Happy Thanksgiving!

Hannah Edgman via Pixabay

 

3 Keys Thursday: 3 Organizing by STYLE Gratitudes

 I can hardly believe that Know Thyself has been in print for more than three years, let alone that I've been planning and tweaking STYLE-based organizing for more than a decade. As someone who's always been "organized in her own way," I absolutely do practice what I preach. Regular readers know I have an I need to see it personal style and a drop and run organizational style, both of which are in evidence on a daily basis (abundantly so when things get busy and/or I feel tired or overwhelmed), but I am now much less likely to push the panic button when this happens. Not only do I know there's a path forward, I have a map to follow. 

But this journey has been personally rewarding from more than a tidiness perspective. As we approach Thanksgiving, I wanted to share three key things about this journey for which I'm grateful.

Embracing my styles has helped me to accept myself. Yes, there will still be piles, especially when things get hectic, but I no longer see that as a character flaw. For one thing, there will be fewer of them and, in addition I now know what to do with and about them. Visual cues (color-coding, anyone?) and one-step organizers that work with the way I think make it just as easy to put something away as it would be to simply put it down.

Embracing my styles has helped me to both narrow and expand my options. No more trying to squeeze my stuff into containers that aren't a good fit like one of Cinderella's stepsisters trying to fit into that glass slipper. Accepting the way I think and organize has taken me from ugly stepsister to triumphant princess of organization who readily rejects anything ill-fitting, knowing that some day, her organizational prince of a tool will come -- the one that's meant for me, as I am. In addition, it's freed me to be more creative in my approach. I don't need a fairy godmother -- or permission -- to look at an old container in a new way.

Embracing my styles has helped me help others embrace their own. As rewarding as it is to feel as though I'm no longer losing the clutter wars, it's perhaps more rewarding to see someone else's face light up when they realize they aren't hopelessly disorganized just because binders and file cabinets don't work for them. It's heartbreaking to see bright, creative people beat themselves up over something as insignificant as clutter, and watching other people get excited by the possibilities of non-traditional organizing is a wonderful feeling.

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And, while I'm on the subject of gratitude, I'd be remiss if I didn't share how grateful I am for all of you who read these posts, who've read my book and/or shared this information with friends who organize differently. Getting organized doesn't have to be exhausting and time-consuming, nor does it have to mean that you limit your worldly possessions to a select few. It takes being honest with ourselves, being patient with ourselves and, from time to time, stepping back and taking in the wider view. 

But no need to do all of that today because, when it comes to organizing, it's a process.

Then and Now: Here a List, There a List, Everywhere a To-Do List

Ah, lists. Arguably the foundation of our day-to-day successes, they come in many lengths and levels of organization. Here's what I had to say about them way back in 2015.

Then:

As we enter the season of lists, I find myself thinking about the efficiency of my to-do lists. When I was first retired and had lots of time at my disposal, my lists were beautiful and organized. I utilized my notepad-style page-a-day calendar to its fullest extent, and never wondered where my to-do list was. I kept two, in fact: one master list and one daily list, a combination of my schedule for the day and items pulled from the master list and assigned to available times in the day.

When things get hectic and busy, however, I revert to dash-and-run listing: no piece of paper or writing utensil is safe. I have lists on the counter, lists on my desk, lists in the car and one big list clipped to the front of my grade book. School lists form on the front-of-grade-book sheet, and miscellaneous lists made up of things I remember on the run form on notepads in my car, scrap paper, and the backs of receipts. Somehow, when I need lists the most, I fall into the most inefficient pattern of list-making possible.

Why on earth would anyone do this?

• Lack of time:  As time to do things shrinks, my fear of forgetting things grows. In my rush to get from Point A to Point B, I grab anything handy to write down the things that pop into my mind before they get away from me. 
• Fear of the big list: I once watched a colleague create a list that spanned several pages of a legal pad. I felt panic-stricken for her and vowed never to create a list that long. Multiple small lists may be inefficient, but they're less terrifying.
• Where is the big list anyway? Again, the dash from Point A to Point B and points beyond plays a role. If my master list for the day is at home on my desk, it's inaccessible when I'm not home. Writing things down somewhere quickly trumps writing things down in an assigned space. Not writing them down isn't even an option.

Writing things down is good. Scattering lists like bread crumbs is not.

I know what works for me (that's why I buy that notepad-style page-a-day calendar every year), but time management is no different from stuff management. When we're overwhelmed, we sometimes forget to stick to the plan. When we're really overwhelmed, we sometimes forget there is a plan.

The solution? Keep it simple. The fewer the lists, the better, but if, like me, you're overwhelmed by one big, long, master list, organize your lists by topic (to do, to buy, to call), by location (home, work, car/errands) or by day of the week. By all means, keep notepads in a variety of places to catch those stray thoughts, but tape, staple, clip or otherwise attach the wayward notes to the main list so you're not wasting time and energy looking for the right list.

Meanwhile, I hope you have many opportunities to enjoy my favorite part of list-making....

Checking things off.

A plethora of planners, ready & waiting.

Now: I'm happy to say that my days of scattering lists like bread crumbs are (mostly) behind me. I found a planner (undated) I love so much that I've stocked up, acquiring copies on my own and adding them to birthday and Christmas lists. 

Why do l love this planner so much? Well, there are myriad reasons, but one of the biggest ones is that, with a little bit of practice, I've learned to make it List Central. While I still jot things down on the go, those on-the-fly notations get added to the list in my planner at my earliest opportunity. From there, the to-dos get prioritized and assigned a day -- or a tentative day, anyway -- helping me to feel organized even when my lists are long enough to give me pause.

Sometimes, it takes (a long) time to find the right tool. But, to paraphrase an old song, Once you have found it, never let it go.

At least as long as it's still working.

Thursday Review: Be the Difference Planner by Ink and Willow

 I love planners. In any given year, I use at least three to keep track of everything from schedules and to-do lists to various projects. And, as someone with an I need to see it personal style, my preferred planners need to include plenty of space where I can lay everything out (where I can see it).

That said, I have never seen a planner like this one. A quick flip-through was enough to convince me that I need to take some time with this book. Consequently, I brought it with me to the beach so I could sit down, go through it slowly, and savor it. 

 

Not a lot of planners make me do this. 

 

Although you can’t judge a book by its cover, this cover bears mentioning.  Not only is it bright and appealing, evoking a global feel in its color scheme and title presentation, but it’s literally flexible. Book-bound, not spiral, it’s harder than a paperback and softer than a hardcover, making it sturdy enough to withstand lots of tossing into this bag or that as its owner moves from place to place and project to project. (Perfect for those with an I love to be busy personal style).

 

But this consideration for the user doesn’t end with the cover. From the front matter, to the layout, to the choice of content, the “why” for this planner has been thought through to make it not only user friendly, but fun to use. Like a book, it draws users in, first with this sentiment in the introduction:

"The world around us has always been broken, but as believers, we have been called to do something about it."

 And then, in the “How to Use this Planner” section:

 

            “Within these pages, you’ll find the space and tools to identify the issues that matter 

            most to you and to help you map out intentional steps to create a meaningful impact.“

 

I’ve seen a lot of planners. I’ve used a lot of planners. But I’ve never found one with a call to action.

 

Let me pause here for a moment and say that if you’re looking for a traditional planner with monthly calendars and lots of lined pages for to-do lists, this one isn’t for you. But, if you want space to plan out a project that is close to your heart, or to figure out how to find or create such a project, this one is worth savoring. 

 

Laid out in a way that makes it easy to personalize based on your focus (whether you have one or many), the Be the Difference planner helps users to think through their ideas, organize them, and put a plan on paper. Whether you are a big picture thinker or a nuts-and-bolts list-creator, you’ll find pages in this book to help you take whatever project your heart desires to the next level. 

Each (undated) month’s pages include a monthly calendar (two-page spread), space for notes, to-dos, brainstorming, references, and contacts, along with an inspirational quote and space for reflection at the end of the month, as well as quarterly reflection pages. The back of the book offers suggestions for interesting issues, while the front of the book offers space to help users think through ways they can make a difference.

 

Suitable for individuals and committees, the Be the Difference planner provides guided space to go from idea to action, whether your target is local, national or global. Though its stated function is “planner,” it is much more, and impressively so, making its $16.99 price point seems more than reasonable given its uniqueness and utility. 

 

If you've got a project in mind and you like to think on the page, this planner can help you make a difference. At the very least, it can be a place where you can lay out your ideas and take the first steps from planning to implementation, making it a planner in the truest sense of the word.

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this planner in exchange for a review. 

TLC Meets STYLE

 A few weekends ago, I opened a cupboard in our downstairs hallway to get something and something else – I don’t remember what – fell on the floor. Mind you this was not a Fibber McGee closet packed to the gills in a haphazard fashion. It was organized -- or at least it had been -- but my drop and run style had begun to contribute to its deterioration.

So, I decided to straighten up a little. Well, you know how that goes. I started by pulling out the things that weren't where they belonged, then began to dig deeper in a quest to see if the original plan was still a good fit for the space.

Before I knew it, I had the contents of nearly half the closet spread out on my dining room table. Once I could see everything that needed more definite homes, I began to put things into categories. Then, I raided the container stash in my basement and selected the ones that both fit the space and were the right size for the things I needed to store.

Easy peasy.

Several hours later, I had reconfigured about half of the closet. I tossed a bunch of stuff I no longer needed, moved infrequently used items things out of this particular prime real estate into new locations, and updated the plan for the space based on what it now needed to hold.

STYLE in action. What did that look like?

Start with Successes: I began by leaving the things that were working alone. This kept the task manageable. Besides, there was no reason to start from scratch when some of the systems were working. That made it easier to...

Take small steps toward improving the space, and then...

Let it go! Laying everything out and sorting by category made it clear what belonged and what didn't. That made it easier to remove anything that didn't need to be in prime real estate and toss any duplicates, outdated/expired items, and things that I no longer needed. Then, I could fix the issues and say,

"Yes, it has a home!"for everything in the closet. Most of what I removed from the closet at the outset needed a home, and some of the things stored there no longer needed to be there. Letting go of the latter made room for the former, and adding new containers made the whole thing work. And that brought me to...

Easy upkeep. The prize at the end of the process. :-)

I love the changes I've made. Not only does everything look better, but it's easier to find things and just opening the closet doors makes me smile. And the best part?

Nothing falls on the floor when I open the door.

Tried and True Strategies

 If you've been reading this blog for more than five minutes, you know that organizing by STYLE is about choosing the strategies that work with our personal and organizational styles. But, sometimes, there are super strategies -- ways of doing things that work across all (or at least most) personal and organizational styles. 

Here are three of my favorites. 

Consistent locations. One aspect of my mom's favorite organizational maxim ("a place for everything and everything in its place"), logical, consistent homes are time savers. If we know where it goes and we get in the habit of putting it there (no matter what "it" is), we don't waste time and energy searching every nook and cranny for the thing we need.

Give it 5. Have an overwhelming task? Set a timer for five minutes and tackle it. You won't finish, but you'll make a dent, and, once you get started, you just might keep going and get more done than you expected. Getting started is often the hardest part, and promising ourselves to work for just five minutes can help us clear that hurdle, 

Backwards to-do list. Some days, we have to make a special effort to focus on our accomplishments. Those are backwards to-do list days -- days when, instead of writing down what we need to do, we write down what we've accomplished as we accomplish it. A load of laundry in the washer? Jot it down. Dinner in the slow cooker? Add it to the list. One shelf in the closet reorganized? Write it down. At the end of the day, instead of having a partially checked-off list, we have a list of everything we've done. It's a small difference in list-making that can make a big difference in motivation and that can help us to focus on what we've accomplished instead of what we've left undone.

How about you? What's your go-to organizational strategy?

3 Keys Thursday: The "M" Word

 When I write about organizing, I intentionally avoid using the "m" word. In my mind, both "mess" and "messy" have judgmental connotations, and a lack of judgment is at the heart of organizing by STYLE. Here, we are all works-in-progress, getting better one piece of paper, one organizational system, and one space at time.

In addition, those of us who struggle with organization are hard enough on ourselves. Personally, I find that judgment, head-shaking and finger-pointing by those who (allegedly) know better tend to make me do one of two things: dig in my heels, or throw up my hands in defeat, certain things will never get better. And these actions run counter to the ones we need to take to make things better. 

So, on those occasions that necessitate action, we need to skip the labels (except the ones that go with our styles) and use the mindsets and strategies that we know work. 

• Remember that it's a process. Sorting and re-organizing take time. Keeping this in mind at the outset can help us to be patient with ourselves as we take small steps to improve the situation. 

• Aim for maximum impact. Seeing progress makes it easier to be patient with the process. Sometimes this means being counterintuitive and starting small, since small piles and projects yield clear space and finish lines faster than big piles and tasks that take all day. If you have limited time, start with either the project you think you can finish in that time frame, or the one that's annoying you the most.

• Stick with your styles, but don't let them run amok. No matter your style, make sure you have style-specific supplies on hand before you start. Otherwise, your organizing session is likely to end poorly, either in systems that won't work in the long term or defaulting to whatever created the piles in the first place.

Sometimes, life hands us clutter. Other times, it appears on its own and grows over time. Either way, we can emerge victorious.