I’ve often wondered if there are similar souls out there like me – the chronically disorganized at home, always with the best intentions to get a grip on things, often lost as to the approach. I am in awe of those amazing people to whom organization comes so naturally and easily. My mother is of those people. Alas, that trait was left behind in the gene pool and never made its way to me! I’m determined to make a valiant effort this year toward tackling disorganization!
As a magazine junkie, I’ve seen a bazillion articles over the years about getting organized. For me, the rub has typically been all of the things you need to do, buy, make, plan, and fix before you even touch a single part of the chaos. I’m exhausted and overwhelmed by all the process, let alone actually DOING anything! Do you know what I mean? I know my chronic disorganization is in no way a result of being lazy, unmotivated or not caring. It’s directly attributed to being busy, juggling tons of things, and just not enough hours in any given day. Who’s with me here?
I’m taking a realistic approach and going on the old adage that Rome – or any other city, for that matter! – wasn’t built in a day. I’m breaking things down into specific areas to tackle; things I believe will generate positive impact, improve the overall organization of my day-to-day and save me money in the long run.
Here is my plan of attack!
Paper – (Mail, newspaper, books, magazines)
It’s been said we are in a paperless society – I don’t know about you, but that particular society has yet to spread to my home OR office! Too much paper, too many magazines and don’t get me started on the books! Serious action needs to be taken.
Spice/Baking and Gadget Cabinets
I spend a lot of time in my kitchen cooking, baking and making candy. Taking on the entire kitchen – which needs an overhaul of epic proportions, is just too much right away and could stop the entire project in its infant tracks! Getting my spices, baking supplies and gadgets in order will be a great start to getting a grip in the kitchen.
Clothes/Shoes
Have to be perfectly candid here – my wardrobe needs some big time organization! I’m not as diligent as I should be after doing laundry about putting things away, hanging up clothes when I change after work and I’ve got a major addiction to ironing everything. This almost seems like an area too big to tackle, but I know this will pay huge dividends in de-stressing the start to my day.
Craft Room
We created a dedicated craft room for me a few years ago, which I promptly outgrew in about a month. Since I’ve brought home enough supplies from my mother-in-law’s home to just about stock my own store, this is definitely a 5-alarm area that needs immediate attention!
Linen Closet
When you can’t close the door – there IS a problem! Enough said!
Cosmetics
Sometimes, I’m wondering just how old IS that lipstick – oh, and THERE’s the pair of tweezers I’ve replaced three times already this year.
Too Much….Stuff!
A lot of collections, a lot of wonderful items inherited from family and a general propensity to a nostalgic saving of everything equals a house bursting at the seams!
Whew! Even breaking things down into action areas, it’s a still a big job ahead. I’m bound and determined, in the months ahead, to tackle the disorganization of each of these areas one baby step at a time. Also, I’ve made a goal to reuse, recycle or creatively use, to the greatest extent possible, “stuff” I already have on hand to get a grip on things. I want to bring a little organization to my life, spending as little money as possible to do it and hopefully, bringing some functionality to my life and sharing some ideas and fun with you. I’ll share my stories along the way – the good, the bad and definitely the oh so very ugly! ?
Your turn! Are you an organizational wizard or a little bit more in my camp? What areas in your life could benefit from a little organization?
Have a great Friday and for my friends facing bitter cold, snow and general winter misery today – stay safe and warm!
Hi Cindy, I can relate to getting organized… I need to go through closets and just GET rid of stuff! I don’t iron – only when I have to. I think it was because when I was a kid my mom would make me even iron pillow cases….Have a great weekend!! Maybe I’ll tackle a closet or two ?
Deb, you won’t believe this but I still iron pillow cases! It’s so ridiculous and I need to break some of the habits that are making things more chaotic. We know the extra challenge too, when we are not home all week and everything gets condensed into the weekend. I’m really going to try to take some baby steps and the journey should be interesting, to say the least! ? Have a great weekend, too, and thank you so much for stopping by!
When we moved from NC to AZ, I swore it would be different “this time” ….. ha, that lasted about as long as it took to unpack the boxes! I have found out for me, less is definitely more – I have had to force myself to be more diligent with donating kids clothes, toys and other things they just outgrow. Not to mention, the stuff I just know I will not use. It’s hard letting stuff go, but it is so worth it! I can’t depart with kitchen gadgets … and Lord knows I need to organize my pantry and spices better, but it’s so hard to maintain when you’re constantly using stuff or kids get in there! Or at least that’s my excuse! ? I totally feel ya on this topic!
? Jamie, I love your perspective and totally agree! I find it almost impossible to get rid of anything because I’m such a sentimental softy. It IS almost impossible to keep things organized when they are always in use. My craft room looks like it was tossed by thieves, lol. My husband is very organized and how he has dealt with me for so many years is a mystery! He doesn’t think about function, though, so he organizes and I create the chaos. Well, if I can get a handle on just half of my list, it’s going to be a little victory. If nothing else, it will be entertaining! Thank you so much for stopping by and letting me know I’m not alone in this. Hugs!
I try to stay organized but it isn’t perfect! All areas need revisiting fairly often to keep on top of them. I’ve got a big list to tackle this month too Cindy!
Hi Krista – I suspect that you are pretty organized! I have to admit, this is a big challenge for me though I know I have so many friends out there to inspire and motivate me! I’ll feel like its a little victory if I get through even half of my plan, lol. Thank you so much for visiting and hope you have a wonderful first weekend of the new year!
Bless your heart, bet there’s whole lot more people like us than there are the super duper organizers. (at least I hope so). I can get things organized if I don’t do anything else til it’s done. Once I start doing anything in that room, well bye bye organization, right away, especially in my craft and sewing rooms. After the holidays, oh my, what a mess.
I’ve been trying to get things put away little by little so as not to wear my self out right away, lol. You do what you need to do and after working all day hey gal, give yourself a break. We’re not all meant to be perfect or even half perfect. Do what you can and that’s it for you. You have alot of life ahead of you to be tidy. I hate messes I have and can only stand them so long then I have to do some cleaning up but I have all day every day, I’m 73, you can be tidy when you’re 73. Enjoy yourself. Be you. Happy weekend.
Jane Ellen, I absolutely adore your comment and I think you are so right, probably there are more disorganized people at home. My craft room is always such a disaster and yes, after the holidays it’s worse than ever. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about not being even half perfect – you are absolutely right! You are the best! ? Have a wonderful first weekend of 2014!
This is one of the things I’m working on this month too! I’ve been told that I’m organized, but in reality, I have to work at being organized because otherwise I’m disorganized! The “stuff” can overwhelm me and it gets quickly out of control if I don’t have a handle on things which I have to admit happens more than I’d like. I’m working on my closet this weekend and my main goal is to persevere instead of getting overwhelmed and putting it off until another day. I’m not good at hanging my stuff back up on hangers either, it’s a mess in there! Good luck to you, I can relate!
Hi Sharon! Thanks so much for visiting and I so appreciate hearing that I’m not alone! I know we can all inspire one another in our efforts to get things more in order – although I’m taking it one baby step at a time! ? You are one brave lady taking on the closet first! Please let me know it goes because it will bolster my courage to face my own! ? Have a fantastic first weekend of 2014!
Hi Cindy,
Oh boy can I relate to this, my husband says I am the most disorganinzed person that he has ever met, so I guess that is something that I have to work on .
Did you get the message that I nominated you for a sunshine award.
Please accept this and pass it on to others that you think are worthy of receiving it,
Thank you
Sunshine Award
Hi Everyone,
I was nominated for the sunshine award by April Grant from100lb Countdown. (http:100lbcountdown.com).
I want to say thank you so much for this, it comes at a time when I really needed cheering up, and it has put me right up there and ready to go again. Thank you so much.
1) Bloggers are writers. What is your favourite subject and how do you think that you convey it to your reader’s
My subject is the things I make and what goes on in my life, and anything that I think may interest other people. I think , that i am very new at this, and I am not doing to well, and then some lovely [erson like April nominates me for an award, and I begin to think that I may be doing something right, so thank you.
2) As Parents we are with our children during most of our free time. Where are you imagining yourself during these “not so fun” times with your kids? take us into the fantasy region of your mind.
Don’t really have that problem, as my step children are all grown up and away from home, but if I did i would imagine myself in a beautiful meadow with a brook running into a pool and some willow trees and just me and hubby alone with a picnic and lots of skinny dipping.
3) Being a parent can be extremely difficult. Besides parenting, whats the toughest thing you’ve ever done? How did you make it through.
I think the toughest thing I have had to do is keep my husband cheerful while he spent over three months in hospital, and then two months at home with a broken neck, where they told him he would never walk again, but he is so stuborn, that he is walking and doing things again. I got through with the help of very good friends and knowing that no matter what happened God would give me the strength to handle it.
4) Sleeping with a partner can sometimes cause tension. How do you like to sleep? Is there a particular side of the bed? Near the door or the window? Do the kids sleep on your side of the bed?
Well there are no young kids. all grown up and away from home, so no they don’t sleep on either side of the bed. I prefer to sleep next to the window, but am not to fussy, can sleep on either side. Hubby is not fussy so I always get first choice, and usually choose the window side.
5) Instead of resolutions, many people are choosing a word of the year. What would be your word and why?
My word would be Tidy, as I am a very untidy person and I need to get everything tidied up.
6) If your children aren’t jumping on you at 6am, what time would you sleep untill? And what would you do for the rest of your day.
Well no kids to jump on the bed, but we get up between nine and ten and then get down to our business for the rest of the day.
7) Having an excercise routine is important to keeping the weight down or off. What do you do to keep your routine going, in the midst of your personal craziness of life?
Well I am a lazy slob when it comes to excercise, so I have no routine, and sedintary job, so getting fat?
Hubby and I always say we should go for a walk every day, but somehow before you know it the day si gone and we have not gone for our walk.
8) Do you like to read? What kind of books? What’s the last thing that you read?
I love to read, don’t get much time, but I read virtually anything except maybe romances. The last book I read was How To Make First Class Cards by Debbie Brown.
9) Brag a little about your best recipe or dish that you can cook. Make it sound delicious even if it’s a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Well i think my favourite recipe at the moment is my Maccaroni Cheese. I first cook the pasta. I then take another pot and fry up some onions and garlic, and then fry the bacon, to which I add mustard powder, italian herbs, horse radish and paprika. I then add the flower and make a roux, I then add the milk untill the sauce is the consistancy that I want it, I then add lots of three different cheeses that I have grated before hand, and melt them in. I then add the suace to the pasta, and then put it in an oven proof dish, put slices of tomato and lots of the the same cheeses that I had grated earlier and then put it in the oven to melt the cheese and cook the tomato. It is yum. I sometimes add a bit of tomato to the sauce as well.
10) Names can sometimes be symbolic of who you are as a person. Were you named after someone? who? Do you know why? Do you agree with the symbolism for your name?
Well my first name is Winifred, which I don’t use, as I don’t like it, I was named after my mother favourite great Aunt. My second name is Anne wich is the one I use, but most of my good friends call me Annie. Symbolism is not there as I don’t use that name.
11) It is Friday night and the kids are asleep. What movie do you grab to watch?
Well I guess that it would be a musical at the moment it would probably be Camelot.
Thank you once again for this award.
The people that I nominate are:
Krafty Cards etc.http://kraftycardsetc.com/
Menopausal Mother http://www.menopausalmom.com
Me, Myself and I – Dawn Hart http://dawn-hart.blogspot.com/
Six Sisters’ Stuff – http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/
Katherines Corner – http://katherinescorner.com/
Fluster Buster – Robin Fluster – http://www.flusterbuster.com/
Glitter. Glue and Paint – http://www.glitterglueandpaint.com/
Little Miss Celebration – http://www.littlemisscelebration.com/
Joyful Healthy Eats – http://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com
2 Crochet Hooks – http://2crochethooks.com/
Probably Crafting -Momma Mellon – http://www.probablycrafting.com/
I really love all these blogs and hope that you will all give them a bit of love to.
Those are my nominations and here come the questions.
1) What are you hoping for in this new year of 2014?
2) What books are on your list to read?
3) What are you going to cook this year, what new cooking technique would you like to learn?
4) What are you hoping to achieve with your blog?
5) What is your favourite thing to do when you have time to yourself?
6) What is your favourite thing to do as a family?
7) If you could live your life all over again, would you do anything different?
8) What is your favourite recipe?
9) What is your favourite movie?
10) What is your favourite flower?
11) Do you make new years resolutions? if so what are they?
Thank you once again April.
I hope that I have done this right.
Love and best wishes.
Anne
I hope that you have a fantastic day and weekend.
LOve and best wishes.
Anne
Anne, I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only disorganized person! Hopefully, we can inspire one another to get a little handle on things in the new year! Thank you so, so much for this nomination – I am touched and honored! You definitely filled my day with sunshine! ? Email is definitely part of that disorganization I need to focus on in the new year! I will try my best to respond to this wonderful nomination as soon as possible. Thank you so much again, Anne! Enjoy the weekend! ?
Oh sweet Cindy! You know I’m not in the “Organized Camp”! I wish! I try to take it on in small bits but somehow always get pulled away by other ‘pressing’ matters. ? I will say there was a time when all my clothes hung perfectly ironed and arrangement by color and I loved it. But with 3 kiddos,lots more laundry and a whole house to keep running, my closet is nothing like that now. I’ll add that to my to-do list! Now where did I put that? ha! Now I’m just joking with you.
I know you’ll do a great job tackling it my friend!
cheers
? Thanks, Therese! I know exactly what you mean! There is always too much going on and organization for me, always drops to the bottom of the to-do list. (I typically can’t find mine either, lol) We’ll see if I can take some little baby steps and make things a little better around here – it should make for some interesting stories, if nothing else! ? Thank you so much for visiting and hope you are having a happy weekend!
Ugh, I need this! My house is pretty organized and clutter free. But my own personal stuff is kind of a mess. And that’s at work and home. I used to hunk I was organized but I’m starting to realize that that is an image of myself that I want to be! Thanks for sharing these tips, Cindy!
Julie, you see how much I can relate! Sometimes I feel like this photo is me, lol. It’s even more of a challenge, isn’t it, when you combine working, blogging and life? You have the magic words, clutter free – that’s exactly what I DON’T have! Way too much stuff! I’m being realistic about what I can and can’t accomplish but if I make tiny strides towards getting the chaos in check, I’ll feel semi-victorious! ? Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts on this, Julie!
I think you’re going to hate me. I make Martha look like a slouch.
My closet is organized by type and color. My spices are alphabetized and the first thing I do (after peeing of course) in the morning is make the bed.
If you need me to come over and get your ass in gear, I work cheap ?
No, I would never hate you, I’m just in awe!!! So you are in my Mom’s camp! ? Yes, I need you to come over asap and help me – but first I’ll need to clear a way through the front door! lol Have a great day, my friend!