May 17, 2022
How to get organized is an ongoing problem, right? What if you started small? Fine details into bigger systems?
HOW TO GET ORGANIZED (FINELY)
You see what I did there, right? Finely/Finally? 😆
There’s a reason for that. I’ll tell you in a minute.
Look, I’m one of those people who really likes order. Everything clicked into place neatly, systems and grids and all that.
In my mind.
Because in my house, it’s not like that. Things accumulate. Papers, projects, piles, packages. People and their possessions.
The more disorganized things get, the harder it is for me to think, to perform, and to keep up. It even affects my happiness. I start getting inefficient, and I’m fumbling with everything.
It’s like walking on cobblestones. You ever do that? You wear cute dainty sandals somewhere and then discover that part of the path is cobblestones?
Suddenly the going gets rough. I can’t seem to do anything. It’s terrible to witness. I look like a crippled ostrich, wings flapping, legs bending in every direction. I’m fumbling, just trying to get somewhere that doesn’t hurt so I can act normal again.
Why am I reminded of that?
That’s how uncomfortable and disturbing it is when I let things get out of hand around here. It’s awkward and frustrating and not what I needed.
I can’t plan well, can’t clean well, and my mood starts to shift.
Then, I make things worse by focusing on the problem, the big overwhelming problem, and my inability to solve it right this minute.
Everything takes so much effort, working around things. I can’t find what I need. Tasks take longer than they should.
It makes everything unpleasant. Soon I’m fumbling and my wings are flapping. It’s terrible to watch and I just wish I could act normal again.
Is your response anything like this? Feeling out of sorts because you don’t have a firm grasp on things?
Or maybe your reaction isn’t quite so emotional. Maybe you’re not all ostrichy. Maybe you see it, but it isn’t upsetting.
If so, you’re how I want to be.
Here’s the problem:
I Forget How To Get Organized.
Yeah, I really forget something important that I know.
I forget that it’s one bite of the elephant at the time, not the other way around. (And by the way, let’s come up with a new thing to eat in our metaphors. This is just disgusting.)
So today we don’t resolve the whole issue.
We just calm down, and look at how to start. Because you have to do that, right? Start.
You’ve done it. You’ve tackled a challenge before — just get up and do something, right? And this is no different. You figure out what you’ll do first, and so on.
Here’s the thing: Your disorganization, or the slipping away of the control, could be anything. It could be clutter, or meal planning, or cleaning, or homework, or bill paying, or computer work, or anything.
Because that’s how it is with you and me — we’re spinning a few plates all the time, and it can be stressful.
That’s why today’s topic will touch on several different areas — to find the one thing that speaks to your stress.
The one thing you know is more pressing, or more important, or more “tackleable.” (Howdja like that word?)
I mentioned clutter/cleaning.
I mentioned homework.
I mentioned bill paying.
I mentioned computer work.
Let’s just look at those.
Do you ever look at those beautiful blogs with the color coordinated pantry or the spacious mudroom?
They can either encourage you to do something, or they can expose the mess that you are trying to escape.
One day (I’m telling myself) I’ll have that spare, minimalist look. Maybe.
Remember “Finely?
The key word today is “finely” and it means something important:
- Consisting of especially minute particulate; made up of particularly small pieces.
And that’s where we’ll settle today — in the small pieces of life, simply focusing on narrow areas of improvement.
It’s important to remember this, especially when you’re overwhelmed. And if you’re here, I think you probably are.
When you finish reading today, you’ll have one small task in mind. Something right in front of you to sort. And that’s all.
HOW TO GET ORGANIZED AT HOME:
I’m going to tell you the secrets of the framework right here. We’ll go on to the subjects and the specifics. But first, this:
It’s what you need to remember about everything you set up at home.
- A place for everything, and everything in its place.
- Convenient placement of all items for tasks, readily available.
- A sequence for processes, with a beginning, middle, and end.
- Visual order of items, with a logical location.
- Clear categories.
I’m not trying to make you break out in hives. I’m just reminding you that lining up clutter isn’t the same as organizing your things.
You do have to place every item for logical retrieval.
It’s not enough to say “Keep it in the kitchen because that’s where it always ends up.”
When you’re deciding how to put things away, do it with the end in mind.
Cooking items definitely go in the kitchen.
But not everything you own.
Mail needs a place, homework and backpacks need a place, shoes need a place.
And not just “a place.” A place where retrieval makes sense. If you need to organize a closet or a piece of furniture near the door, do it. If homework gets done in the bedroom, maybe backpacks go there when they come home.
A pantry may have some items that can be on the floor, others that cannot.
Crafts and sewing items should have a home.
Unfinished projects need a temporary home.
Even if it’s a storage container that gets moved around.
Do you have a shoe rule? Maybe they have to be in the closet, put away, or in a designated spot near the door. But not all through the house.
For each of these, the “framework” above will help you.
Cleaning/Clutter
Having things clean is always the thing we want, right? And it’s hard to clean when things aren’t put away.
What I mentioned above, the wing-flapping stuff-everywhere problem, it’s a frantic response to the way things look in my home.
The challenge is about organizing objects, about putting things away and being able to find them, about eliminating clutter. And about really being able to clean.
Because…
You don’t want marshmallows going down the sink drain. And you don’t want to vacuum up a Lego. Or spill paint on the sofa. There shouldn’t be a dirty sock on a kitchen table, or a foil-wrapped package of burned toast outside the front door.
This “things to put away later” is an ongoing issue, sometimes better, sometimes worse.
And here we are in that endless circle: Things have to get put away before you can really clean…
Sigh. But for a minute, just think of how it could be.
When you’re organized…
Girl, when you’ve got it put away, when you’ve got that Mr.-Clean-fresh scent in your sink and your floors are shining, you’ll be smiling at your kids, cooking the supper your husband dreams of, and relaxing with a good book after supper.
There’s a way out of the chaos, and the topic is here on the blog already. It’s about facing that challenge head on, and plowing right into the enemy line.
You think it’s a tank, a million enemies, a huge army ready to crush you. But it’s not. Nope. It’s just the man behind the curtain.
As soon as you start, all those dominoes just fall over. You’ll get them one at a time, and you’ll be surprised at the speed of your victory.
The topic is called “Too Overwhelmed to Clean House” and it’s got a little bonus – a chart / task list, to help you get organized about cleaning. In that topic I’ll tell you exactly how to get started, devoting just a few minutes at a time with a wonderful snowball effect. You’ll see. I want you to read it.
But let’s look ahead for a minute. Because these tips aren’t there.
Today’s focus is on tasks.
Homework
If you’ve got students in the home, you know something: Late-afternoon homework is drudgery (or even torture) for everyone.
Make it easier, as much as you can. Have a routine: Snack, homework, play, more homework, or whatever works for you.
The important thing: Have a place that is set up for quickly “getting to it” with all the supplies at hand. Our kitchen table has a basket nearby with pencils, paper, and other items. We have an electric pencil sharpener plugged in right there. All this is stored on a shelf near the table. It doesn’t interfere with meals, but it’s right there for homework.
Remember the mention of systems and grids? It’s kind of about places and sequences.
Places for things, sequences for tasks.
Those are two of the easy steps for operating many things more efficiently – a system that addresses needs, and a place to perform tasks.
That’s really one of the many things at heart of homemaking, isn’t it? Loving our family (and ourselves) enough to meet their needs on an ongoing basis.
The framework is part of the secret. Caring about our family is the other part.
Together, those overarching goals make up the real secret to getting organized. Caring enough about all that to actually do something.
Bill Paying, Mail Sorting
Did you see “bill paying” on the list? It’s one more area that functions so much better on a system.
I’ve got a post coming up on organizing your daily finances, with some printable sheets to help you get started on system that works for you.
There needs to be an easy way to capture the monthly bills – the amounts, the method of payment, the due dates, and the long-term place in the budget. And don’t forget the mail. It will be covered also. Who knew that so many flat envelopes could drive a woman insane?
Computer Work.
There’s something simple and important about “computer work” that you need to know, and it applies to other areas of life.
Always seek to make it work better. More efficient, more shortcuts, neater results.
It’s one area that we just accept “as is” and figure that’s how it is. I’m going to share two articles about your home office.
- One is about ergonomics — your body position and how it affects your health. Five Things You Must Do For Ergonomics.
- The other is about the “pleasant” factor in your office — the products and the appearance that increase your happiness factor while you’re working. Home Office Pretty Workspace Ideas.
And one more little thing about computers: Invest a little time in organizing the files you store ON the computer. There’s so much to say about this that I’m going to have to create a whole new post.
How to Organize Finely
So this is plenty for you to tuck under your pillow for tomorrow.
Pick one thing. Just one small thing. And do it.
I have a sweet friend who taught me how to tackle projects this way. We were young moms and terribly busy, always fighting the clutter and the demands. Claiming time for an extra task was nearly impossible. I wanted to know how she did it. And she told me.
Whether it was yard work, a painting project, anything, this was the key. She envisioned just the space to focus on, and completed only that one thing.
I still remember her explaining it to me. She held up her hands and “bracketed” the area she had envisioned, and said this: “I decide at the beginning that this is what I’m accomplishing today. Then I worry about the next space tomorrow or another day.”
You know what? When I realize I’m fumbling, I can recall her advice, visually, and I “bracket” that area to work on, in honor of my friend!
- Clean your stovetop well.
- Organize the shoes in your closet.
- Throw away old bottles of shampoo or hair spray you won’t use again.
- Organize a kitchen cabinet or pantry — add a shelf if you need to. Throw away old cereal. Get your canned fruit all together and your pasta in another place.
- Dust your dresser.
- Clean out your purse.
Just one thing today. One thing tomorrow. Fine details that eventually will create an organized space.
Don’t forget to take a look at the topic, Too Overwhelmed To Clean House for some real understanding from real people who were right where you are.
If you realize that being organized will help you out of the chaos, you’re halfway there. Because it all begins in your head, right?
This is a big deal to me. The overwhelm of day-to-day life. I need to recognize the things that interfere with my relationships, and tame them into something manageable.
Because relationships, well, that’s where my heart lives.
I’ve got a good start here on the blog for getting things put away. Every time I tackle something, I end up telling you about it later! Check out a few topics on Storage Ideas, and on DIY.
You! Thanks for being here, for looking for “better” in what you do. Does today’s topic speak to your struggle? Or is your overwhelm somewhere else?
PICK ONE THING TODAY that you’ll get started on. One from the list above, or one small corner, just one thing.
“Bracket” it as your limit for today, and don’t worry about the next task until another day.
Thank you for visiting! At GFP company is always welcome!
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Are you on Pinterest? That is a crazy fun place! You can find so many helpful things. Take a look at what I’ve saved for you! A lot of things that never make it to the blog. Here are my Pinterest pins, and I also have categories/boards if you’re looking for something specific.
-Grammye
I’m Grammye, and I’m collecting and sharing ideas that can help you embrace the life you have.
When things are difficult, come here to refresh and relax. We’ll have coffee and talk.
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Accept by signing up
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Get it done, my friend,
one step at a time.
Finely.
Each small task
will bring you closer to the goal.
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