One
of the things you should know about me is that I’m the most organized
person I know. I’m probably the most organized person you know. If you
know someone more organized than me, please introduce us because I am
always looking for more tips and tricks and most people don’t think it’s
as fun a conversation topic as I do. Seriously, I love reading about
that kind of thing, although I often come away disappointed because I already knew that. So I decided to write down some of the things I do to keep organized in order to spread the magic.
1. Don’t have that much stuff. This one sounds easy but is actually a toughie, and it’s something I struggle with myself because man, the world is just out to convince you to buy more stuff. But, resist! Don’t buy it! Or if you do, buy very carefully, after thought and research, and adhere to a strict one in, one out policy. You’d be surprised what knowing you have to get rid of something you already own can do to dampen your “need this right now” fire. I have walked away from stuff, clothes especially, because I didn’t want to get rid of something I already had. I have never regretted this.
2. Do it right now. This is not a fun tip, for sure, but when you need to do something, pick sooner rather than later to tackle it, especially if it falls into the “nagging task” category. It’s always better to be on top of those kinds of things. Need to make a phone call that you’re dreading? Do it now! Need to wash the dishes or put something away? No time like the present! I often find that something I’ve been dreading was definitely not as bad as I had built it up to be. The longer I put it off, the more time I have to build it up to be the actual worst thing ever in the world that I have to do. Thing is? It’s never that bad. Even if it’s getting a series of expensive shots so you can travel to a third-world country. Even that was not that bad. And now it’s over and my arm doesn’t even hurt anymore, plus I will probably not get Hepatitis A for the next 10 years!
3. If you can’t do it right now, make a time frame in which you will do it, and then stick to it. Seriously, stick to it. Give yourself a strict deadline, something along the lines of “I will take these clothes to Goodwill in the next seven days.” And then? Do it. Just do it. The smug self-satisfaction of crossing that thing off your list, by the deadline, feels so good.
4. Write it down. Write everything down. In several places. My favorite places to write things down are in my paper planner and online, because Google remembers everything. Oftentimes little reminders will pop up on my calendar and I will have completely forgotten about them until they do. I then think “Thank you, past self, for reminding me to pay the internet bill/send a birthday card/go to that appointment.” Don’t make your brain work overtime, just write it down. Keep post-its in places you might need them, like on the refrigerator (for groceries and recipes), next to the bed (for when midnight inspiration strikes), and in your purse (for every other time). Also? Use your phone to take pictures of things you think might be useful. The other night I bought fancy cheese for a surprise for D and then realized I would not remember what it was called or why I thought it was fancy. So I took a picture of the little display at Whole Foods and then gleefully showed it to him later. My phone is full of random pictures like this.
5. Plan ahead. This is probably my best tip, and something that I try to strictly adhere to, for everything, all the time, everywhere. I start buying Christmas presents in October. Before I go somewhere, I make sure I know how to get there (this I learned from trial and error, and believe me, I still get lost a lot). I make my lunches and set out an outfit the night before so I’m not running around like a crazy person the next day. I never go to the grocery story without a list and a meal plan. I always have a granola bar in my purse so I don’t find myself in an angry-hungry emergency situation. In every way, however you interpret it, plan ahead. The world is complicated and chaotic enough that anything you can do to prepare yourself, do it.
So, that’s all I’ve got for now. Maybe next time I’ll get into the nitty gritty (my clothes are hung up by color! I know, I’m outta control) but in the meantime, is there anything you think I’m missing?
1. Don’t have that much stuff. This one sounds easy but is actually a toughie, and it’s something I struggle with myself because man, the world is just out to convince you to buy more stuff. But, resist! Don’t buy it! Or if you do, buy very carefully, after thought and research, and adhere to a strict one in, one out policy. You’d be surprised what knowing you have to get rid of something you already own can do to dampen your “need this right now” fire. I have walked away from stuff, clothes especially, because I didn’t want to get rid of something I already had. I have never regretted this.
2. Do it right now. This is not a fun tip, for sure, but when you need to do something, pick sooner rather than later to tackle it, especially if it falls into the “nagging task” category. It’s always better to be on top of those kinds of things. Need to make a phone call that you’re dreading? Do it now! Need to wash the dishes or put something away? No time like the present! I often find that something I’ve been dreading was definitely not as bad as I had built it up to be. The longer I put it off, the more time I have to build it up to be the actual worst thing ever in the world that I have to do. Thing is? It’s never that bad. Even if it’s getting a series of expensive shots so you can travel to a third-world country. Even that was not that bad. And now it’s over and my arm doesn’t even hurt anymore, plus I will probably not get Hepatitis A for the next 10 years!
3. If you can’t do it right now, make a time frame in which you will do it, and then stick to it. Seriously, stick to it. Give yourself a strict deadline, something along the lines of “I will take these clothes to Goodwill in the next seven days.” And then? Do it. Just do it. The smug self-satisfaction of crossing that thing off your list, by the deadline, feels so good.
4. Write it down. Write everything down. In several places. My favorite places to write things down are in my paper planner and online, because Google remembers everything. Oftentimes little reminders will pop up on my calendar and I will have completely forgotten about them until they do. I then think “Thank you, past self, for reminding me to pay the internet bill/send a birthday card/go to that appointment.” Don’t make your brain work overtime, just write it down. Keep post-its in places you might need them, like on the refrigerator (for groceries and recipes), next to the bed (for when midnight inspiration strikes), and in your purse (for every other time). Also? Use your phone to take pictures of things you think might be useful. The other night I bought fancy cheese for a surprise for D and then realized I would not remember what it was called or why I thought it was fancy. So I took a picture of the little display at Whole Foods and then gleefully showed it to him later. My phone is full of random pictures like this.
5. Plan ahead. This is probably my best tip, and something that I try to strictly adhere to, for everything, all the time, everywhere. I start buying Christmas presents in October. Before I go somewhere, I make sure I know how to get there (this I learned from trial and error, and believe me, I still get lost a lot). I make my lunches and set out an outfit the night before so I’m not running around like a crazy person the next day. I never go to the grocery story without a list and a meal plan. I always have a granola bar in my purse so I don’t find myself in an angry-hungry emergency situation. In every way, however you interpret it, plan ahead. The world is complicated and chaotic enough that anything you can do to prepare yourself, do it.
So, that’s all I’ve got for now. Maybe next time I’ll get into the nitty gritty (my clothes are hung up by color! I know, I’m outta control) but in the meantime, is there anything you think I’m missing?
