Organisation Skills

Being able to manage your time, energy and resources to do the things you want and need to do every day is important at secondary school and throughout your adult life. 

So what are organisation skills?

The ability to:

• plan for the day ahead
• prepare for specific tasks
• identify the right tools for the job/ task
• effectively carry out the task
• be successful in completing the task in time

The first step for any planning or organisation is to work out all the tasks that need to be complete.  For each of the tasks asking the 'W' questions can help you work this out:

• What is the task?
• Who has to do it? (do you need someone else?)
• What do you need? (what tools, information or resources do you need?)
• Where is it to be complete? (can it be done at home or at school, in the library at a friends house?)
• When is it to be complete by and how long will it take to complete?

Sometimes simple, straightforward ideas can help to make life easier, both at home and in school. It may need a bit of trial and error to find out what works for you. Remember that putting in a bit of time and effort now to develop strategies will make your life a whole lot easier.

Organisation At Home

Organisation starts at home and there are lots of ways you can practice these skills.  We have put together some suggestions that you may find useful.  Sorry, this does mean you will need to tidy your room!

Your Bedroom

• Tidy your room.  Identify a place or container for each belonging, so it is easy to find.
• Arrange drawers so items are separate – use dividers or baskets.
• Place photos or labels on the outside of drawers/cupboards to show their contents.
• Mark clothing so it is identifiable (e.g. initials on a label or a piece of coloured thread sewn into the back).
• Make yourself a checklist (you can do this with photos, pictures or words) of the routines you need to do everyday.  Try laminating or putting inside a plastic sleeve. Use wipe-off markers so you can check off items on the list when you complete each task (e.g. dressing, bedtime routine or morning routine).  You could also make up photo albums on your phone or have a checklist in your phone. 
• If you have difficulty remembering certain routines try a visual timetable to help (e.g. putting shoes away, hanging up coat, emptying school bag).  Put this where you will see it to help remind you to do it.  Again you can write a list or use photos or pictures.