If These 5 Things Are Part Of Your Everyday Routine, You're Probably An Exceptionally Organized Person
People with these habits have next-level organizational skills.
Andrey K | Unsplash Our modern lives are chaotic, jam-packed, and exhausting, and it can be hard to make it through the day when you are feeling overwhelmed and tired. And because it seems that every day is the same, it can be very hard to get ahead of it all.
It is possible to get through those overwhelming and exhausting days. All it takes is a little awareness and intention, and a few habits to steal from exceptionally organized people.
If these five things are part of your everyday routine, you're probably an exceptionally organized person:
1. To-do lists
When you are feeling overwhelmed and tired, just thinking about all of the things that need to be done can shut you down for the day. And shutting yourself down for the day is not what you need because that will only lead to more overwhelm tomorrow.
So take a minute and make a list of everything that you think needs to be done today. Once you have a list, make a list of everything that needs to be done today. And then take that list and prioritize what needs to be done first, second, and third.
If you know exactly what needs to be done and you can look at it in front of you, your overwhelm will immediately subside, at least a bit. A big piece of overwhelm is the result of just not knowing what needs to be done.
2. Priorities
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Once you have your list, it’s important to start at the beginning. You have a list and it’s prioritized, and now it’s time to take it one step at a time. Another cause of overwhelm is that we jump too quickly ahead or start to visualize a result that isn’t what we want it to be, and so we get derailed.
So take each item on your list, individually. And if something gets in the way, don’t give up. Get back to your list and keep moving forward.
Research strongly supports the effectiveness of breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This approach leverages the way our brains process information and can significantly impact motivation, productivity, and overall well-being.
3. Self-care
A key part of surviving through exhaustion and overwhelm is to do something to take care of yourself. When we are at the end of our rope, we tend to put ourselves on the back burner and everyone and everything ahead of us.
It’s important that we take even just a little bit of time to do something for ourselves and recharge our batteries.
What would work for you? Perhaps it’s a walk or a run, a mid-morning croissant snack, tea with a friend, a pedicure, or even a massage. Whatever would work for you to make your day just a little more manageable.
4. Power snacks
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When we are running around like crazy, we tend to forget to eat. Or if we do eat, we eat something that isn’t good for us. An important part of fighting overwhelm is to make sure that we eat well, food that will fuel our journey through the day.
What kind of food? Protein is the most important — eggs, nuts, chicken, and cheese. Make sure to eat a good breakfast and lunch or, at the very least, keep some protein with you to snack on. A bag of almonds in the glove box can make a huge difference.
Research consistently highlights the strong connection between regular eating patterns, mental well-being, and cognitive function. Forgetting to eat, especially when due to being overly engrossed in work or other activities, can be a sign of poor self-care and a disconnect from one's physical needs.
5. Cat naps
I know you are laughing at the thought of fitting a nap into your crazy day, but if you possibly can, it will make a huge difference.
I am the queen of the 20-minute nap in the car. I pull over in the shade or sun, depending on the season, put my seat back, and snooze for 20 minutes. When I wake up, my energy levels are up, and I can get through the rest of my day.
So try to make some time to snooze. This crazy modern life we lead makes being overwhelmed and tired a regular occurrence. And, since tropical vacations aren’t usually available to help us recharge, we must do what we can to get through the day.
So make a list, set your priorities and take care of yourself. If you can take care of yourself then you will better be able to take care of others. And get yourself through the day intact and ready for another one tomorrow.
Mitzi Bockmann is a NYC-based Certified Life Coach who works with individuals who strive to heal their toxic relationships so they can have their happily ever after. Mitzi's bylines have appeared in The Good Men Project, MSN, PopSugar, Prevention, Huffington Post, Psych Central, among many others.
