How to organize your life according to Virgo

Life is chaotic and there’s no way around it. And after a very naughty summer, life can feel more chaotic than usual. Luckily, Virgo season has arrived on August 22, and the pure and unadulterated energy of this earth sign is here to help everyone organize their lives, implement productive habits, and bring some order to the daily chaos.

Virgos are the perfectionists of the zodiac. They’re known for their impressive organizational skills, impeccable attention to detail, and refined appreciation for simplicity. Virgo is also a sign associated with wellness, so they appreciate being in the groove of a healthy routine—and while these grounded earth signs tend to be smart with money, they’ll almost always be tempted to splurge on a trip to a pricey health food store.

The energy of Virgo season is also consistent on a collective level, as the month in which the sun spends its annual time in Virgo marks the end of summer and culminates with the autumn equinox in the northern hemisphere. Virgo season is a time when people return to some regular routines: going back to school, returning from vacation, and getting their lives in order as the colder months appear on the horizon.

The world can be a chaotic and stressful place, and Virgos have to deal with the same realities as everyone else. But here’s the catch: Virgos know it. The reason they’re so good at keeping a routine and staying ahead of their responsibilities is because they understand that in order to do so, they have to be flexible and adaptable enough to roll with the punches without veering off course. Plans change! Shit happens! People cancel! New things come up! Virgos are sometimes stereotyped as schedule-obsessed and Type-A to a fault, but the truth is that these mutable signs are a lot more fickle than they’re given credit for.

Maintaining some semblance of order in your life can be difficult, but Virgos make it look easy. I spoke with real Virgos to get their tips on how to organize your life and keep it that way. And in true Virgo fashion, they had a ton of clear, sensible, and logical advice to offer.

Keep a calendar

“Honestly, sometimes Virgos only look like they have it all figured out from a distance. But we’re a very organized mess, and I live by my Google calendar.” — Diana C., The Sun in Virgo

That’s true. Virgo’s greatest skill isn’t necessarily having everything at hand, but the ability to give the impression of having everything at hand. Either way, they’re doing something right! And Virgos like things simple, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that their best suggestion for staying organized was simply… using a calendar.

“I write everything down in my calendar so I can be aware of the past and the future.” — Jane E., The Rising Virgin

Or maybe even multiple calendars.

“CALENDARS. I have four Google calendars and a mood disorder, and it’s the only way I live.” — Valerie G., The Sun in Virgo

Calendar? To stay organized? Groundbreaking. But that’s the point: Virgos are sophisticated and like to keep their systems clean and streamlined. But Virgos aren’t perfect, see below.

“Buying hundreds of planners and never using them, yet having a sense of security that comes from just knowing you have them.” — Sarah J., The Sun, Mercury, and the Rising in Virgo

Make Lists (and Actually Use Them)

Making lists was one of the most suggested Virgo tips to come up, and it makes sense. How can you stay organized if you don’t know exactly what needs to be done?

“Lists! Actually writing a list and then crossing things off the list.” — Sophia P., The Sun in Virgo

This is why I love Virgos: They don’t just assume that everyone knows how to create and use a list effectively, so they include clear instructions. Very thorough.

“I write everything by hand on a physical calendar and in my Day-Timer planner. Handwriting 4-eva!” — Jenny M., The Sun in Virgo

Virgos are earth signs, so they appreciate grounding through tactile experiences and tangible objects—so it makes sense that many Virgos have recommended writing lists by hand to get organized. Grabbing a nice pen and scribbling out a to-do list in a Moleskine journal or paper planner is So much more Virgo-like than typing tasks into a digital device and uploading them to the cloud. And honestly, they’re right: studies show that writing things out by hand improves both memory and learning.

Everything has its place

And if not, then in Virgo’s opinion it probably shouldn’t be there at all.

“Get rid of clutter in your home. It clutters your mind!” — Chloë, Sun in Virgo

These detail-oriented earth signs have a sharp and observant eye, so they know that clutter will only bring you down.

“Less is more, so if you don’t love it, get rid of it. Everything has its place, unless it’s being used.” — Lana N., Sun and Mercury in Virgo

It seems that many Virgos agree with Marie Kondo’s thinking that if an item doesn’t spark joy or is not being actively used, it’s time to get rid of it.

Find magic in everyday life

Virgos have a reputation for being meticulous, but these earth signs are actually quite spiritual and connected to the energy of nature. It’s easy for them to find magic in the mundane moments of life and see beauty in the daily grind.

“Make your daily tasks and routines a ritual of honor and devotion to yourself!” — Alisha P., Virgo Rising

Rituals sound much more mystical than tasks and routine, right?

“Use aesthetically pleasing, luxurious planners and pens that will motivate you to actually use them.” — Kyrie HN, The Rising Virgin

Virgos know that doing this tricks the brain into being more productive. These organizational tips come naturally to astrological Virgos, but they can be implemented in your life regardless of your sign if you want to feel like you have everything in order (even when you don’t).

Create systems that work You

Ultimately, keeping your shit together isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and Virgos know that. That’s why it’s so important to find tricks that work for your unique brain and lifestyle. Maybe you’re more of a bullet-journalist than a digital calendar person. Maybe you prefer to have your daily stuff visibly organized on open shelves rather than hidden away behind closet doors in labeled boxes. Experimenting is the only way to find out—and if you need some suggestions, these zodiac signs have plenty of them:

“Tips for staying organized: small plexiglass boxes, quarterly closet refreshes, and the overwhelming feeling that you know everything best.” — Sarah J., The Sun, Mercury, and the Rising in Virgo

“Coloring everything and the Reminders app on my iPhone is my life.” — Lisa M., The Sun in Virgo

“Excel spreadsheets can tame anything.” — Jo O., The Sun in Virgo

There are plenty of Virgos with immaculate homes and perfectly organized desks who totally live up to their sign’s ultra-organized stereotype. But there are also plenty of Virgos with messy bedrooms and 10,000 emails in their inboxes who somehow still hold it together because they’ve found what works for them.

“As a Lady with ADHD, all I can say is, if it makes sense to you, then it works.” — Anna H., The Sun in Virgo

Virgos have a knack for finding order in chaos, and with a little effort, you’re likely to be able to do the same.