Menu

How to Get and Stay Organized

How to Get and Stay Organized

It’s that time of year! Whether you’re getting organized at work, at home, school, or all of the above, we’ve got the answers on how to get and stay organized in 2024. So you just got your planner for 2024, now what?

Getting and staying organized can often be two different things. Have you ever started your yearly planning, only to drop it a month later? You’re not alone. Oftentimes, the trouble with getting and staying organized comes from being overwhelmed. Whether it’s being overwhelmed by the tasks at hand, or overwhelmed by the new planning system you’ve created, being overwhelmed with responsibilities creates stress, and stress tends to create avoidance or anxiety, or both.

How do we get and stay organized in 2024 without creating more stress than most of us already have on our plates? The answer is much more simple than you might think. To help, we’ll break these getting and staying organized tips down into five simple steps.


Steps for Getting and Staying Organized

  1. Have a Clear Vision
  2. Set Goals
  3. Make Your Deadlines Actionable
  4. Brainstorm Categories
  5. Make Your Planner Your Home Base

Have a Clear Vision

The first and one of the most important steps on the list is to start with a clear vision. Having a clear vision can help you align your efforts with your goals, so that you can stay focused and organized throughout the year.

Having a clear vision starts with self reflection. What is most important to you? What are your values? What do you want to achieve this year? How do you want to feel at the end of the year when you’re reflecting back on 2024?


Set Goals

Now that you have a clear vision and have done some self reflection, it’s time to set your goals for the year. Setting measurable goals for 2024 will help you understand how you should allocate your resources throughout the year. For example, if one of your goals for 2024 is to read more, then you know that you’ll need to dedicate more of your time to reading, meaning you can schedule that time in your Appointed Planner, and make this a priority task. Remember to set realistic and measurable goals, and try to break them down as much as you can to prevent your goals from becoming overwhelming.



Planner laid out on desk while someone fills it out


Make Your Deadlines Actionable

Another way to prevent your goals from becoming overwhelming is to make your deadlines actionable. For example, if your goal is to write a book in 2024, breaking that down into smaller bite size deadlines is an incredibly helpful way to not get overwhelmed, or get halfway through the year only to realize you haven’t made the progress that you wish you had. Instead, you could break that larger goal down into a daily word count goal.


Brainstorm Categories

To help you get and stay organized in 2024, brainstorm a few categories that you want to prioritize. For example, school, work, travel, appointments, etc. Combine this with using different color highlighters for each category, and now you have an easily digestible arrangement of tasks based on categories. Breaking your tasks out by category can also help you see where you are spending the majority of your time and identify if that aligns with the vision and values you set up at the beginning of the year.


Make Your Planner Your Home Base

To help you stick with anything in life, making it a part of your routine is crucial. You can make your planner your home base by checking it first thing in the morning and jotting down important to-dos before you go to bed to clear your mind for a better night’s sleep. Try not to use multiple devices to keep track of all of your to-dos, as dispersing your tasks can create chaos and allow things to slip through the cracks.


Wrapping Up

Getting and staying organized is a journey, not a destination. It requires constant attention and adaptation. However, the benefits are well worth the effort. With a clear vision, realistic goals, actionable deadlines, well-thought-out categories, and a reliable planner, you can conquer the chaos and enjoy a more productive and stress-free year. Remember the key to staying organized is consistency. Make these steps part of your daily routine and you'll be surprised at how much you can achieve in 2024. Happy organizing!

Related Posts

Why Use a Paper Planner

When it comes to choosing a planner, there are numerous factors to consider, from the tangible appeal of a paper planner to the convenience of a digital planner.

Read more

How to Stay Organized All Year Long

Staying organized is a journey that requires consistent effort. With a solid plan, the right tools, and a willingness to adapt, you can stay on track all year long. Remember that staying organized is not just about being productive, it’s also about reducing stress and improving your overall quality of life. Implement these habits today to stay organized all year long.

Read more

How To Organize Your Year Task Planner

Welcome to your 2024 Year Task Planner! You have your most powerful organization tool ready for a new year—now what? Today, we're guiding you through our top tips for transforming...

Read more

The Top Four Benefits of Tracking Your Hobbies

At the end of the day, productivity gives us more time for the things that matter most to us, freeing up our schedules for hobbies, time with family, travel, and more. Today we’re sharing the top 4 benefits to tracking and recording your hobbies. Get ready to unlock your potential—one page at a time.

Read more

How Teachers Can Plan Ahead for the Year, Week, and Day and Still Enjoy Their Summer

As a former teacher turned planner expert, I am excited to share some planning tips for teachers as we release our new 23-24 planners. Back to school may feel far off into the future as the current school year winds down and summer starts, but it is never too early to start planning.

Read more

Five Spring Cleaning Steps for a Well-Appointed Desk

The arrival of spring signifies new beginnings and fresh starts. Now that winter is on its way out and the sun is beginning to stick around a little longer, you can take more...

Read more

How To Start Journaling and Favorite Prompt Ideas for Inspired Writing

Journaling can have an outsized impact on your mental health, creativity, and more. Today we’re walking you through why you should consider keeping a daily journal, the benefits you might see over time, how to make the habit stick, and some writing prompts to get your started.

Read more

How To Accessorize Your Planner

Just like putting together the perfect outfit, finding the right accessories for your planner can make all the difference. Whatever your planning style, we’ve put together our favorite accessories for making the most of your plans. Read on for fan-favorite writing tools, clever add-ons, and perfectly-paired extras.

Read more

Creative Binder Ideas to Inspire Your Next Great Project

If the last time you used a binder was during your school-age years, we have some exciting news. The brand new Compact Binder is here to help you deep-dive into a hobby, catalog your reading list, track household chores, plan complex projects, and so much more.

Read more

Change Your Day in Under Five Minutes—The Easiest Way To Use a Planner

Today we’re sharing how your planner can make a difference in your productivity and wellness right away. Read on for our one essential step to using a paper planner, and get ready to change your entire day in under five minutes.

Read more

How To Thrive in Remote Work: Tips for Success From the Appointed Team

Here at Appointed, the past few years tasked us with navigating a new normal—balancing remote and hybrid schedules for a team that had formerly been all under one roof. Read on for my favorite solutions for common work-from-home problems, plus a few remote work management tips from our Sr. Direct to Consumer Manager.

Read more

Four Tips To Start the School Year Strong

Whether you’re a parent with school-age kids or gearing up for a new college semester, de-stress the season by putting a few simple tips into practice. Read on for four easy steps to start the new school year strong.

Read more

Why Pen and Paper is Your Best Choice for Travel Planning

Go analog with classic pen and paper for your easiest travel planning yet (and to make sure you don’t forget a thing). Here are our top suggestions for getting organized before you’re en route, and pro tips for enjoying the ride.

Read more

Comments

write a comment

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Your Bag

{property.name}: {property.value}
Maximum available quantity

Oops... Your bag is empty

Start shopping