Yesterday morning I found myself running around my flat pulling together my yoga kit from a pile of similarly coloured clean but yet to be sorted clothes and hunting high and low for my house keys, Oyster card and purse, getting increasingly stressed (oh the irony) that I was going to arrive late for yoga and not be allowed into class, remembering to grab a sorry it’s late birthday card on the way out of the door.

I eventually found the Oyster card in a coat pocket and the house keys and purse in the canvas bag I’d taken to the local shop the previous evening to pick up some food for dinner because, as usual, there was nothing in the fridge and when I say nothing, I really mean nothing, well bar half a jar of tahini and one tomato. Not exactly the makings of a delicious dinner. I’d booked the yoga class the night before so it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision to go or anything. And it’s not the first time a similar scenario has unfolded.

To be honest I’ve always had a tendency to be a bit last minute. As a teenager I frequently left homework so late I could often be founding finishing off essays at lunchtime ahead of the class they were due in. It was the same story at university. I was the one at the copy shop getting my dissertation bound half an hour before the deadline.

My first job out of university was as an editorial assistant on a magazine. Basically my job was to organise, well, everything, including the editor. Turns out I’m perfectly capable of organsing other people. More recently as an editor myself I had an editorial assistant to organise my life which worked well, although the loss of control took a bit of getting used to.

Having left office life and, no longer having anyone to organise me, things have gotten a little out of control. I know life would be less stressful if I just put a few simple systems in place and I’ve set this weekend aside to make a start. I’ve even bought highlighters (see above). If nothing else my to do lists are going to look pretty! So here it is, my 10 point get organised plan. It’s written down. I’ve shared it with you. I will do this!

10 Point Get Miranda Organised Plan

  • I will put clean clothes away instead of storing them in the overflowing washing basket.
  • I will pack everything I need for the following day the night before.
  • I will build up a store cupboard of ingredients so there’s always something in for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
  • I will start a filing system for work-related receipts (there will need to be an actual file and an online one).
  • I will do something with the 4475 pictures that are currently stored on my phone.
  • I will keep my keys, Oyster card and wallet in the same place, so I always know where they are.
  • I will tackle the Cupboard Of Doom where I put anything I don’t know what else to do with.
  • I will sell the growing pile of clothes, books, CDs and DVDs and other stuff I no longer need by the end of September or it’s all going to a charity shop.
  • I will set aside a couple of hours once a week to keep on top of life admin and stick to it.
  • I will compile all birthdays and addresses and set up a reminder system so I no longer have to send a sorry it’s late card.
  • Can anyone else relate? Any advice for getting my life under control? Have I missed something crucial? How do you keep your receipts organised and, more importantly, spotted any lovely subdivided folders for receipt storage?! What are your store cupboard essentials so you can always put together a meal? Is eBay still the best place to sell clothes? And what about everything else such as books, CDs, DVDs and so on? Any great apps for keeping on top of birthdays and appointments? Oh and where should I keep all my passwords? I had them written down in a diary, which I lost. Oh dear… Do share!

    [ezcol_divider][ezcol_1third id=”” class=”” style=””]cosmo-awards-rock-my-style-best-lifestyle-blog[/ezcol_1third][ezcol_2third_end id=”” class=”” style=””]

    Vote for us in the Best Lifestyle Blog Category

    We are so pleased to be shortlisted in the Best Lifestyle Blog category in the Cosmopolitan Awards 2014 in association with Next! Thank you to everyone who nominated us… All we ask now is that you vote for us! It literally only takes 10 seconds…[raw]

    [/raw]

    [/ezcol_2third_end][ezcol_divider]