Is planning and organization the key to mental wellness?

I find that visualizing how a solid routine boosts my mental health actually helps—and when I’m actually sticking to it, the sense of well-being is real. But when things hit the fan? All bets are off, and I tend to let my whole system just crumble—if you catch my drift.

It feels like most creative types deal with this exact thing... I’d say "us" are basically people with massive potential who constantly end up spinning our wheels.☕

Ugh, I am honestly the absolute worst when it comes to planning and staying organized—even though I know how crucial it is and I seriously wish I had that skill! My "to-do" list just keeps growing and growing until it’s totally overwhelming. Like, my parking ticket bill at $40 has gotten even higher, so I really need to deal with that tomorrow. I used to have this super cute little planner where I’d jot down everything I needed to do or buy, and seeing those little checkmarks next to completed tasks actually made me so happy! So, I went ahead and treated myself to a brand-new one for 2017—it cost me an arm and a leg, haha—but if it works as well as my first one did, I'll be thrilled. The thing is, it’s been sitting there for five days now and I haven't written a single thing in it yet. I think because once I actually write something down, I feel this weirdly positive compulsion to go out and actually *do* it, you know? I just need to force myself to gather all those scattered thoughts in my head and spend those thirty seconds to get them on paper. Fingers crossed I can pull it off! :P

Maria Long2 said:Ugh, I am honestly the absolute worst when it comes to planning and staying organized—even though I know how crucial it is and I seriously wish I had that skill! My "to-do" list just keeps growing and growing until it’s totally overwhelming. Like, my parking ticket bill at $40 has gotten even higher, so I really need to deal with that tomorrow. I used to have this super cute little planner where I’d jot down everything I needed to do or buy, and seeing those little checkmarks next to completed tasks actually made me so happy! So, I went ahead and treated myself to a brand-new one for 2017—it cost me an arm and a leg, haha—but if it works as well as my first one did, I'll be thrilled. The thing is, it’s been sitting there for five days now and I haven't written a single thing in it yet. I think because once I actually write something down, I feel this weirdly positive compulsion to go out and actually *do* it, you know? I just need to force myself to gather all those scattered thoughts in my head and spend those thirty seconds to get them on paper. Fingers crossed I can pull it off! :P

- Tell me about it. Back in college, I used to buy these super fancy, expensive planners, totally convinced they would somehow "do the work for me." 🤦🤣

Now I'm in a phase where I "plan" to print out this self-organization chart and fill it out. And I've been "planning" to do that for like two months now. 🤦

mistydrifter55 said:- Tell me about it. Back in college, I used to buy these super fancy, expensive planners, totally convinced they would somehow "do the work for me." 🤦🤣

Now I'm in a phase where I "plan" to print out this self-organization chart and fill it out. And I've been "planning" to do that for like two months now. 🤦

What if the answer to the first question is just... nothing? 😬

Jeffrey Ramos4 said:What if the answer to the first question is just... nothing? 😬

That’s exactly what I’m wondering too. ☕.

I’m just stuck in this depressive funk where I can't find the motivation to move a muscle.
From the outside, people look at me and think, "She's just so disorganized."
But the truth? I don't bother organizing because I don't have the energy for anything else.
Maybe I'm not actually unorganized. Maybe I'm just completely drained. 🤔

mistydrifter55 said:That’s exactly what I’m wondering too. ☕.

I’m just stuck in this depressive funk where I can't find the motivation to move a muscle.
From the outside, people look at me and think, "She's just so disorganized."
But the truth? I don't bother organizing because I don't have the energy for anything else.
Maybe I'm not actually unorganized. Maybe I'm just completely drained. 🤔

I totally get you. Maybe the trick is just accepting who we are. Honestly, there's no harm in accepting yourself, mostly because once you reach that point, nothing can touch you anymore. The real issue is how it hits the people closest to us. It affects our inner circle too, obviously, because it limits us and leaves us feeling helpless. But eventually, you start seeing the depression as just part of your makeup, and you learn to live alongside it. Once you finally make peace with the depression, nothing can tear you apart. Best love story ever... 🤣😢

Honestly, I’m feeling so pumped because over this past year, I’ve actually built up a much more responsible side of myself—like, a totally different version of me! It’s all thanks to my first real "catalyst for change," which has been such a game-changer for both my life and my career. In my experience, these shifts kind of happen on their own—sort of like how some people just suddenly find that burst of willpower to finally kick the smoking habit, you know? Right now, I’m at this point where I feel super proud of what I've pulled off, and I feel like I could really use a breather. It's hard to admit, though—my subconscious is still whispering that I haven't quite earned a break yet—but I keep telling myself, "Yes, you absolutely have!" A new idea just hit me, too: if I take the plunge one more time, I bet the payoff will be twice as big as the first time. I am definitely using the New Year to spark even more changes. I know some people out there are always like, "Ugh, here we go again with everyone's little resolutions," because let's face it, whenever a crowd forms, there’s always some troll ready to ruin the vibe. But I don't want this to be a one-time thing where I just wake up and try to fix everything; I want this to be my lifestyle every single year. If I can make this kind of positive change part of my regular rhythm, why wouldn't I?

Every successful person you meet, when they get asked about their secret sauce, basically says, "I never stopped believing in my dreams." But I think the real trick isn't about being some perfect, hyper-organized machine—it's just about moving toward that goal. Why does a goal have to be this one rigid, specific thing when it could also be about becoming more organized and planning better along the way? I truly believe every single effort and every tiny bit of progress counts. We shouldn't be beating ourselves up over wasted days, just like Jeffrey Ramos4 said—we just need to accept who we are and keep pushing forward without all the extra stress...

Maria Long2 said:Honestly, I’m feeling so pumped because over this past year, I’ve actually built up a much more responsible side of myself—like, a totally different version of me! It’s all thanks to my first real "catalyst for change," which has been such a game-changer for both my life and my career. In my experience, these shifts kind of happen on their own—sort of like how some people just suddenly find that burst of willpower to finally kick the smoking habit, you know? Right now, I’m at this point where I feel super proud of what I've pulled off, and I feel like I could really use a breather. It's hard to admit, though—my subconscious is still whispering that I haven't quite earned a break yet—but I keep telling myself, "Yes, you absolutely have!" A new idea just hit me, too: if I take the plunge one more time, I bet the payoff will be twice as big as the first time. I am definitely using the New Year to spark even more changes. I know some people out there are always like, "Ugh, here we go again with everyone's little resolutions," because let's face it, whenever a crowd forms, there’s always some troll ready to ruin the vibe. But I don't want this to be a one-time thing where I just wake up and try to fix everything; I want this to be my lifestyle every single year. If I can make this kind of positive change part of my regular rhythm, why wouldn't I?

Every successful person you meet, when they get asked about their secret sauce, basically says, "I never stopped believing in my dreams." But I think the real trick isn't about being some perfect, hyper-organized machine—it's just about moving toward that goal. Why does a goal have to be this one rigid, specific thing when it could also be about becoming more organized and planning better along the way? I truly believe every single effort and every tiny bit of progress counts. We shouldn't be beating ourselves up over wasted days, just like Jeffrey Ramos4 said—we just need to accept who we are and keep pushing forward without all the extra stress...

A very encouraging post.👍

mistydrifter55 said:That’s exactly what I’m wondering too. ☕.

I’m just stuck in this depressive funk where I can't find the motivation to move a muscle.
From the outside, people look at me and think, "She's just so disorganized."
But the truth? I don't bother organizing because I don't have the energy for anything else.
Maybe I'm not actually unorganized. Maybe I'm just completely drained. 🤔

Other people don't really matter. What matters are those core people—the leaders, the ones who actually inspire you, who say the right things at the exact right moment, and who make your life better.

What those top-tier people provide is something nobody else can offer. That's why, when you need a push, you should listen to the heavy hitters—the ones who have actually made it big. The winners. Keeping a steady, positive mindset leads to success and a happy heart. If not right now, then eventually. If not love, or nature, or peace... then what else is there?

Carl Rivera43 said:Other people don't really matter. What matters are those core people—the leaders, the ones who actually inspire you, who say the right things at the exact right moment, and who make your life better.

What those top-tier people provide is something nobody else can offer. That's why, when you need a push, you should listen to the heavy hitters—the ones who have actually made it big. The winners. Keeping a steady, positive mindset leads to success and a happy heart. If not right now, then eventually. If not love, or nature, or peace... then what else is there?

Top-tier versus everyone else? What kind of division is that? So, if someone isn't "the best," they're basically irrelevant? What happens to the people who aren't motivators, or don't always know the perfect thing to say, or don't offer advice, or just don't have this constant positive attitude... blah blah blah, do we just toss them into some other category immediately?
Just stay positive and keep those good vibes rolling, right?

Segregation, division, sorting, grouping, labeling... basically the foundation of solid psychology when you're trying to actually use your resources effectively.

I mean, staying positive just feels like our natural state, right? I might not be making a fortune at my job, but honestly, the crew I work with is incredible. That’s what really matters, isn't it?

I feel like organization and planning aren't really the heart of the matter here—just one piece of the puzzle, maybe?

Personally, I’m a huge fan of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." It hit me at just the right time, honestly. I always want it within arm's reach because it's one of those books you just have to keep revisiting. It isn't just about crushing it at work, either—it covers everything from personal growth to being a better parent and stuff like that.

Anyway, one part of that success involves how he breaks down time management:
http://i68.tinypic.com/303k512.jpg

Basically, high achievers spend as much time as possible in Quadrant Two—focusing on things that are important but not necessarily urgent. We're talking about the activities that actually build us up, optimize our potential, and pay off in the long run. Most importantly, they align with our actual mission and vision. I mean, what's the point of being a total machine if we look back and realize we totally missed the mark on what actually matters in life? Why even bother doing what we're doing if there's no purpose behind it?

http://i66.tinypic.com/rwhvdf.jpg

If you're dealing with depression, you've got to look at the root cause—why are we feeling so drained? Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate our vision and mission, or figure out if something vital is missing from our lives.

He actually offers his own planner as a way to modernize time management—the whole idea is to find a balance across all the different areas that drive real success.