Have you ever known someone who was insanely organized, and wished you could be more like them? Did you know that being organized is a skill that ANYONE can learn, by implementing some healthy habits?

Seriously….even disorganized people can LEARN these habits to become more organized.

Here are 10 crucial habits to form in order to lead a more organized life:

1. Write down your tasks and goals

Keeping written lists (either paper or electronic) is a great way to hold yourself accountable for completing your list. Trying to remember everything you have to do is a sure way to forget something. You should do this frequently, for to-do lists, grocery shopping, even remembering birthdays.

Writing down your goals can greatly help you accomplish them. Very few people take the time to make specific and measurable goals, but doing so will help ensure your successful at accomplishing your goals.

2. Have schedules and deadlines

Related to writing things down, setting deadlines and having a set schedule can really help you be more productive. Being productive and being organized go hand in hand—and wasting time is something organized people rarely do.

Once you write out your to-do list or goals, set timeframes for them. Give yourself deadlines and break tasks down into smaller subtasks while scheduling time to complete the entire project.

3. Don’t procrastinate

Procrastination is an organized persons worst enemy. Typically, the longer you wait to do something the harder it will be to get it done. Put the effort into completing your tasks, using written lists and schedules/deadlines to help.

Give yourself breaks in-between tasks so you don’t get overwhelmed. You can also use small rewards to keep you motivated!

4. Put things back where they belong

This is probably the most important habit for being organized. It’s very easy to lose something if you put it in a different place every time you are done using it. Being organized means having things in their proper place. Two ways to do this is to give everything in your house a home and labeling.

First, every item in your house should have a certain place that it “lives” and it should be returned to that same place after each use. Second, using labels can help you remember where your possessions belong.

PRO TIP: Use clear storage bins so you can see what you’ve stored inside.

5. De-clutter regularly

This habit is so important. Organized people frequently purge their possessions so they don’t have so much stuff that staying organized isn’t possible. Staying organized takes work, and frequent de-cluttering is an essential step in the organization process.

I frequently tell my clients about the one-in, one-out rule. Every tine you buy a new item, get rid of an old one. This way, you keep what you need and don’t have excess.

6. Have less stuff

At a certain point, having too much will result in not being able to stay organized. After all, the less you own the less you have to organize. Figure out what is really important to you and what you actually use, and eliminate the rest. Excess holds us down, but having the right amount of “stuff” will allow you to live your best life.

This does NOT mean you need to be a minimalist! Staying organized isn’t about the lack of possessions, but about having the RIGHT AMOUNT of possessions.

7. Chose simple solutions

When you have complex organizing systems, it is inevitably going to be harder to stay organized. Using simple organizing solutions will make it much easier to keep things neat and put away.

Simple solutions like bins and baskets work wonders. You can choose from decorative or clear bins so you can see what you store. Drawer organizers are another great solution to keep drawers tidy. Easy solutions means easy clean up!

8. Practice maintenance

Staying organized requires you to continually upkeep your space. Being organized is a journey, not a destination. This means that you are never fully DONE organizing. Just like eating healthy or exercising, organizing is something you continually work on and do regularly. A great habit to get into is to organize a little bit each day. Put back what you’ve taken out, file bills, keep counters clear.

A good philosophy to remember is to “do it now” and don’t wait till later. This way you avoid overwhelming piles and projects. The small amount of time it takes you to tidy each day is far less than it will take to tidy you’re entire home because it’s gotten out of control.

9. Plan for the future

It is always good to be present and focus on “now”. However, it can also be beneficial to plan for (and not worry about) the future. Thinking about yourself in the present and the future will help you plan ahead. If your present self takes a few minutes to tidy the kitchen, your future self will be more relaxed and have time for other responsibilities. Use this to motivate you to get more done!

Additionally, it’s helpful to plan for the future when it comes to scheduling your calendar. Planning ahead for how to stay productive and get the most out of your time is an easy way to stay organized.

10. Work hard

Being and staying organized takes effort. Sometimes it’s a small amount and sometimes you have to work hard to accomplish your goals. The hard work is rewarding, knowing that once you are done you can enjoy a beautifully organized home AND have time for what matters most in life. Learn what motivates you and use that to kick butt! Trust me, the hard work will pay off!

Getting and staying organized can be a challenge, but using these healthy habits will make a drastic improvement to your organizational skills. Getting your life organized can seem impossible, but sometimes it’s the smallest steps that can make the biggest difference. Don’t give up, learn what motivates you, and stick with good habits, and you will find yourself being less stressed and more organized in no time!