Mess to Managed: My 12 Life Hack Tips That Helped Me Get My SH*T Together...

Are you drowning in overwhelment, swamped with post-its, napkin-notes, receipts, & mail?? Losing track of time, and drawing blanks when attempting to recall your 20+ usernames/passwords to various subscriptions, apps, & bank accounts...?! Well, I've got news for you! This used to be me too!

That's right, I had misplaced planners, neglected to-do-lists that seemingly faded into obscurity, & downloaded a ton of productivity apps that I never quite opened and forgot I downloaded altogether! Not to mention, a gold-mine of dreams & ideas that hadn't seen the light of day. Instead, they were put on the backburner for yearssss & eventually got lost in the sauce.

This was my personal life guys! That is...Until I implemented a few tips, tools, & resources that helped me switch things up & get my life ALL the way together! And, I'm sharing it all with you here!

Photo Credit: Purroy Productions

Truthfully-speaking, I had already been utilizing some of these tools to organize and manage my business, along with my clients' events for years. I figured if it worked well for ALL of that, than it would surely work well for my personal life management as well. Now, although, these tips & tools were an absolute GAME CHANGER for me...I still had to do my part and implement healthy lifestyle changes to maximize the benefits of my own life management system. This is where my simple, but life-changing, life hack tips come into play.

"Let's face it...Adulting is HARDDD, and it can quickly feel like you're being inundated with getting so many things done at once. And, I, not only want to throw you a life vest, but I'm gonna bring you a whole boat filled with snacks as well #iykyk.

So, yes, calendars & planners are a great necessity (and I actually got the hook-up for that too! But, more on that later-on), but believe it or not, sometimes you need an extra UMPH too! Especially, if you're anything like me whose juggling multiple hats and trying to find the ideal juxtaposition of work, life, play, & running your own business. Let's face it...Adulting is HARDDD, and it can quickly feel like you're being inundated with needing to get so many things done at once. And, I, not only want to throw you a life vest, but I'm gonna bring you a whole boat filled with snacks as well #iykyk. Listen....Any effort to save yourself by managing life's madness in a healthier manner, should be welcomed with open arms!

So, stop going around in circles and begin implementing my small, but major, life-changing lifestyle hacks to regain control and wooo-SAHHHH!!! You're going to feel instant relief when you transform & de-stress your life with these clever organizational tips & tools. So read-on to go from calamity to calm!

Tip #1 - Schedule a Minimum of 1 Ultimate Task Per Day...

Philosopher, Lao Tzu is famous for saying, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." This simple, yet profound quote, indicates the notion that nothing in life comes easy. Every dream, goal, or project requires hard-work & consistent effort. But, there is one cohesive underlying theme with everything and THAT ladies & gentlemen is taking that FIRST STEP-first gym session, first therapy appointment, first lesson. Ultimately, all journeys whether fitness, personal life development, therapy, or mastering a craft, all require that FIRST STEP to be taken to see it through to the other side.

My problem was (and STILL is at times, if I'm being completely honest) that my overachieving ADHD-ways, were always attempting to schedule & tackle 10 tasks or more in a day, SIMULTANEOUSLY, which quickly led to constant burnout and me feeling completely depleted. It wasn't until I, humbly, realized that albeit, yes, I'm still young, I no longer have the same energy that I once did when I was much younger.

Insert full transparency moment here: Truth is, that I really needed to take accountability and acknowledge that my old ways weren't good in my teens nor 20s either! Everyone needs time to decompress and gain mental clarity, and that didn't seem to be a priority for me back then. I was always on GO-GO-GO mode! But it IS a priority now. So, I took a step back to re-evaluate how I was managing my life. I did this in order to assess what was working & what no longer was.

Me, just locking the tea...

What I discovered, was that me being extremely diligent by nature, made me always feel the need to tackle at least 7-10 tasks per day, or else I would deem it as not "seizing the day enough," and would essentially call it all a waste...When in actuality, my past to-do lists were pretty unrealistic and quite frankly reliant on optimal delusion, which did me no favors. What was working? Me, scheduling my day from the evening prior and making the list more manageable time-wise & energy-wise.

So, upon my research for time management tools & tips (because, YES, ya girl was in full blown meltdown-mode, searching high & low for resolutions), I realized that a lot of entrepreneurs & just people in general, were experiencing the sameeee exact thing that I was! And, I noticed-1 repetitive tip that stood out most, amongst ALL the advice, tips, tricks, & suggestions that I came across. That tip, was scheduling at least 1-TASK PER DAY.

It reminded me of my seventh grade teacher, Mr. Grocki, who taught us about the word/acronym K.I.S.S. - "Keep It Simple Stupid." So when I'm having those moments where I'm feeling overwhelmed with everything I have to do (which tend to be often)...I stop, regroup, and say, "Keep it simple stupid." And, I instantly start to mentally deconstruct things down to simplicity, in order to organize the slew of chaotic ideas that bombard my brain.

The point is, even if you're at your worst, even if you don't feel like showing up that day...Doing at least 1-ultimate-task will be an accomplishment, and it's you giving yourself grace and a pat on the back for getting it done. You can even schedule in REST & RESET as your main ultimate task for the day. Again, to reiterate my point, doing that 1-Ultimate-Task will make you feel accomplished & empowered to, more than likely, do more! My digital Ultimate Planner helps to support to this mentality with a highlighted 1-Ultimate Task section, and I discuss it more below.

"Even if you're at your worst, even if you don't feel like showing up that day...Doing at least 1-ultimate-task will be an accomplishment."

Tip #2 - Prioritize 3 Main Daily Tasks

Now, doing 3-tasks will make you feel even more accomplished & empowered. And, I know what you're probably thinking...Steph, ya just said 1-task, and now your saying 3...Listen, I get it, but remember what the quote said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with 1-step." Therefore, adding 2 more manageable steps, not only feels more rewarding, but it also gets you closer to your goal, FASTER. The 1-ultimate-task method is essentially helping you get started with a solid foundation. But, the ultimate goal is to always strive to prioritize a minimum of 3 top priorities, daily. The 1-ultimate-task gives you grace if you cannot get to ALL 3 for that particular day of the week.

"And, just as a friendly reminder, it doesn't matter what those tasks are. It could be as simple as taking out the trash, washing the dishes, & doing a load of laundry. Those are straightforward life tasks that are extremely effective in making your life easier."

So, try to assign yourself at least 3-top-priorities, daily. And, just as a friendly reminder, it doesn't matter what those tasks are. It could be as simple as taking out the trash, washing the dishes, and doing a load of laundry. Those are straightforward life tasks that are extremely effective in making your life easier.

So, assign yourself just 3-priority-tasks to get done. And remember, my #1 tip will still always stick…Even if, you get 1 of the those 3 priority tasks done, consider yourself accomplishing something. Yes, I know, most of us generally do more than 1 task a day (insert emoji eye roll), BUT this rule of thumb is to help shift your mindset, so that you do not feel as overwhelmed on a day-to-day basis. I’m telling you, this has, psychologically, shifted mine so that even if I didn’t get as much as I wanted done…I know that, I, at least, tried my best and did something!

Realistically-speaking, our hormones and energy levels are going to fluctuate on a daily basis. Especially, if you’re a female! My female readers know exactly what I mean (!!!) because, yes, I might schedule the day from the evening prior with a carpe-diem-gusto-like-attitude, but then when the day comes, chileee....I’m as sluggish as a snail in peanut butter. But, it’s OK because in my mind, I’ve already psyched myself out and understand that even if I were to get 1 out of those 3 main tasks done...I know I did something that will still make a difference in the grand scheme of things!

Tip #3 - Get Healthier...

Click here for the link to the above drinking glass & accompanied glass straw; Click here for my spinach smoothie recipe shown above!

I'm not too hellbent in the manner in which you do this, but the next tip is to get healthier (if you're not already trying to do so). NO, this will not be an overnight success, but I urge you to apply some kind of a realistic fitness & nutritional regime to your lifestyle. I say realistic because I believe in small, baby steps.

Maybe you're someone who can just stop certain foods cold turkey (no pun intended haha!!). That's pretty awesome by the way if you can do that! But, usually someone who drinks soda with every meal, won't swear off of soda for the rest of their life in 1-day. But if they replace soda with seltzer water and walk 30 minutes for a minimum of 3 times per week...Then those changes are pretty realistic & easier to manage. I believe those atomic habits are the small changes needed to make the big difference.

And, it doesn't matter the kind of exercise routine you scheduled for yourself (i.e. karate, yoga, pilates, running, cycling), or what healthy meal plan you implement (check with your doctor or dietician to find out what is best for you of course!)...It’s just important that you implement something! Therefore, try to start this sooner rather than later.

Insert another full transparency moment here: I can’t tell you how quickly I fell off my fitness routine when I canceled my boxing membership. If you wanna know the reason, just hit me up on IG (it's nothing too bad per say; I'd just rather not disclose the specific reasoning in my blog for obvious reasons). But, truthfully, I was sad leaving that studio because it’s something I thoroughly enjoyed and had become a major part of my life. Anyway, I instantly fell off and started to feel sluggish and guilty that I wasn't being as diligent with my health journey that I had worked so hard to set in motion.

So, 1 day I said, NO, I can’t continue like this, and I need to quickly reverse these negative habits and get back on track. Not only do I feel better after a workout, I find that my mind is more clear and I’m able to be a bit more strategic & productive when approaching my day-to-day activities. Remember, "discipline is doing what needs to be done, even when you don't feel like it." Health is wealth, and it should come first on your priority list. You cannot do everything else if you're not solid to begin with. Get acclimated with the idea that you cannot pour from an empty cup. And, speaking of cup, jumpstart your health journey with my spinach smoothie recipe here!

Tip #4 - Restructure How You Organize Your Life

I know...I know...It all sounds easier said than done, but organization is key in this life. Especially, as an adult. And, I did a lot of the preliminary work for you! Of course, it’s good to adapt organizational habits from early on and then you, progressively, get better. But, even the most organized adult gets overwhelmed with life's day-to-day responsibilities sometimes. Raising my hand here, because, YES, I am certainly one of them!

Truthfully-speaking, as an entrepreneur, it is extremely difficult to manage work-life balance without systems, resources, & tools put in place to assist me. It's just the facts people. There is always something that needs to get done. And, it isn't until you realize that something's got to give, where you start to think, I gotta work smarter, not harder!

"I was so tired of browsing through various planners and loving certain elements from one and not the other, and vice versa."

And, in order for me to do that, I had to determine what was actually working and what was not. I know that I definitely needed my digital calendar and planner no matter what, so it was a no-brainer that those were here to stay. But, definitely, do whatever method works for you!

For example, it can be a digital calendar & digital planner, or a physical calendar & planner. It took me a while to get into a groove of what worked best for me. However, it was quite evident that I needed to supplement my existing tools with some sort of added-on bonus that would easily work in tandem with what I was already accustomed to doing. 

"If only I could find a planner that literally includes EVERYTHING that I need & want, I'd be set!" So, then I thought, why not just make my own?!"

Speaking of digital calendars & planners (!!!), I'm thrilled to share with you my latest passion project in which I worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes in putting together! It is a comprehensive digital planner (that is compatible & syncs with Google calendar!) that encompasses EVERYTHING that the average person (w/slight ADHD) needs to keep their lives organized! I was so tired of browsing through various planners and loving certain elements from one and not the other, and vice versa. For the longest, I kept saying, "If only I could find a planner that literally includes EVERYTHING that I need & want, I'd be set!" So, then I thought, why not just make my own?! So, cue in my Ultimate Planner in addition to my robust add-on bonus tool (just think of this as an accelerator to my planner haha!!). These are my secret weapons to getting all my sh*t together!

Let me also add, that going from being a hard-copy queen to full-on digi-style has been a major milestone for me! That's right, I used to think that I needed the physical pen & paper alone to stay organized, until I realized that I could largely expedite my productivity if I were to just incorporate some technology in the mix. Plus my digital Ultimate Planner & stylus feel a lot like pen and paper, minus the constant need for white out, which is a major plus!

Now, if you're anything like me, then you're more of a visual person who needs to be able to see things categorized & organized (perhaps with pretty pictures & colors for extra razzle dazzle) in order to grab your attention & process things accurately. I don't know about you, but that's just how my brain works!! Generally-speaking, it is referred to as the kanban method, which is an organizational strategy that uses visual boards to manage productivity. It's a simple strategy that is perfect for visual learners like us! This resourceful tool platformed by Trello, essentially, acts as a command center, storing a conglomerate of important information to optimize productivity via visibility. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's something we all could use! And, I'm providing you with the opportunity to copy my own exact digital board that I use for my day-to-day.

Let's face it, we all have lots of things going on, and without organization, it is much easier to drop the ball more than once. So in effort to reduce the amount of overwhelm & human error, it’s important to stay organized! In addition to my digital Ultimate Planner, my Trello add-on bonus has helped me revolutionize the way in which I do. Not only have these adjustments helped to stabilize my workflow, but they've also helped to elevate my systems that I've already put in place, helping me to feel like I got a good solid grip on things. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without my Ultimate Planner & my Trello board! Actually, I do know...HOT MESS EXPRESS!!!

Now, you can only imagine how chaotic things like loose papers and binders would be without my Trello board completely transforming the game when managing my business, my clients, & MY LIFE! I was no longer reliant on hard copies, binders, & books, as I made it a priority to scan and upload my all important documents and box my hard copies (i.e. birth certificate, vehicle titles, contracts, etc.) By the way....Almost a decade ago, I purchased and swear by these 2 scanners to upload all my documents - Scanner #1 (perfect for FAST multi-page scanning) & Scanner #2 (perfect for business meetings or quick scanning on-the-go & way more affordable!).

The best part about using my Trello method, is that you can apply it to anything.

Life management...writing a book...even organizing an entire company like I did! And so, if you too, are interested in what I utilized to get my SH*T together, then grab my Ultimate Planner & a copy of my own personal "All My SH*T Together" digital template today!

FYI: My template is completely editable, so that you can customize it to your liking! Disclaimer: You'll have to setup a free Trello account with a username & password! I have a paid subscription, because I use it for way more additional categories in my life (i.e. business, clients, & MY LIFE haha).

Tip #5 - Schedule a Monthly Admin Day...

Designate a specific day or days of the week, or month, to complete certain tasks that must be completed no matter what! Typically, these include paying your bills, transferring funds to specific accounts, replying to your emails, scanning/shredding sensitive documents, or simply emptying out your email inbox. Even if you have everything set up on auto-pay, it's important that you regularly oversee your bank accounts and verify that there weren't any technical glitches (aka duplicate charges) that may have occurred (Hey, it happens!). Generally, most individuals do this on the first of the month, the middle of the month, the end of the month, or during period intervals of all 3. You should do whatever works best for you!

Personally, I schedule in at least one admin day, every 1-2 weeks to pay my bills. Keep in mind, I also, normally, check my digital calendar on a daily basis, or at least every other day, so that I know what’s coming up. I am pretty diligent with submitting payment remittances at least 1-week in advance, especially if I am traveling. It’s extremely important to have a keen eye on what’s coming into your account and what’s going out. This way you can have peace of mind, which I always say is priceless!

Most importantly, I use my tailor-made All My SH*T Together digital template to access all my login links & usernames/passwords for all my subscriptions & online accounts to pay my bills. I love that Trello has 2-factor authentication, providing me with that extra added layer of security & peace of mind for my stored information. The platform is also compatible with desktop computers & comes in the form of a mobile app as well, which is perfect when needing to access important information on the go! Still need convincing?? Just try it for yourself...Don't delay, snag my copy today!

Tip #6 - Structure Your Meal Regime...

I’m going to back-track to health and wellness again for this tip. It’s important to have some kind of an idea about what you are going to be consuming moving forward. I am definitely no fitness guru by any means! I can only tell you what works for me when I want to get back on my grind and quickly shed excess weight. I know that, not only do I have to be working out consistently, but I also have to do that in tandem with eating more nutritiously.

What works for me, for my normal day-to-day routine, is a light breakfast (usually consisting of a banana & 2 clementines), a salad for lunch, and a healthy satisfying dinner (which, will look different for everybody). If I really wanna look snatched, I’m consistently having a banana & 2 clementines for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and a salad for dinner. I do this while working out for 45 minutes to 1 hour at least three times a week, and I’m telling you the pounds just shed away! Therefore, I say all this to say, create some kind of regimen and stick to it!

Insert another full transparency moment: I think meal prepping is great, but I just don’t have the mental capacity, time, nor energy to do all of that. So, I stick to a basic plan that works for me. I am a foodie by nature, so I definitely do give myself a cheat day or a couple of cheat meals during the weekend-All in moderation of course (!!!) (Admittedly, I do struggle with this, BUT the effort is certainly made!). Again, I am no fitness specialist! I’m just letting you know what works for me! If you’re looking for washboard abs then I'm not ya g'yal haha!! You’re going to need to be even more strict with your diet and exercise regime and perhaps get a personal trainer if you can!

Tip #7 - Dress How You Want To Be Addressed...

Like these looks? Get links here on LTK.

Now, remember, how I suggested for you to be planning your day from the night before...?! Well, you should be planning your outfit from the night before as well. Truthfully-speaking, I went to private school, so the uniform took out a lot of the anxiety of figuring out what to wear every morning. But, you can do several variations of an "adult uniform." Somewhat like a wardrobe capsule if you will. If you want me to do a blog post on that, then leave me a comment below.

But, the point I'm trying to get across, is knowing what you’re going to wear, or at least having some sort of an idea, relieves so much of the stress in the morning when getting ready. If you're like me, then you’re not a morning person, and you just need to get up, get your sh*t, and go!

Additionally, you'll want to dress how you want to be addressed. In other words, if you want to be taken seriously...Make sure you look the part. You’d be surprised at how much of a drastic difference it can make with more pleasant customer-service-interactions, and just more people greeting you in passing, in general. Also, when you’re well-groomed and well-dressed, you tend to, naturally, be in a better mood too.

Not going lie though, as I get older, my main dress code falls in line with comfortability (Yes, this golden girl isn't afraid to admit this haha!!), but even when my day-to-day attire usually falls in line with athleisure...It still looks somewhat put-together. Matching sets seem to always do the trick. Especially, when you're in a rush. You don't have to think too hard...The outfit is essentially done for you! Now, if I’m going to a fancy brunch or wedding, honey watch out cause that's a whole 'nother story!! Ya girl is ready to strut her catwalk.

Tip #8 - Not Saying Yes To Every Single Invitation

Don’t overbook yourself. As a matter of fact, try to make sure that you designate your days off for whatever it is YOU want to do (unless you are married w/kids, which requires a little more finagling, but I'm sure you'll figure it out). Remember, just because you are available that day does not mean you are available for EVERYBODY and all kinds of activities! If you’re like me, your social battery runs out pretty quick. My full-time job is pretty fast paced and can be extremely stressful at times. Therefore, when I come home, I am usually DONE. I am usually mentally tapped out and all I yearn for is my evening siesta.

My point is, you should not feel guilty for taking time off for yourself, especially, on your day off! I used to feel guilty when I couldn’t do everything for everybody, and now I feel guilty when I can't do anything for myself, and I don’t feel bad about it...AT ALL! AND, I must say I believe that will be one of your biggest, most-successful steps in getting your sh*t together-SETTING BOUNDARIES, and enforcing them! And, to be honest, those offended by you doing this, are probably not meant to be in your energy field anyway.

We're all living variations of the human experience. So, if you have a month that’s busier than another month, then so be it. It is what it is. That's life. You have to figure out what you need to prioritize and what can take a backseat, and the people that truly love and care about you, will understand and be willing to wait until you’re ready.

Tip #9 - Delete Digital Dust

If you're like me, then you've put your phone on silent mode for years now because all the constant notifications going off were simply just too much for my anxiety. So I urge you to take it a step further and delete the clutter. This includes your voicemails, screenshots, and going through your most recent text conversations to delete all those damn automated replies you get with the codes to log in your bank accounts & subscriptions (insert rolling eyes emoji 'cause those are SO annoying).

Additionally, you might want to uninstall those apps that you know you'll never use. Hey you know it eats up the phone storage, tremendously! It's unbelievable how much of a mental toll an overloaded cellphone has! I don't know about you, but it definitely feels as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders when I delete loads of stuff off my phone.

And, the same goes for your email inbox. I know there are some people who let their email inbox get to the thousands (Personally, I would have a panic attack, but this is a no judgement zone here). I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be to even begin thinking about tackling that large bulk of emails, but if you can condense it to deleting approximately 100 per day, then you'd be surprised at how quickly it gets done. You could probably even tackle this task in a month or a few months time if you do it this way.

Tip #10 - Delegate

When one decides to be a business owner, it becomes pretty clear right away that you cannot do it all alone. I learned this the hard way through experience and also listening to countless seminars and masterclasses. It was pretty apparent that the ongoing keyword was DELEGATE. I had to assess what was eating up my precious time and delegate it to designated service providers.

Once I did this, I was able to focus on more areas of my business that needed more of my attention and, ultimately, pushed the needle forward. Now, I apply that same principle to certain areas of my personal life. You don't have to be rich to delegate certain tasks.

Whether you have a cleaning lady that comes in once a week, or a personal trainer who creates a series of exercise reps for you, or a meal plan subscription to help alleviate the stress of cooking dinner every night, or even dropping off your laundry at a full-service laundromat...The point is that delegating these chores to designated service providers helps to ease your workload, so that you can enjoy more time with yourself, family, & friends. Don't let anyone tell you that you're lazy or too high-maintenance when you're essentially improving the overall quality of your life via delegation, so that you can attend to other important areas in your life (and business as well for my business owners out there!).

Tip #11- Schedule a Monthly Reset Day

That's right, a reset day. Almost like you're hitting the monthly reset button on getting your mojo back. This can look different for everyone. Maybe your reset day consists of you getting a mani/pedi or a haircut. Maybe it's you resting. Maybe it's you taking a mental day off from work to rest and attend to housework that's been on the backburner...The point is, it should be you recharging your batteries in some way, so that you can feel good about yourself. This is about pouring into yourself! To quote 1 of my favorite rappers/singers, Lauryn Hill, "How are you gonna win, when you ain't right within?" Sounds pretty self-explanatory to me!

Tip #12- Schedule a Monthly Reflect Day

Last, but certainly not least, schedule a monthly "reflect day" to assess how the month went. Did you achieve your month's goals? What were you most proud of? What disappointed you? What areas do you need improvement in? My digital Ultimate Planner includes an outlined monthly section for a deep analysis to help with your assessment. This deep reflection is more-so about you giving yourself a pat on the back for what you did well, and giving yourself grace for what you could have done better. It's about holding yourself accountable. It's about creating the space to dream bigger & better! We all need that as creatures of habit.

We must remind ourselves that we're all here for a purpose, that is far greater than the mundane day-to-day. What do you want your legacy to be? Give yourself the room to...Think it. Dream it. Be it!

Well, That's All Folks...!!!

I hope my life hack tips & tools help you alleviate some of the stresses and burdens that you may have recently been experiencing! Make sure to follow me on Instagram or my Pinterest for more of my life shenanigans & tips. And make sure to click here, if you want access to my digital Ultimate Planner and here if you're interested in pairing it with my personal All My SH*T Together digital Trello board that I utilize in conjunction to get ALL my sh*t together! FYI: Remember, once you download the file, you can add items/delete items, or edit it however you see fit for your lifestyle! Finally, comment below if anything I said resonated and if you're excited to get started in getting your life back!

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