Organising Your Life With a 10-Step Framework (Part 1)

To have a totally organised life seems like Utopia to most of us. The reality, though, is that life isn’t predictable, and no matter how organised you are, there will always be unexpected curve balls to deal with. Enter a framework of principles to support an organised life.

A framework is defined as a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text. It’s something that will allow you to immediately recognise when you’ve veered off-course and tap into the tools and structures you’ve created to support getting back on track.

Think of your framework as a map pointing you towards your Utopia – it’s a lot easier to know where you’re going if you have directions, rather than just stumbling around with no desired outcomes or goals. So, how do you create this framework? We’ve outlined ten principles below as a good start, but do remember that this is just a framework and not a strict set of rules. We’re trying to create a predetermined way of acting that will limit indecision and increase productivity.

1. Create habits that build routines

We’ve all got good and bad habits; the central theme is that we act on them without conscious thought. An excellent place to start creating your framework is by taking a good look at your habits to see what’s working, what’s not, and what new habits could help you reach your goals. Remember that you need to have a strong ‘why’ for a habit to stick, so be clear on that before moving on using those habits to assemble a daily routine for better productivity and less procrastination and distraction.

2. Plan with your calendar

By scheduling all your tasks - both big and small - into your calendar (grocery shopping and school runs can chew into your time when you’re not expecting them!), you’ll have a clear picture of what your week looks like and where you can focus on the important things. Be sure to dedicate (and diarise) at least an hour a week to a Calendar planning session, and remember to overestimate when you’re not sure of the time required.

3. Avoid going against the grain

There’s simply no point in trying to create habits that won’t stick. If you’re a night owl and set a goal of waking up at 5 am every morning – it’s very unlikely to become an ongoing part of your routine. When organising your life, embrace your natural inclinations and opt for the path of least resistance for the best outcomes.

4. Consistency wins the race

An achievable organisational framework is not about perfection. When looking at your plans, consider if they are realistic or not – instead of committing to exercising 7x a week, perhaps 3x a week is more achievable to start. Tiny improvements add up to massive differences, so opt for consistency over perfection.

5. Aim for the middle ground

You may start off feeling that a 16 –hour day is achievable, but before you know it, stress, burnout, and lethargy arrive at your door. It’s all about balance – if you find the time to recharge and relax, you’ll be motivated to keep working towards your goals.

6. Learn to say no

Prioritising – and therefore learning to say no when it doesn’t serve your highest good - is an essential part of creating your framework. It’s also a good idea to get clear the difference between important and urgent tasks and how they need to be treated.

7. Simplify

Remember, less is always more. It’s tricky to feel organised when you’re drowning in too much of everything, so take this opportunity to sort through the clutter in your physical, digital and mental space and schedule a time to regularly check-in on possible new clutter.

8. Track your progress

You must measure your progress. Things like weekly reviews will highlight what activities help reach your goals and what things you could prune to make more time for the good stuff.

9. Automate or outsource

Automation is such a time-saver in areas of our lives like paying bills and ordering groceries – so use them! And when you can’t automate, definitely consider outsourcing to save you time where possible.

10. Get experimenting

Being organised doesn’t mean that you can’t make time for spontaneity. If your routine starts to feel stale and boring, it might be time to shake things up. So, take a look on SEEK to see if any new jobs interest you, try a new sport, or take up something wild and wacky you’ve always been interested in to revitalise your schedule.