The Time and Project Management Blog

In Part 1 of “Attacking the Clutter” we basically addressed throwing things away. In this article I want to be a little more specific about attacking the clutter. As stated previously, when looking at a mass of clutter, the task of organizing the mess can seem totally overwhelming. So my best advice is to take it in small bites. This may mean you need to focus on just one area of a room and ignore the rest of it for the time being. For example, let’s say your kitchen table is a mass of unopened mail, bills, papers, photos, magazines, and who knows what else. It is stacked a foot high in some places, and just beyond the table, the corner bench looks quite similar. When you turn around to survey the rest of the kitchen, you are met with counters that are cluttered and in disarray and total chaos. It truly is overwhelming, even to an organized person. That’s why you need to take small bites and focus on one specific area. In this case, let’s begin with the table and don’t be in a hurry to accomplish your task. Sit down with a glass of iced tea and wade through each and every paper. Those that can be discarded should be immediately put in the trash can. Have some file folders and a pen or pencil handy. As you open and sort various pieces of mail and other papers, begin to create files for similar categories. For example, “insurance”, “banking”, and “pay stubs”, could be some general categories. You don’t need a filing cabinet, but if you have one that would be great. A cardboard box will suffice to store the files. It is best to put them in alphabetical order so the files can easily be retrieved when needed. Don’t worry about creating too many files; you can always consolidate later, if desired. Concentrate on getting this task accomplished before moving on, even if it takes several days.

A Brown

How do you look at each new day? Do you just let things happen in whatever manner they come up? Do you just go about an established routine?

Different circumstances require different approaches. For example, a single person will face different challenges from a married couple with four children. However, there is one thing common to all of us, and that is our “attitudes”. How we approach and react to the circumstances of life can determine whether we live a life of victory or defeat. See my article on Time and Stress Management for some helpful hints about attitudes and thought processes.

Today, however, I want to talk about not just letting life come at you, but organizing your time and day so that it is fruitful and productive. One of the keys to organizing any area of life is discipline. That may seem like a nasty word to some of you, but try to look at it in a new way.

Establishing disciplines in our life is simply a matter of developing new habits that will set us on a new path in life. Are you tired of what your life looks like or where it is headed? Think about what you want to change compared to your current reality. Begin to develop new habits that will take you down a road of fruitfulness.

Maybe getting your house or a specific area of the house in order is an area that requires not only organization, but the discipline to carry out the project. Perhaps it is a matter of organizing your finances and being disciplined in your spending habits and reducing debt. Or perhaps it is a matter or organizing you time and being disciplined to keep records of appointments. Keeping commitments and not over-scheduling will help in this process. There can be numerous areas in our life where being more organized will result in great changes. Disciplining yourself to implement the tools needed to be organized will expedite the desired results.

ABrown

I was reading an article the other day about our busy schedules and gleaned some very good insights. Coupled with observations I’ve made about people in my life who seem to be extremely “busy”, I pondered on what is “too busy” and how does that relate to organization and order?

Is your life full of stress? Do you feel overloaded? Do you feel like you are constantly trying to catch up and there is never a break in your schedule? Do you spend enough quality time with your children, spouse, and/or friends? Are you feeling overwhelmed and stuck in a rut? Or is your life full of joy and fruitful?

Being disciplined and organized can bring structure and order to your life. There are some simple steps you can take to gain peace and live a meaningful life. But one of the first things you need to face is that you may actually be “too busy”. It is time to set priorities and make some wise choices. Too often people live kind of by accident, just allowing life to happen around them and responding to various opportunities and requests that cross their path. But when you learn to set priories and be disciplined about your schedule, you will find that you are spending your time in a way that is meaningful for you and your family.

One way to be intentional about your schedule and put an end to excessive busyness is to learn to say “no”. That little word will allow you to bring your life into order and under control. Are there activities you are involved in that steal time but bear no fruit? Do you need to lay some things down? We all have the right to say “no” if a request does not fit into our schedule or reflect our personal goals.

It is also important to establish boundaries on your time. Guard the time you set aside for your priorities. Protect time with your family and friends. If you find you are getting behind, block out a few hours to get organized and catch up.

Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into responding to a request immediately. People pleasers often get themselves into trouble on this point. Their desire to please outweighs priorities and time management. But it is critical that you do not say yes on the spot and later regret making the commitment.

Don’t make promises you are unable to keep. When you do, you not only experience great stress, but your integrity will ultimately suffer. Do you remember the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21: 28-31? Here is my paraphrase of the story. “The man had two sons and he asked the first to work in his vineyard. The son said he would not, but afterward regretted it and went. When he asked the second son to work in his vineyard, the son said he would go but did not. Which of the two did the will of his father? And they responded, the first.” Which son would you rather be, the one who exhibited integrity or the one made a commitment and then ignored it?

And finally, give yourself permission to complete tasks in a reasonable time frame imperfectly. Many times we become obsessed with perfection. But rather than strive for perfection or procrastinate because you believe you can’t achieve something, simply give your best.

And some final tips:

Take some time to connect with your family and friends.

Be fruitful and productive, not busy.

Take regular time for rest.

Have fun on a regular basis.

Exercise regularly.

Use technology to gain time, not consume it.

Portions of this information were taken from an article by Valorie Burton on Busyness in the Focus on the Family Magazine

Submitted by A Brown

I was pondering how to write an article about decluttering your world when I realized this can be a very daunting task for many people.  Even organized people can experience bouts of clutter from time to time.  So what is the best way to deal with this clutter.  My very first piece of advice would be to throw things away.  Take a small portion of a room, or a desk, or whatever area you want to address and look at all the “things” cluttered in that area, determine what you really want to keep and what you can throw away or give away.  When determining what you need to keep consider how often you use that item or how frequently you refer to it.  If it is something you didn’t even realize you had (or missed) you may want to give it away.  So even though this article is short know that to really address your clutter you need to be ready to eliminate and discard much of what is causing the clutter.  More next time…..

A Brown

It’s time to organize your kitchen, but where do you begin and what do you do with everything? For many of us the kitchen is more than a place to prepare food. It is a gathering place, a place to sit and chat, or a place to just hang out around the refrigerator with our family and friends. It is often a very comfortable place for people because it is the heart of the home. It is a place where you want to create an atmosphere that brings peace and calm; a place of order. So where to we begin the organizing process? It is best to start by going through everything you have in the kitchen (or things that belong in the kitchen) and determine what you can get rid of. It is not likely that you will need three sets of steak knives or the baby spoons you used when your current teenager was just a toddler. Unused items are hot on items to get rid of. Consider having a yard sale if you have enough of these things. You might want to check the rest of your house for unused items as well. The best approach may be to do this task of eliminating excess items one cupboard at a time.

Before we go too far let me say that you do not need to accomplish organizing your kitchen in one afternoon. You might want to take small bites and accomplish your goal over a period of a week or two. As you address a single cupboard for excess items, begin by removing everything. When you put things back in the cupboard, group like items together. In The 15 Minute Organizer (Harvest House, 1991), author Emilie Barnes urges, “Things that work together should be stored together.” It means pots, pans and utensils for stirring, flipping and scraping should be near the stove. Bowls, mixers, measuring cups/spoons and other baking paraphernalia should be in another area. Seldom used items should go on top shelves or in awkward corners of cabinets. Appliances should find a storage space together or near the specific work area where they will be used. Put the coffeemaker near the sink, breakfast table, or entrance to the kitchen, and store sugar, creamer, filters and coffee close by.   But what if you don’t have a lot of counter space. Then put those things that you do not use very often in those out of the way places. Those that you use more often, but simply do not have space for on the counter, store in an easily accessible place near the area where you will be using the item.

Store pots and pans in a cabinet beneath or next to the stove for easy access. Place baking sheets, cake pans, pizza pans, etc. in a cabinet beneath or next to the oven. You can use a rack to help arrange baking sheets by size and those used most often. Consider suspending pots and pans on a wall or from a ceiling mounted rack to maximize cabinet and storage space. Store microwave safe containers in a cabinet near the microwave. Arrange containers by size and stack one inside of the other if possible. Throw away plastic containers that are no longer used.

Food items should be grouped together as well. You might want to consider storing the cereals on top of the refrigerator. Store snacks in a drawer or small cupboard or specific area of a cupboard. Store canned goods in another area, being sure to keep labels facing out. Oils/vinegars, salad fixings, etc. can be stored in the cupboard above the stove. Consider clear storage tubs for small items, like gravy packets or taco mix. Store items where they work best for you, but remember to keep like items together. By doing this you are bringing a sense of order to your kitchen and your life. You will know what food items you have on hand and not be so quick to duplicate those items when you go to the grocery store again. This will save you time and eliminate waste.

Don’t forget to organize the area under your sink. You may find quite an array of unused items here. Toss them in the trash. Try to put the items you use on a daily basis in the front. If you keep cleaning supplies here, consider putting those supplies in a bucket and storing the full bucket under the sink. That way you not only have all your cleaning supplies in one place, but when it’s time to clean you can simply grab the bucket and begin.

So what if, after you have organized all the cupboards, the area under the sink, and the countertops, you find you still have items that do not have a home and you are out of space. Then it is time to become creative. Consider stacking things you do no use on a regular basis. Those items that you use only once a year can be stored in a box or plastic container and placed in the basement or garage. Be sure to label the box with the contents. You may also consider hanging some hooks and storing pots and pans suspended from the ceiling.

Consider recycling products to help organize your kitchen. You can label shoe boxes and use them to store items such as cookie cutters, candles, appliance accessories, etc. You can also use checkbook boxes to store items such as matches, batteries, and smaller items. Square containers take up less space and fit more efficiently on shelves than round ones. They can also be easily stacked.

Organizing your kitchen may be challenging, but is essential in keeping everything else in your home organized and in order. Use your imagination and be creative. Check some magazines for some ideas on how you would like your kitchen to look. But remember that you have to function in the kitchen and it needs to be a place where you can do so easily. An organized kitchen will give you a place for everything, as long as you put everything back in its place.

A Brown

If there is any chance you want to begin a new home business you must be organized. If you want to begin a home business but don’t exactly know what you want to do, you have probably spent a good bit of time searching the internet for business opportunities. Even this process requires some organization. If you go on the internet and search for home based businesses you will find many listings. However, many of them are not what they appear to be. This is where you need to be organized. Keep a list of the web sites you have visited and the business opportunities presented. Organize your paper into two categories: “possibilities” and “no good”. After you’ve done some initial investigation, determine what type business you think will best work for you. At that point you can start new internet searches for that particular type of opportunity. Once again organize your paper into the two categories mentioned above.

After you have you list of possibilities for the type of business you want to pursue you will want to investigate each of those websites and opportunities in greater depth. To do so you may want to check blogs or other search engines for that business name and keep a list of your findings. This will further narrow the “possibilities” column into those you want to pursue and those you want to drop.

When you have finally organized your list into a dozen or two potential home based business opportunities you would like to pursue, it is time to determine what type of investment you are willing or able to make, in both time and money. This may further eliminate some of the possibilities you have organized on your list.

As you narrow your search consider your short and long term goals for this new business. Write these goals down and review them to make sure you are pursing opportunities that will help meet these goals.

There will come a point when you need to stop investigating and make a decision to pursue your dream of having your own home-based business. I wish I could tell you that with all this organization and research you will be successful with the first opportunity you pursue; but be prepared for some hard work and some false starts.

Don’t get discouraged if things don’t work out the first time. Review the lists you have kept or begin new lists and start again, being sure to stay organized in your research and with the results.

I wish you well on your search and keep dreaming and pursuing.

A Brown

Many of us experience stressful days. That stress can come from a variety of sources, including our own attitude and responses to every situation that arises. We cannot control the behavior, attitudes and responses of the people around us, but we can learn to control our own. How do we examine our attitudes and anticipate how we will react? The first place to begin is by examining our thoughts. What do we think about? The Bible says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Did you ever notice that the more you think about something the more it shapes your attitude and speech? The more negative a person becomes the more negative circumstance he or she will experience. On the other hand, when we think positive, edifying thoughts our attitude and speech are more likely to produce good things in our life. That is not to say that bad things will not happen, but your response to those things will be more positive if you maintain a positive thought life.

Often we allow the negative circumstances or people in our life to control our own actions. This robs us of not only a peaceful life, but it can rob our time and our health. When we allow others to dictate our reactions and responses, a great deal of stress is produced in our own life, which can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle.

Choose today to think about what you are thinking about. Keep a positive attitude and speak good things about yourself and those around you. You will find your level of stress reduced greatly and that you have more time to do the things you enjoy.

Keep smiling

A Brown

If you check on a search engine for closet organization you will find many links to various space saving devices and utilities that can be purchased to organize your closet. These can be good tools, but if your budget does not allow for this type expense you can easily organize your closet on a tight budget.

The first thing to do when organizing your closet is to eliminate all clothing you have not worn for a year or so and those clothes that no longer fit. Sometimes we are in transition and need to keep more than one size for a period of time, but after two years if you still have clothing that is too big or too small it is time to give them away. Look at your shoes as well, and eliminate those you haven’t worn for many years, (like the ones you were saving from your prom). There are many charities or consignment shops that will be glad to take your discarded items.

The next step is to organize your clothing in categories: for women: slacks, skirts, dresses, blouses, sweaters, jackets; for men: slacks, shirts, jackets. It is good to keep similar or seasonal items together, for example, all short-sleeved shirts together, all long sleeved shirts together, etc. If you want to further categorize by color please feel free to do so.

You can begin the organization process by removing everything from your closet or simply work one section at a time and continue to reorganize as you go along. I personally like the second method because you can see what you have to deal with right in front of you at all times.

A shelf or two in the closet is good to place sweaters or accessories. Some hooks to hold belts and a tie rack are also essential items.

Be sure to continue placing laundered clothing back into the closet in the proper places or you will quickly have clutter again.

Shoes can be stored on the floor or in boxes stacked on the floor. A shoe bag which hangs over the door is also a helpful tool.

If you find yourself storing other items in your clothes closet consider finding another home for them. A closet set aside for toys, games, and miscellaneous items may be a possibility. Perhaps you can store seasonal clothing in labeled boxes and put them in the attic for the off-season. If you decide to store seasonal items, be sure to box similar items together.

A Brown

Kitchens can often get cluttered, which makes it not only difficult to find things, but very dysfunctional. Here are some tips on organizing your kitchen cabinets, utensils and appliances, so that your kitchen becomes well organized, functional, and pleasant to your senses.

Organizing your kitchen can be easier with a larger kitchen, but is even more essential if you have a small kitchen, as in many apartments.

Begin by discarding anything you don’t use, along with any food, spices or medicines that are beyond their expiration dates. Be sure to check foods in your freezer that have been there a long time and have freezer burn.

Take everything out of your cupboards and drawers, and wash the insides with warm soapy water. Rinse and let dry completely before replacing items.

One way to organize your pantry is by dividing the space according to types of food: such as: canned vegetables, snacks, noodles, etc. Be sure to rotate your inventory and place the newest items at the back of the cabinet. Store food items used on a daily basis in readily accessible areas. Any food that may become infested with insects should be placed into sturdy plastic containers and sealed.

One of the basics of kitchen storage organization is organizing the kitchen storage cabinets. Larger and heavier items should be kept in lower cabinets.

Store pots, pans and cooking utensils near the stove, nesting the pots and pans together to conserve space. Store dishes and silverware near your eating area and/or dishwasher. Use racks and silverware holders to maximize use of space.

Remove large and seldom-used items from countertops and store them in a cupboard. For appliances that you use often, store them on the countertop in an orderly fashion. Toasters, blenders, juicers and other small appliances can be placed on the countertop without clutter. Store the kitchen appliances that you use only occasionally in those hard-to-reach places, thus reducing the clutter in your kitchen, plus making good use of those spaces.

Cooking utensils can be stored inside drawers or in a nice container on the countertop. A jar for these utensils right next to the stove is a good idea for the countertop.

We have already mentioned that the dishes you use daily are usually kept in kitchen storage cabinets, however, if you have “good china” and a nice glass cabinet this is a great place to store them and put them on display for all to enjoy.

If you do keep all your dishes in the kitchen cabinets, make sure that they are not crowded together. Store like items together, separating them by shelves if possible. For example, store glasses on one shelf, plates on another, and cups on another. Use a wide drawer which is readily accessible from the stove or counter, to store silverware and basic utensils.

A Brown

If you are some one who likes to read and has lot of books it is a good idea to have the books organized. This will help when you want to refer to a certain book or a particular subject. Sometimes we know we have a book but after looking through the living room, family room, and all the bookshelves we still can’t locate that specific one. There are just a couple of steps in the organizing of your books and bringing order to this mess.

First, depending on how many books you have that you want to keep, determine how many bookshelves you need and the size of those bookshelves. Purchase and place the bookshelves in an accessible location. Next begin to organize your books by author’s last name. Start on the top shelf, left side and place all books with author’s last name beginning with A. Follow the alphabetical procedure for your entire book collection.

If you are continually accumulating books and keeping them, you may find yourself getting a little casual with the organization. When you see that happening, address the situation and bring order back into that process.

ABrown