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Get Organized
in GO Month™
Top
resolutions for the new year include weight loss
and getting organized. Both can be very
difficult for people, yet very easy if
approached the right way. When looking to lose
weight, you don’t stop eating. And you don’t
lose fifty pounds the first month. That’s
because you start small. You ease back on your
eating. You start an easy exercise routine,
gradually building up to what you can physically
handle. And you watch the scale every week for
those one or two pounds that will ultimately
lead to your goal of fifty.
Organizing is
much the same. While you CAN lose fifty pounds
of clutter in one day, you don’t have to. You
can approach it slowly, tackling one pile at a
time, one bin at a time. Then, after three or
four months, your whole basement or garage is
done!
Here are some
techniques that will help you get organized in a
pace and method that works for you. There
aren’t any rules, just guidelines, so you can
use what works, and not use what doesn’t.
ORGANIZING YOUR HOME
MAKE GOALS
·
What do you want to accomplish in your home?—Are
there areas that really bother you? For one of
my clients, the laundry room off the attached
garage was so cluttered, she began walking
around and using the front door instead. Her
foyer was tidy and welcoming, and that’s how she
wanted to feel walking through the door at the
end of the day. Look around your home, and
select those areas which would make you feel the
best if they were de-cluttered and organized.
·
What can you expect to reasonably complete?—Just
as in losing weight, you know you can’t lose all
the weight you want overnight. You can’t expect
to be organized in a day, either. Or even a
month. You have other commitments in life that
take up your time, such as work, children and
family. So look at your goals. What do you
think you are most likely able to accomplish?
Select those areas as your focus.
MAKE LISTS
·
For every goal—For
every goal you made, write it down. Be
specific. Did you want to just de-clutter the
basement, or did you want to buy storage units
for it also? Did you want to just go through
the stacks of paper in your office, or set up a
file system also? By writing it down and
looking at it every day, you will be accountable
to the person who matters most—yourself.
·
For every room—For
every room you want to tackle, write down your
goals and tasks for that room. If it’s the
kitchen, it might be cleaning out the pantry,
getting rid of extra serving pieces and
organizing that junk drawer. Whatever it is,
write down what you want to do. You’ll have
that daily reminder to yourself. Then even if
you have only a few minutes, or if you’re stuck
on the phone with someone, use that time to
start one of those tasks.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR AROUND THE HOUSE
There are so many ways to make yourself more
organized. Here are just a few tips that will
get you started if you’re not sure where to
start. Your home or lifestyle may not be
conducive to these changes, but that’s okay.
There’s a solution out there for everyone. You
just may have to look harder.
·
The entry/foyer—This
is the place people see first when they walk in
your home. Make it welcoming by removing the
clutter and brightening the space. Put in as
bright a light as possible, and use a mirror to
make the space look larger. Greenery or flowers
are always a nice touch.
·
The living room—This
is usually a formal room, rather than a
gathering place. But don’t be tempted to let it
be the place to show off your collectibles.
Keep displays to a minimum. Keep books and
magazines off the floor, and weed out some of
those knick-knacks you keep getting as gifts.
Colorful pillows can add a splash of color.
·
The dining room—This
is a place to dine, not collect the week’s (or
month’s) mail. Don’t use your dining room table
as a file cabinet. If you must use the space to
work or pay bills, set up a file cabinet or
portable storage so everything doesn’t collect
on the table. Set the table with china and a
large centerpiece so you won’t be tempted to
drop paperwork onto it.
·
The kitchen—This
room can have health hazards associated with it,
if not maintained. Even if the space is not
organized, you should at the least start the new
year with a thorough cleaning of the pantry,
fridge, freezer and cabinets. Throw away all
expired food. Sort items by category, then
re-stock your pantry and cabinets with like
items together. Place older foods in front, and
rotate boxes and cans as you shop so you don’t
keep pushing old food to the back where it will
expire while you’re using the newer food up
front. This should be done every six months to
eliminate the possibility of consuming old food.
·
The family room—This
is the place everyone gathers to watch
television, movies, etc. But is the space ready
for you? Are all the children’s movies
accessible down low for little hands to reach
easily? Are mom and dad’s movies up high where
only they can reach them? Are movies sorted by
title or genre so you can find one when looking
for it? Have a basket for the remotes, and make
sure the family cooperates in returning the
remotes to the basket when done. Just as they
should put away movies when they are done.
Finally, extra blankets and pillows are always
nice—but a storage ottoman that can serve as
both table and storage for these items.
·
The home office/den—Whether
or not you work from home, the files in this
area should be neat and organized. Keep family
and personal records separate from work
records. Use a filing system that works for
you. Use label names that you will remember.
Color code different broad categories, like
family vs. legal vs. business. A tickler files
will help you keep track of upcoming tasks and
bills. Finally, a must for every office--a
recycling bin and shredder for that junk mail.
·
The bedrooms—Bedrooms
are for sleeping and relaxing. You can’t relax
if you are stepping over clothes to get to the
closet. Look through your closets. You wear
20% of what you own 80% of the time. Get rid of
half your clothes. You won’t miss them. You’re
not wearing them now, are you? The same goes
for dresser drawers and jewelry.
·
The bathrooms—Another
task you should do every six months is clean out
your medicine cabinet. Pull out expired
medicines, and set them aside for your next
hazardous waste collection. Replace any basic
items such as pain relievers and first aid
treatments. Old prescription medications should
be disposed of properly also. Refills on
prescription meds are good for only one year
from the original fill date (less if a
controlled substance). So check dates on those
also. You may want to call in a refill even if
you don’t need it yet if the original
prescription is expiring soon.
·
The basement—When
you store anything in your basement, clearly
mark the date on the outside of the box. Store
your boxes/bins on shelves, rather than stacking
them on top of each other. You will be able to
access them more easily. Periodically go
through your boxes, starting with the oldest
dates, and purge unused and old items. This is
a good way to manage toys with children. Pack
away the extras and date the box. If they don’t
ask for anything in that box within the next six
months, it’s safe to donate the toys to charity.
·
The garage—Keep
zones in mind when storing in the garage. Store
like items together (auto, gardening, sports,
etc.). Use shelves, slatwall or bins for
storage. Keep heavy boxes down low, and lighter
boxes higher up. Always keep cardboard boxes
off the floor. Plastic bins are best for the
garage where critters tend to migrate.
ORGANIZING YOUR TIME
·
Buy a planner—Every
year should start with a new planner. Buy one
several weeks before the new year, because
you’re probably already planning things for the
next year. Transfer data from your old one into
the new one, as well as any appointments you may
have recorded. Use pencil in your planner so
you can change times or locations as necessary.
Also, post-it notes and paper clips are always
helpful to have on hand.
·
Edit contacts—Take
an hour or two to glance through your contacts.
Do you still do business with everyone listed?
Have any families moved? Have any divorced and
are now living separately? Have children moved
out or gone off to college? Has your dentist
retired? Of course, the best way to maintain
your contacts is to update them as you get new
information.
·
Plan ahead—By
looking ahead for a few weeks (or months), you
can see what is coming up that you may need to
plan for. If you have a classmate’s birthday
party coming up, make a note to buy the gift the
week before the party. However, if you are
hosting a baby shower, you will need to start
planning invitations and decorations well ahead
of the date. By keeping on top of things, you
won’t fall behind or forget.
·
Set limitations--Only
you know what you are capable of, and what you
can accomplish in a day. If someone asks
something of you that will seriously infringe on
that time, say no. The more you accept, the
more they seem to ask. Someone else will
eventually step up and take over. Don’t be that
person all the time.
Being
organized is more than having a place for
everything. It is a lifestyle to learn. It
isn’t just about creating space for everything.
It is also about putting things away and
changing buying habits. By following these
guidelines, you will see the benefits of an
organized home, and change will come naturally.
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