Organized Living
First Things First

Organized living is a way of being to try to avoid all the frustrations, irritations, annoyances and problems that happen to disorganized people.

Having a good life requires lots of time to think.

Do you ever run late or miss appointments? Do you seem to be always busy yet never get things done? You probably need a better sense of time.

Have you ever misplaced your wallet or your keys? Misplacing your wallet or keys can be one of the most irritating and frustrating problems you can have. Looking for them takes a lot of time. Replacing either of them will take a lot of time, effort and money. Do you fumble around with your keys when you are trying to unlock your car or your house? You should be able to reach in your pocket or purse, grab your keys and unlock the door without looking at the keys and with your non-key hand full of groceries, a briefcase or a suitcase.

Organized living in this way is not only an easier way to live but it may save your life some day if you are running from a criminal or away from any bad situation. You need to be ready to leave a bad marriage or relationship at any time if you have to.

Is your wallet stuffed with extra stuff? Is it too full to fit in your pants pocket comfortably?

Do you normally only carry a couple of dollars in cash? Do yourself a huge favor and always carry some extra cash. You never know what it may be needed for. When I went away to college my dad gave me a $100 bill. He said to keep it hidden in my wallet for emergencies. Years later it did help me when I had car trouble. Having that money hidden away saved me from being stranded.

You will have to decide how much to carry. I would say that $100 is a good starting point if you have never carried a lot of cash. $1,000 is better.

Keep some 20's, 5's and singles also. It is so much better than a credit card. You can use your card if that's what you like. I am talking about organized living for the unforeseen happenings. If something bad happens, cash will be king, credit may not work.

Do you drive your car until the gas tank is nearly empty? I always fill mine up when it hits half full. Keeping that tank nearly full is one of the best ways to look out for yourself. In winter you may need to keep it running if you run off the road in a blizzard. If you are traveling or are in an unfamiliar area you may not know where the next gas station is located.

The worst feeling you will have as a father is the stress you will feel when you are speeding to the hospital in the middle of the night with your barely breathing child gasping for air and you in terror of running out of gas. I did make it, my son is fine, but the lesson was learned.

You don't need that feeling. You may need to flee from something or someone, someday. You may need to save your life or someone else's life. Don't be low on gas at that critical moment.

Do you stuff your pockets or purse or not bother to take what is needed with you? Organized living involves not only reducing what you carry to the minimum, but also, carrying what is needed. So, take your keys, wallet, pocketknife, cell phone, gum, mints and whatever else you need along.

Click on my article on Live Like You Were Dying if you need some motivation on getting organized and starting to do what you want to do.

Another way to improve your organized living skills is to concentrate on them. Actively think about doing things in an organized way and look for ways to save time. This becomes second nature as you will concentrate on things that matter to you the most at that time.

Do you want to (or need to) start working out? Click on my article on a good workout routine for some ideas on how to schedule this activity. Use a brightly colored combination lock to help you find your locker after your workout.

Another way to free up time is to stop doing things that don't add value to your life. Think about what you really want to spend time on and cut back or out things that aren't for you.

If you are having a hard time getting something accomplished you may need to use massive action to help you get going and get things done. You may have to get right at it to avoid procrastination.

One more idea that will help is to speed up how you do things. A lot of chores, routines, work and activities can be done a lot faster if you work at it. Organized living will help you to speed up, get more done and have more time for whatever you want to do.

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