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FAMILY TOPICS
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Getting Organized
 Someone
once said that one of the major sources of stress in modern life is due to a lack of organization. We will spend
hours doing a task that should have taken only minutes because we did not take the time previously to get ourselves
organized. We feel that we don't have enough time in a day to complete all of the tasks--and feel frustration when
we see others who are able to get everything done and still have an acceptable amount of time available for their
families.
Getting yourself and your family organized is not all that difficult, but it does take time and concentration.
Sticking with the status-quo (if you are disorganized) only guarantees that things will get worse. A lack of organization
never
seems to heal itself!
Prioritize. One of the worst mistakes that can bar any of your attempts to get organized is losing
sight of priorities. It's easy to do--the tendency is to concentrate on those task
that present themselves firs--or "scream" the loudest for attention--rather than those that may have
the most importance. Example: Neglecting to pay the mortgage payment on time because you spent hours looking for
a lost toy. Yes, it's important to calm a child, but the potential for harming your credit because of an unnecessarily
delayed payment is more important.
Prepare. Spending ten minutes at the beginning of the day organizing your thoughts, goals and tasks
can often save hours over the course of a single day.
Simplify. Don't make your normal everyday tasks more complicated than they need to be! Learn the
most effective ways to handle them and then repeat the process. Keep it simple. The
wheel has already been invented--take advantage of that fact and don't try to re-invent it!
Keep track. It's impossible to be an organized person without being able to maintain a running record
of what has (and has not) been done on a regular basis. Find a system that you are comfortable with a get into
the habit of using it on a daily basis. A simple "to-do"
list is probably the easiest and most convenient
way of keeping track.
Organize your home. A large component of your personal organization is tied to the organization of your home.
Rare is the organized person who lives in a disorganized home. Rarer still is a disorganized person who is able
to maintain an organized household. They usually go hand in hand: getting a grip on your house organization just
naturally helps you with your personal organization, and becoming more organized personally means a better organized
(and efficient) home. Cluttered houses = cluttered families = cluttered lives. Rid yourself of the junk! Want some
hints on ridding yourself of clutter? See
a special article on the subject here.
Looking for help in keeping things organized? You don't
need to spend a fortune for helpful products. GetOrganized.com
has numerous aids for under $10. Click
here for more information.
 Want more hints on getting organized? Read Stephanie Winston's excellent book, STEPHANIE WINSTON'S BEST ORGANIZING TIPS : Quick, Simple Ways to Get Organized
and Get on with Your Life available at Amazon.com.
Need help with organizing your home? Here is a great resource: Room for Improvement : Change Your Home! Enhance Your Life! With Tools, Tips,
and Inspiration from Barbara K!
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