Organization: A Key to Success

Follow these 3 tips to be more organized

BY: Rachel Rossette

There’s no question that life can get busy! Between balancing school, work, family, and church responsibilities, who has time to think about being organized? Why is being organized so important? 

If there was one person who had a lot to juggle in his life, it was the Prophet Joseph Smith. At a time in his life when he was handling the affairs of the whole Church, raising a family, and dealing with insurmountable trials brought on by his persecutors, Joseph received this counsel from the Lord to build a temple:

“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”¹ 

The early Saints worked and sacrificed to build the Kirtland temple the way the Lord instructed. We can learn from their example by organizing our homes and lives in a similar way. Even though we aren’t asked to do the same things as Joseph Smith and the Saints, the same principles of organization are still important to the Lord.

Here are three tips to help make your home a house of order:

Organize your goals

Setting goals is vital to our progression and learning! Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “[I]f we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential.”²

Whether you’re setting goals at the beginning of the year, the semester, or at the start of a new day, make a specific plan to accomplish your short-term and long-term goals. After making a plan, keep your goals and plans in a visible place so you can remember them and check your progress often.

Organize your surroundings

Maintain a clean space free from distractions. You might dedicate one room in your home to be your “study room” and keep it clear of clutter. You could also study at a local library or other quiet place to help you focus. Your ability to concentrate and feel the Spirit often increases when your environment is clean and organized. As you keep your surroundings organized, pay attention to how it changes the way you feel and the way you learn!

Organize your schedule

You can effectively manage your time by planning to accomplish specific tasks at specific times throughout the day, week, or semester. The best way to organize your schedule is to prioritize and pace yourself. By prioritizing, you make sure that you’re accomplishing the most important things first. By pacing yourself, you prevent yourself from feeling overwhelmed.

A personal planner on your phone or computer could be a helpful tool to keep track of what you need to do each day. You might mark important dates, such as when your assignments are due (and which ones), semester deadlines, and any other upcoming appointments and events.

By implementing these three small and simple steps, you can set yourself up for success and stay organized for school and in your life!

What do you do to stay organized? Share below!

1^ Doctrine and Covenants 88:119

2^ M. Russell Ballard, “How to Set Goals,” Preach My Gospel, 2016.