Ask Erin | How to Maintain an Organized and Meaningful Life

by ERIN SHARPLIN LOVE  |  erinlove@panachebyerin.com

Can you imagine a life that is both organized and meaningful? A life where you get the important things done and get to spend quality time with your friends and family doing the things you enjoy?  It may seem like a pipe dream, but it CAN be reality.  It has taken me YEARS to piece together a system that works for me and my family and I want to share my tips with you.  I am, by no means, perfect and am always in search of a better way of doing things.  I know that the only person in MY way is ME!  It’s time for us all to get out of our own way and live the organized and meaningful life we deserve!

1. STOP WAITING FOR MOTIVATION OR PERFECTION! Start NOW!  Things will never be perfect, so just begin now.  Start planning.  Start dreaming.  Start organizing.  Just start!

2. What are your most important things?  Decide what REALLY matters to you right now and leave the rest.  Don’t let the things that don’t matter take up time and energy in your life.   

3. Build routines.  Routines make tasks (big and small) less stressful by putting them on autopilot.  Create a morning routine, evening routine, meal planning routine, Sunday routine, etc.  These routines will help you to be AND feel organized and ready for anything!

4. Consistency builds.  What you do ALL of the time matters more than what you do SOME of the time.  You may not reap the benefits of a routine or challenge immediately, but it you stay the course and remain consistent you will begin reaping the benefits!

5. Organize your spaces.  An organized space is easier to live and flourish in and, therefore, will make maintaining an organized and meaningful life ACTUALLY doable.  Organized space = organized mind.  JUST START!  Don’t reach for perfection (as stated above), start small.  

6. Maintain a calendar.  Studies show that the simple act of writing something on your calendar makes it MUCH more likely to actually get done.  With that said, put the things you want to do on your calendar!  Your calendar shouldn’t be reserved for doctor appointments, birthdays, and meetings.  Add your workout times, family times, and routines as well!

7. Track your progress.  Have you ever heard of a habit tracker?  These things are GENIUS! There is just something so motivating about tracking your progress toward a goal.  You can easily create your own or purchase one online.

8. Take care of yourself!  Move your body in ways you enjoy.  Eat in a way that supports your focus and energy and go to bed earlier than you think you need to!

9. Stop overcommitting to please people!  Full disclosure – this is ME in a nutshell.  I want to make other people happy so I frequently overcommit myself.  That was until I realized that I was only hurting myself and creating resentment in my relationships.  Don’t get me wrong, I still do as many things as possible to help others, I just plan for them better.  I no longer commit if it will cause more harm than good.  

10. Check in with yourself daily.  What happened that worked out great?  What could you do differently tomorrow?

11. Know when to adjust and pivot!  There will inevitably be a time when you realize that a routine, task, job, or goal isn’t working for you anymore.  Don’t be afraid to pivot.  Don’t stay stuck. Adjust!

12. Design your days or they will design you!  I love this saying! Never start a day without a plan.  Doing so only sets you up for failure.

Always remember that to MAINTAIN, you first have to CREATE an organized and meaningful life.  Be gentle with yourself and your progress.  You will fail at times.  You will excel at times.  The most important thing is to keep going!