On the topic of getting organized, being organized, or feeling like you could maybe someday get a little organized? How do you get to that place where you can walk around the normal disorder of life feeling a little hopeful that you can get it in hand somehow? I am not the most orderly person in the world and so I ask this question quite a bit. I have been checking out flylady.net and that has led me to think of what I have personally found to be useful in moving (even if ever so slowly) towards a more orderly life.
There are six tips that I have culled from friends and family over the years that have helped me when I actually put them into action:
1) Make your bed in the morning before you head out into the world. It’s makes me feel more organized right from the start and it's much nicer to slip into at the end of the day.
2) Get dressed and pulled together (hair, makeup, etc.) whether you are leaving the house or not. Just get yourself presentable. You will just feel better about life and meeting whatever the day brings. A friend gave me this tip because she found it helped when she was feeling down. I notice that Flylady suggests doing this too. I’ve been taking my best friend’s advice on this for many a year. I find it works for me.
3) Stand in the entryway of your place – whatever you see in that first glimpse that is getting out of hand – sort it out so that the first thing you see when you get home is not chaos and disorder but something more restful. You don’t have to do this before you leave the house everyday. Just when you get a chance and you want to have the most impact on perceived order in your environment.
4) Don’t just stand there – do something. If you are nuking a cup of hot water for tea in the kitchen, then empty out the sink, toss out the junk mail, etc. You can get a lot done in 2 minutes.
5) Change a few small things in a room to get a brand new feeling all around. Buy some new bed sheets to change the look of your bedroom. I do this on a whim once in a while and it always gives me a lift. Eventually this will create a linen cabinet crisis but that's another story. I also switch out flower arrangements regularly. I lean towards silk flowers and greenery because they are so easy. I can reuse them, and everyone in this house has allergies – but knock yourself out with the fresh flowers if you so choose. Flowers give a room a some extra oomph and create a sense of household composure even where none actually exists. That composure makes me feel more pulled together in a more general sense. Same thing with other small things – like pillows, throws, or decorations. Mix it up a little bit so that the eye sees something new even if it’s only new by virtue of being something you haven't seen in awhile or that you have moved around from another place in the house. Just switch it out once in awhile.
6) Clean out your purse, your briefcase, or your car. Much chaos lurks there and it is stressing you out with every use of the bag, case, or vehicle whether you realize it or not. My purse becomes disorganized at an increasing level as the week progresses until it is soon a jumble of receipts, headphone wire, lipstick tubs, and lose change. I spill it all out and give myself a fresh start everytime I find my keys are attached to a number of other non-key items in my bag.
How do you get organized and reduce the stress of a mess?
I agree with these--however my husband is still in bed when I leave and he has a very high tolerance for disorder. I don't.
Posted by: Margaret | February 05, 2006 at 02:34 PM