The Things I’m Using to Get My Life More Organized
I have become a little obsessed with organization lately.
Not the kind of organization where everything has to be perfect, colorless, minimalist, and worthy of a magazine cover. I mean organization that actually helps me think.
I have a lot of interests. I love writing, researching, reading, learning, creating, planning, and coming up with new ideas. The problem with having a brain full of ideas is that eventually you need somewhere to put all of them.
So I’ve been experimenting with different ways to organize my life, studies, business ideas, finances, projects, and everyday responsibilities.
And I’ve learned something important:
Organization isn’t about making your life look perfect. It’s about making your life easier to navigate.
Here are some of the things I’m using—and some that I recommend if you’re trying to create a better system for yourself too.
1. Notebooks for Different Parts of My Life
I still love a physical notebook.
There is something different about writing something down by hand. When I’m brainstorming, researching, planning, or trying to work through an idea, sometimes I need to get away from a screen.
Instead of putting everything into one giant notebook, I like the idea of having separate notebooks for different areas.
For example:
- Personal thoughts and journaling
- Business ideas
- Research
- Money and financial planning
- Blog ideas
- Education and studying
- Goals and future plans
A helpful tip is to grab notebooks in different sizes and colors. Smaller notebooks are easy to carry around for quick ideas, while larger ones give you more room for planning, journaling, or detailed notes. My favorite notebooks are the ones with colored tabs or dividers because they make it easier to separate sections and find information quickly.
You don’t need expensive notebooks either.
But if you’re someone who loves stationery, a notebook you actually enjoy opening can make you more likely to use it.
My notebook recommendations:
[https://amzn.to/3UwR3mT]
2. Colored Folders
This is where things start getting interesting.
I’ve been experimenting with organizing information by color.
Instead of seeing a pile of identical folders, I can look at a color and immediately associate it with a particular category.
You can create your own color system.
For example:
Green: money, investing, business, or opportunities
Pink: personal or feminine energy
Blue: learning, information, or communication
Brown: permanent information, boundaries, or things that are solid
Yellow: ideas, creativity, or things that need attention
Your colors don’t have to mean what mine mean.
The point is to give information a visual identity.
Colored folders:
[https://amzn.to/3T4qhlk]
3. Index Cards
Index cards might be one of the most underrated learning tools ever.
They’re inexpensive, portable, and incredibly flexible.
You can use them for:
- Flashcards
- Quotes
- Vocabulary
- Research notes
- Business ideas
- Questions
- Important facts
- Content ideas
- Reminders
- Book notes
I’ve also become interested in the Zettelkasten—or slip-box—method of knowledge management, where individual notes can eventually connect to other ideas.
An index card can hold one small idea.
Over time, hundreds of small ideas can become an incredible personal knowledge system.
Index cards I recommend:
https://amzn.to/45YJxnl
4. Highlighters and Colored Pens
Color makes information easier for me to separate visually.
Instead of highlighting everything—which completely defeats the purpose—I like giving colors specific jobs.
One color might represent something I need to research.
Another might mean an action I need to take.
Another could represent money.
Another could identify an important idea I don’t want to forget.
Suddenly a page isn’t just words.
It’s information with signals.
Highlighters:
Colored pens:
https://amzn.to/4iU4d7r
5. Sticky Notes
My brain doesn’t always give me ideas at convenient times.
That’s why I like having somewhere to capture something quickly.
Sticky notes are great for temporary information: something that needs to be moved, completed, organized, or transferred into a more permanent system.
I especially like using different sizes.
Tiny notes can mark pages.
Medium notes can hold reminders.
Large sticky notes can become mini brainstorming boards.
Sticky notes:
https://amzn.to/4if42Du
6. A Planner
I have realized there is a big difference between having goals and scheduling the actions required to reach them.
“I want to build my business” isn’t a schedule.
“I will work on my website Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until noon” is.
A planner forces ideas to meet reality.
I like having space for appointments, priorities, tasks, and notes instead of simply having a calendar.
Planner recommendation:
https://amzn.to/3TiuiCQ
7. Storage That Makes Everything Visible
One thing I’ve learned about myself is that if something disappears into a giant drawer, I may forget it exists.
So I’m becoming a fan of storage systems where I can quickly see categories.
That might mean:
- File boxes
- Desktop organizers
- Clear storage bins
- Magazine holders
- Index-card boxes
- Drawer dividers
- Label makers
The goal isn’t to own more storage.
The goal is to give the things you already own a home.
Desk organizer:
https://amzn.to/4yMYxRF
File storage:
https://amzn.to/4xV92SH
Label maker:
https://amzn.to/4hg7igN
My Biggest Organization Lesson
I used to think organization meant becoming a naturally organized person.
Now I see it differently.
You don’t need to become organized. You need to build systems that make staying organized easier.
If papers always pile up somewhere, give them a designated place.
If you constantly forget ideas, create an idea-capture system.
If studying feels chaotic, create categories.
If your finances feel confusing, give money its own notebook or folder.
Pay attention to where your life repeatedly becomes messy.
That’s probably where you need a system.
I’m still experimenting, changing things, and figuring out what works for me.
And that’s part of the fun.
Your organization system doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
It just has to help you find what you need, remember what matters, and spend more of your energy actually living your life instead of constantly searching for it.
Affiliate Disclosure: I am an affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase a product through one of the links I provide, at no additional cost to you. If you find this post valuable and choose to purchase a recommended product, please consider using my links as a token of appreciation. I only share products that I believe may be useful to my readers.
Kayla Hofer 
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