How To Stop Living Like A Pig And Become More Organized?

Start SMALL and don’t expect to change right away. I’m a teacher and I still struggle with organization, because as a teen I never had a need for organization, therefore I never learned it.
Set small goals for yourself to work on for two weeks before you move to the next one. You want to be able to get this goal for two weeks in a row to make it habit.
My first suggestion is this:
First step:
1) Get folders for every class you have. Label them for each class. Folders are cheap and easy to find, and if you’re unable to get them, you can staple two sheets of thick paper together into a folder (staple them in a “U” shape).
2) Make sure they’re always in your backpack. When you remove them, keep your backpack nearby to put them back in when you’re done.
3) Put your homework and notes into the folders accordingly and do it as soon as you get them or as soon as you’re done with them. To remind yourself to put them away, write a note on your hand in marker, tell a friend to help you, or, heck, even ask the teacher to remind you.
When you’re able to successfully put notes and homework in the correct folders for 2 weeks straight, move on to the next goal –
Second step:
1) Once a week, clean out your folders and backpack of trash. You can do this on Fridays right after school. This will keep your bag clutter free AND give you a chance to restock on notebooks, pencils/pens, and related.
Third step:
1) This is my favorite step. I was horrible at using planners because I didn’t see them all the time and they’re not huge and in-my-face as a reminder. I am very visual and my memory is horrible – so for the longest time, I used post-it notes.
When I got an assignment, I would write it down on a post-it and stick it to an item I saw everyday when I went home – I stuck it on my lunchbox. You might not use one, so stick it to something you know you’ll see when you get home. You could try putting it in your back pocket and then sticking it to your walls when you get home.
2) When I mastered the post-it note, I got the idea to carry around a calendar. From my experience, I was horrible with planners because they were small and looked like an ordinary book – I could never make it a habit to look at the planner. So instead, I carried around a calendar. It was usually textbook sized and very colorful, so I always remembered to look at it when I opened my backpack. When I put my folders away after a class, I saw the calendar and wrote down the due date for any homework given. When I got home and emptied my backpack, I saw the calendar and would check it for homework. Wonderful!
4th step:
1) I bribed myself for doing homework at the same time in the same place. I usually had at least 30 minutes right after school to get my work done before I had some other commitment (job, extra-curricular, etc). I typically had rehearsals for something after school, so I would find a quiet place with NO distractions (I used my math teachers classroom) to do homework until rehearsal began. You can use the kitchen, the bathroom, ANY place that has nothing to be distracted by (no TV, no computer, no stereo, no nothing).
If I could do this, I rewarded myself with something fun – usually this involved harassing my brother. Make sure you don’t use candy or food as a reward – it will have negative side effects.
(Yes, I used to use the bathroom as a place to do homework on occasion. My sibling never bothered me there and never questioned why I would stay in there for 30 minutes….)
When this becomes habit, you can easily do homework with distractors around, but you’ll find you prefer the quiet place more
These are just my suggestions on what worked for me. Sit down and decide HOW you want to be organized – do you want to be able to use a planner? Track your homework well?
Write out, step by step, how you want to achieve each habit. *Do not be discouraged if you forget when you first begin trying to change.* This is not an “all or nothing” venture. It’s a *time* venture. These habits take time. So map out what you want to be able to do, how you think you should get there, and then do it!

Developing self discipline and becoming master of yourself will determine how far you go in life and what you are able to accomplish. If you are being truthful and if you are willing to discipline yourself you will realize much more in life. Each step in becoming organized will become a habit eventually. Arrangement of all of your things and strict adherence to constantly returning to your regimen will eventually make it easier. Well organized people must constantly fight the temptation to relax self discipline. Good luck with your coarse of action. You are your best friend. You will develop an appreciation for organization that you will never abandon.