-your-life-organized/
- ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-organize-your-life-10-habits-really-organized-people.html
- ↑ Christel Ferguson. Professional Organizer. Expert Interview. 17 December 2018.
- ↑ Christel Ferguson. Professional Organizer. Expert Interview. 17 December 2018.
- ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/how-to-be-organized#slide-3
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/focused.html#catschool
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/focused.html#catschool
- ↑ https://www.dumblittleman.com/get-ready-faster-morning-stay-organized/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To keep yourself neat and clean, try to set a daily personal care routine for yourself. Make sure you take a shower every day, or at least every other day. When you hop in the shower, remember to scrub your hair and keep it nice and clean. Try to get in the habit of brushing your teeth at least twice a day - once in the morning, and once in the evening. You might also want to learn how to do your own laundry, so you always have a fresh, clean outfit to wear - ask your parents to teach you. For more advice, like how to stay organized at school, read on!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 78,734 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "The article has helped me a lot. Here is my story, I am really messy so I looked on this website on how to be more organized." ..." more
Advertisement
100%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"The article has helped me a lot. Here is my story, I am really messy so I looked on this website on how to be more organized."
..."
more
"This article helped me stay on track, especially with school."
"This article helped me a lot especially with middle school. "
"It will help me so much!"
"It made me to be clean."
