i’m trying to get organized. a new year is almost upon us and i don’t feel like playing catch up on my goals, aspirations and dreams then. i have been getting by on the last-minute tip for a long time and i realize it’s not how i want to go further. i want to be prepared for 2015. to actually live purposefully and full of intent vs just saying it. i resolve to do this type of thing every year, and as resolutions go, they somehow just fall by the wayside. but this time around i plan to be more prepared for what i want to come.

you create your own destiny.

that’s what resolutions are for. and even if they get broken it’s important to make them. to achieve or “fail” is besides the point. it’s about assessing and re-assessing as you go. making progress.

resolve n. a firm determination to do something.

and i have that - the determination to do something part, down. it’s the firm part that comes in the way a bit. but that’s another story.

so i’m getting organized and first up is planning a few fun events for the year, (soup and salad exchanges - yes… plural, cozy ted talks screenings, clothing swaps…,) some new features for the blog (i’ll be sharing more on each of these as they become more solidified plans,) working more consistently on my goods + art and of course taking my photography workshop to new heights and insha’allah reaching many, many more people.

the thing is i’m notorious (to myself) for being all over the place, with notes here and there, on my phone (awesome note, evernote, the built-in notes, text messages to myself…,) on notepads, loose papers, in a notebook, in my head. it’s just all too much and i can’t keep track of my thoughts. my desk space is not working for me and i’m rarely ever at it. things are piling up, there’s so much to do, yet i often blank when i have time to do things.

its ok, but come on… get it together already!

i’m looking at the root causes of my disorganization and coming up with solutions to make things work better. efficiencies. productivity. etc, etc.

these are a few of the things i’ve picked up on while working on getting organized so that i can live and work with purpose.

1. dailies / decide on a list of daily tasks that you complete everyday. they should align with your life goals and aren’t meant to be specific tasks. more broad-based and covers the important things. they can be as many or few as you like. everyday i’ll aim to do them. and everyday, i’ll check them off my list. this practice is good because it instils habitual behaviour, which i lack, and aims to keep me on my life course.

2. five things / another list, but this one is of specific and achievable tasks to accomplish that day. these things will likely overlap with your dailies and that’s a good thing. it’s kind of the point. get these done and everything else you do that day is gravy. i’m still determining if its better for me to write my five things the night before, or the morning of.

3. everything has a place / tidy up as you go. i try to implement this with my kids all the time, but have not been the biggest practitioner of late. im leaning towards minimalism more and more these days and have been doing major sweeps in the house getting rid of the many unnecessary objects hanging around so that this tip is easier to accomplish.

4. use a calendar and planner / i have been meaning to get a family calendar for the wall for a while now, but the designer in me isn’t satisfied with what’s been available. i realize that i need to get over it to get into it. in this case practicality is going to have to trump aesthetics. (this calender is gorgeous, but doesn’t fit my needs…) i want to be able to see on a full-page what is coming up for us short-term and what i have to look forward to on the horizon. the calendar on my phone has important dates in it, but not everyone can see it and i believe the daily visual is to its success. i like this calendar and this planner seems to be exactly what i’m looking for. what a great idea to balance goals, dreams, and actionable tasks in one place!

5. balance planning and being flexible / i have a tendency to let that day take me one way or another. i say yes a lot. im down for fun, so i’m a good friend and partner for adventure, but it’s taking a toll on my task list. i could plan each half hour of my day to fit everything in, and likely get a lot done, but i dont think i would be very happy. my pH wants a little looseness, some freedom. but i’m realizing that if i plan a little and am productive with my plans, then there can be ample time to flit and float about the rest of my day. or at least the portions of my day that i have planned for freedom.

organization takes time. it’s a search inside for what’s really important. and that to me is a pretty important task in itself.

have you started planning your year yet? what tools do you use to stay organized? wouldn’t it be fun to be organized using all of these pretty tools?

credits / office space : found here