All those TV shows and movies about New York might have you think that being a mess is a mandatory part of life in the city. But sooner or later, you’ll get sick of being a mess, and you’ll want to do something about it. Here are seven easy things that New Yorkers can do to get their shit together:
1. Quit drinking
You might not want to, but you have to admit, the times when you think to yourself, “I really need to get my shit together” are usually the times that you’re hungover and wasting a whole Sunday in bed because of it.
2. Make a budget
The other most common moment that makes you think “I really need to get my shit together” is when you realize you don’t have enough money to pay your bills. This city sucks money out of your bank account like the vacuum cleaner you don’t own sucks dirt out of a carpet. Make a budget so you don’t splurge on booze and food delivery and then have no money left to pay rent.
3. Use autopay, or at least set reminders
Having the money isn’t much of an improvement if your bills are still late. Autopay is the best way to fix that problem. If you’re too nervous to set your bills to autopay, at least set regular reminders on your Google calendar.
4. Write things down
If you continue to try to rely on your brain to remember everything you have to do, you will continue to forget to do important things. Make to-do lists. Make lists of things you need. There is no excuse not to make lists when you have a notepad right on your phone.
5. Get more sleep
Living in this city does not mean you are required to be sleep deprived. When you’re sleep deprived, you’re only going to be performing at 50 percent capacity, so you will probably consistently fail to get your shit together. Get more sleep, and you’ll be amazed at how clear the world suddenly is.
6. Get rid of clutter
A cluttered living space clutters your mind, especially in a small apartment. Throw away all the shit you don’t need, and then organize all your other shit.
7. Embrace the power of no
You are not required to go to every happy hour/work function/alumni function, take on every extra project your boss wants you to do, help every single friend move, or help them with all of their weird art projects. You can say no. And once you embrace the power of no, a huge weight will be lifted from you shoulders.
Cover photo credit: Tina Leggio/Flickr