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I'm having so much fun hanging out at the Inspiration Cafe and am thrilled to be sharing this organizing series with you.
So how are you doing on your New Year's Resolution to get organized? Are you like me, feeling like the clock is ticking away and you've barely scratched the surface of your organizational goals?
Well, there' still hope. Today I want to share with you a strategy for bringing your vision to reality. We are going to break our project down into manageable tasks. If you put "organize the garage" on your to-do list, you're going to find that "to-do" being bumped to the next week, then the next week, to the week after that. So, instead, let's approach the project one step at a time. For example:
I think my next step is to make a list: "recycle, shred, bills, respond, file" Then, determine what kind of receptacles would serve us best. What works for you? Next week, I hope to show you a picture of the finished space. Now that I've said that "out loud", I will feel some accountability and am more likely to get it done. Thank you so much for having me back! I'll see y'all next Tuesday to finish out the series. Feel free to come visit me at www.mrshinesclass.com between now and then. See you in class, Mrs. Hines
Well, there' still hope. Today I want to share with you a strategy for bringing your vision to reality. We are going to break our project down into manageable tasks. If you put "organize the garage" on your to-do list, you're going to find that "to-do" being bumped to the next week, then the next week, to the week after that. So, instead, let's approach the project one step at a time. For example:
Day 1: Get three boxes, labeled trash, donate and keep. Start going through everything in the garage and designating them to one of the boxes. Day 2: Throw away the trash and deliver your donation box to donation center Day 3: Determine how you use the garage. Look at what you're keeping and decide on the most practical place to store it. It may be helpful to draw out a sketch or use an online tool to create a plan. Day 4: Start organizing. Put everything in its place. Include a labeling system so that everyone knows where everything goes. If your kids are small, use pictures or symbols so that they can take ownership in cleaning too.My big task this week is to finish organizing the command center in my home. So far, I've cleared everything off of the desk. And I have rearranged where the calendar and message board hangs. Now, I have to work on putting the desk back together. The biggest problem being paper clutter.
I think my next step is to make a list: "recycle, shred, bills, respond, file" Then, determine what kind of receptacles would serve us best. What works for you? Next week, I hope to show you a picture of the finished space. Now that I've said that "out loud", I will feel some accountability and am more likely to get it done. Thank you so much for having me back! I'll see y'all next Tuesday to finish out the series. Feel free to come visit me at www.mrshinesclass.com between now and then. See you in class, Mrs. Hines
Great tip! Thanks so much for sharing. :) Paper clutter is always a battle at our house. My best bet is to file it within a day or two so it doesn't become a mountain.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I detest filing so much? If paper work didn't need to be file, I wouldn't have a paper clutter problem. ;)
DeleteI think the biggest mistake people make is assuming you have to complete a task entirely in one day. (I'm one of those people!) but when you limit yourself to just doing a few things a day to make tht space more organized and more functional it makes the entire process much easier:)
ReplyDeleteLaurie, I used to be one of those people. If I got home from the paint store at 9:00 p.m, the room was still being painted. It was all or nothing. I think I've swung in the complete opposite direction, though. Now, I'll leave pictures leaning against the wall for weeks for before hanging them. Working on finding a happy medium. Those tips were as much for me as for y'all. LOL
DeleteI love this. It does make the big tasks seem more manageable if you can break it down in mutliple days. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I could help, Heather. What project are you going to try this with? I'd love to see the finished results!
DeleteSharon...we just painted and recarpeted our entire house. :) I would have loved to have had this info a month ago.
DeleteGreat tips! Came over from Danni's place at Silo Hill Farm! My biggest challenge is the paper clutter. It just piles up, I don't get things filed right away....
ReplyDeleteKaren
You and me both, Karen.
DeleteThank you for the wonderful tip!!! I hate the paper clutter too!..I think if you saw my desk you would faint.. well, it's not really that bad I try to clean it every day.. but those bills you know the ones .. the credit card offers that come in every-day I get about 3 a day.. junk mail.. I have to literally be by the trash can when I open them..
ReplyDeleteOh, and the magazine offers, too! I try to shred and trash those immediately, but I confess, the one I got yesterday from Southern Living didn't get thrown away.... ;)
DeleteI typically sort the mail as soon as we bring it in....trash, recycle and all the rest. It's the "rest" that's giving me trouble.
We never know what is important to the other person so we had to make a team effort! I love being organized though!
ReplyDeleteJust today, my husband was in a panic looking for something important (to him). Thankfully, it was in the piles of papers that I had gathered to start sorting. We were both relieved. Hopefully, I'll come up with an organized way of handling all incoming papers.
DeleteNew follower here. Agh, paper clutter, the bane of my existence. I'm inspired to go home and try to tackle it tonight, even if I just start with a few pieces.
ReplyDeleteI think that sounds like a a good plan.
DeleteI have just sorted through my piles of papers.And slowly organizing.I try to get it done before it get's out of hand and over whelming.Great tips!
ReplyDeletexx
Anne
That's the key...sorting before it gets out of hand. I haven't mastered that yet. How often do you sort, Anne? Weekly, daily?
DeleteI am loving this series - thank you for sharing here at the Cafe Sharon. xx Nat
ReplyDeleteI'm so flattered that you love it. And very honored to be here. Thank you for having me!
DeleteI'm drowning in paper and can't see the floor of my closet. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteTalya, I hope you get to see the floor of your closet soon! ) I'm just now seeing my living room floor again since I started all of this reorganization a few weeks ago. It's been a long few weeks where that's concerned. One day at a time....
DeleteI so badly need to do this, I started shredding but I like the basket idea. I need to go round and do it every where in the house!
ReplyDeleteI'm on the hunt for enough bins to organize my paper clutter. I want them lined up across the back of my desk. And I'll have to be disciplined and file the papers in the "file" bin once a week. That would solve a lot of my paper clutter problems.
DeleteLovely tips!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jutta! I'm so glad you think so.
DeleteI love this series! Believe it or not the most cluttered room in my house is the craft room. My problem in there is...nothing gets thrown away. I reuse everything. I think I need to figure out how to get more space with what I have and I'm hoping that is a future lesson! Thank you for sharing this series at the Cafe!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thrilled that you are enjoying this series. Danni, if you haven't already, go vertical with your space. You can send me pictures of your space and I'll try to help you with some organizational ideas. Be sure to include notes on what you have stored and how you use your room.
DeleteLove your tips and series, Sharon! Off to find 3 boxes! :) So fun to have you here at the Cafe! Hope you're having a great week!
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to be at the Cafe! My week has been very productive and productive always makes me happy. :) Remember, if you haven't used it or worn it in a year's time.....it goes in one of the boxes. ;)
DeleteYou are such a great motivator, Sharon! I have a craft cabinet that's been piled with craft items and filing that I've been plugging away at little by little. Now I need to focus on organizing the "keep" pile in a way that makes sense for it's uses. Thank you so much for doing this series with us! My home thanks you too ;)
ReplyDeleteSherry, that's exactly where I am in the process...Organizing the keep piles. I've had so much fun with this series. It's been a joy to share here at the Cafe.
DeleteAnd it makes my day to be called a motivator...that's always my goal in any post I write, motivate and inspire.