I knew that I deserved more out of life, but my habits and lack of organization pulled me down. When I started changing my life for the better, it wasn’t something that changed overnight. Here are little habits that grew into good routines.
I knew I could do better for myself, but my habits and lack of organization pulled me down. When life feels chaotic, it’s easy to put more pressure on yourself. But what you need is structure. Twelve steps that are realistic and easy to implement. That is what this Get My Life Together Checklist is.
Each step is simple and doable so you don’t burn yourself out. They focus on helping you build a foundation of strength underneath you. When you have strength within yourself, you have the power to move forward in life with yourself.
12 Get My Life Together Checklist
1. Organize Your Surroundings
Your environment affects your mindset. If you wake up to a messy bedroom or sit down at a cluttered desk all day, it’s going to bring you down.
Living and working in a clean space won’t fix everything, but it will lift a burden off your shoulders. Clearing the clutter allows your mind to not feel distracted by piles of clothes or papers. You’ll find yourself living clearer.
Organizing your physical space is a great way to let go of the unnecessary and focus on what matters. Start small by picking one place to organize today.
2. Create a Sleep Routine
Life is more difficult when you are not sleeping well. Sleep is the basis for your energy, concentration, and overall mood. When you don’t sleep well, everything from brushing your teeth to answering emails can feel like a heavy task.
Your body thrives on consistency. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day grounds your sleep schedule. But you should also practice good sleep hygiene, like turning off screens at night, keeping your bedroom dark, and relaxing before bed.
Studies show that sleeping well improves mental health and productivity (CDC).
Read also: 10 Guidelines for Creating Better Sleeping Habits
3. Incorporate Movement
You do not need to run marathons to keep your body moving. Any movement keeps your energy flowing. Go for daily walks, stretch, or find another form of movement you enjoy.
Movement increases your health and clears your mind. Exercise reduces stress, allows you to sleep better, and builds a body that will carry you into the life you desire. Start to shift your mindset and view movement as something you do for life, not as a chore.
Remember your body was designed to move, and honor that by allowing yourself movement. You will have more energy for the other items on this checklist.
Read also: A 5 Minute Quick Meditation Exercise
4. Build Your Own Budget
Money can be one of your biggest stresses. When you are not sure where your money goes each month, it can bring you down.
Building a simple budget for yourself can help you keep track of your resources and ease your stress. Start by recording your incoming and outgoing funds. From there, you can build a simple budget that works for you. Budgeting allows you to save, spend, and prepare for the future.
Financial health isn’t about making bank. It’s about living with less financial stress. Studies have shown that financial health is one of the top contributors to poor mental health.
Building a budget for yourself can give you peace of mind and prevent unnecessary stress.
5. Plan Your Day
A day without a plan is easily wasted. Even if you have energy but no plan, your day will drift and you’ll find yourself distracted.
Write out your daily plan. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply writing down 3 tasks that you want to accomplish that day is enough to bring focus. Working with a daily rhythm allows you to feel like you are moving with the flow of life, not fighting against it.
Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months. Before you know it, you will look back and see progress instead of feeling overwhelmed.
6. Practice Intentional Rest
Rest does not mean staring at your phone all day. Rest means allowing your body and mind a healthy way to recharge.
Read a book, deep-breathe, or sit quietly with your thoughts. All of these are great forms of intentional rest. Staring at social media is not.
Your mind needs a break just like your body. Practicing intentional rest will help you avoid burnout and have more energy for the things that you enjoy.
7. Pay Attention to Food Choices
What you put into your body matters. Eating heavy, processed, or unhealthy meals will weigh you down.
Eating clean will allow your body and mind to stay more balanced and healthy. Taking care of your nutrition today helps balance your emotions and build the you of tomorrow.
Studies show that food impacts our mental health as well as physical health (Harvard Health). You don’t have to be perfect, but try to make conscious efforts to eat better where you can.
8. Limit Screen Time
Technology is powerful, but it is also addicting. Every time you pick up your phone to browse or scroll, you are wasting minutes of your day.
Start to limit your screen time by allocating time to use your devices. Allow yourself to use phones or computers for work only, then limit your recreational browsing. The less you give these distractions your attention, the more you can give to yourself.
9. Invest in Healthy Relationships
Your life does not simply revolve around you. Other people play an important role in your life and help you find meaning.
Having healthy, positive relationships is linked to better mental health and lowers your risk of loneliness. We live in a world of technology where communication is never-ending. Take the time to disconnect and be with your family and friends.
Not just through texts and videos, but sit with them. Feelings of loneliness fuel depression and anxiety. By having strong relationships, you prevent these feelings and improve your overall health.
Read also: 20 Traits of Borderline Personality
10. Learn a New Skill
Putting your life together means investing in your future. Learn a new hobby or job-related skill that will build your confidence.
Learning something new allows you to grow and remember that your path is not promised. With each skill you learn, you are becoming the best version of you.
11. Practice Daily Reflection
If you are constantly going, you will never be able to check in with yourself. Practice your reflection by taking time at the end of the day to think.
Journal, meditate, or sit with your thoughts. Reflection can be any form of you spending time with yourself. Without self-reflection, you risk continuing the same patterns that you don’t want.
12. Know Your Values
Knowing your values is the last step on this Get My Life Together checklist. Our values play an important role in decision-making.
When you live your life without your values by your side, you may find success but feel unfulfilled. When your actions align with what you value, you find strength and happiness.
Write out what you value most in life. Is it honesty? Growth? Family? Health? Faith? Spend some time getting clear on your values, then use them to guide your daily decisions.
Live a life that aligns with what you value, and you will live with purpose.
Conclusion
Life will never be perfect, and that’s okay! These 12 steps to get your life together are simple daily actions you can do to improve your life.
Getting your life together isn’t going to happen overnight. When you start taking care of your physical space, your sleep, your daily habits, finances, and relationships, you will start to feel your life come together.
Once you continue to show up for yourself, you will notice the change. Small steps pack a punch when you do them consistently. This checklist is meant to be your guide to a balanced, grounded, and purposeful life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What if I can’t do all 12 steps at once?
That’s okay. Each step is meant to be simple and doable. Start with one or two, then build over time.
2. What’s the fastest step to start with today?
Organizing one small area or writing a simple plan for your day are quick ways to create structure immediately.
3. How do I stay consistent when life gets busy?
Keep it small. A short walk, a simple plan, or a quick reflection still counts and helps you stay grounded.
4. Do these steps work even if I feel overwhelmed?
Yes. This checklist is built for moments when life feels chaotic. Structure helps reduce pressure and gives you direction.
