We’re all guilty of creating meaningless note or file names like “draft_V6” or “ideas.” In isolation, these vague file names don’t do much harm. Create standard naming conventions for labels and digital files.Experiment with different approaches to see what resonates with you. This will look different for everyone some thrive on simplicity and minimalism, while others find order in color-coded labels and consistency. The ultimate goal is to organize your life to help you find calm and think more clearly. Five ways to organize your professional and personal life It’s also not always about the physical items-your digital life, like the apps you use and the files you create, can lead to disarray. You could get rid of items that don’t spark joy, but you may inadvertently place too much attention on the number of things you have versus organizing and using those items in a way that improves productivity. While the pitfalls are clear, there’s not always a straightforward approach to being more organized. Data shows people who describe their homes as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” are more depressed and fatigued, and have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who say their homes are “restful” and “restorative.” And if you’re working from home or unemployed, the impact of clutter is compounded because you’re constantly around it. Second, disorganization can have a major impact on your emotional well-being. Replacing lost items costs Americans $2.7 billion each year, and more than half are regularly late for work or school due to frustrating searches. A 2017 survey found we spend a total of 2.5 days a year looking for misplaced items, such as phones, keys, and, yes, remotes.

Being unorganized has bigger consequences than misplacing the remote control or forgetting to respond to an email.

How to organize your life on paper