Get things done: tips to stay organized for busy times

MANILA, Philippines – It’s hard to believe, but it’s only been 3 months since 2016 began. If your first few months were as hectic as ours, then you probably didn’t notice them fly by either.

On this note, we asked some Rapplers how the year has been for them so far. Along with their answers are photos of their organizers showing what they’ve done to stay productive. Similar to how one’s handwriting can tell a lot about a person, it was interesting to see how different people cope with stress and create their own organizing systems.

Some organizers are colorful, while others have doodles alongside important appointments. One person even described his to-do list – a mishmash of reminders for the day – as “chaorganization,” a messy yet effective technique to keep track of priorities.

Read their responses below and see what floats your boat. Or in this case, what gets things done.

Making sense of organized chaos

“So far, 2016 has been a year of setting goals and working hard to achieve them in a chaotically organized way. Or as I like to call it, ‘chaorganization.’” – Jason Tulio, 25

Jason doesn’t have a system per se but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A study has shown that a messy environment actually promotes creativity. While the experiments found that those in a tidier environment tend to do what is expected of them, it was also noted that people who spent time in an unkempt room – or kept a scrawl-filled planner in this case – are able to produce more interesting and creative ideas. Who’s to say that there is no method in madness?

Let your creativity run wild

“Working in a newsroom can be really stressful, especially now that the elections are coming. My organizer doesn’t only help me keep track of my tasks and appointments, but also lets me do simple stress-relieving activities like coloring pages and doodling.” – Don Kevin Hapal, 22

Just like the adult coloring book trend, doodling is a fun and effective way to de-stress and open the mind. Be it squiggles, hearts, or a complete drawing; don’t dismiss doodling as an act for the lazy. It is a thinking tool that does not only make you more creative but also helps you stay focused, understand new ideas, and remember information.

The benefits of planning ahead

“Nothing beats the feeling of crossing out a bullet on your to do list. 2016 is already proving to be a very productive year so my daily pages have been filled with an endless number of those. I also can’t wait for March to begin so I went ahead and started coloring in the graphics on its monthly page.” – Therese Reyes, 24

To-do lists can sometimes look tedious but it can help you let go of some worrying. If you’re usually overwhelmed by the amount of things you have to do in a day, writing down all your tasks and planning how you’ll be doing them first will take a tremendous load off your shoulders. Our mind can only handle so much, so even just the act of planning to finish something would be a big help and will allow you to concentrate on one task at a time.

Don’t let yourself get in the way of your success

“2016 started off on a very challenging note for me! But I feel less worried this year. I feel that I will finally be able to push myself and be braver to achieve my long-standing career and personal goals.” – Krista Garcia, 27

Finally taking the first step towards achieving your dreams is an act of bravery. But before a person can gather up the courage to even think of taking that step, individuality and self-confidence are usually necessary. A study from Ohio State University discovered that “…an individual’s career paths is influenced by their own levels of self-confidence and, to some degree, the amount of social validation they receive along the way.” And if it will take stickers and colorful pens to do just that, then no one’s stopping you.

So don’t ever forget to believe in yourself. After all, if you put in the work, the odds are in your favor. – Rappler.com

Share how you’ve personalized your organizer by using the hashtag #RapplerShop. Don’t forget to include a caption about how the year has been for you so far and what you’ve been doing to stay productive.