2010 January | Take Control Organizing

Staying On Task!

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Nikki in Getting Started, Home Organizing, Office Organizing, Productivity, Time Management

Getting Focused and Staying On Task = Key to Success!

I have a project to do.. and I am finding it very difficult to get motivated to do it! It has been on my “TO DO” list prior to Christmas time!

We have this place in our house where we store our Holiday Decorations. In this place we also store the toys that I rotate periodically for my children. Well, before Christmas I was on this mission to go through the kids rooms and playroom, and reduce 3 large boxes of toys. I wanted to make room for the new ones coming. Well I did this, but I must say I did not do it in a very organized manner..I know not very Professional Organizer like is it!

So now I have this small space which is filled with Holiday Decoration boxes that need to be stacked and organized correctly and all of the toys that I just threw in…. So now what… I have a task, I have a goal, I just now need to do it…

This is my plan….

1. Have a Vision! I know exactly how I want this space to look and function.

2. Have a Plan! Get rid of the toys I am not keeping, and organize the ones I am, so it is easy to get them out and put them back! After sorting, I will be purchasing clear bins that are easy to stack.

3. Be Committed! I am, but I thought it would help to blog about it too… They do say to write your goals down!

4. Establish Time! My timeframe was to have this done a long time ago, so I have already missed this deadline, so my next one is going to be by the end of the month. I know this seems a little drawn out, but with work, home, and a family to take care of, I must be realistic! I am committing myself 15 minutes everyday to just go do something in this space…I figure, 15 minutes a day, starting today through January 31st. , means 6.75 hours to get this done.

I honestly do not think it will take 6.75 hours to complete, so this goal gives me a little room to wiggle! So with Vision, a Plan, Commitment, and Making Time, this project should be successful!

I’ll keep you updated on the progress!

Happy Organizing!

Getting and Staying Organized in 2010!

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Nikki in Getting Started, Staying Organized

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2010!

New Years Resolutions are everywhere… Look anywhere, TV, newspaper, internet… People are talking about the New Year, starting fresh, starting over, getting better… It can be very inspiring.. However, I would like to ask how many of you have had the same New Year Resolution over and over again.. How many of you started strong on your new goal and then by the end of January it was a distant memory?

What I want to offer you are tips on not only how to get organized, but how to stay organized.. And tell you a little bit of what to expect when you are in the process of getting organized! It’s not always what people think….

1. What does organization look like to you? It does not have to be perfect with everything in baskets. It can be as simple as putting all of the coats in one closet, rather than having them spread out throughout the house. The basic principal of organization is For Everything There is a Place, if you know where that place is and are able to return the items to their home then you are staying organized. Basic definition of organization: If you are happy in your space, you can find your things, then you are well organized! Set your goals to be realistic to your lifestyle!

2. Embrace the mess – It will get messy! Try not to focus too much on what it looks like during the process and just know there is an end in sight. Messes mean progress! You are one step closer to your goal.

3. Get the family involved- In order for your system to work, everyone in the family needs to know where things are, and what is expected of them. Especially if you have children, have a family meeting and give a tour of your new system. Better yet, involve them in developing the system in the first place. The more ownership they have the more likely they will be to want to maintain it as well. Make it a priority in your home to live an organized life.

4. Avoid multi tasking – Our society has taught us that multi-tasking is this great skill to have. In organizing – not so much! Work on one space at a time! It is too easy to feel you are not accomplishing your goals if you have several spaces being redone at the same time. Start, Finish, Move On.

5. Clean up everyday- Take 15 minutes everyday to clean up, whether it is in the morning or night, it’s up to you, just get it done! Even little bits at a time will help maintain your system.

6. Do a major purge every 6 months- Every 6 months, go around room to room and get rid of anything you are no longer using or need. If you do this twice a year you are eliminating any chance of holding onto any unnecessary clutter. It also won’t seem so overwhelming, when you are doing this on a consistent basis, you won’t have as much to carry out each time.

No doubt the start of the New Year is a great time to make a change… But you have to be committed and put in the hard work! Being organized is a choice we make everyday! Habits are hard to break, and habits can be hard to form! Start small, and be patient! At the end you will take back your time, your space, and your control!

Happy Organizing!