Write Things Down

First of all write down the things that you have to do. If you have a job, that part of your list is already decided. Other things are also already on your list, things like helping the kids get ready for school, getting meals, doing laundry, going shopping. You get the picture. Now put that list aside for the time being and start another list. This time write down the important things that might be neglected. You decide what goes on this list. I would suggest time for yourself, whether it’s time for a pedicure or time to read from you favorite book; more time with your spouse and kids; time for exercise and fresh air; time for service; and even time for meditation.

I know what you’re thinking. After I fill my schedule with the things that HAVE to be done, then the things that SHOULD be done, how in the world am I going to have time to get more organized? I don’t know. I can’t explain how it works. But I do know that once you set out to schedule your time a little more efficiently, the time will be there. I guess it’s magic, or something.

So now you have your assignment. Make a list. Write down your schedule. Write down what you would like to add to your list. Then write another schedule and add those things. Once you do this, you will see that there really are some blocks of time you can use to get more organized.

Make a List

I happen to love lists; and I love checking things off my list even more. Sometimes I write down the things I’ve already done just so I can check them off on my list.

What I want to talk about now is your daily schedule. Because before we can find time for doing some serious organizing we need to give some attention to our day to day schedule.

Now since everyone’s schedule is different, you’ll have to use a little creativity and fit this information to you individual situation. But hopefully this will be general enough to be beneficial in multiple situations.

Get a notebook and take a little time to write down your daily schedule. Be honest. Write down what you really do, not what you want to do. After you do that you can make some changes. The changes will come in your mind first, then in your notebook, then in your home.

Get your notebook ready and we'll decide what to put in it later. And while you're at it, let me know what you think.

Before We Get Going

Before we really get into getting organized there are a few things we need to do, and to think about. First of all get rid of stuff. Get rid of everything you don’t need, or haven’t used for years, or that is taking up space that could be used for something else you really need or want or like. This is a step that can be taken even before you start the actual process of getting more organized. Create lots of space. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel when there is more space in your life. You’ll be able to bring more peace, love, and happiness into your life, more simple abundance.

I’m going to give you a few organizing tips:

•Do small organizing tasks whenever you can.
•Do big organizing jobs when you’re rested and ready.
•Don’t expect to get it all done at once.
•Store things you use near the place you use them.

I know this sounds obvious, but take a look around. Is your toaster close to your bread drawer, your books close to your favorite reading chair?

Here are a few more tips:

•Take care of things after you use them.
•Delegate. Assign tasks to family members or co-workers, especially tasks you don’t want to do.
•Take mental notes of how you feel when you are more organized.

And, of course, my all-time favorite that bears repeating:

•Get rid of stuff!

Soon we’ll talk about where we can start, what we can do next. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty of getting organized. I can hardly wait.

A Few Simple Things

We can arrange our lives, our schedules, our homes so that the keeping up is easier, even fun. We can do a few simple things, take one step at a time, and arrange our environment in such a way that it’s easier to maintain.

That being said, there is another area of getting organized that is also repetitive. You’re going to be given the same advice over and over again. There are only so many ways you can organize your desk. There are only so many handy containers you can use. If you’ve read articles or books on getting organized, you know that this is true.

So I’m fully aware that what I’m going to tell you in the weeks and months ahead is not new. But the day you read certain tips or strategies might just be the day that you will hear what you need to hear. Tomorrow I’m going to tell you about a few things that work for me. Maybe they’ll work for you, too. Maybe you’ll read tomorrow’s post another time and find something else you can use. See you tomorrow.

Repetition is Required

I've been reading some articles about getting organized, perusing some blogs, and checking out some sites. Here's something I've noticed: It's all old news. But a lot of it is very good news, very good information. Life is all about repetition. I don't think I read anything really new. But many things were presented in a new way, a way that made me think "Hey, I like that idea. I'm going to do that." And so it is with all of life. We learn by repetition.