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?

Taking Charge When There's Too Much to Take Charge of

Thursdays are the days the week begins to catch up with me any week, even when I've figured out the school/life/writing/blogging balance for whatever semester (or stage of pre-semester prep) I'm in.

I have not yet done that.

Until we can make the world stop when we do, feeling overwhelmed from time to time is inevitable. Knowing what to do when that feeling strikes can help us to take charge and feel a little less out of control. For me, this "take charge" approach includes:

Taking baby steps. When it's all too much, we start feeling the need to slay big dragons. Unfortunately, the pressure to get it all done at once, even if it's self-imposed, only contributes to that feeling of too much to do in too little time. Putting one foot in front of the other and taking one thing at a time can create a sense of accomplishment as we erase all of those little tasks from our to-do lists, one by one.

Prioritizing. As we approach each of those small tasks, it's important to ask ourselves if the baby steps we're taking are leading us in the direction of something that must be done now or something that can wait. While we have the luxury of mixing it up when we're not in a time crunch, we need to focus first on the here and now when we've hit the panic button. When we're overwhelmed, baby steps that make progress on a project due in two weeks may be less useful than the ones we take on the stuff that's due tomorrow.

Using the plan. In an effort to find shortcuts and super solutions, we often get in our own way. When this happens, we need to stop, step back and assess the plan(s) we have at our disposal. If they work on a day-to-day basis, they might just be the life raft we're looking for when seas get stormy. Choose the most appropriate plan and put it into action. Even a semblance of a plan can help us feel less out of control.

In a few weeks, I will have settled into a routine. Until then, it's one baby step at a time.

Favorite Back-to-School Tools

It’s that time of year again: back to school. I’ve been doing this for long enough that I know exactly what my go-to tools are for getting ready, and for when I’m back on campus.

Getting ready:

My laptop (which, sadly is at the Apple store, awaiting a new battery);

Large sheets of unlined paper for large-scale planning and a project notebook with wide margins for the details of planning;

Imagination. This may sound silly but both planning and organization improve when we step outside the box and look at things from new angles. 

Once I’m back at school: 

A clipboard for rosters and day-to-day notes and reminders (what else would you expect from a girl with an I need to see it personal style?)

A planner, which doubles as a lesson plan book. I’m so sold on the importance of planners that I require all my freshmen to have one. Which one? That’s up to them because one size doesn’t fit all :-)

A sharpened pencil with a good eraser because mistakes are part of the planning process.

How about you? What are you using to capture new ideas and keep things organized as we draw closer to fall?

OBS FAQs: Can I Have More than One Style?

 

Drop and run. Cram and jam. I know I put it somewhere.

I love stuff. I need to see it. I love to be busy.

I think I'm all of these! Can I have more than one style?

This is perhaps the question I get asked most often! The answer is yes. Organizing by STYLE is predicated on each of us having two primary styles: a personal style and an organizational style. As regular readers know, my personal style is I need to see it and my organizational style is drop and run.

But...what about the others? Can we have more than one personal style or organizational style? Can we be a little bit of all of them?

That answer is also yes, but the key phrase is "a little bit." While it's not unusual to have a dash of this and a little of that, most of us typically have one personal style and one organizational style that rises above the rest. It's what I call our "default setting." The thing we revert to most often. The thing that, if we corral it and use it in our service, can be our organizational North Star.

How do we figure that out?

Look around. Focus on not just what frustrates you, but what's working as well. When things get hectic, I pile. Some of the piles are a result of simply putting something down before racing off to the next thing (a little dash of I love to be busy flavoring my drop and run). Other piles have been purposefully designed to be visible so I don't forget to do the things in those piles (my I need to see it personal style taking center stage, as usual). Technically, that works, but it messes with the clear space I love.

So, what works better? Clear drawers. Labels. Color coding. Open file bins (topless, if you will). These allow me to put things away, but not completely out of sight. Tucking all those to-do items into a brightly colored file folder with an equally bright sticky note labeled "to do" and laid on top of my laptop? That works. And it looks a whole lot better.

What about the drop and run part? Finding the right tools helped there, too. When I made it as easy to put something away as it was to put it down (hello, open file bins and easy-to-access clear drawer units), it was easy to put things where they belonged instead of just dropping them anywhere. 

So, what's frustrating you? Overstuffed containers? (Hello, cram and jam organizational style!) Things stashed in "safe" places? (Welcome, I know I put it somewhere organizational style!) Too much to do and too little time to organize? (It's my I love to be busy friend!) Plenty of containers, but none doing the trick? (Those with an I love stuff personal style can love containers, too!)

Now, step back. Start with successes. What spot, drawer, closet or location is well-organized? Why is that? How can you apply that same idea to a spot, drawer, closet or location that's not working?

Our primary personal and organizational styles can be the main dish, but our other-style tendencies can add a little spice. Who says that I know I put it somewhere organizational style tool has to be boring? Toss in a dash of I love stuff and choose a unique container to designate as your "safe place."

Want to know more about styles and containers? Go to the blue bar at the top of this page and click on "Charts" to find out more. Oh, and if you're still looking for some tips on organizing with kids as we head back to school, click on "Organizing with Kids." From there, you can click on whatever looks most interesting and/or applicable.

When we stop looking at organizing as an insurmountable task and consider it a puzzle to be solved, the whole process becomes easier and, dare I say, fun? It's not always fast or painless but, when we do it according to the rules that work for us, it's a whole lot easier. 

Is it Time to Rethink Your Organizational Systems?

Summer often gives us time to step back and take a look at our homes. Here are some things to consider if now is the time for some organizational updates. 

Then:

Unless you've recently moved, renovated or redecorated, you probably haven't updated your organizational set-up recently. Like the squeaky wheel, organizational systems typically get attention only when they aren't working. In the meantime, we often settle for "good enough" when one small change could make a big difference. And, we sometimes don't even know we're doing it.

Often, the first sign that we need to make a change is that things aren't getting retrieved or put away in a timely manner. While we might point to ourselves (or someone else in the house) as the problem, there's often a deeper issue at work. Three simple questions can be the key to turning so-so systems into storage solutions.

• Is the system easy to use? An overly complicated storage system is sometimes as bad as none at all. When putting things away is difficult, we choose the path of least resistance, putting things down instead of away (drop and run organizers), putting them wherever there is space (I know I put it somewhere organizers) or stuffing them somewhere (cram and jammers). When we do this, we exacerbate the problem, creating a retrieval issue. Drop and run organizers must retrace their steps and dig through piles. I know I put it somewhere organizers race around frantically trying to remember which safe place they put the necessary item in and cram and jammers attempt to retrieve things from overstuffed spaces, hoping the thing they're searching for won't be crumpled, torn or broken when they find it. In the process, we waste time, frustrate ourselves and often create chaos. Often, however, it's this process that reveals the answer to the questions behind this problem: what's stopping me from using this system and how can I fix that?

• Is it in the right place? Similarly, if we have to climb ladders, move piles or take a cupboard apart to find something we use often, it's in the wrong place. While it makes sense to store things we use only occasionally in out-of-the-way locations (especially when space is an issue), the things we use frequently need to be easier to access. Store it where it's used, store frequently used items in easy-to-access places and store similar items together.

• Do I like it? Although this might not affect how well the system works, it can affect how likely we are to use it. If it's fantabulously functional (a worn accordion file with just the right number of labeled sections, for example), we might not care how it looks, especially if we tuck it away in a drawer or closet. But, if you're taking your system from so-so to spectacular, the aesthetics of containers and systems are worth considering.

In the best of all possible circumstances, a simple change in location makes a big difference. Other times, some shopping, sorting and re-organizing is required, but if these steps lead to the creation of a more efficient system, the time to put it all together is time well spent. Not only will it reduce your clutter, as sorting often does, but it will also save you time in the long run.

Best of all, you'll be too busy taking pride in your new system to have time to point the finger of blame at anyone, including yourself.

realworkhard via Pixabay

And now:

Need a few more specifics? Here are five small changes that can make a big difference.

Replace a lidded container with one that's open on top. Worried that it'll look sloppy? Make sure it's deep enough that items aren't immediately visible, but not so deep that things get lost at the bottom. When the contents get close to the top, it's time to sort -- from the bottom up.

Relocate a container to a high traffic area. Rather than being a personal flaw, piles are often a signal that we need storage in that space. Instead of expecting yourself (and others) to store things in out-of-the-way places, put storage where it's needed.

Switch to clear or color-coded. While a collection of all-one-color storage containers looks nice, it robs us of the visual reminder of where things are. Clear and color-coded containers provide that cue. Love how the all-one-color system looks? Label the containers. Don't want the labels to show? Put them on the back or bottom of the containers. You won't be able to see what's in the containers at a glance, but you'll preserve the overall look of the space.

Copy and paste. Not literally, of course. But if a particular container or system works in one part of your house, why not try it (or something like it) in a spot that needs to be organized? Bins, baskets and inexpensive drawer units come in myriad shapes, sizes, and colors and can be useful tools in many rooms.

Replace a tool that works for everyone else with one that works for you. Because my personal style is I need to see it, I rarely use binders or file cabinets unless I'm storing things I need to reference only infrequently. Stop worrying about what should work and focus on filling your home with things that work for you.

Alexas Fotos via Pixabay

Organizing Your Bathroom

 VERY excited to be part of this great article on bathroom countertop storage on My Domaine. :-)

joe137 via Pixabay

3 Keys Thursday: Back to School Basics

As promised last week, I gathered all of my organizing with kids posts into one spot on my blog. If you click on "Organizing with Kids" at the top of the page, you'll find a list. This post, plucked from that list since I'm on vacation this week, originally appeared in 2016 as 3 Keys Thursday: 3 Key Tools for Getting Organized for the School Year (Kids).

Happy (re)-reading! 

Every year, the back-to-school lists seem to get longer and more complicated. While I don't doubt that the things on the list are there for a reason, I also know that buying everything on the list can quickly get overwhelming -- and expensive. I'm not going to second guess a supply list issued by your child's school (or, even better, your child's teacher), but I am suspicious of the general, one size fits all lists created by stores. Then again, I'm suspicious of one size fits all anything.

Having spent 27 years in elementary schools, I know that what one teacher considers essential, another might consider optional -- or supply herself -- and that it's possible to successfully "go cheap" on some items. But, since this is "3 Keys Thursday," I'm going to focus on three basic, important items that are worth spending a little more on, since they're key tools for staying organized all year long.

A home for papers that need to be referenced. For many kids, this is a three-ring binder. It can also be an accordion folder (or one for each subject, for older kids), a skinny binder with a clamp closure (or one for each subject, for older kids), or a collection of folders color coded by subject. Whatever it is, it needs to be durable and expandable so that it can house everything from a single sheet of paper to several fat packets that cover entire units of study. These should live in the desk at school unless they're explicitly coming home so your child can study for a test.

A home for papers that need to be dealt with (homework, need signatures). For younger children, these are the papers that go in the "take home" pocket of a two-pocket folder. If for older students have demonstrated success with this system in years past, there's no need to come up with something new. If pocket folders don't work, try file folders, top-loading "backpack" folders, or an accordion file divided either by subject or by whether the paper stays home or goes back to school. Whatever you child chooses, it should be big enough to hold a stack of papers, but not so big that a single sheet of paper gets swallowed up, and it should be durable, as it will spend a lot of time traveling back and forth between home and school in your child's backpack. Many teachers have a required system for this, so before your child gets too excited, make sure his or her system will be acceptable to the teacher.

Pixabay

A container to hold pencils, erasers and all the other little things that invariably end up in the desk. Possibilities here will vary widely based on your child's age, taste and styles, along with the teachers' requirements; some teachers specify not only the case, but what must go inside as well.Younger kids tend to gravitate to pencil boxes (and a pencil box may even be on the required supply list) or fancy pencil pouches. Size is the key feature here; what must be kept inside? Is more than one container allowed? Are kids allowed to keep a small basket of supplies on their desks, rather than hiding them away inside?

Older kids who travel between classrooms often like flat pencil holders designed to fit inside three-ring binders. They're typically carrying fewer supplies than younger kids and portability is more important than capacity.

Regardless of your child's age, make sure to take attributes like size, visibility (clear containers help I know I put it somewhere and I need to see it kids remember what's where), ease of use and durability. Again, this container will get a workout.

Finally, as you're making your purchases, consider how the three key container attributes (form, function and style) of the chosen supply interact with your child's personal and organizational styles. The closer the fit (and the more excited your child is about using the item), the more likely it will be used beyond the first month of school.

One last suggestion: If your child's school doesn't supply some sort of planner or assignment notebook, that should be at the top of your list as well. Your child may choose to integrate it into his or her home for papers that need to be dealt with, or carry it separately, depending up the tool he or she decides on for the papers that travel between home and school. When schools provide online assignments, many kids need a hard copy back up as well; actually transferring the assignment from the computer screen onto the page serves as a memory tool for some kids.

It's possible to spend endless hours (and nearly endless dollars) in the school supply section. As always, start with successes (what worked last year? what didn't?) and build from there, to make sure this school year starts and ends with STYLE.