By Sandra Mann

Over the past twenty years, I’ve read stacks of books and articles, attended seminars, listened to tapes, and watched countless shows all focused on one thing: organizing my life. After a whole lot of studying—and plenty of trial and error—I’ve come to this conclusion: anyone can become organized.

I used to dream of having a place for everything, and everything in its place. No more scrambling for scissors or glue sticks when one of the kids had a school project due. I wanted to know what I needed to do each day, and when to do it—no more digging through my purse for that dentist appointment card, only to find out the appointment was yesterday. What I wanted was order… and peace of mind.

Thankfully, I’ve discovered lots of great advice and encouragement for people like me. Several books I’ve read talked about organizing rooms to suit your family’s unique needs. At one seminar, the speaker even gave us a breakdown of how long it typically takes to organize each room in the house—super helpful.

Two months ago, I finished reorganizing our basement family room, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. It’s a much more functional, family-friendly space now. My kids love it—they play down there every day. The workspace is perfect for crafts and building projects, my husband enjoys having an office nook, and I love having a phone downstairs so I don’t have to sprint upstairs every time it rings. That little victory lit a fire under me—now I’ve got my eye on the kitchen.

If you know someone who’s naturally organized, I highly recommend asking them to help you get started. I’m lucky enough to live with someone like that—my husband. He’s naturally tidy and structured in ways I’m not. Just the other day, he organized three of my kitchen drawers, and I’m obsessed. (I told him he could do the whole house if he wanted. He graciously declined.) But now, the kitchen doesn’t feel like such a daunting project, and I’m confident I can tackle it within a month.

One piece of advice that shows up everywhere when it comes to time management and organization is this: develop a routine. That’s the magic key. A real game-changer. As I look back on the last two decades, I can see that the times I was most productive and on top of my responsibilities all had one thing in common: I was following a workable routine.

There’s a big difference between having a routine and having a workable routine. Both help you plan your day, but a workable routine lets you stay consistent without burning out. I’ve had plenty of routines that lasted—oh—four days, before I gave up and went back to winging it.

The times when I’ve really felt in flow—when I was meeting my family’s needs and my own—were always when the routine matched our personalities and rhythms. Right now, for instance, I’m reworking my evening routine because I’ve realized I’m just not a 5:00 a.m. person. I thought if I got up earlier, I’d have quiet time for my own goals. But the truth is, it’s hard to do anything productive when you’re wandering around half-asleep with a blank stare.

So instead, I’ve been prepping at night to make mornings easier. My son gets up at 5:30 for sports, and if I’ve done the prep the night before, I can sort of sleepwalk my way through until 6:00, which is when I actually start waking up. Then I have about 45 minutes for myself before the rest of the house comes alive.

The bottom line? Finding what works for you is a personal journey. I’m still the mom who will spontaneously grab a cooler and pack a picnic lunch. I still make homemade hot cocoa the second the first snow falls. That’s who I am, and I love that about me. Becoming more organized hasn’t changed that—it’s just helped me create a life with more space, more freedom, and more opportunity to be my best self.

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