As a man, you may be filling multiple roles at once. These roles can include a father, a partner, or a professional. Each role has its own duties, and when trying to balance those duties, it’s easy to lose momentum and become disorganized. Rest assured this is a familiar feeling that most everyone has experienced at least once in life. Before you start to stress about it, take the time to figure out what exactly you need to get organized, and identify ways keep up with your busy schedule.

Here are some tips to help you out:

1. Color codes. One technique you could employ to instantly make your to-do lists more appealing and effective is to use color codes. You might use green for work tasks, red for home tasks, and blue for other tasks. If you have papers or folders for each category, stick to the same color code: green paper for work tasks or red folders for home tasks. This is an easy way to keep all items of a certain type in one spot and to have a clear idea of which tasks require more attention.


2. Don’t try to do everything at the same time. You can't do all things and be in all places at once, and attempting to do so is a sure recipe for disaster. Successful, organized people do not take on more work than they can manage; instead, they do one thing at a time and delegate tasks to others during times when they can’t complete their tasks alone. It may take some time and skill to learn what your limitations are, but once you do, you'll be much more capable of managing your workload.


3. Prioritize your tasks. One reason why many fail to keep their lives organized is that they try to handle too many tasks at the same time. The key to getting organized is to prioritize your duties. Identify the most important tasks that are time-sensitive (like hitting a deadline), carry the most meaning (like doing something for your family), or require the most time and effort (like completing a home project). Make a list of your most important tasks to keep yourself on track, and you’ll always know what to do next.


4. Get rid of clutter. It's a well-known fact that clutter can accumulate over time, and too much clutter means not having enough of your own space to complete your tasks comfortably. If you have a habit of keeping numerous items in your work space, it's time to let that habit go – take a day to determine what you always need access to, and store or toss away anything that doesn't have immediate use.


5. Make a place for everything. We all have experienced the dreaded feeling of having to leave the house quickly, but our keys and wallet are nowhere to be found. If this happens to you on a consistent basis, make a separate place for each vital item you use daily. For example, always hang your keys on the key holder in the kitchen, or always secure your wallet in the top drawer of the dresser in your room. This way, you can avoid the unnecessary stress of lost items and always know where to look first.


6. Get into a routine. Real change requires real effort and action. Taking into account your most important tasks that need daily attention, get yourself into a routine that will allow you the amount of time necessary to complete your work quickly and effectively. Carve out time each day to address each aspect of your work, and use any leftover time to get prepared for the following day's duties.

Following each of these tips only once won't keep you organized. Get into the habit of performing these actions on a regular basis, and you'll finally start to notice positive change in your work. It may sound boring at first, but sticking with it will help you save both time and resources.

Good luck!