How To Sort Your Life Out (and Get Organized) – 15 Steps

In today’s article you’re going to learn everything you need to know about how to sort your life out.

Our culture places a lot of expectations on us, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by them. Many individuals get caught up in their daily routines and small obligations, eventually losing sight of what’s important.

However, to organize one’s life, it’s crucial to reflect deeply on one’s true desires. By doing so, you can modify your daily routine to align with your ultimate aspirations for happiness and overall wellness.

How To Sort Your Life Out:

1. Envision your ideal self by identifying your most valuable qualities.

Recognizing your unique talents can guide you in determining the path your life should take. Take some time to reflect on what sets you apart and makes you exceptional.

One effective way to discover your true qualities is by spending time in a setting where you can freely express yourself. You may choose to visit your favorite natural spot or surround yourself with individuals who understand you. Pay attention to the traits that emerge when you are comfortable being yourself.

If you find it challenging to identify your strengths, consider seeking input from trustworthy individuals. Sometimes, we struggle to see our own positive attributes clearly.

2. Create a prioritization list by separating your priorities from your current responsibilities.

Reflect on the happiest moments in your life and emphasize the aspects that brought you joy. Ignore the feasibility aspect and focus on what truly drives you.

This will help you recognize what you value rather than the methods to achieve them. Keep the list concise and brief, not exceeding five items. To identify your priorities, ask yourself the following questions:

How would you prefer to live your life?
Do you wish to maintain good health and energy?
Would you like to develop deeper relationships with the people in your life?
What accomplishments would you be proud of to recall about yourself ten years from now?

3. Create a daily schedule by listing out your typical day, without considering your personal goals.

This schedule will reveal your current approach to fulfilling your priorities.

After creating your daily schedule, analyze whether your priorities align with your daily routine. Can you connect your cherished values with your daily activities?

For instance, if you already have a nutritious breakfast every morning, you can link it with the priority of maintaining a healthy body and mind. If you fail to see the relationship between your time management and your deeper values, then you’ll know that significant changes may be necessary.

4. Distinguish between urgent and valuable activities by reviewing your daily schedule.

Every action we take holds significance, or else we wouldn’t engage in it.

Observe the activities you perform under pressure, which fall under the category of urgent. Then, examine the other actions that are valuable. A valuable activity offers intrinsic satisfaction as it aligns with your priorities, even if only in a small way.

For example, you may be uncertain about where to classify an activity such as calling your mother. Ask yourself if you call your mother daily out of guilt or fear of upsetting her if you don’t check-in, or if you speak with her regularly because you prioritize family and find joy in connecting with her. A “yes” to the former indicates an urgent activity, while a “yes” to the latter implies a valuable one.

Create a list of obligations and responsibilities that includes not only essential tasks such as paying bills and purchasing groceries, but also obligations we feel towards others. Identify the activities you feel compelled to do out of fear of punishment or shame.

Though these obligations will not vanish, acknowledging them can help you differentiate between prioritized actions and those done out of obligation or urgency. Gradually, you will begin making choices that prioritize your growth and values, instead of merely responding to perceived consequences.

Observe which obligations can be modified, divided, or delegated to align with your priorities. Can a relative, friend, or colleague assist with the task part-time? Alternatively, is the responsibility genuinely someone else’s, allowing them to step up and handle it?

5. Consider your relationships.

In order to avoid feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about your priorities, it’s important to be surrounded by people who make you feel comfortable enough to be confident and creative. The next time you socialize, pay attention to who energizes you and who makes conversation feel like a burden.

This will help you tune into your instincts and identify whose company truly uplifts you, allowing you to spend time feeling empowered instead of obligated in relation to others.

Ask yourself honestly: “Who diminishes my sense of self-worth when I’m around them? Who makes me feel like my opinions don’t matter?” You may be surprised (and unsettled) to realize that even people we care about deeply can trigger feelings of self-doubt and cause us to suppress our true thoughts and feelings.

6. Express challenging conversations.

Our lives are full of interactions with others who may have different perspectives and priorities than us. Are there any discussions you’ve been avoiding because you fear the other person’s reaction?

Rather than accusing or blaming them, try to talk openly and honestly about your differences. Then, together you can explore potential solutions while keeping these differences in mind. In some cases, finding a resolution may be simple, eliminating the frustration and discomfort from your daily life.

For instance, you may have a co-worker who always leaves you with the task (1) of filing papers, which you find particularly unpleasant. By calmly expressing how filing papers negatively affects you, you could work out a way to divide the responsibility more equitably.

Your co-worker may simply forget about filing and be willing to take on the entire task. Regardless, you will feel empowered by resolving the issue and freeing up time for activities that you enjoy.

7. Make it a habit to take time for yourself regularly and use it to reflect on your priorities and direction in life.

Imagine yourself as your own supportive friend, to whom you can express your deepest thoughts and fears without judgement. By being kind and understanding to yourself, you can achieve a higher degree of intimacy and self-awareness than relying on others for support.

Spending time alone in nature can also be beneficial, as it allows you to disconnect from distractions and appreciate the beauty of your surroundings.

8. To improve your self-talk, it’s essential to recognize and counter negative thoughts.

We often think self-defeating thoughts such as “I’m not good enough” or “I can’t do this.” When you catch yourself thinking this way, try to replace those thoughts with positive affirmations of what you are capable of doing.

For instance, if you feel overwhelmed by a long and complicated writing assignment, remind yourself that you are good at handling pressure and have excellent writing skills that can tackle any topic.

9. To move forward in life and sort out priorities, it is crucial to let go of past regrets and resentments.

One way to do this is to make amends with people who represent unresolved issues in your life, whether it’s a parent you haven’t seen in years or a friend you had a falling out with. Holding onto anger or disappointment from the past can drain your energy and make it difficult to move forward.

It’s important to note that making amends doesn’t necessarily mean having a long, drawn-out confrontation about what happened. Simply letting the person know that you recognize there were unresolved issues and that you intend to move forward with respect and gratitude for the lessons learned can be enough. Writing a brief email or message can help to clear the air and bring a sense of peace.

10. Create a list of tasks at the beginning of each day.

This can help you to organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. It also helps you to manage stress by giving you a visual representation of what needs to be done. Take a look at your to-do list and decide which tasks are most important for your happiness and well-being.

Instead of rushing to complete urgent tasks, prioritize activities that will bring you joy or relaxation. For instance, you may have a bill due in a few days, but taking a walk outside is also on your list.

Although paying the bill seems like the logical choice, taking care of your physical and mental health is equally important. You can always tackle the bill when it is closer to the due date.

11. Tidy up your surroundings as if it were spring cleaning time.

A clean and organized environment can greatly affect our motivation to complete tasks. Start by cleaning your space thoroughly, getting rid of anything that is broken or no longer useful by donating it or throwing it away.

Declutter your physical space by getting rid of old papers and receipts that are taking up unnecessary space in your drawers, and do the same in your virtual space by deleting old emails, notes, and contacts that are cluttering your folders. This will give you a sense of renewal and create space for new opportunities to come into your life.

12. Establishing a regular sleep schedule is important for regulating your mood and emotions.

Studies have found that even a few days of insufficient sleep can lead to negative effects such as decreased ability to manage negative emotions, which can impact your motivation to achieve your goals.

If you are unable to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night (2), consider taking short naps during the day to help make up for lost sleep. Making an effort to improve your sleeping habits can be a valuable investment in your overall well-being.

13. Adjusting your diet and eating habits can be an important part of improving your life.

It’s important to find a dietary plan that works for you and fits your lifestyle. If you don’t enjoy cooking or don’t have much time for it, consider developing habits around meal planning and preparation to make the process easier and less stressful.

This can include keeping a list of basic items to have on hand for quick and nutritious meals or snacks. By having reliable options, you can avoid the pitfalls of overeating or undereating that often accompany stress.

14. Exercise to release pent-up energy.

Engaging in physical activity causes your brain to release endorphins, adrenaline, and other chemicals that help relieve excess tension and improve your mood. Any form of movement has been shown to regulate bodily functions and enhance emotional well-being, whether it’s yoga, weight training, or cardiovascular exercise.

However, it’s important to prioritize exercise in a way that fits into your life without adding unnecessary stress. The goal is to improve your fitness level so that you can live the life you want, rather than burdening yourself with another obligation you don’t enjoy.

For instance, if building muscle endurance isn’t a priority for you, opt for brisk walks instead of weight training.

15. Keep an eye on your habits.

Do you frequently engage in activities such as drinking, smoking, or binge-watching TV? It’s not the habits themselves that are the issue, but how you use them and how they fit into your life.

By being mindful of the role your habits play, you can learn to use them in a responsible manner without necessarily giving them up completely. The next time you reach for a drink, for example, ask yourself: “Is this helping me move closer to my goals?”

The answer may be yes if you are enjoying a glass of wine with friends or family whose company you value. But the drink may also be serving as a way to avoid a task on your to-do list or impeding your ability to focus on your priorities.

To sort your life out, it is important to cultivate acceptance of the past and make amends with unresolved issues, start each day with a to-do list, clean your physical and virtual space, regulate your sleep schedule, find a diet that fits your needs, exercise to relieve stress and nervous energy, and monitor your vices by becoming aware of their role in your life.

It is also important to prioritize your actions based on what truly matters to you and avoid committing yourself to obligations that don’t align with your priorities.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article about how to sort your life out. I sincerely hope its contents have been a good help to you.