Unpack, Prepack, Pack: The I Hate to Pack Packing Method

Pixabay

This has been a summer of short trips. Last week, I returned home from a visit to my parents just two days before we were leaving for the beach.

Unpack? Seriously?

Nope.

Instead, here's what it looked like/the plan.

Wednesday evening: Return home. Dump bag in bedroom. Open it only to remove the things that needed to be washed and the toiletries I'd need in the next 24 hours. Then, leave the bag alone until bedtime when I needed to retrieve medication.

Thursday morning: Ignore bag. Begin washing clothes that I want for the next trip. While getting dressed, take out stacks of clothes likely to be worn or packed. Choose one pair of shorts, leave the remainder on the bed to put in the suitcase. Also lay out other things I want to wash and/or pack as I come across them. Don't put them in the suitcase now, or they'll get more wrinkled.

Thursday afternoon and evening: As laundry is finished, leave clothes I want to pack neatly folded in the laundry basket. Retrieve packing list from the bin where I keep travel items like my toiletries kit (still in the suitcase from the last trip), extra travel toiletries and bags to pack shoes in (repurposed drawstring bags that originally held sheet sets). Time permitting, start packing linens (as they come out of the washer and any kitchen items/food we want to bring along. Refill containers in toiletries bag as needed.

Friday: Serious packing. Take stock of everything that's been laid out, is sitting in a laundry basket, or still in the suitcase. Fill in the gaps. Fit as much as possible into the already partially packed suitcase and determine how big a bag I need for the rest of the stuff.

My Type A organized friends are shaking their heads, but, you know what? This works. It fits my I need to see it personal style, keeps the clothes I love in rotation until the bitter end when they must go in the suitcase and most important....

It makes me hate packing less. That gets my vacation off to a happier start, which has a payoff all its own.

What packing plans fit your styles? Your family's? Don't be surprised if each family member has a style all his/her own (my husband starts packing a week ahead of time) and, if you can, honor those styles.

After all, who doesn't want vacation mentality to set in as soon as possible?

Pixabay

Trash or Treasure?

Do you have anything you just can't part with? It's okay--you can be honest. I'm not going to make you get rid of it.

For me, two things come to mind immediately, both articles of clothing. The first is a ratty old Bucknell sweatshirt, and, when I say ratty, I'm not exaggerating. The sleeves are torn and shredded at the wrists -- yes, both of them -- and there are holes under both arms. When I put it on yesterday at the end of a long day (because it remains one of the softest, most comfortable and most comforting pieces of clothing that I own), it inspired this blog post.

What do you think the odds are that I'm getting rid of it now?

The second thing is a silky, turtleneck maxi dress that belonged to my grandmother. It lives in a box at the back of my daughter's closet, where I know it will stay, because getting rid of it would feel too much like getting rid of a piece of my grandmother. I don't know why this dress is the one I've chosen to hang on to, but I know that it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

Getting organized doesn't mean getting rid of everything; rather, it's about striking a balance between the things that are important enough to keep and the things that simply take up space. While we certainly can't keep everything that comes into our possession, there's no harm in a little strategic collecting.

The point is to keep it strategic. If things you'll never use again are encroaching into your storage space, or, worse yet, your living space, it may be time to reassess. Are you keeping these things because they have value -- financial or emotional -- or simply out of habit?

How easily we find the line between trash and treasure will vary by style; those with an I love stuff  personal style will most likely find it harder than those with the l love to be busy personal style. As long as we can find a place for each of our belongings, whether it's a place of honor in a collection or a place for safekeeping at the back of a closet, there's no need to get rid of things we love. 

If, on the other hand, you're feeling overrun, and the time has come to clear things out and dispose of the items that are no longer must haves, consider whether or not they might have value to someone else. While no one will want my ratty Bucknell sweatshirt or my grandmother's vintage 1970s maxi dress, the collection of fleece blankets that's threatening to overtake a corner of our family room might be very valuable to a homeless shelter, women's center or pet shelter. 

Just one piece of advice: no fair passing it along to a family member unless they love it as much as you do. 

How about you? What are your must haves, and what are you keeping simply out of habit?

The Perfect Tool at the Perfect Price

If you've been reading this blog for more than about thirty seconds, you know I'm all about the right tools for the job. And, if you've been reading for a while, you know that, while I like to splurge occasionally when I'm convinced the container is just right, I usually start my search in clearance bins and dollar stores.

I've found a lot of great supplies at great prices. Accordion folders on the clearance racks at Staples. Paper organizers and plastic bins at Dollar Tree, and, most recently, my perfect planner, in the dollar bins at Target.

But two weeks ago, the same week I found my planner, I found what is, perhaps, my favorite set of file folders ever.

While I might have thought to label a folder "Today is the Day," (above) I tend to stick with more utilitarian names like topics or days of the week. I would never have thought to label my folders:

And yet, these names are so perfect! It's as though someone knew just what I needed -- how cool is that? All three folders have already been put to use, with papers in keeping with their themes placed safely inside. 

Now I just need to find the right place to put them -- some place that satisfies both the purpose of having a folder in the first place (to tuck things away) and my I need to see it  personal style, which is exacerbated by the visual appeal of these fun folders. I don't want to put them away, so I'm trying to find a place where I can see at least a portion of their brightly colored fronts and/or fun patterned tabs.

So, the morals of this story are a perfect fit for my philosophy. Good organizers can be pretty and  functional without being expensive. 

And, when you find the right fit, whether for your style or your circumstance, organizing can actually be fun.

Semesters May Change, but Styles Remain the Same

This is how an I need to see it organizer packs her bag
for work. Material for each TTh course is clustered together.
What's on the arm of the sofa? The class I teach MWF. 

This week, I switch gears and resume my teaching responsibilities. If I ever doubted whether or not my styles (I need to see it/drop and run) have changed over time, all I need to do is take one look around my house.

They haven't.

Tomorrow, I'll share 3 key tools that are keeping me organized this fall. (And yes, my sofa is one of them -- sort of). Then, in the coming weeks, I'll be revisiting key tools for each style. If you have one (or more) that you love, share it (them) in the comments below, and I'll try to incorporate your ideas into a future post.

Have your styles changed? Click here to take (or retake) the quiz and find out. My theory is that while our styles may become more defined over time, our default styles remain constant.

What do you think?

3 Keys Thursday: Tax Time

Dodgerton Skillhause via Morguefile

I spent hours on Saturday organizing my notes and receipts for taxes. While my Type A organizer friends are already getting their refund checks, I'm still dragging my feet, finding plenty of other things that are more exciting than getting my tax paperwork together.

In some ways, though, it wasn't really that bad. Having learned my lesson after the disaster that was tax planning 2013, I came up with a system that I (mostly) use which minimized the amount of time I had to spend tracking things down. I only ran into trouble when -- you guessed it -- my system was incomplete or I'd put off doing something that could now no longer be avoided.

How did your tax system work this year? If it needs a few tweaks, consider these three tips.

• Be true to your styles. You knew I was going to say that, didn't you? Whether it's file folders, an accordion folder, an app or shoe boxes labeled by category, pick something easy to use. Otherwise, the system will break down long before you need to sit down and pull everything together. 

• Categorize. Again, whether it's file folders, an accordion folder or shoe boxes labeled by category, keeping things separated by category all year long makes it much easier to summarize   things in an organized, manageable fashion. Even if you cram and jam everything into shoe boxes, using separate shoe boxes makes the eventual sorting process much easier.

• Print it out. PayPal's monthly statements made my record-keeping so much easier. The one change I will make for next year is printing them out sooner -- monthly or quarterly -- so they're already in my files when I need them. Printing as you go also saves you from unexpected problems -- like the receipt that I could no longer produce because an email issue earlier this year resulted in the loss of a block of emails that included that receipt.

Cohdra via Morguefile

I'm happy to report that the system I developed in response to the marathon tax paperwork session of 2013 is working well, and that Saturday's session wasn't nearly as painful as I expected it to be. With a few tweaks, 2016 will be even better. 

3 Keys Thursday: Dealing with Organizational Obstacles

Photo: Dodgerton Skillhause via Morguefile

No matter how successful we are at getting organized, sometimes it's an uphill battle. Let's face it: Organization is a process, which means that even once we have workable systems in place, we never quite get to check it off our lists and say, "Done! Organized!" There are always new things to add, old things to sort and life changes that necessitate re-thinking our strategies.

In addition, there are day-to-day obstacles that make organizing a challenge.

The problem: An overbooked schedule. Try as we might, we often say yes to one -- or ten -- too many things. When our schedules get crazy, we get tired, and perhaps a bit lazy as well. Even the best systems get ignored in favor of the easiest option, which often does not include putting things away.
The solution: Do what you can and live by Give it Five! Work within your simplest systems, making sure to use them as much as possible so things don't pile up. When they do pile up (and they will), don't despair. Give it Five! as often as you can until you have time to dig in again. And, when that time arrives, step back and see what you're dealing with. Have you uncovered chinks in your organizational armor? If so, putting some new systems into place (perhaps a new container or location is needed for some things?) can make a difference the next time your schedule explodes off the calendar.

Park City Computer Desk and Hutch by Legacy Classic Kids
www.wolffurniture.com

The problem: Tiny spaces. I love our little house -- most days -- but, oh, what I wouldn't give for a walk-in closet! And our Cape Cod is a luxury home compared to the tiny apartments college students and city dwellers routinely call home.
The solution: The right storage. Look for containers and furnishings that are tall or stackable (maximize vertical space), fit underneath furniture and/or do double duty. Check out places that offer unusual items (import stores, flea markets, consignment shops and secondhand stores) that can fit into small spaces or function as whimsical touches and practical storage. While some kids' furnishings are obviously designed for children, others are often just the right size for smaller adult spaces. Finally, whether you live in a dorm or a studio apartment, never underestimate the September sales that pop up after the college students have gone back to school. Many dorm furnishings can be a lifesaver in small, non-dorm residences.

The problem: Opposing styles. You've taken the quiz. You've identified your styles. You've even figured out what works for you. The trouble is, your I need to see it style drives your I know I put it somewhere spouse just a little bit crazy.
The solution: Educate, evaluate...and compromise. Try to help your spouse understand why you've chosen the solutions you have (and I'm assuming we're talking about actual solutions here, not simply leaving everything out where I -- uh, you -- can see it) and listen to why your partner has opted for his/her system. Together, decide which systems are working (that is, they're being used) and which are less-than-ideal. For those that aren't working, try to find the points of agreement between styles before settling on a new solution. Clear or labeled containers, for example, can work for both I need to see it and I know I put it somewhere organizers, albeit for different reasons. And, when it comes to  systems that one person uses significantly more than the other person (his man cave, your closet), the chief organizer of that area should prevail...unless the other person wants to take over the maintenance of that space.

Above all, be patient with yourself. Sure, we could spend our whole lives getting things just so, but that doesn't sound like much of a life. As long as you're making progress, you're moving in the right direction.

Reconciling School Supply Lists to Styles

freepik.com

Have you ever watched a left-handed person try to take notes in a traditional spiral notebook? It's almost painful. The angle is wrong, the spiral's in the wrong place, and even the neatest handwriting approaches illegibility as fatigue and frustration take over.

That's how it feels to be a non-traditional organizer using traditional school supplies. While everyone around you slides papers neatly onto binder rings or into the pockets of folders, you just never manage to make things work as neatly and effortlessly.

So...why buy those supplies?

If you've got a kiddo (or two) at your house whose notebooks and folders look like they've been through a natural disaster somewhere between school and home, help them adapt their supplies to their styles. 

Ways to adapt a binder:

• Buy a portable three-hole punch to put in the front of the notebook.
• Load the binder with page protectors so unpunched papers make it into the notebook. Or, if that's not gonna happen with your cram and jammer or drop and run organizer, try folder pockets (hole-punched inserts that look like a pocket folder opened up and folded back) or a three-ring acetate envelope with a snap or Velcro fastener.

  

  When I taught Organizing by STYLE
  to an elementary school audience,
  I found that clamp binders were a
  huge hit with fifth grade boys.
  Photo: staples.com

• Add a clip to the front of the binder so the day's papers get clipped inside the cover and can be added to the right section of the notebook at home.
• Ditch the three-ring binder for one with a spring-loaded clamp. Kids who don't take the time to put stuff into the rings sometimes enjoy putting papers away when they have an excuse to play with the clamp.
• Replace the binder with an accordion folder. Choose one that's divided into sections, or one with just one wide, yawning opening, depending on your child's style.

What to use instead of a standard-issue, paper pocket folder:

• A file folder. Like pocket folders, these come in a variety of colors, and can be color-coded by subject. If the papers aren't going to go in the pockets anyway, why create an unnecessary battle?
• Transparent folders that allow kids to personalize them (photos show through the opening) or see what's inside. These also come in a variety of colors, with and without pockets.
• A folder that has top and side access and a tab closure at the top. Multi-colored (again). Never underestimate the value of being able to play with an organizational tool. The more fun it is to put something away, the more likely it is it'll get there.
• Clear acetate envelopes with string-tie and button closures. Sold at office supply stores, these often come in multi-packs that make them less expensive per item. 

avery.com

Admittedly, these choices are often more expensive and harder to come by, but in many cases, the time and heartache saved makes it worth the extra cash and detective work -- and sometimes, you actually luck out and find cool tools at the dollar store or the clearance racks. When I taught lessons in elementary school classrooms, I brought a variety of supplies in for kids to play with and had them trouble-shoot potential issues. They were amazingly astute when it came to figuring out what they would and would not use, and they often loved things that cost a dollar or less (colorful report folders with hinged closures were a big hit) as much as the more expensive office supply items. 

As you discuss back-to-school shopping with your child, use this summary sheet to talk about options and highlight his or her choices. Having him (or her) talk through the choices is an important part of getting your child to understand his or her styles, and eventually, to advocate for them. When we teach our kids to respectfully advocate for themselves, we're teaching a skill that goes far beyond organization.

You may also need to intervene on your child's behalf with his or her teacher, and that may or may not go over well. Together with your child, decide if it's better to work within the requirements (buy the required binder, but adapt its insides so your child can use it successfully) or seek the teacher's stamp of approval for an alternative system. If your child's teacher understands that the required tool is actually a stumbling block, he or she may be amenable to a trial period with something else. Most teachers are happy to see their students attempt organization, no matter what the tools, and in the best case scenario, your child may find an ally who helps to tweak and perfect the plan at school. 

So before you and your credit card hit the stores and start checking off items on that school supply list, take a moment to make sure you're supplying your child with the tools he or she needs to have a great year.

The Backpack Project: Part 1

So, it's almost time to start back-to-school shopping, at least according to the store circulars. Has your child emptied his backpack from last year?

llbean.com

If not, no worries. How a child uses a backpack (and all its nooks and crannies) provides a great deal of insight into his or her styles. If your child's backpack has been collecting dust in a corner all summer, now's a great time to empty it and assess those styles before you shell out money for supplies for the new school year. Understanding your child's styles before the new school year begins will help to ensure a positive start for your child and less wasted money for you.

Adults without children are welcome to join in the fun, too. Select a bag you use for work or leisure and follow the backpack steps below. For the sake of simplicity, I'm using male pronouns throughout the remainder of this post, but rest assured I'm fully aware that organization is as much of a struggle for girls (women) as it is for boys (men).

Before we begin, let me suggest some guidelines for those of you working with children:

• Before tackling the backpack itself, have your child take the styles quiz to get a sense of his personal and organizational styles. By doing this, both you and your child can focus on how his styles and his backpack habits intersect. This doesn't need to be done immediately before the backpack session. In fact, for small children and/or those who struggle to focus, doing both the quiz and the backpack project in the same block of time can be overwhelming.
• As you tackle the backpack itself, be prepared to let your child run the show, as you work hard to keep quiet and even bite your tongue. Your job is to watch, listen and learn. (This will be particularly difficult for Type A organizers). 
• Consider how much time you think you'll need to empty and, if the backpack is in good shape, restock the backpack, following the ground rules above. Double it.

So, here goes.

Photo: Alvimann via Morguefile

1. Begin by having him take everything out of his backpack. Pay attention to how he does this. Does he dump everything on the floor? Grab handfuls of things and yank them out? Carefully remove each item and tell you a story about it? Watch and learn (or reinforce your previous observations), keeping the styles in mind.
2. Once everything is out of the backpack, assess its condition. If it's in good enough shape to reuse for the next school year, wipe the inside sections with a damp cloth. Help your child sharpen pencils, replace school supplies that are broken or missing and check to make sure that everything going back into the backpack is in good working order. 
3. As your child (not you!) does this, talk with him about where he thinks things should go; have him explain to you where each item belongs and what he likes about that spot. Because this is his backpack, he should do most of the talking and deciding. If you need to keep your hands busy and out of the process, try grabbing a pen and jotting down his answers. Not only will this make him feel as though his answers matter, it will also make it clear that he's the boss of the organization process. If a child is old enough to carry the backpack to school, he’s old enough to have a say in how it’s organized.
4. Once your child has assigned a home to everything that goes into the backpack, help him decide how he will remember where everything belongs. You may want to consider labeling the places outside the main section. This works especially well for I need to see it kids, but can be beneficial for I know I put it somewhere kids, too. (Drop and run kids may default to the largest available opening, but colorful labels might help them stick to the plan as well). You can use masking tape (use a permanent marker to write on the tape, then stick it on the item’s home) or Post-it notes, or you can go all out and use a label maker. Writing directly on the backpack with a permanent marker or fabric marker will also work, but will make it harder to re-label the space if he changes his mind later on.

Throughout this process, make sure your child understands what he's doing right. If your child is a cram and jammer, for example, focus less on the state of the items inside the backpack and more on the importance of successfully getting everything from school to home and back again. Help him downsize and eliminate unnecessary items, feeding his need for stuff (if he has one) with cool school supplies that serve a purpose but also qualify as stuff he loves.

Plumb Notebooks
Monster Alien binder
via Amazon.com

Exhausted? I'll bet. It's a lot harder letting them figure it out for themselves than it is simply telling them how it ought to be done. When you finish, take a few minutes to jot down (with your child) what you've learned and, if you're going backpack shopping in the near future, a list of requirements for a backpack that works with his styles. 

Then make sure to celebrate by doing something fun. You've both earned it.

Next week, we'll look at backpacks through the lens of the styles.

Tidying Up

I featured this book (or its cover, anyway) on one of my earlier blogs. Last weekend, I found a fun write-up of the book on the BookBub blog.

Though I'd never write review after just a quick flip, I am guilty of sharing my initial reaction to just that -- a quick flip -- after I came across the book at my local Barnes and Noble.

After reading the BookBub blog, what's your initial reaction? Would you buy the book? Do you think it would fit your styles?