Organize Your Life

1. Identify what's causing chaos in your life.
Is it too many activities, too many "voluntary obligations," too many priorities, too much debt, toxic relationships, or too much clutter in your home or workplace? All these things can be raising your chaos level. The first step is to identify what adds chaos, which is not adding a significant amount of joy, happiness or value to your life.

2. Scale down your possessions.
Every thing you own, from three toothbrushes to four winter coats to the shoeboxes you're saving "just in case," takes something from you. It costs you time and energy because it all has to be maintained, stored, cleaned, moved or sorted at some point. Plus, it takes up physical and mental space.

Everything you own also owns a little piece of you, so now is the time to start parting with things that don't bring you joy or value. You will be giving yourself the gift of more energy and space, and if you donate your used possessions to charitable organizations, you will be helping those who need the things more than you.

3. Avoid impulse purchases.
Everything you bring into your home takes energy from you and space in your home. Evaluate carefully what you are buying and why. Visualize yourself bringing it home, finding a place to keep it, maintaining it and then selling it off at a garage sale in a few years for a fraction of what you paid for it. If you still want it, and can think of a real use for it, it is probably a valid purchase.

4. Turn off the television.
The average American watches in excess of 20 hours of television per week. Try turning it off one night a week to allow quiet time for yourself and/or your family. Don't worry: You can usually watch your favorite episodes online the day after they air — or TiVo it.

5. Cut your hair.
Sound silly? How much time, effort and aggravation is it to deal with your hair every day? If your hair is high maintenance, consider a new style that will take less time and effort.