The Things That Make You Feel Properly Organised

There is a particular feeling you get when everything seems to be under control.

The calendar is up to date. The washing is done. You’ve got enough food in the fridge. The bills are sorted. You’ve remembered the thing you were supposed to remember.

For a brief, glorious moment, life is organised.

Of course, it probably won’t last.

But that doesn’t stop us enjoying it while it does.

For many of us, being organised isn’t necessarily about having colour-coded spreadsheets or a perfectly tidy house. Sometimes it’s simply about getting a few everyday jobs done and feeling like you’ve got your act together.

Making The Bed

It takes a couple of minutes.

Yet when the bed is made, the bedroom immediately looks more respectable.

Even if absolutely nothing else has been accomplished that morning, you’ve already achieved something.

There’s something strangely satisfying about walking past a properly made bed later in the day.

Of course, by bedtime, you’re going to destroy all that hard work.

An Empty Laundry Basket

A full laundry basket has a way of making you feel that life is getting away from you.

An empty one?

Wonderful.

You’ve washed everything, dried everything, folded everything and possibly even put it away.

That’s not just being organised.

That’s a major achievement.

Especially if the clean clothes haven’t spent three days living in the tumble dryer.

The Fridge Is Properly Stocked

There’s comfort in opening the fridge and finding actual food.

Milk.

Butter.

Cheese.

Eggs.

Something for dinner.

Something for tomorrow.

Maybe even something healthy that hasn’t been bought with unrealistic optimism.

You feel prepared.

Then someone eats the thing you were planning to have for dinner.

Organisation over.

Getting The Food Shop Done

There’s a strange satisfaction in doing the weekly shop and knowing you’ve got everything you need.

You have meals planned.

You’ve checked the cupboards.

You’ve remembered the washing-up liquid.

You’ve bought toilet roll before you ran out.

You’ve even resisted buying something completely unnecessary.

That’s a successful shopping trip.

Although there is always the moment, halfway home, when you suddenly remember the one thing you forgot.

The Calendar Is Up To Date

When your calendar is properly organised, everything feels manageable.

Appointments are there.

Birthdays are there.

Things you’ve agreed to attend are there.

You know what’s happening next week.

You know what’s happening next month.

You might even know what you’re doing on a Tuesday three weeks from now.

And there’s something reassuring about that.

Paying The Bills

There’s no better feeling than knowing everything has been paid.

No outstanding direct debits lurking in the background.

No unopened envelopes.

No emails you’ve deliberately avoided opening.

Just everything sorted.

Until another bill arrives.

Inbox Zero

For some people, this is the ultimate organisational achievement.

An empty inbox.

No unread emails.

No messages sitting there for weeks with the vague intention of replying eventually.

Just a beautifully clean screen.

It doesn’t matter that by lunchtime you’ll have 14 new emails.

For those few minutes, you’ve won.

Finding Everything You Need

You know where your keys are.

You know where your wallet is.

You know where the important documents are.

You can find the spare batteries.

You know exactly which drawer contains the cables.

This is when you realise you’ve reached peak organisation.

Until you need the one cable you haven’t seen since 2017.

The Car Is Full Of Fuel

There’s a particular satisfaction in filling the car before you desperately need to.

The fuel gauge is comfortably above empty.

You don’t have to spend tomorrow morning wondering whether you’ll make it to the petrol station.

You feel prepared.

And then you remember fuel isn’t exactly cheap.

The Kitchen Is Clean Before Bed

Going to bed with a clean kitchen just feels right.

The dishes are done.

The worktops are clear.

The dishwasher is running or emptied.

The bins are sorted.

Tomorrow morning doesn’t begin with last night’s mess staring back at you.

It’s one of those small jobs that can make a surprisingly big difference.

Having Tomorrow’s Clothes Ready

Getting everything ready the night before is one of those habits that makes you feel like a genuinely responsible adult.

Clothes ready.

Shoes ready.

Bag ready.

Keys in the same place.

Alarm set.

Morning-you should be grateful.

Morning-you will probably still wander around looking for something.

The To-Do List With Ticks On It

There’s something deeply satisfying about ticking things off a list.

Even better when you’ve completed something that has been sitting there for ages.

“Sort paperwork.”

Done.

“Book appointment.”

Done.

“Clean cupboard.”

Done.

Suddenly, you feel incredibly productive.

There is also nothing wrong with adding something you’ve already done to the list purely so you can tick it off.

We’ve all done it.

Remembering Something Before You Forget

You suddenly think:

“I need to remember to do that.”

So you immediately put it in your phone, write it down or send yourself a message.

That’s experience.

You know perfectly well that if you don’t record it, there’s a very good chance it will disappear from your brain within 30 seconds.

The Spare Everything

Being organised often means having a spare.

Spare batteries.

Spare light bulbs.

Spare washing-up liquid.

Spare loo roll.

Spare phone charger.

Spare keys.

You might not need any of them today.

But when the moment comes, you’ll be ready.

And you’ll feel like a genius.

The Cupboard That Finally Gets Sorted

Every home has one.

The cupboard.

The drawer.

The box.

The place where miscellaneous objects go when you don’t know where else to put them.

Eventually, you tackle it.

You throw things away.

You organise what’s left.

You can actually see the bottom.

It’s incredibly satisfying.

And, naturally, within six months it’ll be exactly the same again.

Getting There Early

Arriving somewhere five or ten minutes early can give you a wonderful feeling of control.

You’re not rushing.

You’re not apologising.

You’re not trying to find somewhere to park while simultaneously wondering whether you’ve missed the start.

You’re there.

Early.

Prepared.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Having A Plan For The Weekend

Sometimes organisation is simply knowing what you’re doing.

Saturday morning: jobs.

Saturday afternoon: out.

Sunday: relax.

Or perhaps nothing planned at all.

Because sometimes having absolutely nothing to organise is the most organised decision you can make.

That Moment When Everything Is Sorted

Perhaps that’s what we really mean when we say we feel organised.

It’s not perfection.

It’s that brief moment when all the little things that normally sit at the back of your mind have been dealt with.

The washing is done.

The bills are paid.

The fridge is stocked.

The house is tidy.

Tomorrow is planned.

You’ve found your keys.

And you know exactly what you’re doing.

For approximately seven minutes, you have absolutely nailed adulthood.

Then someone asks:

“Where’s the sellotape?”

And suddenly the whole system collapses.

What gives you that satisfying feeling of being properly organised?