Recently, I’ve been browsing the blogging universe in search of inspiration for my little corner of the internet. Amongst the endless over-shares and listicles, one theme seems to crop up more than most: ‘Organisation Tips.’ Posts on this topic are the bedrock of glossy lifestyle blogs, often accompanied by snapshots of pristine bullet journals. It seems the women who write these posts were born with a Filofax in hand. They prioritise in their sleep and can take on so much at once that the term ‘multi-tasking’ seems inadequate. At first, these articles intimidated me. I cannot boast of such smooth and sublime personal management and, in fact, my friend Hannah has adopted the following mantra: “if Carla’s late to meet you, she loves you.” However, thinking about my struggles to keep on top of day-to-day arrangements, I realised I’d actually worked out a few of my own personal solutions to calm the chaos.
I’ve challenged my difficulties with organisation ever since they reached a crisis point during my first year at university. Despite being keen and bright-eyed fresher, the strain of balancing studies, independent living and a full social calendar became completely overwhelming. Something had to give. Unfortunately, that ‘something’ turned out to be meal planning and trips to the supermarket. Submerged in stress, I wasn’t eating enough and by the end of the first term, my ribs were starting to show. At the very end of my first year, I was diagnosed with a learning problem that apparently accounted for much of my trouble and, with help and support, my second year ran much more smoothly. However, having seen how it could impact my health, I was determined to deal with the disarray.
After the diagnosis, as part of Disabled Student Allowance I received weekly one-to-one sessions with a learning support tutor called Moya, who helped me plan my study time. Having completely forgotten it was happening, I sprinted frantically into our first session 20 minutes late, thus proving her support was definitely needed. Moya’s help was invaluable over the years and taking time out to plan the week is still something I do. By looking ahead to what’s coming up, I feel calmer about my busy schedule and can spot any gaps to meet friends for a catch-up. Therefore, on a Sunday afternoon, you’ll find me watching an episode of something trashy with my planner open, putting together the week.
This aforementioned planner is not my only weapon against the demons of disorganisation. Whilst most make do with one stationary organiser, I’m a special case that requires two. The planner (with the week on one side and a blank page on the other) houses all to-do lists plus notes on any tasks better left as ‘tomorrow’s problem.’ The other ‘defence’ is a standard pocket diary for dinners, plays and any other more ‘concrete’ events. Life was complete chaos before this system and I used to scribble appointments anywhere. Once at university, when sorting through my notes from the day I saw I’d jotted ‘Friday, 5.00’ at the top of a page. Nothing else. Needless to say on Friday at 5.00 I was sat in the flat anxiously checking my phone for an angry message from whoever I’d stood up. Nothing came and to this day I’m not sure where I was supposed to be. Besides practical purpose, having one diary and one planner certainly satisfies my love of stationary shopping and this year, for the first time, I have managed to colour co-ordinate the two!
Finding new ways to organise your life and feel in control is an excellent feeling, so much so that one might be tempted to dedicate a whole site to the subject (trust me, I’ve found a few!) However, if you naturally struggle with this (and especially if a learning problem is involved) some degree of self-acceptance is required. Beating yourself up about forgetfulness and disorder doesn’t help, and simply injects an anxiety into your day that will only make matters worse. Furthermore, there may even be some lesser-known benefits to regularly coping with chaos. I envy my pals who have life under their thumb in a single diary, but I’ve also observed I manage better than them when plans suddenly go awry. This is all said with the natural caveat that, should something as serious as your eating fall apart, do seek support.
My concluding advice to my fellow scatter-brained friends is this: do not let the scheduling savants with their colour-coded lifestyles get you down. Plan ahead, prioritise, put together lists as best you can. But know that, truly, you have mastered the most valuable organisation hack of all time: when it all goes wrong and the best laid plans of mice and men crumble around you, hold your head up high and remember that, in the words of Lady Gaga, you were Born This Way.
