How to Get Your Life Together: 12 Simple Ways to Help Improve Your Life
Inside: Want to learn how to get your life together? These simple habits will help you regain control and focus on what matters.
Life can get stressful and overwhelming at times.
If you’ve been feeling like you’re stuck in survival mode, there are changes you can make to improve your life and help you thrive.
While there are some circumstances you may not have any control over, many other things are within your power to change.
You get to choose your response to life’s situations and can create simple habits that will make a big impact.
If you’re looking for strategies to improve your life or tips on how to get your life together, we’ve got you covered.
Read on for twelve ways to get back on track and regain control over various aspects of your life.
How to Get Your Life Together
When life feels out of control, it’s stressful. The good news is that by developing simple habits to help get your life together you can feel more in control over your mindset and circumstances.
Prioritizing what is most important, ensuring that you’re taking good care of yourself, managing your schedule and finances well, and tending to your relationships will have a big impact.
These habits can lead to a healthier and happier life by encouraging you to control what you can and letting go of what you can’t.
Ready to learn ways to get your life together? Here are twelve habits to help.
12 Simple Ways to Help You Get Your Life Together
A habit is something that you do without even thinking about it. They take effort to develop but once they’re established, they require very little thought.
Your habits can make or break you. Bad habits can keep you from achieving your goals and get in the way of your life. Good habits can help you to reach your goals more quickly and improve your life.
You can start a new habit and make it stick even if you’ve struggled with it in the past. Today is a new day. Check the list below on how to get your life together and pick one to start with right away!
1. Assess your current situation.
Before you make significant changes in your life, it’s important to first understand where you are. Examine all aspects of your life, such as your relationships, health, career, finances, and personal goals.
Figure out where you need to improve or where you feel stuck. Once you understand that, you can work toward getting unstuck in your life.
Make a plan of action that will help you make the necessary changes.
Take small steps and keep track of your progress; this will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.
Consider what types of habits you need to focus on first. Don’t try to change everything at once as it would feel too overwhelming, which brings us to the next simple habit.
2. Prioritize your goals.
Identify your top priorities in life. Knowing what is most important to you will help you to determine which goals you should work on first.
Focusing on one thing at a time will make it feel more doable so carefully consider where you want to start.
Next, make specific and achievable goals for improving that aspect of your life.
By setting specific goals, you can measure your progress and ensure you are on track to achieving them.
Make your goals smaller and more actionable by breaking them down into smaller steps. Once you’ve completed a goal, you can move on to your next priority to repeat the same process.
3. Declutter your life.
Clutter can impact various parts of your life. The excess stuff in your home can create stress and frustration. To get your living space in order, use these tips to start decluttering your home.
Having less in your home can help improve your focus and mood enabling you to spend more time and energy working toward your goals.
Another way to free up time? Declutter your schedule. By letting go of the commitments that don’t align with your priorities, you create more space to get your life together by being able to focus on the areas that need more of your attention.
Clutter isn’t just the stuff in your home or the commitments in your schedule. If you want to start fresh, consider decluttering other areas of your life as well.
Consider what things you need to let go of to move forward. Confidently release the thoughts and feelings that are not serving you. This simple (but not easy) habit will make a world of difference in your life.
4. Keep yourself organized.
Once you’ve cleared the excess, it’s time to create organizational habits. Honing these habits will help you to get and keep your life organized.
Making to-do lists, managing your schedule, developing systems, and avoiding procrastination will help you to use your time more effectively and efficiently.
By getting clear on your priorities and keeping them at the forefront, you can keep your focus on the tasks that will have the biggest impact on your life.
Planning your tasks and creating deadlines will help you to stay on top of your schedule.
Establishing a daily routine for your life will also help you to automate the necessary tasks you need to do each day.
5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
If you’re trying to figure out how to get your life together, it’s important not to overlook creating healthy habits for your body and mind.
Your overall health and well-being carry over to every aspect of your life. It’s difficult to focus and work on achieving your goals if you aren’t feeling well, either physically or mentally.
Habits like starting your day by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are crucial.
Likewise developing good mental health habits is an important part of taking care of yourself so that you can be more productive.
Creating healthy habits will help you to feel better. Once you feel better, you can accomplish more.
6. Improve your time management skills.
We all get the same twenty-four hours in a day. The difference between people who accomplish a lot versus those who don’t accomplish much is how they manage their time.
Set realistic deadlines and avoid procrastination to effectively manage your time. Prioritize tasks according to importance and urgency.
Regularly review and adjust your plan if necessary. It’s important to be flexible because life happens and pivoting may be required at times.
Eliminate or minimize habits that are wasting your time. By using your time well and staying focused on the most important things, you’ll make more progress toward your goals.
7. Set up a support system.
A key part of how to get your life together is evaluating your relationships. Make sure you surround yourself with people who inspire and motivate you.
Seek out people who can help you reach your goals. Find someone who will help keep you accountable so that you’ll be more likely to stay on track.
And instead of just thinking about what they do for you also strive to be an intentional friend who helps to improve their life too.
In some cases, it may also be necessary to declutter some of the relationships in your life. This shouldn’t be taken lightly, but if you have relationships that are continually negatively impacting you, you have to decide what is ultimately best for your life and move on if needed.
8. Get your finances in order.
Another aspect of your life to get together is your finances. If you don’t already have one it’s crucial to create a budget.
This will help to increase your awareness about where your money is going as well as help you to regain control over your financial decisions.
Review your retirement or investment goals regularly, and remember to save a small portion of your income.
Look for ways that you can simplify your life and save more money in the process.
It’s also important to learn to be more intentional with shopping. Not only will it save you money but it will also prevent clutter from piling up in your home.
9. Practice self-care regularly.
Practice self-care activities, such as journaling, meditation, or hobbies. Incorporating self-care habits will give you a greater sense of balance in your life.
Using techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, and mindfulness can help you stay focused and relaxed.
It is also important to do things you enjoy, like going for a long walk or a bicycle ride.
Taking care of your mental and physical health is essential for managing stress. Consider which self-care activities would be the best fit for you.
10. Be open to failure and learn from it.
Life is full of failures and setbacks. Accept the failures and use them as a learning experience.
Try to look at failure as an opportunity to move forward and reach your goals.
Learn to accept new challenges without the fear of failure. You’ll get further in life by not letting fear hold you back from the things you want.
This is a simple but powerful change that can be the way you learn how to get your life together in the long run.
11. Focus on gratitude.
A key to getting your life together is shifting your perspective. Instead of constantly focusing on the things that you lack, shift your attention to practicing gratitude.
Reflecting on gratitude helps you to feel more optimistic and happier with your life.
Some people choose to start a gratitude journal and write down their daily reflections. Others simply think of a few things they’re grateful for at the end of the day.
There is no specific formula for creating a gratitude practice in your life. It’s about doing what works for you even if it’s as simple as noticing the simple joys in life.
This perspective shift may not change your circumstances, but it can change how you feel about them.
12. Review and readjust as needed.
Getting your life together is a lifelong process. Life is constantly shifting and changing. Likewise, what works and what doesn’t will always shift and change.
It’s important to be flexible and open to trying new things. It’s also important to take time for yourself to rest and reflect on what’s working and what isn’t.
Create a review process for your goals. Find an accountability partner who will check in with you regularly.
And remember, it’s ok to ask for assistance when needed. Needing help is not a sign of weakness. Be honest with yourself and the people around you and advocate for your needs.
Final Thoughts on How to Get Your Life Together
By focusing on improving your mental and physical health, you can become better equipped to take on new challenges.
These simple habits can help you become more organized and manage your time and resources more effectively. This gives you the confidence to set new goals and pursue them without fear of failure.
Practicing new things, taking care of yourself, and focusing on gratitude are key factors in creating balance in your life.
What’s your best tip on how to get your life together? Share it in the comments section below.
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This is really not about habits, but about what to consider improving or changing in specific areas of your life. For that purpose it is quite good. Implementing those changes will require to develop some specific habits, but these are not discussed.
I see the two as being linked. By definition a habit is “a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior” so I do think all of the things listed can be tendencies or regular actions taken to the point where they become involuntary. Decluttering can be a habit, practicing gratitude can be a habit, assessing your life, prioritizing, and practicing self-care can all become habits. Some of the specifics of how you practice those habits may depend on the individual though. I hope that helps clarify.
A very comprehensive list & makes a lot of sense!
very good advice, lot of people don’t realize how important gratitude is also.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Laura!
Great advice. I’m an older woman with a sole Proprietorship. Having a thoughtful strategy is the tool to being clear about defining what that is and how to be successful doesn’t just mean being wealthy with money. Quality of life is what one is reaching for. Good luck!
I totally agree, Anna! I wrote a separate post talking about defining success here: https://thesimplicityhabit.com/how-to-define-success-in-your-life/
Good and nourishing food for thought. Gratitude is always satisfying to everyone…be generous with your gratitude. Also, it is indeed a very good thing to ask for help; it is not weakness in any stretch of the imagination. The substance here is both profoundly useful and gratifying. Well done!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Jana!
Self care needs to include going to bed and rising at a specific time each day and picking a specific time twice a day, for a limited time, to return emails/messages and phone calls. Limit social media to under 20 minutes a day. 🫖
This list is so overwhelming including everything in life. where are the habits?
I’d suggest focusing on one thing at a time. Start by assessing your current circumstances and prioritize what area you want to work on first.
Lisa, you are correct — everything in life, and this list, can be and often are overwhelming.
I agree with Julianna to begin with focusing on one thing at a time. It doesn’t have to be much to begin with, but it needs to be something. Our goal is continual improvement. I know it is hard to see right now, but eventually all the pieces will start moving together and at some point it will actually appear like they are choreographed like a master puzzle. That point is a great feeling.
All of our situations are different, and there is no best way for everyone. What works for me is to prioritize physical well-being, because if I feel lousy, pretty much everything I try to do will be lousy. For me, setting aside a block of time to go outside and walk EVERY DAY is important, without taking my cell phone. My minimum is half an hour. The exercise is physically good for me, but the mental clarity it helps bring is even better. It gives me quiet time to reflect, focus, and motivate. Getting outside my house and away from my clutter is refreshing and recharges me.
I empathize with you, Lisa, because I have felt like I think you feel now. And sometimes I still do. But, believe me, there is hope. It can be done. You can get to the place you want to be. Start small. But start. Somewhere. Anywhere. And when you get discouraged (and you will) and feel like quitting, always remember why you started in the first place.
declutter that’s what i have learnt, if somethings doesn’t work for you just leave them move on thanks!!!
Focus on being a priorty, and putting your needs first. Wake up every morning with only gratitude and the gift to be able to make the changes you are seeking in life.
I think a thing that each person needs to look at prior to following these 12 guidelines is to take a very deep look at “defining their purpose in life “ and then these 12 guidelines will be easily followed.
this article is excellent. it was exactly what I needed. it is thorough, comprehensive, organized, in order and detailed. it is not a bunch of fluff just thrown together to meet the need to write an article. this was very well put together.
it takes a person from ground zero through the steps, what it takes, to make “get your life together” happen.
I would agree that examining one’s purpose goes hand-in-hand with the suggestions in this blog post. I can’t imagine one being sustainable without the other. Know your why.
Great article! So glad this article popped up on my Google feed because I need this information right now in my life. Thank you for packing the article with great links for further consideration, as well! I am looking forward to keeping up with your future articles.
Great motivational post!
Excellent and timely. I located this article as I performed a google search on “Reduce Stress: Organize Your Life with Simplicity.” Thanks very much!
2026 Priorities
Alcohol recovery sustain (AA Sequestered Girls 5 days a week minimum)
Medication regimen adherence daily
Medical appointments compliance (spring mammogram, bone density, dental, ophthalmology)
Pescatarian Mediterranean diet (three meals, one snack daily)
Body movement 30 minutes (five days weekly)
Complete two collections of literary nonfiction monthly
Sit at computer with Word open for 30 minutes (no social media, email, or text)
Journal 10 minutes nightly
Practice cello 3 days a week (20 minutes)
Substack two posts monthly
Sleep consecutive 8-9 hours nightly (lights out by midnight)
Make a budget (try hard to adhere to it)
Visit twins at least once monthly
Buy cut flowers twice monthly
Plan artists salon for May inaugural gathering
“Value the dark side of our experiences as well as the light side.” – author Katherine May (“Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat During Difficult Times”)