Despite your relationships, the amount of money you make, the things you own, and even your overall happiness with your life, there will undoubtedly come a time when things simply seem hectic and overwhelming. This happens to all of us at some point, but it does not have to be this way.

Many of the people I meet are ordinarily happy, but they still feel as if something is amiss; they ?have no control? over their lives, they say. Often, getting organized is the best way for all of us to regain that control and bounce back from the chaos that is everyday life. Here are seven ways to do just that:

#1 ? Clean Your Closet

This works in both the literal and the metaphorical sense. We store many things in our literal closets: shoes, garments, belts, photo albums and more. When everything is cluttered and not in its place, it is difficult for us to find the things we want or need. The same can be said for our proverbial closets; when our minds are cluttered with things left unsaid, we are unable to focus on the simple things associated with daily life and it interferes with our calmness. Taking the time to clean out both closets can help us get organized both physically and mentally, reducing chaos and promoting peace.

#2 ? Clean Your Car

Your car is your method of transportation and how you travel from point A to point B. Aside from just a machine that drinks fuel and requires regular maintenance; you can also view your car as a euphemism for your journey to get organized. Cleaning out your car is often a quick process that produces immediate results, and once your vehicle is clean, tidy and smelling nice, your journey will be much more peaceful.

#3 ? Clean Your Kitchen

The kitchen is often the hub for family and social get-togethers, and it is unfortunately a common ?dumping ground? for mail, keys, laundry baskets and other parts of our daily lives. Your kitchen is where you prepare the food that provides your body with energy, and it would certainly be impossible to get organized without this energy. Cleaning your kitchen will provide you with a clean slate and make it easier for you to get the fuel you need to help fight chaos in your life.

#4 ? Organize Your Calendar

One of the most common mistakes we make is assuming that we will be able to remember every little event, every detail, every birthday and every appointment. When we fail to keep our calendars organized, we’re more prone to chaos; we forget important events and appointments and we end up scrambling to reschedule. First, purchase a planner or schedule book and get rid of those little scraps of paper lying all over your desk. Then, be sure to add events as you schedule them and take a look at this agenda each and every day.

#5 ? Take Care of Unfinished Business

Taking care of unfinished business is a way to get organized that does not necessarily have to do with physical cleaning; this one is more about mental de-cluttering. Is there something you’ve been meaning to get off your chest? Is your bathroom remodel project on hold? Still haven’t signed up for that dance class you promised yourself? Make a list of all of the unfinished things in your life?no matter how small?and tackle them head-on. You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel afterward.

#6 ? Say ?NO? to Relationships that Drain Your Energy

We all have friends or acquaintances who just sap our energy?those who seem to be constantly asking us for favors and never offering their services in return. You should get organized here by truly thinking about these relationships and whether or not they are mutually beneficial. If you discover one or more that are simply adding to the chaos in your life, end them. While it may be a bit painful in the beginning, it?ll be well worth it in the long run.

#7 ? Choose a Practice to ?Bring Your Engine Down?

The practice of ?bringing your engine down? consists of finding ways to fight chaos in your mind. Some of the best ways to do this include reiki, yoga and even meditation. Each of these practices help us get in touch with our minds and bodies and block out the chaos of the outside world, if only briefly. Learning these practices and then implementing them on a daily basis?and sometimes multiple times throughout the day?will help you get organized and better handle life’s ups and downs.

By completing all of these steps in an effort to get organized and then making the effort to maintain this new level of organization, we can push the chaos out of our lives and replace it with a calm that brings nothing but peacefulness to our lives every day.