Style Habits

 Do you have a specific home for your car keys? Are they there now?

How about your phone? Does it have a home? Or do you, like me, make all-too-frequent use of the "find my phone" feature on another device, or ask someone to call you so you can figure out where you set your phone down?

Creating habits, routines, and homes is at the heart of organizing. If your keys have a home, and putting them there is part of a habit you practice every time you come home, this creates a sort of organizing automaticity -- not to mention making it much easier to find them when you need them.

This same automaticity can work against us. If we have a drop and run organizing style, we might have developed the habit of just dropping everything onto the nearest surface when we walk in the door, especially if we've had a long day or are in a hurry. Those with an I know I put it somewhere organizing style might have developed the enviable habit of clearing off cluttered spaces, but if they've paired that habit with stashing the clutter in whatever space is available at the moment, the clear space they've gained comes at a cost. The next time they need those items, they may spend a lot of time trying to retrieve them from whatever home seemed to make sense when clearing the clutter was priority one. And cram and jammers? Their impulse to put everything into one place might make it easier to know where to look for their stuff, but it often gets mashed and smashed in the process. 

To organize sustainably, we need to create habits that are easy to do (even when we're tired or in a rush) and easy to remember. And, we need to match the new routine to the habits we already have.

Wait. What? Why would we match a new routine to an unsuccessful old habit?

We wouldn't because that wouldn't be helpful at all. What we need to do is to match is the impulse behind the old habit to a new routine with a better end result. 

Those with a drop and run style need to create a new habit that makes it as easy to put something down as it is to put it away. We can still drop and run but, by simply changing our drop-off destination from the nearest surface to a designated bin, basket, hook, or drawer, we can keep the automaticity of the old habit and create a more organized space.

The same idea works for the I know I put it somewhere example above. Clearing the counters is a great impulse, as is putting things away. But the system breaks down when there's no logic or consistency to where the items go. By finding consistent homes (back to those bins, baskets, hooks, drawers, etc.) for the items we're clearing away, we can upgrade our existing habit to one that's more helpful in the long run.

The shift for those with a cram and jam organizational style, then, is merely one of size and shape. Cram and jammers can still put everything into one container; it just needs to be the right size and shape for what it's storing. 

When we feel as though our living spaces are disorganized, it's easy to label our habits as "bad" when, in reality, all we need is a simple tweak to move from a routine that isn't working to one that is effortless. 

When we build on what comes naturally to us, we can learn to view our habits as incomplete instead of simply wrong. And the beauty of that simple switch is that not only do we move from clutter to organization, we're able to feel better about ourselves in the process.  

Containing Christmas Clutter

Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay

 'Tis the season for tons of clutter! (Fa la la la la?) Between the decorations and the presents (that we inevitably put in a "safe place," away from curious eyes), we’re in the midst of a season that can stretch our organizational systems to their limits.

Not an issue at your house? That's wonderful! But, if you're feeling the crunch, here are a few ideas to keep in mind.

Keep it simple. Now is not the time to try fancy new plans. If it's not broken, don't change it. If it can wait, let it. If it can't wait, replace the strategy that's not working with one that's proven more successful elsewhere. Trying to do it all (particularly on top of holiday preparations) is overrated, not to mention counterproductive.

Keep it consistent. ’Tis also the season for the same things to be put (away) in the same places -- time wise and stuff wise. Although predictability can be boring, it can be a lifesaver when life is overwhelming. And for many of us, there's something comforting about a routine we can count on when both the calendar and the house are more crowded than usual.

Keep your styles in mind. With more people in and out of our homes, not to mention more goodies to put in “safe places,” it’s not only those with an I know I put it somewhere organizational style who find it easy to stash stuff now only to need it later and not be able to locate it. Keep one big bin behind closed doors to use as a container for all the half-finished holiday preparations you need to grab and stash when company’s coming, and decide on one location for hiding Santa’s inventory (preferably in a drab-looking container unlikely to attract anyone’s attention or interest). That way, you know where to look once the company has gone home and you want to wrap presents.

Try to avoid making a contribution. To the pile-up, that is. While it seems like putting one more thing on the pile won't make that much difference, that one more thing you set down now becomes one more thing you have to put away later. Strategies like give it five (minutes) and don't put it down, put it away! can help keep clutter manageable.

Manage the little things to enjoy the big things. If you’re thinking that these ideas sound like temporary solutions, you may be right. Then again, many of the organizational challenges we face at this time of year are temporary as well, and it’s silly to spend precious holiday time working out long-term solutions to short-term problems. In this busy time of year, it’s okay to do what works now. Then, after all the cookies have been eaten, the gifts have been unwrapped, and the decorations have been put away, we can nail down the strategies that keep things running smoothly the other eleven months of the year. That said, if these temporary solutions work now, there’s no reason not to continue to use them once the holiday glitter has settled. 

Until then, deck the halls, trim the tree, and then sit down and watch a Christmas movie. Or pile the family in the car, and drive around the neighborhood to take in the light displays. Or gather in the kitchen and make cookies (or a meal) together. Make a mess, share some joy, or revel in time spent with people you love.

The clutter can wait. That is, after all, what New Year’s resolutions are for.

3 Keys Thursday: Setting Some Guidelines

 Right around the time my daughter left for college, I ordered a clothing subscription box. While clothing on my doorstep wouldn't fill the massive silence that emerged in the wake of the departure of an eighteen-year old, it did make me smile. And it was fun trying everything on.

Eight years later, I'm still subscribing. I've swapped the first company for another one, and I still love getting that box of clothes on my doorstep.

Lately, I've been rethinking this plan, and toying with the idea of unsubscribing. Not only is my closet full, but my dresses and jackets have taken over the closet in my now young-adult daughter's old bedroom. (To be fair, I've had most of these clothes for over a year and some of them for much, much longer. And these are small closets in a 1950s-era house). 

Rationalizations? I prefer to think of it as putting things into perspective ;-)

Still, I don't need new clothes. Even worse, I know my affinity for these boxes is contributing to the excessive waste that runs rampant in the fashion industry (not to mention enlarging my carbon footprint thanks to that oh-so-convenient free shipping). 

But adding a new piece here and there is fun. Plus, I like getting them delivered -- it's like a little gift on my doorstep. 

Fun or not, I knew it was time to do some reckoning when I accidentally purchased the same sweater a second time. Even worse, the original purchase hung in my closet with the tags still on it! In my defense, I thought the sweater looked familiar, but when I checked my closet, I didn't see its twin.

Another red flag.

Spoiler alert: I'm not dropping the subscription. But I am establishing a few rules. 

1. One box per month. They love to tempt me with an additional offering at the end of the checkout process. I need to say no (and I usually do).

2. Judicious purchases. What this means has changed over time but, given my current clothing situation, the following rules apply:

• It's different from what I already have. There are possible exceptions to this rule (staples like black pants or neutral tops), but they should be just that -- exceptions. 
• The item fills a "hole" in my wardrobe (a sweater that matches those pants that nothing else matches, for example) or replaces something worn.
• I feel great in it. It doesn't just fit, it flatters. It's soft with no itchy tags, and moves when I do. I can imagine myself wearing it all day. Comfortably.
• The price is right. The last box had a pair of pants I loved that fit me better than almost anything else in my closet, but they were twice the price I usually pay. It was hard to pass, but a few minutes of thinking about what else I could do with that money did the trick.

3. Practice one in/one out whenever possible. The last box had a plum blouse with a scalloped neckline that fit perfectly, including sleeves that hit at the wrist without needing to be rolled up (a serious fashion win when you're five feet tall). But...didn't I already have a blouse that was similar in color? I checked the closet, found the blouse, and tried it on. Not nearly as flattering. Keep the new one, donate the old one (which was purple, not plum, for you color fashionistas out there).

If you think these sound like logical guidelines I should have set at the beginning, you're right. All I can say in my defense is that those first boxes were like free play -- all exploration and no rules -- because I was all about a surprise that made me smile. I also weighed about 40 lbs more then, and was having a lot of trouble finding clothes that fit and flattered. Then, as I lost the weight, I needed new clothes that -- you guessed it -- fit and flattered.

And a purchasing cycle was born.

If you're wondering what any of this has to do with organizing, it all ties back to the E in STYLE: Easy Upkeep. If we keep purchasing things -- even necessary things -- with no regard for where we're going to put them or how much space we have, upkeep quickly becomes anything but easy. If I run out of space for even my "judicious" purchases, not only have I gone too far, but I'm probably not using what I already have, at least not very well.

While none of us can single-handedly solve the issue of waste generated by an entire industry, we can minimize it in our own little corner of the world by making sure we know what we have, making sure whatever we bring into our homes has somewhere to go, and making sure to store our things in a way that makes sense, so we can quickly find them when we need them.

The time to stop buying is before we overrun our homes with stuff because that stuff becomes clutter that we have to somehow store and/or eliminate.

It's okay to indulge ourselves a little. We just need to make sure that, in the long run, the indulgence doesn’t cost us more time or money than we meant to spend.

Organizing the Virtual

 A few weeks ago, I was trying to locate a book on my Kindle. I went to my library and scrolled...and scrolled...and scrolled....

There had to be a better way. 

I tried the search function and the book came up.

On Audible. 

I eventually found the information I needed but, while trying to find the book I was looking for, I revealed dozens of books I didn't even realize I had. Most of my e-book library was essentially invisible, something that is not at all helpful to someone with an I need to see it personal style. 

This experience made it clear that I needed a better method of keeping track of my e-books. The search function was definitely helpful, but it certainly wouldn't be useful in turning up books I didn't even know I had. And what if I wanted to browse?

After searching online to see if there was a quick way to create a list (and not finding one), I set about copying and pasting into a document file. I opted to keep it simple: alphabetical by author, titles organized under four categories: fiction, non-fiction, art-related, and writing/writing-related. I could have added a few other categories but I wanted to keep it as simple as possible. 

The process was tedious and is not yet complete, but it's something I can do while watching television and I want the list badly enough to persevere.

A few days later, I shared my dilemma with my friend, Cerella, who directed me to read.amazon.com where, lo and behold, I had a much better view of my library, and more options for filters as well. I especially liked that I could separate the samples from the full-length books, something I hadn't yet figured out a plan for when it came to my list. 

The view from read.amazon.com reminded me that my overall view is better on my iPad than on my Kindle (and better on my laptop than my tablet). In addition, it solved my browsing dilemma, with all my books coming up clearly and in color.

When I told my friend that I was creating a list, she shared that she'd created one, too, using an Excel spreadsheet instead of a document file. I hate Excel (which has more to do with the fact that I lack Excel skills than anything about Excel itself), so I'm going to stick to my original plan.

When I first set out to write this post, I thought it would be about finding the tool that worked best. Clearly, it is about that, but this process reminded me of something else as well.

Sometimes, when we're stumped, or convinced there's a better way that's eluding us, reaching out to a friend can make all the difference. Friends can validate us, remind us we're not alone, and clue us in to solutions we didn't know were out there.

Thanks, Cerella. 

3 Keys Thursday: Re-Purposing

 For several years now, I've made an ongoing resolution to use less paper and plastic. I've swapped out paper napkins for cloth, dishcloths and hand towels for paper towels, reusable zipper bags for plastic sandwich bags and, of course, a reusable water bottle for single-use plastics. A deluge of research about microplastics has convinced me that this isn't only good for the environment, but for my health as well. 

Not everyone shares my enthusiasm for these changes, though. Additional paper and plastic continue to flow into my home in the form of junk mail and packaging (to name just two). While I don't have solutions to all these problems, I have gotten better at reusing the packaging and repurposing some of these things into useful storage. Here are a few ideas I've been putting into practice.

Candle jars. I've burned candles for years but, until my daughter suggested it, I never once thought about cleaning all the burned wax out of the jar and repurposing it. Now, I consider doing this with every jarred candle I burn. The prettier the jar, the more likely I am to take the time to repurpose it. My favorite use (so far) for a candle-turned-storage jar is using it to hold dishwasher pods under my sink. Since my primary styles are I need to see it and drop and run,  it's probably no surprise that "grab and go" is a natural extension. Consequently, removing the steps of opening and closing a container to get the pod is a win in my book.

Can't see yourself dealing with all that melted wax? Fair enough. Jelly jars provide multipurpose storage as well, and the dishwasher can do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to cleaning them out. (It's less messy all around if you remove the labels first). I use a repurposed jelly jar to hold makeup brushes  and another one to store binder clips. It probably goes without saying that it's important to consider what was in the jar in the first place when you consider what to put in it in the second place. I'd store food in those jelly jars, but not the candle jar.

Put plastic in its place. My prescription eye drops come in a lidded plastic tub that is, as far as I can tell, non-recyclable. This makes them a very likely candidate for repurposing as I really don't want them going into a landfill. They're great for corralling small odds and ends: buttons, coins, paper clips, etc. In addition, the lids make them stackable and the white plastic makes them easy to label with a permanent marker. I use these to store extra heads for my electric toothbrush, as well as lipstick, and I use a repurposed tub that once held calcium supplements to keep my phone charger tucked away instead of tossed haphazardly across my kitchen counter.

Some of these repurposed items, like the candle jars, are attractive in their own right, and can add a decorative touch. Others, like my repurposed plastic tubs, are less so. If you're tucking a repurposed item behind closed doors, its function matters much more than its looks. If you're leaving it out, however, you might want to consider giving it an upgrade. I love washi tape, and have decorated and/or covered more than one container with it. (Wrapping paper and wallpaper scraps also work). While I certainly wouldn't put these containers on display in a formal dining room, a simple recovering can do the trick for containers that live in more informal spaces.

Recycling ideas...and stuff. If you're thinking this all sounds a bit familiar, you're right. Many of us have parents or grandparents who used margarine tubs for leftovers, jars for screws and nails, and coffee cans to store all manner of small (and medium-sized) items. Then, it became as easy to recycle as to re-use, and many of us fell out of the habit of repurposing, due as much to space limitations as convenience. Now, as we consider (once again) the importance of protecting our planet, even as we drown in the packaging pile-up that door-to-door delivery creates, it seems like a good time to look at all that packaging from a different angle, considering its potential for re-use. Moving forward, the key word is "pause."

Pause before tossing that container into the trash. Consider its size, attractiveness, and potential for re-use, as well as the amount of space you have available to store it (if you don't have an immediate use for it). Then, keep or toss as you see fit.

Pause before buying that container that promises to fix all your organizing woes. Consider why it appeals to you and check to see if you already have something that has similar attributes. Then, give that a try first.

This is definitely not how I usually organize
my kitchen cabinets, but it works.

Pause before you assume a container needs to perform a particular function. One of my favorite unconventional storage choices is the round plastic container I use to hold measuring cups and spoons, along with my colander. I have no idea what purpose I intended for it initially but it provided the perfect storage solution for a shelf that's just a little too high. At five feet tall, I can stick my fingers through any of the holes in the side and pull it toward me without having to go grab a step stool.

Clearly, we can't keep every container, or even every pretty container that crosses our path, or our attempts at reducing clutter quickly become a magnet that attracts it. What we can do, though, is keep our styles in mind as we consider disposing of things that might propose solutions to organizing dilemmas. Who knows? You might even feel a twinge of pride every time you find a new use for an old container.

I know I do.

Breaking Rules

  When I write about organizing, I emphasize the importance of being true to our defaults.  Who we are (personal styles) and how we do things (organizational styles) are at the heart of creating an organizational system that works for the long run. 

The more comfortable we get in letting our styles lead the way, the more likely we are to develop a sort of organizing intuition. We know at a glance which tool or method will work and which won't. And, best of all, we become unafraid to take risks and try new tools and ideas. 

For me, the first indication that I'd begun developing that sense of organizing intuition was when I screwed up the courage to remove the file cabinet from my home office. For me and my I need to see it personal style, file cabinets were where papers went to die. And, filing something properly required more steps than my drop and run organizational style had patience for.

So, into the basement it went, its drawers now dedicated to archived material -- things I don't need to access frequently but want to be able to lay my hands on quickly.

Sometimes, a tool or container baby steps us into intuition. About a month ago, I found really cool hangers that were perfect for organizing the burgeoning collection of leggings that are my go-to at-home outfit. They allowed me to look at my closet space in an entirely new way, and to create a way of storing my clothes that honors both my personal and organizational style (win-win!)

Then, one day last week, I put on a tee shirt that was really too long for shorts. Hmm...I thought. I should store this with my leggings.

Hardly an earth-shattering idea, but definitely different for me. When it comes to clothing, I store like with like -- dresses with dresses, tops with tops, bottoms with bottoms, like colors together.

Tops with bottoms? Any old color beside any old color?

Why not? It only makes sense to store pieces I'll wear together side-by-side in the closet, even if it's a departure from the way I usually do things. And, it will save me pulling out that too-long tee-shirt to pair with something besides jeans or leggings, only to have to take it off because it doesn't work. 

The beauty of organizing intuition is that it allows us to bend -- or even break -- rules. Those rules can be ours or someone else's, and they can have to do with containers, hangers, methods, or any other organizational concept. When our organizing intuition tells us to give something a try, we're taking a step toward personalizing a system that works for us. And, if we feel excited by the new idea, that's even better, because that's what will make us truly organized in a way that's truly intuitive.

Nooo! I'm Not Ready!

 I haven't done a 3 Keys Thursday in ages, and I got so excited to write this one, I couldn't stop at three!

It's the time of year that makes teachers wail and gnash their teeth: the emergence of school supplies in a store near you.

It's not the school supplies that are the issue -- teachers will be filling up carts with the stuff -- it's the timing. It feels as though summer vacation has no sooner started than fall is foisted upon us.

As a parent, you might appreciate this. Or, you might feel the same way teachers do, feeling the need to swap out sunglasses for blinders every time you walk into a store. 

No kids? You might be in the best position of all. 

'Tis the season to stock up.

Sure, you can avoid these aisles altogether. Or, you can check your supplies and fill in the gaps at bargain prices. 

Here are a few pointers.

Make a list. If you're parent on a back-to-school supply run, you might have a ready-made list from your child's school. If you're a stationery aficionado like I am, your list looks more like a wish list. Keep your budget in mind when you make your list (once I'm in the store, I want to buy it all!) so you can stay on track once you're roaming the aisles. 

The store list might not be your list. Many stores have posted lists of recommended school supplies. The key here is recommended -- and who's doing the recommending. The store stands to gain quite a lot if you buy everything on the list. Caveat emptor -- stick to the stuff you need, and maybe a few things you want.

Don't forget your styles. While back-to-school prices can offer the opportunity to try something new, don't forget to look at the selections through the lens of your styles. If it didn't work before, chances are good it won't work now, no matter how cheap it is. If you think it might work and the price is right, give it a go. Now's the time.

Comparison shop. When all the signs are screaming "SALE!" it's easy to assume you're getting a deal. With your list in hand, page through some flyers at home, or do a little online sleuthing to see whose prices are promising and whose promises are empty.

Don't feel like you have to compromise. Shopping the early sales gives you plenty of time to walk away and think about what you really want. Better to go back and get the right thing than to spend more to replace the wrong thing you bought because it was (allegedly) a deal.

While I'm in no way ready to think about back-to-school, I'm always ready to find a good planner, notebook, pen (my local dollar store has my favorite one!), or organizing tool at a good price. 

And when all the stars align, one trip might just set me up for the whole school year.

And the Reason Is...?

 I’ve been using a book of prompts for my morning journaling and one day last week, I chose one that said, “If you had to delete all but three pictures from your phone, which three would you keep?“

I spent only a few seconds considering the question before I quickly decided that I couldn’t do this and, more importantly why should I? What would be the purpose of cutting all my photos down to three? Sure, I could get rid of all those random shots of my feet that I took by accident, the clothing I already posted on Poshmark, and books I took pictures of so I wouldn’t forget the titles when I was making my list of books to reserve at the library. That all makes sense.

But what of the rest? Which friends would I cut? Which family photo would rise above all the rest? Which vacation photos from trips I may never take again should I drag into the virtual trashcan?

You may be wondering why I chose this prompt at all if I were going to be combative about the whole thing. But I’m not being combative. I’m being strategic. 

Whether it's photos, or clothes, or papers, or something else entirely, this is what we do when we organize. We don’t set random rules about how many of one thing we can have. We consider the limits set by space, hygiene, and common sense and, after that, it comes down to personal preference. 

And personal preference changes over time. Things that seemed impossible to part with five years ago might easily make the cut now. Items we keep when space is no object might be easy to eliminate when we’re downsizing.

When it comes to organizing, what you keep and what you don’t keep is entirely up to you. Some decisions are easy, others are not. Why should we make deep cuts if we neither have to nor want to?

I’m certainly not advocating keeping every scrap of paper or item of clothing that makes its way into your home. But, so often when we organize, we think we need to be ruthless when really, we don’t. At least not most of the time. There are, admittedly, life situations that call for us to make the deep cuts. But, when it comes to day-to-day organizing, small steps are often enough to keep clutter under control.

Organizing is a process. If you don’t get rid of it today, maybe you’ll get rid of it tomorrow. Or maybe you won’t.

And maybe there’s no reason to get rid of it at all.

Coming at it From Another Angle

 It's summer! Okay, perhaps not officially, but once spring semester is over, it's summer in my world. And, when the summer classes start only a few days after spring semester ends, I feel justified in my proclamation of the season.

As usual, I started my list of things I want to accomplish this summer even before spring semester ended. Some are directly connected to organizing, but others are a bit more peripheral.

The closet. I made some small changes in my closet on the last day of classes, driven as much by the thought of summer and leisure as the reading I'd been doing about style (in the fashion sense). Returning home after my last class with summer and leisure in mind (and in the air), I pushed my long-sleeved, professional wear off to the side, (but still visible -- my personal style is I need to see it, after all), placing my short-sleeved, casual clothes front-and-center for easy access and review. This summer, I want to go through all of those short-sleeved tops with an eye toward removing anything I don't feel good in, or that no longer fits my style (or perhaps never did). Doing this a few pieces -- or even just one piece -- at a time is the next logical step in the process. Organizing doesn't always have to be a big project. Sometimes, small steps work just as well.

Painting. Though I've finished painting the walls in my dining room, the trim is still crying out for attention. Does beautifying a space count as organizing? Maybe not technically, but the process typically includes reorganizing and often inspires a new perspective on an old space as well, nudging us to upgrade our organizational systems along with the décor. If I'm truthful, finishing this painting project is not a task I'm looking forward to, but it's not (yet) so an onerous task that I'm willing to pay someone else to do it. Adding these finishing touches has something in common with organizing, too -- almost finished is not the same as finished, nor does it give us the same satisfaction. So, final touches, it is.

Creative pursuits. Last spring, I read about trash collages and decided to give one a try. I loved it, so I began devoting some time to collage-making. Unlike the scrapbooks I made when my daughter was small, these latest creations reveal my love of words while also tapping into my creative style. The organization connection? Flexing my creative muscles will, I believe, lead me to be even more likely to explore creative solutions to organizing dilemmas.

So often, we think of organizing as simply de-cluttering and making things look nice. While those skills are definitely important in achieving and restoring order, coming at organizing from another angle can shake things up (in a good way) and inject a little fun into the process as well. 

And I can't think of a better time to add a dash of fun than summertime.

Culling the Closet

 Lately, I've been on a closet kick, re-organizing both the overall set-up and the clothes themselves, which took me back to this post from six years ago.

Last night, I had dinner with friends, all of whom are in the midst of summer vacation. We talked about travel plans and summer projects (among other things) and one of my friends told us about her  recent (ruthless) closet purge. She had two categories: useful and trash. Another had recently changed positions within her organization, and her approach to the transition was similar. Years of materials went directly into the recycling bin.

No one cringed at these stories. In fact, I think most of us were motivated to go home and do the same thing. 

The ruthless closet clean-out is not something all styles manage well. In fact, Let it go! is probably the toughest part of the STYLE process for many of us, even if we don't claim the I love stuff personal style as our own. Maintaining a balance between what comes in and what goes out is, however, a necessary part of the process; without it, we quickly overrun our living space, making organizing far more complicated -- and exhausting -- than it needs to be. And we all fear those times (like this morning, less than 24 hours after my desire to ruthlessly clear out a closet), when we regret our ruthlessness, and long to be able to access something we got rid of in a fit of efficiency. (White pants! Why did I get rid of those comfy white pants?)

Sorting through things and figuring out what to do with them can be overwhelming, but it can also be liberating. Some things are easy to toss. Is it broken? Missing a piece? Hopelessly out of style? A duplicate, triplicate or worse?

Others are more challenging. The dress we paid too much for and wore only once. Clothes we hope to fit into again some day. The makings of a craft or home improvement project we never got around to. Greeting cards, kids' drawings, faded photographs and other similarly sentiment-inducing items.

If you're not the ruthless type, taking small steps to reduce, declutter and recycle can yield the same satisfaction with less (or maybe even no) regret. Restoring order to one space, moving things from an old, too-small container to a new one that's more realistic or starting at the back of a closet or the bottom of a pile (where old and outdated items often lurk) can make weeding a natural part of the process instead of a dreaded task.

Starting with a purpose can help. How many times have you gone looking for something you needed only to come across several things you didn't need in the process? This type of organic cleaning out can be satisfying without being emotionally draining.

You don't need to be ruthless to make progress. Look around. What can you let go of? Start with what's easy and build from there.

The Convergence of Time and Persistence

 Part of my morning routine includes answering a question in my One Question a Day for Self-Care journal. I'm on year two of the three-year journal, and discovering so far that this year's answers aren't that different from last year's. 

But one recent question proved an exception, or at least an indication of growth: "How realistic are your expectations for yourself?"

This is, indeed, something I've been working on for several years. Work-life balance. Time management. Pausing before saying yes to everything. Reasonable to-do lists. 

It's that last one that inspired an aha moment for me. This year, I have to say my expectations are pretty reasonable. Part of this is due to the work I've been doing to make it so, but another part has to do with a tool I've written about here before.

My planner.

Against all odds and personal expectations, I adopted an undated planner almost three years ago, and I'm currently on Volume 6 (the sixth physical copy of the planner). What makes this planner so special is that it aligns with my thinking -- the time management version of organizing by STYLE.

I've written about this concept and this planner before, so I won't go on and on about it here. Instead, I'll say something else I've said (a lot) before.

It's a process.

What does all of this have to do with my expectations?

The layout of each planner page allows space for only three priority items each day. Sure, I can try to cram four, five, or even six into the space, but the visual alone is proof that my expectations aren't realistic. 

Below the three priorities, there's plenty of room for a to-do list for everything else, but the tacit expectation is that those are not expectations for the day but, rather, extras. If I get to them, great. If I don't, that's okay too.

After nearly three years of shaping my expectations in this way, it has become a way of thinking for me: What are the most important things I need to do today? Those are the items that make the top three. Sure, there are days when I cram four things into the space for three, but I recognize that making that the norm isn't a good idea. 

Neuroscience is clear that, from a brain perspective, what we do is who we become. The more we practice healthy habits, whether for body, mind, soul, or some combination of the three, the more those habits become an ingrained part of not just our routines, but of who we are as well. Sometimes we're aware of our own becoming as it's happening; other times, we see our growth only in hindsight. Either way, it's a process, one that takes time and patience.

How realistic are your expectations for yourself? And do you have the tools to help you meet them? 

The Right Fit

 I’m an Apple girl: iPhone, iPad, MacBook. Last week, when I accidentally created a too-close encounter between my MacBook Air and a glass of iced tea, I never considered replacing my dearly departed computer with anything but a new MacBook Air.

Actually, I'm pretty brand loyal in other areas, too. Exhibit A: my collection of Kate Spade handbags. Exhibit B: Multiple pairs of shoes with the same name inside (Kate didn't win that contest). Exhibit C: My daily Starbucks run at which I order the same drink 95% of the time.

I could go on, but I won't. The thing is, I know what I like. And, when I find something I like that works, I stick with it unless I'm given a good reason not to do so. Sticking with what works is an easy way to combine something functional with something that brings me joy, not to mention that it makes shopping more efficient.

This comes in very handy when it comes to organizing — in fact, it’s what organizing by STYLE is all about. 

So why do we persist in using things that don’t work? 

I have a personal list of exhibits here, too. Exhibit A: file cabinets. Exhibit B: binders. Exhibit C: any container that hides what’s inside (unless I can put a label on it).

For years, I tried to make myself fit into those boxes. These were the tools I grew up on, the ones that were readily available and used by other people whose opinions I valued. But, as it turned out, these tools failed me.

Do me a favor. Go back and read the last sentence of that last paragraph again.

The tools failed me. They may be perfectly fine tools, but they weren’t the right fit for me. Since then, I’ve found replacements — tools that are a better fit for the way I think and the way I organize.

It’s exactly that kind of fit that keeps me brand loyal. When a tool works, fits my lifestyle, and is within my budget, it’s a win-win situation. When that delicate balance is no longer met, it's time to look elsewhere, guilt-free and judgment-free. 

Maybe even splurge a little.

In the end, buying a succession of inexpensive tools that don’t work can be as costly as just buying the right thing — the one that works for us — in the first place. And, when we find that right thing, we might even want to stock up.

Especially if it goes on sale.

X is for Excited (Sort of)

  I wrote this post yesterday afternoon, then promptly posted it in the wrong place, a mistake I discovered late last night.

Sigh.

Apparently it wasn’t just my to-do list that didn’t go according to plan :-j

I'm one week into the semester and I'm already breaking promises to myself. 

Tuesdays were supposed to be a "light" day with respect to schoolwork. While today hasn't exactly been a super busy day, I blew right by my time guideline early in the day, and I'm not finished yet.

It's not that the workload is overwhelming. It's that I have lots of ideas and I actually have time to look into them. Maybe even implement a few.

For a change.

Writing was on today's calendar and, with the exception of this blog post, that's probably not going to happen. I could switch gears and switch tasks, but I kinda want to follow these new ideas for my classes and see where they lead. 

Undisciplined? Maybe. But, the truth is, I work better when I follow my heart. Enthusiasm is a catalyst that augments my energy and that's a resource I don't want to lose. 

So, it's off to my web search. Today, I'll be applying my creative energy to my classroom work and, as for my writing, tomorrow is another day.

I promise.

Imperfect But Improving

 This post from 2019 connected very nicely with my current situation. A lot of this fits together with a podcast I recently guested on and a post I wrote on Monday for The Porch Swing Chronicles about using my time wisely in a semester where I'm teaching fewer classes. In addition, it is, I hope, a good reminder to all of those who entered February with little progress on that New Year's resolution to get organized. 

There's still time. There almost always is.

I used to be embarrassed by the state of my house often. It wasn't terrible -- just cluttered and very, very lived-in. My I need to see it/drop and run styles were in evidence in many places and on many flat surfaces. Having visitors required either hours dedicated to finding homes for things and putting them in those places or a frantic dash through the house to grab and stash.

These days, I'm embarrassed a lot less often. If you were expecting me to say I'm never embarrassed, I hope you're not shocked or disappointed. The fact is that knowing about organizing -- and even writing about organizing -- is different from doing it.

When it comes to organizing (and keeping things uncluttered) the "doing" is often hampered by real life obstacles. Things like time, space and conflicting priorities lead us to take shortcuts that feel comfortable in the moment (like dropping and running, cramming and jamming or putting things somewhere), but that lead to piles and clutter we end up having to tackle later on.

Organizing is not a one-and-done process. (Wouldn't it be wonderful if it were?) Balancing what comes in with what goes out in a timely fashion requires consistent time and attention. As long as  both time and attention are plentiful, things go relatively smoothly. But, when we get busy or overwhelmed or other priorities emerge, it's easy for things to pile up. Quickly. 

Pixabay

Tomorrow is my last day of classes for the semester. This week, I've emerged from the grading cave long enough to tackle a pile or two and create some clear space. Because I have workable systems in place, it's a fairly easy process, but it still requires time and attention. Fortunately, each clear space motivates me and reminds me that I know how to do this. I just need to have all of the tools -- including the intangible ones -- at my disposal.

When it comes to organization, no matter how much I learn and how much I write about it, I remain a work in progress. Some days, it's hard not to see this through the lens of failure -- as though simply understanding what I need to do will get the job done.

But it won't. Although knowledge alone is insufficient to keep my surfaces clear, there is one piece of information that helps me keep things in perspective -- one that I remind myself almost daily.

It's a process.

Dueling Guidelines

 When it comes to the "Let it go!" step in organizing by STYLE, each of us faces our own challenges. For some, it's an emotional attachment to our possessions, for others, it's the expense of an item that no longer serves us, and, for those raised with a "waste not, want not" mentality, it's the idea that we might actually need this thing some day.

Or perhaps a combination of any or all of these three, depending on the item in question.

Recently, I've become aware of a particular collection of my own that falls into that last category (no, it's not the collection of containers in my basement -- that's old news). It's boxes and packing material.

As part of a generation that had to go to the grocery store to beg for boxes whenever I had to move, I've had a hard time parting with boxes for quite some time. When my daughter went to college, I hung on to even more. Who knew when she might need them to move, or when I might need a "just right" box to ship a care package?

I duly weeded out the boxes (as I promised my husband I would) after she graduated from college but, in the past few years, I began saving more packaging materials to go inside the boxes. And, since these years encompassed the pandemic, there were a lot more packages from which to choose.

Ironically, this new habit was due, in part, to my ongoing resolutions to use less paper and plastic. I couldn't keep merchants from using plastic airbags, but I could make sure they got re-used instead of just tossed away. And, while I was delighted when the boxes that held my purchases were filled with paper instead of plastic (thank you, Kate Spade and Nika's Home soy candles, among others), I began saving that, too.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that my collection was getting out of hand. I duly rounded up the bubble wrap overflow (did I mention the bubble wrap?) and corralled it into a large bag. Setting it aside, I promised myself I'd do something about this. Soon. 

Yeah. Soon.

Last weekend, as we took down the Christmas tree and organized the ornaments, I went in search of the right materials to upgrade a system that amounted to organized, and then I gave up and tossed everything into the last bin. 

Who am I kidding? I knew exactly where to look. 

In the basement, I quickly located the perfect box (a lidded box I'd saved from a basement overhaul over a year ago) and the perfect packing materials. When I was finished, I was pleased with my system for the first time in a very long time. The box full of leftovers had been replaced with a neatly packed (and cushioned) box of ornaments.

If you're cringing, thinking I took this as evidence that I didn't need to get rid of my "collection," you can relax. I did not, in fact, succumb to the positive reinforcement that threatened to override my judgment.

I also didn't get rid of everything. 

My husband came to my rescue, though, promising to take the paper off my hands and make sure it got recycled (something I'm pretty sure our local waste company does not do). He promised me he knew exactly where to take it, and that place was not the trash can

Next, I sorted through what remained, finding homes for everything, and going back to a basic guideline I use often, but had failed to comply with this time around. Once those homes are full, I cannot acquire anything new.

In other words, I reduced my stash in two ways: some I used (for the ornaments) and some I recycled, both in keeping with my resolutions to reduce my use of paper and plastic. The rest I stored, with two additional rules. The first is really sticking to the rule of adding nothing new to a space that's already full. No room? Out it goes.

The second? A hard "one in/one out" when it comes to boxes. If the perfect box lands on my front step, I can only keep it if I recycle an imperfect equivalent.

Sometimes, "Let it go!" is an easy step: things that have gone bad, things past their prime, things we no longer feel any attachment to. Other times, our unwillingness to follow that seemingly simple guideline can catch us by surprise. If you, like me, find yourself in the second situation, a few simple rules might be just what you need to keep things from taking up more than their fair share of your living space, and buying yourself some time to consider what's necessary and what's not.

Meanwhile, be patient with yourself. It's a process.

3 Keys Thursday: 3 Tips for Keeping that Organization Resolution

 Did you make a resolution to get organized in 2024? If so, how's it going?

If you're struggling, don't despair -- that's a big resolution. And no, I'm not being condescending.

Making a resolution to get organized without getting specific about how you're going to do it is like saying you're going to make a chocolate soufflé without a recipe (unless, of course, you're a professional chef or someone who has made numerous chocolate soufflés).

Getting organized is an ongoing process and it's one that can be daunting, particularly when we live with other people. Here are a few suggestions for key ingredients for your organization recipe -- a few organizing basics, as it were -- whether you're starting from scratch, or trying to right a resolution that's gone off the rails. 

Organize in a way that works for you and do it unapologetically & non-judgmentally. Some of my best organizing solutions have arisen from using typical tools in atypical ways, and some of my biggest frustrations have come from trying to make a tool that "works for everyone else" work for me. No one tool works for everyone, and no one person has the organization magic bullet. The only system that's sustainable is the one we create for ourselves. (Oh, and this goes for our kids, too).

Don’t put it down, put it away. Clutter really is the enemy, but it doesn't build up on its own. Instead, it arises when we leave one thing out so we'll remember to do it, and that one thing becomes three, or seven, or ten. Or, it perpetuates itself when we set one thing down because we don't know where it should go. When we find things a home, one that makes it as easy to put things away as it is to put them down, we take power over clutter. When we learn to catch ourselves in the act of dropping and running, we forestall clutter altogether.

Take small steps. Have you abandoned your resolution because it's all too much? The good news (and the bad news) is you're right. It's a lot. Truly, the best way to "get organized" is just to start somewhere, preferably in a spot where you can see improvement with just a small investment of time (an hour or less). Making a dent is motivating, and that motivation carries us forward, giving us the confidence to tackle bigger tasks and get bigger wins.

Oh, and one more thing: ditch perfect. Trying to make a home that a family lives in, works in, plays in, and yes, cooks in look like a picture out of a magazine is a recipe for failure and frustration. Sure, it's important to be able to find what you need when you need it and to have space to work and plan and dream without being distracted. But, if we spend all of our time chasing clutter, we have no time to work and plan and dream.

Organizing means balancing what comes into our homes with what goes out of them. Some days, the scales will tip in our favor. Other days, our kids will take out every toy they own, we'll drop the mail on the counter because we're too tired to deal with it and everyone will leave their shoes out for someone to trip over.

And the world will not end.

Organization is a part of life, and living is more important than being perfectly organized. But, when we have the right recipe, it's possible to have our life and organize it, too.

I'm Dreaming of the Perfect Planner

 I've been asking myself what day it is for the past two weeks and, this week, with New Year's Day on a Monday, I remain confused. I'm going to leverage that confusion, though, and post on a Friday this week, on one of my favorite topics: planners. 

If you haven't yet bought a 2024 planner, I urge you to splurge a little. A couple of years ago, I did just that, purchasing the planner pictured at left. Two years later, I ended 2023 in the middle of Volume 5 of this planner. I can't imagine using anything else. It has exceeded my expectations and I don't intend to switch unless I can no longer get my hands on a new one. 

As you make your planner purchase, consider not just what you need, but also what you want. For me, having a place to put all my lists while still keeping them separate from my daily priorities has been a game-changer and a time-saver. And, having learned this lesson from my planner purchase, I've carried it over to other planning purchases as well, most notably the notebook in which I create and assess my monthly goals.

Sometimes, just any notebook or planner will do. Other times, a specific choice becomes an essential tool.

What does the inside of your dream planner look like?

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.