Every year, getting organized ranks in the top five of New Years’ Resolutions along with eating healthier and getting more exercise. Although just about everyone seems to understand the benefits of being organized, it’s not always easy to figure out just where to start.

Thankfully, there’s Get Organized Month – a national event sponsored by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) each January that is designed to highlight the benefits of the association and working with NAPO’s professional organizers.

Many people use the start of a new year to think of ways in which they can improve their lives, and becoming more organized can help save time and money, increase productivity, reduce stress and enhance one’s quality of life.

To highlight ways in which you can become more organized at work, home or school, I’m offering these three principles to get you started:

1. Establish your priorities. Know why you want to get organized. Do you want to have more time to focus on family, on building your business, on leisure activities or early retirement? Do you want to reduce stress or save money? Decide what it is that you value most in life.
2. Make this the year that you do fewer things of greater importance, rather than trying to do more things in less time. The things you choose to take on in your life should tie back to your priorities.
3. Have a place for everything and everything in its’ place. You just can’t get around this perfect adage. It is the very essence of organizing. If you have a home for everything, you will be completely organized, without fail.