It was at that moment that I knew she was really taking in the theory behind organization, or at the very least, she had listened and processed what I was trying to explain.  Yes, her closet and room will probably not stay perfectly organized forever, but maybe the next time her Mom tries to get her to straighten up her room, she will have a plan and a method already in place and it will not seem like such a chore.

So what are some tricks and tips for getting your kids involved with the organizing process? While personal motivation can vary among individuals, here are just some of the methods I have found to be successful . . .

1. Get kids involved right from the start.  My young client knew when she woke up that morning that I was coming over to help tackle her room.  We did not spring it on her at the last minute, and mentally, she was prepared.  She knew it would take the better part of her day-off from school, and although it was most likely not her preferred way to spend the day, she had known for at least a week that this project was going to occur.
2. Let them enlist the help of their friends, for both moral, AND physical, support. My young client relied on her best friend and younger brother to help her with this project.  First, I debriefed the crew on the sorting process and the ultimate mission at hand.  Once they understood their task, all three started digging into the closet and sorting things into several basic categories of “stuff.”  The categories were general enough that they all understood the process, and if there were any items they were uncertain of, I was there to guide and gently lead them.  While the help did not last for the entire day (after all, the friend and brother did not have any REAL investment in the project, other than helping someone they care about) their presence was enough to keep my client moving, motivated and engaged.
3. Periodically remind kids of the benefits of organization.  As we worked, I repeatedly reminded her of why we were organizing and why it is such an important objective.  Now of course, the reasons you proclaim have to be both age-appropriate and relevant to the child’s point of view.  If I simply told her that this is what her Mom wants and that it will keep her parents happy, as much as she loves her parents, that motivation would probably not be enough.  So instead I reminded her of how easily she will soon be able to find her toys whenever she needs them, how quickly she will soon be able to clean up her room when asked, and how nice it will be to bring her friends into a cleaner room.  Moreover, every time she rejoiced at finding a long-lost toy or book or earring, I reaffirmed the benefits by asking her, “Now where does that belong so that the next time you need or want it you can find it really fast?”
4. Get someone else to lead the project.  This may just seem like a sales pitch, and I guess to a point, it is.  However, hiring a professional organizer to work with your kids really IS an effective way to accomplish their organization projects.  If disarray and frustration have been a growing problem, chances are that tensions will increase further and sparks may fly when you try to tackle the problem yourself.  A professional organizer can be a good mediator, and sometimes, as aggravating as it can be, kids listen a lot better to the advice and suggestions of other adults, even if it is what they have been hearing over and over from their own parents.

As I said, motivation can differ greatly from individual to individual, so try these ideas and see what works best with your youngsters.  As for my special 2^nd grade client, I am planning to drop by soon to check out how successful she has managed to be at maintaining her newly organized space.  I am sure there will be some necessary tweaking and reminding, she is only 8 years old.  But, I promised to issue her a report card and I’m hoping I can give her lots of passing grades and, of course, some sort of treat for her hard work (Yes, that’s tip number 5. When all else fails, bribe them like crazy to keep things organized and functional!)

Simply yours,

~Hans Hofmann, Introduction to the Bootstrap, 1993

Sometimes it’s tough to let go of clutter.  Even with the best of intentions and motivation, emotional clutter can can be difficult to throw out.  But when EVERYTHING is important, NOTHING is important.

It’s okay to hold on to items with no purpose whatsoever other then the memories and warm feelings they bring to mind. But when these special items are mixed in with mountains of unnecessary and meaningless things, our treasures can actually lose their importance.  They certainly aren’t receiving the respect they deserve.

So the next time you start to de-clutter your space, don’t think of it as getting rid of things, think of it as respecting and honoring those treasures that mean the most to you.  It will be a much easier task, and a more purposeful way to think of de-cluttering.

Simply yours,

—Henry Ford

Do you have obstacles standing in your way of getting organized? They can come in many forms:

• uncooperative family members
• procrastination
• perfectionism
• lack of time
• lack of resources
• undefined goals
• confusion about where to begin

If you want to finally make some progress toward getting better organized then you need to replace these obstacles with concrete goals and plans.

But don’t just think about your goals. Give them the importance they deserves and write them down.

Refer to these written goals frequently as you create an action plan for achieving your dream of getting organized.

You CAN do it. But you’ve got to start somewhere.

Why not start this week off with setting one concrete, realistic goal towards your organizing dreams. Write it down in a place where you can refer to it every day this week. For the sake of accountability, write it down in the comments section below, and then check back in with us at the end of the week to report your progress.

Ready, set, GO!

Simply yours,

Debbie

1. Delegate!
Contrary to popular belief (mostly our own), we do not have to do everything ourselves. It’s not “passing the buck” or being lazy to delegate items on your to-do list. It’s efficient.

Pass some of your chores onto other family members today. Kids need to learn that when you live in a community with others (in this case, your family community) everyone needs to lend a helping hand. As long as the chore is age-appropriate, go for it! Yes, the kids will resist. Especially if they are used to having you routinely complete the task they’ve been given. But it’s all in your approach.

This summer, I’ve given my own kids more chores around the house, but I present it as, “Here are the things Mom needs to get done around the house today, and we will not be going to the pool until the list is complete. If we all pitch in, we can get to the pool much sooner than if I have to do this all myself. So which of these chores can you each do for me?”

You may have to lower your standards in terms of the finished project (my Blue Eyed Jane often folds laundry according to her own special method), but is it really that awful if a few sections of the rug get overlooked when they try to vacuum, or a weed or two gets left behind when they help in the garden?

2. Choose NOT to do something on your To-Do list.
If your list is more than 10 items long, chances are there is something you can choose to let go of. On any given day most of us only get 1 t0 5 items checked off anyway. Think of how productive you’ll feel if you can tackle your entire list in one day, versus only half of your list. It’s all a mind game, but that’s what motivation is all about, right?

 As much as I would love to drop “grocery shopping” from my current To-Do list (it is definitely my least favorite chore!), my family does need to eat some meals at home. But do I really need to “stop at the Pet Store,” too? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to get the kitty litter at the grocery store instead and knock an errand off my list?

And what about “take bag of donation items to Rescue Mission.”  This weekend I plan to work some more on cleaning out my basement. If I wait until next week, I can just make one trip instead of two. BOOM! Another item off my list for today! What can you choose NOT to do today?

3. Make an appointment with yourself.
Most of us have no trouble keeping scheduled events. Whether it is a business meeting, a medical appointment or a concert we have tickets for, if the “thing” we have to do has a definite start time, it has immediate importance and priority in our day. So why not make an appointment with yourself from time to time?

As another personal example, I actually schedule my errands in my digital calendar. I work them around my other activities and I plan for them accordingly (my dentist is near the dry cleaners, so listed right after my Tuesday appointment I have “drop off dry cleaning”). Other activities are always scheduled around these errand appointments with myself, and as such, these little chores don’t get forgotten. It takes care of procrastination, over-scheduling, and it is one less item on my daily to-do list.

Try it for yourself! Take just one item from your to-do list, schedule a day and time to complete the item, and write it in your planner or calendar, just as you would any other scheduled event. For accountability’s sake, let me know in the comment section what you plan to do to reduce your list.

Here’s to reducing your to-do list, today and everyday! Good luck and let me know how it goes!

Simply yours,

In his book Getting Things Done, David Allen  gives powerful insight into what goes on mentally when you procrastinate about working on your to do list.  He explains that when you mentally process a thought about a task that needs done, you will add it to the bottom of your to list regardless of how many prior times you’ve thought about doing that task.  So, you can potentially have a single task listed on your mental to do list 3000 times (WOW!). 

Learning this information can be very powerful as you prioritize your days and weeks. 

So, what should your next steps be to determine what items are listed on your mental to do list?  Here are a few ideas that you can use to free up your mind’s personal “hard drive”:

1.  Do a brain dump. 

Writing is the most powerful action you can take to move forward with your goals.  It is a simple but important step, and it will help you discover things that you are thinking, but have not fully realized or accepted. 

Sit down with a tablet and ask yourself what has been on your mind.  It could be something as simple as washing your car, but if you have been spending a lot of time thinking about it, it is time to write it done, get it done and clear your mind.

2.   Prioritize your tasks.

Put a star beside the tasks on your list that seem to jump out on the page at you as being the most pressing. When you make this decision, trust your gut on this.  Think about what items are urgent versus which ones are important (for a post on this topic, click here.)

3.  Schedule a time to complete your tasks. 

After you prioritize what you want to do (almost like a bucket list) then it is time to schedule it on your calendar.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, just take on one task at a time.  Schedule time every week to complete that task, work on it until it’s finished and then you can move on to the next one.

4.  Don’t try to do more than one task at a time.

The reason that you feel cluttered and scattered is often because you are trying to do multiple projects at one time and organize the information in your brain.  The more specific you can be on paper regarding each step of the process, the more likely you will be to complete each task. (Check out this previous post on how to accomplish more by attempting less).

5.  Celebrate!

Every time you complete a task, it’s important to keep a visual reminder that you are accomplishing your goals.  You could make a paperclip chain for each goal you’ve accomplished and watch it grow, or plant a flower in your garden.  Think of fun, visual ways to acknowledge your success.

Just remember that the first step in accomplishing any goal is getting clear on what you really want and writing it down. So, now the question is what do you want to do with your life after the clutter is gone?

Simply yours,

Debbie

Goal setting is one of the most important steps you can take in your quest to become better organized. Setting goals gives you the ability to decide, and ultimately achieve, what you want out of your organizing projects. Without goals, it is very easy to become distracted, and before you know it, you are wandering around from one task to the next, with no direction and no success.

So what are some guidelines for setting realistic organizing goals?

To begin with, take a moment to think about what you want out of the organizing project. Close your eyes and envision the organized space you dream of creating. Is it a calmer living space? Clear kitchen counters?  No more paper piles? Think about what you want to see when you are finally done with all the work. These visions are your specific goals for your projects.

Next, take these goals from the abstract to the very concrete by writing them down. Writing your goals gives them importance. If you find yourself losing focus or getting frustrated during your organizing work, refer back to these written goals. They will help you stay on track and on task.

Whether you have achieved success from goal setting in the past is irrelevant. You can start fresh. Start to look at goal setting from a different angle. Rather than writing one goal, look at strategic goals, and then work your way down to yearly, monthly, weekly and daily goals. This ensures you stay on track, and more importantly, helps you change your activities to help you achieve all your goals.

Why do we need goals? The answer is quite simple. Goals, especially when written down, provide direction to our lives and help us make the impossible, possible. Setting specific goals for your organizing projects will allow your organizing dreams to become an organized reality. Not having goals is similar to sailing a ship without a map. Goals, like maps, help you get to your destination much faster than sailing though life aimlessly.

So, let me be your accountability partner today. What organizing goal will you set today to achieve your vision of an organized space?

Simply yours,

Debbie

Last week I had the incredible honor of talking about home office organization with one of my favorite organizing experts, Peter Walsh. Peter’s newest organizing line at OfficeMax, “you.organized,” was just released this week. Along with showing off his flexible new system, Peter was more than generous with answering my organizing questions and providing tons of tips, advice, and ideas for creating and maintaining a home office space.

I took my office organizing questions for Peter straight from my Facebook Fan comments, as well as from some of the issues I hear from you in the comments section here on Virtually Organized. . . all the more reason to leave me a comment every time you visit

Check out the short video of us below and be sure to watch it in its entirety. The analogy he uses toward the end for how to overcome issues with maintaining organization is something that will change your entire outlook toward organizing.

So, what’s one tip that you learned from Peter that you plan to put to use in your own office?

Simply yours,

Debbie

Stress . . . Annoying, Isn’t It?

Guest post by Michi Story, known also as the KenZen Coach. KenZen is Japanese for harmonious mind, body and spirit. A mom of an almost four-year-old boy, Michi draws upon this, her Japanese heritage and her training as a wellness coach, personal trainer and health & fitness specialist to help other busy moms learn how to better manage their stress, get fit, lose weight, have more energy, and create more work/life harmony. Since organization, or the lack thereof, often goes hand-in-hand with these other life issues, I invited Michi to guest post and discuss one of the biggest factors of household disorganization. . . stress. Click here for Michi’s words of wisdom . . .

Organizing Rules are Meant to be Broken

Wouldn’t it be great if I could just spew a few organizing rules, you implement them, and from here until eternity your home is “perfectly” organized?

That’s the frustrating thing about organizing, though. It is not an exact science.

The other day, I was helping a client organize her kitchen cabinets. Our goals were to increase work flow, maximize cabinet space, and purge or relocate all the unnecessary or unrelated items we discovered. Things were going well until it came to the putting-it-all-back stage. Find out how breaking the “rules” made things work so much better.

Bedroom Storage Tips

Often our bedrooms are the last place we organize. But a clutter-free bedroom can be such a retreat at the end of a busy day. Sure, organizing the “public” spaces in your home is essential, but don’t neglect your bedrooms, or yourself. Everyone deserves a calm and peaceful place to rest and re-engergize. Click here for tips for your bedroom . . .

Enjoy this blast from the past!

Simply yours,

Debbie

To help you jump-start any decluttering and organizing projects that you’ve been telling yourself you ”should” get done, print out the following questions, fill in your answers and begin setting your organizing goals:

1. What is your biggest organizing challenge? (Do you have issues with paper? Time management? Toys? Cluttered basement? Over-stuffed garage?)
 

2. What are you willing to do every day to get organized and conquer the above challenge? (You have to commit to something: 15 minutes of decluttering everyday? Regular appointments with yourself to create a daily to-do list? Delegating chores to your kids? Clearing one bag of  trash/recycling every evening?)

3. What time of day will you work on your organizing goals? (Are you too busy rushing out of the house in the morning? Schedule your organizing sessions in the evening. Too tired at the end of the day? Get up 15 minutes earlier to get a jump start on things. Need to watch your evening television programs? Devote commercial time to speed-decluttering.)
 

4. What date will you start working toward your goals? (My vote is for today, but if that’s not realistic, set a start date for sometime this week.)

This may seem like a simple exercise.  But if you take the time to write your answers to the above questions and then follow through with genuine effort, you will commit yourself to making a change.  You will also give yourself a real chance to actually accomplish these goals. Good luck!

Simply yours,

Debbie

Do Things in Chunks

Procrastination often comes from feeling overwhelmed. Break your clutter-busting sessions into manageable steps. Using a timer can help with this. Planning out your organizing project into steps, and working on one step at a time can keep things moving forward, too.

Get Someone Else Involved in the Project

It’s hard  to procrastinate when someone else is involved. If the clutter is just too overwhelming, ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness but rather a positive step toward changing old habits. Having an accountability partner can make all the difference !

Reward Yourself

You’re much more likely to complete the dreaded de-cluttering task if there is a dinner out, an appointment at the spa, or even just a lazy weekend afternoon with nothing to do waiting for you when (and only when) the task is complete. Sometimes just focusing on this reward can help motivate you to get the job done.

Focus on the End Result

Before you begin, visualize and focus on the outcome you desire. When the task is finished, what will be better in life as a result? Keep this uncluttered, relaxing and peaceful space in mind as you work to help motivate you to the finish line.

Just Do It

Don’t think about it too much, just jump in and get it done!

So, what organizing project will you stop procrastinating about today?

Simply yours,

Debbie