Long time, no see! I apologize for my recent absence. I have been exceptionally busy lately, but I haven’t forgotten about you! You’ve been on my mind as I’ve been in closets, kitchens, moving vans, and offices, organizing New York City, one tiny space at a time.
In thinking about what I want to share with you today, it occurred to me that you also have busy days, weeks, and months, so today I’m sharing with you some of the tricks I employ to make busy weeks more streamlined and organized.
1. 
Prep the night before
Lay out your outfit for the next day, pack your lunch, gather your items for work–whatever it is you’re usually scrambling for in the morning, take care of the night before. Those extra 5 minutes can make a big difference to the tenor of your day.
2. Designate a landing place for your mail
Although I generally advise that mail is opened up and attended to immediately, sometimes that’s not realistic during our busier weeks. Having one landing place for all incoming mail and papers will ensure that it’s all in one place, ready for you when you’re ready for it. To discourage migration, use a tray or basket to collect all the incoming mail and papers into your house so that you don’t have to go hunting for them.
3. Work out in the morning
It’s no fun when the alarm goes off an hour early, but I find that when the end of the day rolls around, I’m so glad my workout is behind me. Especially during busy weeks when work runs late and evening time suddenly vanishes, it’s a good idea to sneak in a morning work out. Doing so can boost your energy, jump-start your productivity for the day, and help relieve some stress from your crazy week.
4. Outsource a chore
If you’re expending all your time and energy on work, family, and simply getting through the day, consider having some of the more time-consuming and tedious tasks taken care of for you. I’ve called in for reinforcements from Slate during my busy weeks to take care of the housekeeping in my home for me. Errands and tasks can be outsourced to Taskrabbit, saving you time and logistics-related headaches. No time to grocery shop and cook? Have healthy meals delivered to you by Maple, Home Chef, or Munchery(just some of my favorites).
5. Make a To-Do List
Somehow, when your plate is full and your schedule is jam packed, that’s when the trains run late, your boss piles more on, or when you find yourself coming down with something. Help yourself stay on track by making a to-do list with what you need to accomplish each day, in order of importance/urgency. Start with the toughest tasks first, and enjoy the satisfying feeling of crossing them off as you complete each one. I’m typically a pen and paper list maker, but lately I’ve been on the go so much, and have found the apps any.do and Strides helpful for keeping me on track.
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