You know it's time to organize when....
So, as you may have read in the past, maybe here, here and here, that I preach quite a bit about maintenance and it's importance!
Keeping up or maintaining your systems and day to day activities is what allows us (or me) to be organized. When you let go or put off something that you know needs to be done, playing catch up can, and will be more work than if you just did what you know you needed to do...
It's those little triggers that I have identified in my (very twisted) head (or set a reminder on my calendar) to remind me it's time to work on being organized.
I am not born organized people... I have to work at just like the rest of you! For me, I know I need to organize when....
... I look in the pantry cabinet and I can't reach the kids snack basket.
... my work surface is cluttered that I can't lay my notepad down without touching something else.
... I go into a dresser drawer and the pajama's are mixed in with the shorts.
... I can't find the right utensil in the utensil drawer (half the time it's because my DH has a hard time putting away the dishes... not that I am complaining about this, because I truly appreciate his help with the dishes!).
... my lip balm is somewhere in the bottom of my purse.
As you can see, most of the time it's when I can't seem to find what I am looking for within a reasonable amount of time is how I know it's time to do some maintenance. When it comes to my purse (or really any re-organizing or maintaining work) I have a systematic method to getting back on track, usually a two step process.
Purse Clean Out Step One:
Dump everything out onto the counter (see, there is my lip balm... right in the middle of the pile aka at the bottom of my purse).
When I dump it out on the counter, I usually find that this is a good time to toss the trash, wrappers and get all my receipts out of my wallet to load into the computer.
Sometimes I have things in there that don't belong (like the Costco coupon book) that I will (at this time) take out and put away where it belongs.
Not to mention refilling things (like my ibuprofen container) that is now empty and needs to go back in filled.
Purse Clean Out Step Two:
This is the easy step. Put things away.
This involves putting everything back where it belongs! Does that sound too easy? Well, it is! It's really more about taking the time to manage...
Things like my cell phone, lip balm and business cards are right on hand in the side pockets, while other larger items like my momAgenda, wallet and my book are in the larger section...
Have you read this book... it's fabulous, not to mention fits perfectly in my purse for that quick read when I am stuck in traffic or waiting for a client appointment.
Total Time To Reorganize: Maybe 5 minutes
___________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a trigger to reorganize? What is your "you know it's time to organize when..." trigger?
___________________________________________________________________________________
Keeping up or maintaining your systems and day to day activities is what allows us (or me) to be organized. When you let go or put off something that you know needs to be done, playing catch up can, and will be more work than if you just did what you know you needed to do...
It's those little triggers that I have identified in my (very twisted) head (or set a reminder on my calendar) to remind me it's time to work on being organized.
I am not born organized people... I have to work at just like the rest of you! For me, I know I need to organize when....
... I look in the pantry cabinet and I can't reach the kids snack basket.
... my work surface is cluttered that I can't lay my notepad down without touching something else.
... I go into a dresser drawer and the pajama's are mixed in with the shorts.
... I can't find the right utensil in the utensil drawer (half the time it's because my DH has a hard time putting away the dishes... not that I am complaining about this, because I truly appreciate his help with the dishes!).
... my lip balm is somewhere in the bottom of my purse.
As you can see, most of the time it's when I can't seem to find what I am looking for within a reasonable amount of time is how I know it's time to do some maintenance. When it comes to my purse (or really any re-organizing or maintaining work) I have a systematic method to getting back on track, usually a two step process.
Purse Clean Out Step One:Dump everything out onto the counter (see, there is my lip balm... right in the middle of the pile aka at the bottom of my purse).
When I dump it out on the counter, I usually find that this is a good time to toss the trash, wrappers and get all my receipts out of my wallet to load into the computer.
Sometimes I have things in there that don't belong (like the Costco coupon book) that I will (at this time) take out and put away where it belongs.
Not to mention refilling things (like my ibuprofen container) that is now empty and needs to go back in filled.
Purse Clean Out Step Two: This is the easy step. Put things away.
This involves putting everything back where it belongs! Does that sound too easy? Well, it is! It's really more about taking the time to manage...
Things like my cell phone, lip balm and business cards are right on hand in the side pockets, while other larger items like my momAgenda, wallet and my book are in the larger section...
Have you read this book... it's fabulous, not to mention fits perfectly in my purse for that quick read when I am stuck in traffic or waiting for a client appointment.
Total Time To Reorganize: Maybe 5 minutes
___________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a trigger to reorganize? What is your "you know it's time to organize when..." trigger?
___________________________________________________________________________________
Posted by Megan Spears at 7/19/2008 7:22 AM 
Categories: Tips, Organizing, Time Management, Cleaning, Planning
Categories: Tips, Organizing, Time Management, Cleaning, Planning
I LOVE THIS POST.
Okay, my trigger is when I get that "oh!" energy drain feeling when looking at desk (I do it daily, but this can happen during the day), kitchen cupboard and wardrobe.
P.S. Did you go look at the vision boards on my other blog?
I know that feeling too Marcia! It's the "ugh" for me... thanks for the comments, I finally did get over to your other blog (I went on late Tuesday and of course I was too early) and posted a comment. Great post girlfriend! I really like the way you explained what a vision board is... I need to add that blog to my Google reader... how do you do it?