topic Re: How organized are you? in Community Chat

How organized are you?

qualitygal — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:19:09 GMT

Would you like to share some tips on how you keep yourself organized, if you need to? Do you have a method with your to-do list? I'd love to know about your organization plan. I know I use a calendar a lot to keep track of things, sort of my to-do list now.

Want to share?

Re: How organized are you?

mary0129 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:31:09 GMT

If I am not using something I give it away. Vietnam Veterans makes a regular stop at my door.

Re: How organized are you?

AngelPuppy1 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:49:17 GMT

I wish I were better organized! I hope you get a lot of tips here because I need more!

Since retiring I have been really trying to be more organized, something which I was really terrible at while working.

For one thing --- daily mail. I used to let it pile up. Now, I try to attend to it as soon as it comes in. Toss advertisements immediately. I do keep coupons for restaurants, etc. but instead of just throwing them around here and there I have a hanging organizer on the door going down to my basement and I put them in there. I no longer hang on to catalogs forever the way I used to. After perusing, if there is one I think I want to order something from, I will mark the front and put it in my t.v. room storage cabinet. Magazines -- immediately upon reading, I cut out anthing I want to save and put in an appropriate folder and toss them,

As far as other paper items, I now have plastic folders --- labeled --- for most things and a special drawer for them all. I still have a small catch-all drawer for tossing in papers until I have a chance to sort them and put them in appropriate folders. I do this about once a week.

As far as appointments and to-do things, I am not high tech at all as a lot of people are. I rely solely on paper. I have a small purse sized organizer calendar that I buy at the dollar store that I keep my appointments in.

You can also buy larger ones at dollar store which give you more room to write things in which I keep in my kitchen drawer. I write things down such as birthdays and other important items.

I'm not sure what other types of organizational tips you wanted.

Regarding books --- I was a hoarder. Kept them after reading -- don't know why! I went through them all and donated them to the Good Will store. Now, after I have read about 6, I take them to the little tiny free libraries which are scattered about the neighborhood.

Regarding other items which I don't need or want any more, I keep a large bag in the basement. Each time I have an item I immediately place it in there. Anything -- clothing, shoes, household items. After filling a couple of bags, DH calls AM Vets and they come and pick the bags up.

I have decided that I would like a combo chalk board and note center for the kitchen and am now in the process of looking for one. That way I can jote down things which I want to do or things which need my attention.

Hope these things are a little bit helpful!

Re: How organized are you?

qualitygal — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:57:22 GMT

A dry erase board at the dollar store................saw that this a.m. on t.v., might be an idea.

Re: How organized are you?

gidgetgh — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:57:32 GMT

I'm extremely organized. I really think I could do it for a living.

Re: How organized are you?

CAMOGIRL — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:03:48 GMT

Well I will just say ... some things are very organized and other things aren’t.

(I can usually find just about anything ....... well most of the time anyhow...)

Happy Organizing!

Re: How organized are you?

nyc1 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:34:10 GMT

I'm pretty organized, but not a fanatic about it. I try to work on it daily, keeping things uncluttered, which is also good for my peace of mind. We hate clutter. But sometimes things get really busy and I can't stay on top of things the way I would like. I think we do a pretty good job of keeping things pretty neat, uncluttered an orangized.

I have dedicated places for things, and put things away when I'm done. If something doesn't have a place and a pile starts to happen..... like MAIL, then I'll try to get to it on the weekend.

A few times a year I really take a look at what I've "collected" and decide whether I really need it or not.... even if it's put away. I also will rearrange things to make more room for things that I want/need, so that everything is neatly put away and not just thrown into a cabinet, drawer or closet.

Re: How organized are you?

Bri369 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:49:44 GMT

I'm extremely organized. If I don't have a place for it, I don't buy it.

When I open a drawer or a closet, I want to see and know what's exactly there. I don't want to dig through stuff to find anything.

I don't keep junk out on the counters and tables. It gets put away right away. If I see papers or mail piling up on my desk, it makes me very annoyed. I try not to let those things get out of hand.

Laundry and clothes tend to get out of hand at my house. Not letting it pile up and putting away as soon as I can helps.

The Container Store knows me by name. LOL

Re: How organized are you?

San Antonio Gal — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:52:59 GMT

I would say I'm organized in the clothing area. Clothing that hasn't been worn for a year or two, I donate to Goodwill. I try to go through my clothes twice a year.

Same for shoes. I don't keep tons of shoes. If they aren't being used, they go to Goodwill.

I can't see the point of keeping clothing or shoes that will never be used. It takes up closet space.

Re: How organized are you?

Tuppermore — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:23:46 GMT

I would like to think that I'm organized, but I'm not. Most people think that I am extremely well organized, but I have to keep at it a little every day. I have 4 children and 10 grandchildren and have always felt like I was scrambling to keep from being buried under my life. I have found my greatest encouragement and source of helpful hints to be a website. It's FLyLady.net.

I am 66 years old and have been "trying" to stay organized since I was first married 48 years ago. I have tried everything from daily lists to card files. At different seasons in my life, different methods have been more effective. Fly Lady is more a way of thinking followed by actions. Overall, I look at everything differently and try to accomplish certain daily things and follow the monthly tasks and habits. This is not overwhelming and helps motivate me to stay on top of everything.

I know that Fly Lady works for me because I went through a year of chemo for breast cancer and managed to keep my life going and keep things done around the house. One thing that really helped was the principle that anything can be accomplished 15 minutes at a time. I have a digital kitchen timer that fits in my pocket that I set for fifteen minutes. I stop when it goes off and come back later for 15 more minutes. I never seem to get overwhelmed and accomplish a lot more. There is a lot of psychology about being disorganized. Once I understood why I'm this way, I stopped feeling guilty and started doing things that work for me. There are a lot of us who need a little direction and motivation. This works!!! I hope that someone else is helped by Fly Lady.

Re: How organized are you?

Patz822 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:31:51 GMT

I try to be organized but here’s my problem. I get caught up with things—housework,

paying bills, not missing birthdays(even if it’s just sending a card), laundry, yard work,

basically all the chores/daily living tasks that we do. Then I “relax” for a couple days

and here I go all over again..............is it me or do others do this’s?😬

Re: How organized are you?

Harpa — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:37:34 GMT

As soon as I'm done with it, I put it back in its place.

Re: How organized are you?

SilleeMee — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:46:39 GMT

I'm a minimalist. So for me when there are fewer things to get organized then it's much, much easier that way...make do, or do without.

Re: How organized are you?

threecees — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 12:56:30 GMT

With 2 kids still in the house, a hubby and a dog, it sure is

difficult to be as organized in my home as I would like to

be. Even with a garage it seems the more space you have

the more you will fill.

I have cleaned out 2 homes in the past 3 years of family

members that have passed away and that was hard work.

Cleaning out mounds of old paperwork, clothes from

decades ago, clutter that just piles up over time is

absolutely overwhelming. Blows your mind.

It surely made me start getting my own home in much

better, organized shape. I use my free time to tidy up

as much as I can on a daily basis. Multiple trips to

Goodwill throughout the year are made. Kids outgrow

so much and doing yard sales are a tough way to make

a couple bucks.

I feel if I can't use it, sell it for a decent price, or don't like

it, just donate it. It is just taking up space that you can use

for something else you need.

Re: How organized are you?

jlkz — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 13:00:19 GMT

@qualitygal

1). I used to cut out items and store in folders but never went back to the folders. Now, I take a photo of it with my iPad and use the colors to highlight things or just “ category “ and save it to Photos. Easy to delete when I no longer care about the item.

2). Coupons: I use a small snap case that was designed for photos and place similar coupons in their own section. I circle or print the expiration date on each so I don’t lose out on the savings. This goes into my car console so I have it when out. I also clip coupons for friends who have special interests or a favorite restaurant.

3). Donate items: I keep a crate in my car trunk and as soon as something is donate designated, in it goes. Canned goods for the food bank go into a smaller carry case. So, when I go by a drop off place while out on errands, I drop these items off.

4). As for birthdays and other dates that I want to remember, I put them in Calendar Creator and add the icon “ cake “, “ cross “, “ wedding rings “, or “ star “. The program will carry the items forward for however many years you determine. Then, I print the calendar annually on the blank reverse side of recycled paper. I use the horizontal 7-days / week format and place the pages in a binder that stays open on my desk on a slanted holder.

5). For clothing, shoes and accessories: I keep to a few basic colors with one neutral. Makes packing easier and getting ready quicker. Fewer decisions and everything gets used. Also, makes shopping easier.

Hope this helps the organization effort !

Re: How organized are you?

Bhvbum — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 13:02:51 GMT

The less you have, the less time you spend shopping, dollars invested, moving, organizing, counting, repairing, cleaning, discarding.

In other words get rid of the stuff you don’t use, and don’t buy stuff you probably won’t use. The Japanese did a beautiful job of figuring this out because they simply didn’t have the space to put all the stuff that Americans typically have.

It really is that simple.

Re: How organized are you?

sidsmom — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 13:04:13 GMT

I’ve been strongly influenced by The SLOB sisters Card System.

In a nutshell:

Assign a task for every day & rotate the cards every week/month/qtr.

Every morning pull your cards.

i.e...every Wednesday I gas up my SUV. I could have a 3/4 or 1/4 tank.

I fill up regardless.

i.e..every Thursday I dust surfaces. I don’t vacuum, windex or sweep..I just dust surfaces.

i.e..On Friday I’ll sweep, etc.

Just a little bit every day.

For this focused program, other than the practical application,

it really became a ‘lifesaver’ for me. Back in the early 1990s,

I was in a really dark place & this silly card thing gave me

focus every day. I can’t recommend it enough.

Re: How organized are you?

Bri369 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 13:07:23 GMT

@Bhvbum wrote:
The less you have, the less time you spend shopping, dollars invested, moving, organizing, counting, repairing, cleaning, discarding.

In other words get rid of the stuff you don’t use, and don’t buy stuff you probably won’t use. The Japanese did a beautiful job of figuring this out because they simply didn’t have the space to put all the stuff that Americans typically have.

It really is that simple.

I so agree.

People just overbuy and then have no where to put all this stuff and it just accumulates and accumulates.

I'm probably going to get knocked for this, but I don't buy cheap ****** just to buy cheap ******. I buy good stuff and less of it and it has served me well. I don't need to look in the closet and see 50 tops that were "good buys." Chances are I'll never wear them more than once or twice anyway. I'll wind up getting rid of them eventually.

Don't get me wrong - I love a sale and a bargain as much as the next person. LOL

Re: How organized are you?

Mj12 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 13:22:53 GMT

@Bri369 wrote:
@Bhvbum wrote:
The less you have, the less time you spend shopping, dollars invested, moving, organizing, counting, repairing, cleaning, discarding.

In other words get rid of the stuff you don’t use, and don’t buy stuff you probably won’t use. The Japanese did a beautiful job of figuring this out because they simply didn’t have the space to put all the stuff that Americans typically have.

It really is that simple.
I so agree.

People just overbuy and then have no where to put all this stuff and it just accumulates and accumulates.

I'm probably going to get knocked for this, but I don't buy cheap ****** just to buy cheap ******. I buy good stuff and less of it and it has served me well. I don't need to look in the closet and see 50 tops that were "good buys." Chances are I'll never wear them more than once or twice anyway. I'll wind up getting rid of them eventually.

Don't get me wrong - I love a sale and a bargain as much as the next person. LOL

I totally agree. Maybe that's part of the reason I rarely return anything, my purchases are pretty deliberate.

I love a sale too, but chances are, I will buy a piece I love/need that is full price(knowing I'll get a lot of value out of it) rather than waiting for a sale that may not come/may not have my size left.

Re: How organized are you?

gidgetgh — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 13:29:44 GMT

@Bri369 wrote:
I'm extremely organized. If I don't have a place for it, I don't buy it.

When I open a drawer or a closet, I want to see and know what's exactly there. I don't want to dig through stuff to find anything.

I don't keep junk out on the counters and tables. It gets put away right away. If I see papers or mail piling up on my desk, it makes me very annoyed. I try not to let those things get out of hand.

Laundry and clothes tend to get out of hand at my house. Not letting it pile up and putting away as soon as I can helps.

The Container Store knows me by name. LOL

@Bri369 - The Container Store knows me by name also!