Ernesto, my dear husband. He has a natural ability to look at a mess and see it the way it could look - organized. I believe it is a gift, I believe you are born with this gift. So, what do the rest of us do that are always trying to learn this skill?
I have tried for many years to follow Ernesto's ideas of what will make us organized, and have recently decided that this is not what works for me. I have to develop my own ways of organization. So, here I sit, trying to figure out how to do this. I am still in the early stages of realizing the principles of organization. Here are some things I have learned:
- Everything should have a place.
- It is best to put things back (where they go) right after you use them.
- Declutter
- Set aside a time for everything. ie. cleaning, playing, relaxing.
- Try to make things as simple as possible.
How is that for basic? Wow, those are very common sense items, but honestly I DIDN'T GET IT. (This is where I apologize to all my prior roommates.)
Currently, I am following these principles and running around in circles. My house is clean (YEA) most of the time, but I have to figure out how to spend less time cleaning and more time doing what I want. Therefore, my first effort in organization of chores and life is a HUGE calendar.
I bought a "Mark-R-Board" panel at Lowes and drew a bunch of lines to make my calendar. I wanted a board that would give me 3 months at a glance. I really wanted it to be magnetic, but I did not want to spend a bunch of money to buy one that was already made or the paints, and I couldn't find one that would give me 3 months at a time. So, I settled for just dry-erase.
Ernesto will be hanging it tonight. I can't tell you how excited I am! Each family member will have a color, and there will be a neutral color for family or general activities. I will be listing chores there and the whole family schedule.
I anticipate this being just the thing I need to make things run more smoothly. I'll have to keep you updated. As I see how this runs for me, I will be adding more organizational tools to make my life a little easier, but I am focusing on one thing at a time. Next comes paper organization. ie bills and filing. (UGH, the bane of my existence.)
2 comments:
Wow, you're ambitious! Let me know how it works! As things get busier here, I'm finding my current system isn't holding up as well. Good luck!
Ok I have so much to say. I too was not blessed with the organization gene. Your list of things you have learned is not to basic. I still need to master many things you listed. As for a clean house I have found a trick that works for me. When I see a mess I uses to just get overwhelmed and wouldn't get to it as soon as I should have. Now I look at things different and it is helping me. When I see the mess I tell myself, "that is a 2 min. mess." When my messes get up to about 10 min. I try to take that 10 min. and clean it. Dumb I know. Finallly I just wanted to say I can't wait to hear how to organize the paper:)
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