3 Keys Thursday: 3 Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Planner

 

'Tis the season to think about planners! 

I must confess to having a passion for them. Though I know the advice to have one planner that holds everything is sound, for me, planners are like potato chips. 

I can't seem to have just one.

As someone with an I need to see it personal style (more on planners and styles next week), for me, it's all in the layout. Though I have a pile of planners that I use for a plethora of purposes (more on that in January as well), the two I use most regularly rose to the top of the pile because of their layouts. 

One has each month on a two-page spread, giving me space to write in all my appointments and see the month at a glance so I can (theoretically) avoid appointment overload. It's big enough that I don't have to squeeze everything into a tiny square, and thin enough to fit in my purse so that I can write down appointments when I make them.

The other is an undated book with space for daily notes. Each Sunday, I transfer all of my personal appointments and school obligations from the monthly planner into the undated book (dating the pages in the process) so that each day has its own page. Yes, I'm aware that I can find both of these features in a single planner and, for a long time, I did. But I love the space for a to-do list and three daily priorities in my undated planner and the process of transferring things from one book to the other reminds me of what I need to do and aligns the personal and the professional, reducing the possibility of my forgetting to be somewhere or do something. 

Sound too complicated? Then it's not a good plan for you. But, for me, after years of trial and error (#itsaprocess), I've landed on a plan that helps me keep everything straight without having to lug a ten-pound planner with me everywhere I go. As with all things organizing, though, one size (planner) does not fit all. 

Here are a few more things to consider as you go in search of the one that's perfect for you.

Electronic or paper? Do you use your phone for everything? If so, you might already have the perfect planner at your fingertips. Don't like the calendar on your device? There's probably an app for that. Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the built-in calendar when it comes to your planning needs can help you figure out what you're looking for....and what you're not.

To note or not to note? I like having pages for notes at the back of the calendar and, if there's some note-writing space on the planner pages themselves, that's a bonus. I don't have a hard and fast rule about what those pages are for. Quite honestly, I sometimes use them because they're the only note paper I have with me but other times, I use them to record things that are time-relevant, like information from doctor's appointments and goals and plans for the year. Again, if you're a planner-on-the-phone person, you might use your Notes app for this.

Parked or portable? As I said at the outset, there's a lot of wisdom in the advice to have a single planner for everything, whether it's in your bag or on the refrigerator. If you're going to break that rule (as I clearly have), make sure you're simplifying things, rather than overcomplicating them. Be honest with yourself about how well your plan is working for you. How often do you forget something that's in the "other" calendar? Never? Great! Keep up the good work! Sometimes? Maybe you need a plan for combining your calendars.

What's the most important feature of a calendar? Its ease of use. It doesn't matter if your calendar is the one that came on your phone, a clearance bin generic version, or an expensive personalized agenda with a monogrammed leather cover. Choosing the tool that works for your styles is half the battle.

What do you like best about your planner?

To Putter or To Chunk?

clipart best.com

Though I love teaching, I look forward to the end of the semester for several reasons. At the top of the list is replacing grading with writing. As the piles of school work diminish, I get excited and start making plans for what I will work on instead of papers, presentations and grade calculations.

But the end of fall semester coincides with the ramping-up of holiday preparations. While I long to sit down with my laptop and the muse, Christmas cards, tree decoration and baking (to name a few) tug at me as well. (And my family is more interested in those last three than the first one). 

In addition, the collision of end-of-semester assignments and deadlines often results in a pile-up of clutter that definitely does not put me in the Christmas spirit. Finishing the semester with some peace of mind means filing away all the extraneous bits and pieces of student work, notes to self, and grading sheets. 

What to do first? 

Everything. Not all at once obviously. But slotting in some time each day for each of these things helps me stay on track. And so, for the last week or so, I've been trying to find time each day for something in each category, chipping away at the piles as well as the anxiety and frustration they inspire. 

The school stuff is typically the first to disappear because closing the book on the completed semester is the first step toward relaxing and buying into the idea that I'm on vacation (despite looming to-do lists in other areas). Household responsibilities and organizing in other areas of the house are quick to expand to fill the void, keeping my daily activity categories at three. 

Some days, I only get to one of the categories; other days, I touch on all three. But, by the end of the week, each area has been represented with deadlines determining what rises to the top each day. Each morning, I ask myself what task I'm most interested in and which one I'd be most satisfied to check off my list at the end of the day. It's a good day when the answer to both questions is the same.

If this sounds overwhelming, you may prefer to chunk activities. Holiday baking days are a great example of this. While those were fun and productive when I was younger, I find them much less enjoyable now. Doing a little baking or wrapping each day gets me across the finish line with fewer aches and pains, and a lesser degree of grouchiness than spending a whole day standing, hunching and measuring.

As I type this, the day before Christmas Eve, I have one batch of cookies still to make -- my dad's favorite -- the one I tend to make on Christmas Eve every year. The shopping is finished. The gifts are wrapped. There is still some decluttering to do, along with finishing touches here and there, but nothing overwhelming.  If I so desired, I could make a long list of things I could still do but, as I get older, I find I am more satisfied with less because worrying and fussing less means I enjoy the days and the season more. 

However you get there, I hope you have a wonderful, restful Christmas and a happy, healthy new year.

Throwback Thursday: Stepping Slowly Toward Christmas

I usually post my Throwback Thursdays with little-to-no editing. But today, I'm feeling a little grinchy, and the unedited version of this post felt a little preachy and a lot hypocritical. I'm hoping this revised version has something for everyone -- from those overflowing with Christmas spirit to those who might be feeling as though they've been hit by Santa's sleigh, with nary an elf in sight.

Step by step. One foot in front of the other. And elves only get underfoot anyway. :-)

My husband is one of those people who thinks that Thanksgiving signals the beginning of the Christmas season, and, if we haven't hit the ground running by December 1, we're behind schedule. This year, we've added a sunroom on to the back of our house with plans to put the tree up out there. We're still waiting for the finishing touches so, alas, no tree yet. 

I tend to approach the holiday season more slowly, due in no small part to the fact that the first two weeks in December are the end of the fall semester. As such, they're filled with assignments, papers and exams, all of which need to be graded. It's hard to get excited about giving up a whole Saturday -- or even an entire weeknight -- preparing for Christmas, when, all the while, everything else that needs to be completed before Christmas is calling out to me, sucking the joy out of something that's supposed to be fun.

All that said, I do get excited about Christmas. I like decorating and getting ready (and even I am beyond ready to put up our tree). I just don't want the preparations to turn into another to-do list to set alongside the one I already have.

And so I take small steps. Some days, my small step might be as simple as setting out just one decoration. Other days, that one thing will be decorating the tree or tackling my Christmas cards.

Usually this works but, this year, with a succession of things like family illnesses (everyone is on the mend) and incomplete rooms, some days, I'm struggling to find my Christmas spirit. Small steps don't seem to be enough and, at times, everything that remains to be done (even the fun stuff) feels like too much.

But, most days, doing just one thing helps me feel as though I'm making progress and, as a bonus, the gradual arrival of Christmas at our house helps me to create a balance. While "Christmas" is ubiquitous everywhere else, in our house, Christmas is tiptoeing in slowly, reaching its peak on the actual holiday. Instead of being overwhelmed, I can savor Christmas, piece by piece, being more thoughtful about each step along the way.

This time of year, when daily responsibilities collide with holiday preparations, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Reminding myself that it's okay to take small steps, whether toward Christmas, a more organized house, doing something I enjoy, or perhaps all of the above allows me to savor the season.

And if Mary could have a baby in a manger, I can deal with a delayed Christmas tree. 

Space in Progress: No Grinches Need Apply

I've reached the point in the semester where I'm crafting and posting my blogs way too late in the day...as evidenced by the fact that two recent posts intended for my Porch Swing Chronicles blog ended up here instead.

Oops. Let's just call those "bonus content."

I'm back on track now, with the features you're used to seeing here. This one is for all the parents whose college age students have returned home for break, as well as those (like me), whose graduates are starting off their post-college careers in their childhood bedrooms, another side-effect of finishing college during a pandemic.

I haven't said it for a while, so I'll say it now. It's a process :-)

Then: 

My daughter is home! And she brought all of her stuff! Today's post focuses on three questions to ask myself so I can be the cool mom who doesn't bring the Grinch to Christmas, but who still reclaims her living space.

• Who? Who does the stuff belong to? Her stuff, her responsibility...but yelling and screaming and nagging won't get the job done. In fact, since my daughter is so much like me, it will probably lengthen the process and make everyone miserable as well -- not the end result I'm aiming for at Christmas. Pitching in a little at a time (removing things from where they don't belong and putting them in the space where they do belong) helps both of us feel less put upon.
• Where? Finding logical homes is key -- perhaps even more so since some things will stay here only until she packs up again early next month, some will need to be stored until fall semester and some will likely take up residence here until some (undisclosed) time after graduation. The "a little at a time" approach described above helps ensure that we don't simply move the piles without improving the situation.
• When? As soon as possible. Every trip between the places where things were dropped and the places where they'll be stored is an opportunity to improve the current state of affairs. My mom used to tell us to never go upstairs empty-handed, and this advice applies now more than ever. Our stairs are currently populated with a wide variety of items that need to go from one floor to the next. Every trip upstairs takes us closer to organization.

There are certainly other approaches that will work. Some of these include setting a deadline by which this must all be done (I have one in my head, but am keeping it to myself in the hopes of actually beating the clock); insisting it all be done now or simply setting aside time and doing it all at once. If these approaches work for you, there's no reason not to use them. Right now, though, my daughter and I are both in the sigh-of-relief mode that follows a busy semester and, if doing this in a relaxed, yet consistent manner gets the job done, I much prefer that to ultimatums. In addition, I'd like her to be able to walk in her bedroom (something that will be impossible if we simply move piles from one place to another). Perhaps more important, I have faith that, after a few days with some down time, this will bug her enough that she'll tackle it on her own. 

Years ago, a principal I worked for used to ask if "this" -- whatever the issue before us was -- was a hill we were willing to die on. 

It isn't. 

Overwhelming someone who's already overwhelmed is never a logical solution. Spending the all-too-brief time I have with my daughter under our roof arguing over dishes and clothes is not my idea of time well spent. So, we'll make slow, but steady progress, keeping the who/where/when questions in mind and enjoying one another's company along the way.

Organization is important, but it isn't everything. 

wixin_56k via Pixabay

Now: 

My daughter is home! And so is all her stuff! And they both live here 24-7.

I love having her here, but negotiating a parent-young adult relationship under the same roof after spending four years adjusting to an empty nest is (say it with me) a process. And managing the stuff is just one piece of the puzzle.

We both know her time here is limited, but we don't have a definite endpoint. We both know her stuff will go with her when she goes off on her next adventure, but we don't know when (or what) that will be. Until then, we have a household and a half all crammed into the same house because it's no longer just the stuff she brought with her freshman year. It's also all the stuff she acquired in the four years that followed.

The questions in the post above still apply but, with more stuff to manage in an unspecified time frame, a healthy dose of patience is required. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution, it's important to remember that what we do surrounding her stuff is likely to make her feel more or less welcome here -- a bigger issue than what goes where.

Together, we're figuring it out. Her styles, my styles, and my husband's styles frequently collide when it comes to the shared spaces in the house but, as has always been the case, her room is her space -- her zone, her respite, her launching pad. In that space, she can organize as she sees fit. Meanwhile, I try to limit my nagging to the areas that really push my buttons because as much as I like my house to be organized, making it a home is more important. I want this to be the place where she feels welcome, no matter how old she is or how much stuff she has.

Organization is important, but it isn't everything. 

 

Reading in the Slow Lane

nnguyen21 via Pixabay

 I used to hate it when the drive-through line at Starbucks was long, something that happens often. The perfect line was no line -- one where I could drive straight through to the window, order, pick up my drink, and be on my way. 

But I've changed my outlook.

I decided to see the line as a means of developing my patience, something I too often have in short supply. On days when that outlook failed, I took the mobile office perspective, scanning my phone for work or pleasure. Since I usually stop for my Starbucks between work and home, waiting in line provided an opportunity to reply to work e-mails, checking that task off my to-do list before I arrived home. 

Once I began to look at the line as an opportunity, it bothered me a lot less. And, when I started setting reading goals, it became something I looked forward to.

These days, when I see a line, I see a chance to relax and listen to a book, and a chance for something bigger as well. Starting last month, I set a goal to finish one audiobook and one print or e-book each month. When it comes to reading, I'm a dabbler, excited by the possibilities a new book brings and, while I typically read only one novel at a time, I often have multiple non-fiction books going simultaneously. Last month, frustrated with my seeming inability to finish what I started, I decided it was time to dig in.

In the past month and a half, I've finished three (previously started) e-books -- not bad for someone with a five-minute commute -- and returned to a fourth. I also finished reading a non-fiction book, which is a tougher task as most of the non-fiction books I choose have the meaty material up front. But finishing was the goal, and I selected carefully, choosing books I actually wanted to read (or listen to) all the way through. 

I still don't finish every book I start -- some don't make the cut. But now, thanks to my re-purposed wait time, I worry less about my ability to finish the books I choose. These days, I'm disappointed when the line is short but, at my Starbucks, I'm not disappointed often.

What could be better than a good drink and a good read?

Friday Feature: Fall

I love fall. The temperatures, the colors, the smells. Despite my allergies, it has been my favorite season for as long as I can remember.

I also love excellent writing. Elegant turns of phrase, just-right words, evocative imagery.

I found both of these things in a New York Times piece by Frank Bruni that I read this afternoon while waiting in line for my Starbucks. The top portion of the column is political, so you'll need to scroll down to On a personal note to get to the story I'm referencing. You'll know you've arrived when you get to the photo of the red tree.

What a treat to find two things I enjoy so much in one place, capped off by another of my favorite things shortly thereafter. Sunshine, Starbucks and a red tree that evoked memories of trips to New England.

Quite a nice way to end the week.

One-Hour Projects: Part 2

The desk set-up I want.
Photo: ricardorv30 via Pixabay

I am suffering from an overload of projects and a dearth of clear spaces. One of my one hour projects was reconfiguring my office to make an L-shaped work space possible. Related projects included sorting through existing storage space in the living room (next to the office) to see if I could create space (and get rid of clutter) with an end goal of creating more wiggle room in the tiny office and de-cluttering other spaces.

It's fair to say I bit off more than I could chew. 

On the plus side, I got rid of a lot of old papers. On the minus side, some of the ones that still need homes have taken up residence in places that were previously clear.

On the plus side, I reconfigured storage in the office to free up floor space and the new system for my day-to-day organizing is working. On the minus side, that was only step one. Not bad for a one-hour project, except that I let related projects lure me away.

Still, I'm making progress. And the idea of the one hour project was to make a dent -- to take a small step -- not to cross the finish line. And I achieved that.

Part of the problem is that I wasn't clear with regard to my primary project. Was it the office? The sorting? The creating of clear space? If I don't know where I'm going, how will I know when I've arrived? Add to that the inevitable "it gets worse before it gets better" stage that accompanies big ideas and I was bound to feel frustrated, despite making progress.

What's an organizer to do?

Set the timer for an hour, then dig in again.

Only this time, I need to be clear about my desired short-term end result -- the one I'll assess when the timer goes off -- before I start. One hour projects may be optimistic, but they also need a good, strong dose of reality.

Organizers, set your timers.

Throwback Thursday: Works in Progress

When it comes to organization, I'm a work-in-progress. I know what works for me, I know what to do and I know how to do it.

The trouble is, those things don't take me all the way to the finish line which means that even though I am organized, I don't always look organized. When time and energy cooperate, I generally come out on the winning end of the organization bargain, but often, they don't and I'm left with a gap between what I know and what I can accomplish. This annoys me, but even worse, it leaves me feeling vulnerable and somewhat lacking in the sense of humor department, especially when I get teased about my I need to see it piles.

At one time or another, I think that all of us feel like organization frauds. Whether it's our I need to see it or drop and run piles that give us away, or the I know I put it somewhere or cram and jam styles that leave us hoping guests won't look beyond our clear surfaces to see what's hiding behind door #1, we're always a little insecure about whether or not we're doing this organization thing right.

More often than not, we are, especially since "right" is defined by the user of the system. If we can find what we want when we want it, we're functionally organized, which is what matters most.

Still, there are those days when logic is insufficient to compensate for our organizational insecurities. Here are a few key pieces of advice for "one of those days."

Ditch perfection. No one is perfectly organized. Ask any Type A organizer to point to the flaws in her system, and she'll probably give you a list. Although a perfectly organized home and/or office is lovely, there's so much more to life than chasing organizational perfection. Know when to walk away from that need for perfection and read a book, take a nap or spend time with the people you love.

Start with successes. This first step in the STYLE process is meant to remind us of the things we're doing right. As an I need to see it/drop and run girl, I've learned what works for me but often, instead of seeing all the things I'm doing right, I focus on the piles of homeless items that seem to pop up relentlessly. If you must focus on what remains to be done (and, some days, we must), remember to counterbalance it with all you've learned and accomplished so far. Chances are, that will tip the scales in your favor (even if some organizing remains to be done).

Remember that it's a process. Thanks to a steady flow of items into our homes, whether groceries possessions, or some combination of the two, organizing is one of those life tasks that is never finished. In some ways, this is a good thing. Putting strategies in place that keep things from crossing over to the organizational dark side helps to stem the tide and gives us practice building organizational skills that work for us so that, over time, we become more efficient.

Pixabay

Accepting that when it comes to organization, things will never be perfect or finished can encourage us to cut ourselves a little slack. Once we stop beating ourselves up, we can use that misplaced energy to put a few more things away or come up with a new strategy that makes life easier.

Or maybe even develop a sense of humor.

One Hour Projects

Yummymoon via Pixabay

Last weekend, I came up with a new weapon to add to my organizing arsenal. I was setting my November goals, trying to decide what I wanted my organizing focus to be, and I was a little frustrated, feeling as though I keep writing down the same organizing wish list every month. Something about the holiday season kicking off in less than a month made it seem a little more important to do more than write it down.

But the end of the semester is coming, too, following right behind Thanksgiving and only two weeks before Christmas. What could I realistically do?

Take small steps. 

And that's when my one hour project plan was born. 

I've decided that each week, I'm going to dedicate an hour to one of my organizing goals. I'll simply set a timer and give myself permission to stop when the timer goes off. I might not get it finished, but at least I'll make progress. 

So, what's my organizing goal this week?

Despite my enthusiasm for this new plan, I couldn't decide. But my overall goal for the month is to aim for clear spaces, so I started there. I did a brief foray into my closet, swapping out summer shoes to make space for fall shoes and boots, but that only took me about 20 minutes, so I'm now on the lookout. I have my eye on a space next to my desk where I've stored some things I'd like to find a new home for. That much of the project can easily be completed in under an hour, and it might also open the door to an office reconfiguration I'm considering.

Sometimes small steps are five-minute tasks. Other times, they're the first step toward something larger. 

Stay tuned.

The Inevitability of Plan B

krzysztof-m via Pixabay

Every once in a while, something happens in my organizing life that keeps me humble. A few weeks ago, it was my out-of-sight, out-of-mind tote bag. 

Today, it was forgetting an appointment.

A while back, I wrote about how much I love my new planner, and what good habits I'm getting into. Using this planner is helping me to reduce my here a-note, there-a-note, everywhere-a little note habit. My mistake was thinking that I could eliminate those little notes and still leave my beautiful new planner at home where it would stay nice and new and not get all dinged up.

Today, I realized the foolishness of that plan.

I was on my way home after my last class, stopped at a red light, when I checked my phone and found an email from a student I'd made an appointment with.

"Are we still meeting today?"

Oops. 

Luckily, she was flexible. We changed the meeting to a Zoom meeting and everything was fine, aside from a little embarrassment on my part. 

I should know by now that when I get cocky, a rebalancing comeuppance is just around the corner. Though I've never claimed to be perfect (far from it), I have been known to think, "I've got this!' only to discover that one of my best-laid plans has a crack in it.

The solution here is simple: take the planner with me. Or, if I want to protect it from wear and tear (silly, but true), I need to take stock of my day before I leave the house (or, more likely, the night before) and make a note of any appointment outside my regular class schedule. 

That'll work.

Tomorrow, I'll execute Plan B. With the full knowledge that Plan C might be just around the corner.

OBS FAQs: Can I Really Take Small Steps?

On Sunday, I did something I try to avoid at all costs. Company was coming, and I had two piles left to go through, so I tossed them into a tote bag and put them out of sight. It's a bad idea for so many reasons. 

Or is it?

Admittedly, it's not the best strategy, but it's also not irredeemable, at least not if it's the first step in a succession of small steps, beginning with the first one.

Choose the tote bag well. I made sure to pick one not only big enough to house everything, but with pockets on the outside as well. That way, the lists and things to do on the top of the pile stayed visible.

Make sure out of sight doesn't mean out of mind. The first misstep most of us make is stashing the full  bag in the back of a closet or, worse yet, in the attic, the basement, garage or trunk of the car. On Sunday, I stashed mine in my bedroom. Company couldn't see it, but I can. Every day.

Make a plan. Mine was to take out one item each day and put it where it belongs. Ideally, I'd start with the things in the outside pockets -- the things that needed to be done, but that I'd been putting off doing.

Put the plan into action. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans. The first thing to come out of the bag was my iPad because I wanted to use it. Those things in the outside pockets? Still there. (Still procrastinating). The second thing to come out was a handful of magazines, breaking my "just one thing" rule. When I didn't magically get them read and gone by the end of the day, I was tempted to ditch the plan.

Make a contingency plan. Just keep swimming. Or, in this case, emptying the bag slowly. More was clearly not better, so back to one thing it was.

Take it one small step at a time. Some days, I get busy or I forget about the bag and end the day with as many things in it as there were at the start of the day. Other days, I stick with the plan. But as long as I keep taking things out of it and putting them where they belong, I keep making progress. 

Set an end date. What if that bag is still there a month from now? Well, then, clearly I didn't desperately need anything in it and it might be time to toss it all, sight unseen. That's one choice. Sorting it all at once is another, as is taking one thing out of it more than once a day or moving it to a location where it's harder to ignore. The thing is, I'm in charge of the plan, and in charge of deciding how long is too long before the bag is emptied and removed.

Does this all sound silly and a little...desperate? Maybe. But, sometimes, we don't get the opportunity to dig into a pile of stuff all at once, and chipping away at it a little at a time is a far sight better than just letting it sit there, whether we're picking one thing out of a tote bag or picking something up off a pile every time we pass it. 

So, do I recommend this? It's certainly not my first choice but, if it means progress happens, I'm all in.

The plan, that is. Not the tote bag.

Then and Now: A Space that Makes You Smile

Usually, when I do a Throwback Thursday or Then & Now post, I replace the photos and/or graphics but the flower photo I chose for the bottom of this post when it originally ran in 2018 still makes me smile. If I'm lucky, it might even nudge me into action.

Then:

When you've lived in a house for practically a quarter of a century, things get tired. And, at my house, one of those things is me.

When we first bought the house, we excitedly poured ourselves into painting, updating, upgrading and all the things you have the energy to do when you're twenty-something (okay, thirty-something) and childless. Every summer, I'd take on a project, using the time between school years to take something in my house to the next level. By the time our daughter was born, we'd put our stamp on nearly every room in the house.

After our daughter was born, I had a little person to pour my energies into and just keeping the house in halfway decent shape was an accomplishment. Still, when she was little, I tackled house projects while she napped but, after a while, it became easy to coast, when it came to household projects.

Now, our empty nest looks a little bedraggled in places. I try to get excited to paint rooms and tear off wallpaper borders, but I'd rather write. Or sleep. Having become accustomed to looking past the little flaws (and the larger ones), I'm half afraid to look at this house from anything resembling an objective perspective because I'm afraid the to-do list would do me in. If it's an organizing project, I'm all in, but my enthusiasm for scraping, painting and big projects has waned.

From time to time, though, an organizing project meanders into decorating territory and I get that spark of enthusiasm home improvement projects used to give me. Last week, I ordered two bins from Target to house my daughter's paperwork for various things, which were reaching the point of needing file space of their own. As is the case so often in our little house, bringing in something new meant reconfiguring something old.

As is often not the case, however, this time I'd planned for it. Within half an hour, I'd brought order to the paperwork, relocated some items to the less-than-prime storage that was appropriate, yet overdue, tidied the space and made it look nicer.

For the rest of the night, every time I walked into the room, I smiled.

It took a few days, but it got me thinking. What if I set a really small goal -- one I could actually achieve with the time and energy I have available? I mean, isn't that how goal-setting is supposed to work?

majacvetojevic via Pixabay

So here it is: my small goal. Each week, I want to make one thing (or one space) in my house more beautiful. Organizing helps, but I want to move beyond just making it look good (putting everything away, for example) and add a little touch of beauty somewhere. It might align with an organizing project, it might mean looking at a space with fresh eyes and moving things around, or it might mean actually tearing off that tired old wallpaper border or repainting that window trim.

I'm sure it's the new bins speaking and my optimism will get squashed by real life some weeks (no sense in making the bathroom look pretty if there are no clean towels), but it's worth a shot. My house deserves it, and so do I.

After all, we've been together for a quarter of a century.

Now:

In the year and a half since my daughter graduated from college (and moved back home, due to a global pandemic), we've kicked off several home improvement projects. Most are functional (a new roof), small (a side table for the family room), or a combination of the two (new lighting in the family room). One, however is quite large (adding on a sunroom) and rather exciting, and its price tag has put a few other wish-list items on the back burner.

Seeing the house through my daughter's eyes adds things to the list, too, as does upgrading a childhood bedroom into a space more suited to a young adult. But the power of small touches still makes a big difference, something that the single flower in the small vase in the picture above reminds me. And, the thing about small touches is that they don't have to be expensive so that, no matter where we are in our home improvement journey, they can give us the maximum possible bang for our buck.

It's easy to walk through our homes without paying close attention to our surroundings. In fact, that capability can be a survival skill when it comes to ignoring clutter until we have time to tackle it. But one small beautiful thing can catch our eye and make us smile.

Definitely worth the effort.

Throwback Thursday: Imperfection Welcome

 

When it comes to organization, I'm a work-in-progress. I know what works for me, I know what to do and I know how to do it.

The trouble is, those things don't take me all the way to the finish line which means that even though I am organized, I don't always look organized. When time and energy cooperate, I generally come out on the winning end of the organization bargain, but often, they don't and I'm left with a gap between what I know and what I can accomplish. This annoys me, but even worse, it leaves me feeling vulnerable and somewhat lacking in the sense of humor department, especially when I get teased about my I need to see it piles.

At one time or another, I think that all of us feel like organization frauds. Whether it's our I need to see it or drop and run piles that give us away, or the I know I put it somewhere or cram and jam styles that leave us hoping guests won't look beyond our clear surfaces to see what's hiding behind door #1, we're always a little insecure about whether or not we're doing this organization thing right.

More often than not, we are, especially since "right" is defined by the user of the system. If we can find what we want when we want it, we're functionally organized, which is what matters most.

Still, there are those days when logic is insufficient to compensate for our organizational insecurities. Here are a few key pieces of advice for "one of those days."

Ditch perfection. No one is perfectly organized. Ask any Type A organizer to point to the flaws in her system, and she'll probably give you a list. Although a perfectly organized home and/or office is lovely, there's so much more to life than chasing organizational perfection. Know when to walk away from that need for perfection to read a book, take a nap or spend time with the people you love.

Start with successes. This first step in the STYLE process is meant to remind us of the things we're doing right. As an I need to see it/drop and run girl, I've learned what works for me but often, instead of seeing all the things I'm doing right, I focus on the piles of homeless items that seem to pop up relentlessly. If you must focus on what remains to be done (and, some days, we must), remember to counterbalance it with all you've learned and accomplished so far. Chances are, that will tip the scales in your favor (even if some organizing remains to be done).

Remember that it's a process. 

klimkin via Pixabay

Thanks to a steady flow of items into our homes, whether groceries possessions, or some combination of the two, organizing is one of those life tasks that is never finished. In some ways, this is a good thing. Putting strategies in place that keep things from crossing over to the organizational dark side helps to stem the tide and gives us practice building organizational skills that work for us so that, over time, we become more efficient.

Accepting that when it comes to organization, things will never be perfect or finished can encourage us to cut ourselves a little slack. Once we stop beating ourselves up, we can use that misplaced energy to put a few more things away or come up with a new strategy that makes life easier.

Or maybe even develop a sense of humor.

3 Keys Thursday: 3 Keys to Getting Your Closet Ready for Fall

 

pixels via Pixabay

I love fall. And, as with any change of season, the arrival of fall means rearranging my closet to make it easier to get to the clothes that fit the new season.

This did not used to be something I like as much as I like fall but, once I reconfigured everything to suit my styles, the whole process became a lot easier.

Here are three keys to creating a set-up that doesn't make you dread the change of seasons, whether your closet is big, small or somewhere in between.

Aim for access. If you can't reach it, you can't wear it. While it's fine (and often necessary) to tuck out-of-season and rarely worn items in the back of your closet, if it's in season and in rotation, keep it where you can get to it. 

Think out of the box -- or off the rack. Just because a builder configured your closet a certain way, that doesn't mean you have to live with that configuration forever, particularly if it doesn't work for you. Shelf too high? Lower it -- or take it down. Not the world's best hanger-upper? Put a shelving or drawer unit below the hanging pole and fold your clothes instead. Need some room for dresses and other long items? Choose a shelving (or drawer) unit that leaves room for hanging clothes on either side. All of this can be accomplished with basic portable items you can buy at Target or Wal-Mart so that if you don't like the new plan, you can go back to the old one or, if you love it, you can hire a professional to upgrade it and make it permanent.

Go for style -- and not just in clothes. If you honor your styles with the organizers you choose, you'll be more likely to use them. Bins, drawers, and other storage containers can be lidded or unlidded, clear, opaque or color-coded. And, there's no reason a closet can't be pretty--even on the inside. 

At its core, a closet is just a big cube, waiting for you to configure it in a way that works for you. While it's important to keep your habits and styles in mind as you organize, it's perhaps most important to remember that you're the boss of the cube. You can -- and should -- set it up any way you like because, once you do, it's so much easier to stay organized.

And to get dressed.

OBS FAQs: Why are the Style Names so Silly?

If you've ever heard me speak, you've probably heard the story of how an office relocation led to first an organizational resolution, then an organizational epiphany. At the time, I was working in an elementary school with students ranging in age from seven to twelve. When I decided to share my strategies with them, simple, straightforward names just made sense.

But "cram and jam"? "I know I put it somewhere"? 

Okay, so they're straightforward with a twist.  Their inherent silliness makes it hard to take ourselves -- or our organization situation -- too seriously.

So often, those of us who organize in non-traditional ways and/or struggle with getting and staying organized take it personally. It's hard not to when our self-talk is routinely negative and serious -- self-talk that we might very well have picked up from the other people along the way. 

What a mess! I'll never get this. What's wrong with me? Why can everyone else do this? How hard is it to put papers in a folder?

When this is the case, we're less likely to get organized. Negative self-talk isn't motivating, it's demoralizing. Frustrated and disgusted, we give up, assuming we can't do any better, and further cementing our belief that there's something wrong with us. Or, perhaps we assume that we were absent on the day God was gifting people with organizational skills, and we simply need to accept that we'll never get any better.

Never is such an ugly word.

Even though getting and staying organized requires a seriousness of purpose, it doesn't have to be all serious all the time. Dubbing our default styles with names that clearly identify the action but leave room for a little levity can make an onerous task less insurmountable. And being able to laugh despite missteps and amid piles is far, far better for us than beating ourselves up. 

To be honest, when I took organizing by STYLE out of the elementary school and into adult settings, I was afraid the names wouldn't fly. I couldn't have been more wrong. Dogged by years of belief that they were hopeless, the adults who arrived at my presentations were relieved by the levity and delighted to find that they had company -- others who could wear the same labels they were donning themselves. 

While there are lots of practical tool that are a key part of the organizing arsenal, there are intangibles as well. Faith in ourselves. Optimism. Persistence.

And a sense of humor.

Sure, we can get angry about the piles, frustrated by the collections, and overwhelmed by the busy schedules and seasons the leave us feeling as though we'll never get ahead of things.

Or, we can slap on our personal and organizational style monikers like one of those sticky "Hello! My name is..." badges (mine says I need to see it/drop and run) and brainstorm our way out of the clutter. 

The labels are silly but they're also a call to action. The realization that I need to see things and that,
when things get busy, I default to dropping and running, puts me on the path to finding the organizational tools I need. Wearing that silly name badge (literally or figuratively) is the first step to accepting who I am and how I operate. Even better, it gives me a road map for getting to organizational success.

Name it. Accept it. Use it.

And don't forget to smile.

6 Surefire Ways to Trigger Mom's Nag Reflex: The Clutter Edition

 

mary1826 via Pixabay

My house is not perfect. There are definitely spots where clutter collects but, alternatively, there are spaces that I keep clear. Staying organized takes work and, as a result, I don't have a lot of patience when someone else messes up what I've cleaned up.

Like so many other parents, I’m finding that a fringe benefit of the pandemic has been having my young adult child move back home while she tries to determine the next steps in her life. I really do love having her around, but the house she has returned to is not the same house she left. When she left for college, I was still used to having a “child“ at home and my house reflected that. However, slowly but surely, the absence of one person in a small house led to the obliteration of clutter in places where it had routinely lived. Add to that my finalizing a book on organization midway through her college journey and my house is a lot less cluttered than it used to be.

I have to say that my daughter is not a slob. In fact, she’s very particular about how her room looks. Consequently, from time to time, she'll do a deep cleaning of her room and decide to get rid of things. These things invariably end up in the public spaces of the house.

This does not go over well.

As I said, I'm really glad she's here. I don't want to nag her or pester her or make her feel as though she can't relax in her own home. But, at the same time, I find my house to be more relaxing with less clutter. 

The more I thought about this, the more I realized that I do let some things go, but there are certain spots where clutter bothers me. I'm sure to nag if she:

1. Leaves things laying around in the living room.
2. Leaves food sitting out -- anywhere.
3. Puts things down down in a spot that has just been cleared.
4. Fails to clean up after herself in a public space of the house.
5. Leaves things sitting on furniture meant for sitting.
6. Doesn't use a coaster.

Okay, that last one isn't really clutter-related but it does relate to the fact that, at this point in my life, I would like to have nice things. As a fully grown adult, I'm entitled to have nice things and heaven help anybody who gets in my way once I acquire the perfect table for the perfect spot.

In a strange way, making this list made me feel better. I'm not a nag or a fussbudget (most of the time anyway). I just like things that are organized to stay that way.

Still, the thought has crossed my mind (and my lips once or twice) that I can’t wait till she gets her own apartment so that I can come over and mess everything up. 

Just me?

I'm pretty sure I won’t actually be doing that as I typically have enough maturity and self-restraint to make better choices, but the frustration is real. I'm also sure I will miss her enormously when she finds the apartment she's been dreaming of.

But her stuff on my sofa? That I won't miss.

3 Keys Thursday: 3 Keys for Organizing Your Workspace

I am lucky enough to have dedicated office space at my house. Admittedly, it's a small room that never seems to have enough storage space, but I at least have the luxury of having a workspace to call my own. It's cluttered sometimes, but it's mine.

Over time, it has gone through numerous transformations and it's finally close to the way I want it. (Like me, it's a work in progress). While there are limitations to what I can do in tight quarters, I've managed to create a space that works for me (most days) by addressing a few key considerations.

Decide about your desk. When it comes to your desktop, are you a minimalist or are you inspired by trinkets and family photos? Although I've been a proud member of the clean desk club for over a year now (save for a few slip-ups), I like having trinkets, family photos and frequently used items close at hand, though I make sure to keep them on the perimeter of the desk so I have work space. Decide how you work best and design your desktop accordingly.

Think about how you think. Using STYLE-friendly tools is a start, but it's more than that. Do you need a whiteboard for drawing out ideas and making lists? A bookshelf to keep your favorite reads within reach? Or, are you perfectly content with a laptop and a folding table? While I'd love to have a full-sized whiteboard, there's really no good place to put it, so I ordered some peel-and-stick (removable) write on/wipe off circles (in coral) instead. They not only fit the space, but they add a pop of color as well. Consider the tools you need to fuel both your productivity and your creativity.

Separate the past from the present. No, I don't mean those photos of your pre-COVID cruise. Instead, I'm thinking about those files and folders and binders you haven't opened in six months that are still taking up prime real estate. If your office is spacious, and the files are neatly corralled, this might not be an issue. But if you, like me, are working in a small space, it might be beneficial to keep archived materials (the stuff we put in file cabinets) somewhere else, so you have plenty of room for what you're working on now. Make sure to keep it well-organized and/or labeled so you can access it quickly if you need to.

As for whether to use file folders, file boxes, accordion folders or traditional tools like binders, that decision is between you and your styles. But keep in mind that the first step to an organized workspace is making sure it fits the person who'll be working there. 

A Penchant for Planners

katespade.com

 I recently bought a new planner. I didn't need a new planner. I have plenty of planners. 

Yes, planners. Plural.

But it was pretty. And undated so, theoretically, it will outlast my current planners.

Did I mention it's pretty?

Shallow as that sounds, I really don't judge a planner by (just) its cover. In the end, while pretty was a key factor, the interior layout sealed the deal. Each page has room for my daily schedule, three daily priorities, and a to-do list. There's also room at the bottom to note food and water intake for the day, should I so desire.

I don't. I keep track of that on my phone.

My hope was that having my schedule, priorities and lists bound into a book, I'd reduce the ubiquitous flurry of papers that litters my desk, and I would (almost) never need to dig to find my to-do list. 

So far, so good. I still jot down notes on random pieces of paper from time to time, but I'm developing the habit of adding those items to the list in the book, usually the same day. In addition, I'm learning to keep the book close at hand in the evenings, when to-do list items pop into my head.

After purchasing the planner, I discovered that the pages are perforated, making it easy to pull out an unfinished list and tuck it into the next day's page, rather than re-writing it. I haven't yet done that, but it's nice to know it's an option. 

Truth be told, no matter how useful it is, this planner was a splurge. I saw it, I liked it and, although I didn't buy it right away, I bought it in spite of the fact that I didn't need it.

Am I sorry? Not a bit. It has much more room than the pages I was previously using for my week-at-a-glance cheat sheets (but the flip side of that is that it also takes up more room than those single sheets). As it turns out, that's an unexpected bonus. I rarely fill every line in the to-do list section of the daily pages, and my daily schedule isn't usually lengthy enough to fill that section either. The resulting white space is calming, reassuring me, in a way, that although my day was busy, it wasn't overwhelming.

Not on paper anyway.

Organizing is a practical process. If the tools we use aren't up to the task, we need to replace them. But, from time to time, we all need a tool that's pretty and practical because that combination can make organizing not only fun, but a habit as well. 

Measuring Your Small Steps

I have learned that there are predictable times when I feel as though I'm losing the clutter wars.

Back-to-school is one of those times.

I move from lovely, leisurely downtime slowly into planning time, only to find that planning creates piles. Soon, I have not only the inevitable unfinished summer projects to attend to, but new layers of papers and materials piling up, prohibiting access and adding to my to-do list.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Take small steps.

That's just what I did in this post from 2018 (same time, different year) which is (I think) still good advice in 2021.

Then:

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know I live by taking small steps and finding non-threatening approaches to digging into organizing projects. I often set a timer as a means of getting started and/or devoting some time to a project that needs to be done, or I choose a certain number of items to pick up and put away in an effort to make a small difference (take small steps!) when time is limited.

Last weekend, as I was trying to balance too many projects in too little time, I felt a constant cloud of stress engulfing me. I'm listening to a great book, The Upside of Stress, in which author Kelly McGonigal takes a new look at stress and how we can manage it instead of vice versa.

It occurred to me that the cloud that was enveloping me had to do with all of the things I was leaving undone as I zoomed in on the "get ready for the semester" tasks. I'd already promised myself that after fulfilling one morning (school-related) obligation, I was going to devote the rest of Saturday to tasks that would leave me at my family's beck and call. My daughter was leaving to go back to school on Sunday, and I did not want to spend her last day home with my eyes glued to a computer screen and my nose buried in textbooks. This meant that any tasks I took on needed to be of the "drop it and attend to someone else" variety.

Enter ten small things.

Often, when we're feeling stressed out, it's the little things that get to us. The dishes that need to be washed, the checkbook that needs to be balanced, the laundry that needs to be folded. These small things pile up to create a mountain that is perfectly surmountable if only we have nothing else we're supposed to be working on. (HA!)

So what if I chipped away at the mountain?

After an impromptu lunch with my daughter and her friend (delighted to be invited!), I ran a couple of errands with the girls. When I got home, I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote "10 Small Things" at the top before throwing in a load of laundry.

And then I wrote "1. Towels (laundry)" on my list.

Thing #1.

Finding things to fill the list wasn't difficult (but getting them all done took longer than I expected). Everything was necessary, but nothing was the kind of task that made me crabby if someone interrupted me because they needed something. And, at the end of the afternoon, I could probably find ten more things that still needed to be done.

But I had my list to prove that I'd been busy. I'd made progress. I'd accomplished something.

If you're thinking that this is a lot like my backwards to-do list, you're right. The difference? I (randomly) chose a set number of things I wanted to accomplish. I could choose any ten things that crossed my path, but the object was to tackle nagging tasks that contributed to that cloud of stress swirling around me like Pig Pen's dust in a Peanuts cartoon.

The combination of actually accomplishing ten things and having written proof was a powerful one. Despite the fact that more back-to-school prep loomed and my daughter was still leaving in less than 24 hours, I felt less stressed at the end of the afternoon.

Often, it's the little things that drag us down. Getting them out of the way frees us to concentrate more fully on the bigger things, which means they get done more quickly and efficiently.

Every little bit helps.

geralt via Pixabay

And now:

I haven't pressed "10 Small Things" into service lately, but I have approached the mounting piles in my office with similar tricks. Pick up (and put away) 10 things before leaving the office to make lunch/eat dinner/call it a day. Whether it's things or tasks, checking them off our list is both rewarding and motivating; so is seeing the final product, whether it's clean laundry or clear space.

At the end of the day, we often berate ourselves for things left undone. 

When's the last time you congratulated yourself for what you'd accomplished?