Quick Motivation & Organization Hacks
It can be difficult to find the motivation and energy to organize, so here are some of our fav hacks to get you going:
Have An Organization Affirmation
Reminding yourself of the value of organization quickly and simply, especially when you don’t feel like doing what needs to be done (think the dirty dishes at the end of the night) can be the little boost you need to keep you going. It’s important to have an affirmation that resonates with you, so take some time to think about one that fits you. Here are some examples of some of our favs:
Doing this task is a gift to my future self.
Look at me becoming an organized person!
I’ll feel so satisfied once this is done.
Jazz up the organization
Adding a bit of razzle dazzle to your organization tasks can infuse some fun and make the task feel a lot less daunting.
Here are some examples of jazzed-up tasks:
Listening to a podcast while you meal prep
Playing some music while you do the dishes
Watching a show while you fold your laundry
Having a smoothie while sorting the mail.
There are all sorts of ways to jazz up organizing, so have fun and get creative with it!
Keep the Motor Going
When you have momentum, it’s much easier to keep going with your tasks. Think of a car- A car starting from 0 mph will take longer and more fuel to reach 50 miles per hour rather than a car that's already going 50 mph. If you can take advantage of the momentum and energy that you already have going, you can knock out more than you’d expect! Here are some key times to take advantage of momentum:
Right after work/school & Before you sit down to relax in the evening
I always recommend that people don’t even sit down once they get home if they plan on doing something productive that requires them to stay in motion (e.g. do a load of laundry, cook dinner, go to the gym). Once you sit down and get all cozy on the couch, it’s so much harder to get back up.
In the morning, when energy levels are high and mental clarity is crisp!
Right after you’ve had your morning coffee can be a great time to take advantage of all of that caffeine and energy you built up during last night’s rest.
Pro tip: Plan what you’ll focus on the next day, the night before, and your brain will be primed to get busy the next day! See our AM/PM Routine post for more on this.
Next Three Steps Method
Sometimes, knowing where to start or what to do, can be overwhelming and lead to analysis paralysis. Try starting with what we like to call the ‘next three steps method', where you only focus on the next three steps you need to take to start a task. This method can be used to get you out of bed in the morning or even to help you break down complex tasks. Here are some examples of the next three-step method:
You get the picture! Give it a try and let us know what you think!
The Time Estimator
One of the biggest deterrents to getting organized is the thought that it will take FOR.EV.ER, when in reality, most organization tasks take little to no time. I’ve found that one of the best ways to motivate myself is by asking, “How long will this take?”. This allows me to really put things into perspective in that moment. Oftentimes, the answer is less than 30 minutes, which helps me to realize that I’m being a bit dramatic and will be able to knock the task out quickly.
Pro Tip: Time yourself doing tasks you often do, so that you can accurately plug these tasks into your calendar.
Ask For Help
There is no shame in asking for help even when things feel like they are out of control. Asking for help can also be the kickstart you need to get things back on track. Here are a few ways to ask you can ask for help:
Ask a friend to come over and help you clean or complete a specific organization task:
It can be fun to invite a friend over to catch up and help you grocery shop and meal prep for the week or spruce while jamming out to some music.
Hire a housekeeper to help you reset:
If you have the means to do so, hiring a housekeeper to help you clean can be a game changer. It can feel like sucha reset to have a clean home again, and be able to focus on other organization tasks that need your attention.
Ask Us for support. We are always down to help! Just reach out here, and we’ll help you figure out where and how to get started!
XOXO,
TULU Team