The Wisdom Behind the Wacky Names

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My daughter is home on spring break this week, and today, we are going shopping. Since my spring break was the week before last, I still have my regular workload, and so I need to find ways to free up some time so I can go shopping with her guilt-free.

And so today, I'm reposting a previous blog. This one first appeared here in September 2015, but since it fits very well with some of the themes I've been exploring lately, it was worth revisiting. In addition, I've learned that where we are in our personal organizational journeys influences our takeaways; in other words, as we progress, what we take away from each post changes and progresses as well. 

Whatever your styles, I hope this post leaves you with a new idea, a new outlook or a renewed faith in yourself.

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I believe that you don't have to look organized to be organized. In fact, I swear by that philosophy. 

Sure, all of us would like to look like we know what we're doing. But the truth is, sometimes we know what we're doing even when it doesn't look that way. 

When I started on this organizational journey, I set out first to organize myself and then to help my elementary school-aged students who struggled with organization. Fun style names encouraged them to claim their styles proudly and create their systems accordingly. Along the way, I discovered that adults enjoyed the wacky names, too; as it turns out, a sense of humor is an essential tool for those of us who are organizational works-in-progress.

So today, I want you to think about what lies beneath the organizational styles, because (believe it or not) behind every organizational style lies an understanding of a concept that can form the foundation of a plan that shows the rest of the world that we know what we're doing.

Don't believe me? Read on for hidden gems and the "what nows" that can create those all-important first steps.

• Cram and jam and I know I put it somewhere kids and adults often have rooms that look neat, at least at first glance. 
• What do they know? Believe it or not, they're trying to use an important construct of organization: putting things away. 
• What now? Focus on finding logical homes for everything instead of just stuffing thing into the nearest open space or stashing them away. For maximum success, choose containers that match your styles and will help you find the things you've put away.

• That trail of belongings leading into the next room or the evidence of a week's worth of activities in various locations is the telltale sign of a drop and run organizer. 
• What do they know? Drop and run organizers understand the importance of keeping related items together. 
• What now? The simpler the storage solution, the better. Lids, snaps, zippers and other closures are impediments to those who just want to put things down, preferably in a pile. Focus on finding one-step storage solutions you can just drop things into.

• Adults and kids who leave things out so they remember them are identifying an I need to see it style. Although this is a personal style, it often influences our organizational choices.



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• What do they know? Leaving things where they can see them helps them remember to do them.
• What now? Focus on finding (and using) the right containers -- ones that allow them to see what's inside even when things are put away. Some I need to see it folks do well with color-coded or labeled containers.

Go ahead. Show 'em your organization.