*b* list of organization...

don't laugh! i really do TRY to be organized. i just have a lot of different interests and things going on. i'm not someone who could be content in a house without projects, or in a home that doesn't show who we are. that being said, i do like order. i like to open a drawer and know that i'm going to find my favorite .08 uniball pen sitting where it's supposed to be sitting. so in honor of my pursuit of order, here's my list of goals for being more into organization and simplicity:

1. have a sale yesterday, as i was getting my cardio done, i was looking around our basement family room/storage area. it's like stepping back in time. it's filled with my 1980s circa decor....from couch to chair to longaberger baskets....and it's not that i don't like it, it just seems like maybe i could get rid of some of it. namely baskets and decor. i decided that rather than take things to goodwill, i could probably justify a rather large garage sale. i have pieces that i'm sure someone would find a better use for. so my first goal is to start preparing for a spring sale. we have a storage unit that has pieces that i really like, but have never figured out how to use, so they'll be added as well. i love my antiquing/junking, so i need to constantly be purging to make room for the new finds.
2. get rid of anything i don't love. since my home is my sanctuary, i don't want to surround myself with things that are just okay. there are too many things that i really, really appreciate. so today, as i'm gathering and sorting, i'm going to try to be very open minded and let go of anything mediocre. (the kitchen is the exception to this rule. i can't go out and buy new appliances yet, so i'll have to settle in that area) someday, i'll take before and after pics and you'll see how bad the kitchen is!
3. give things away to someone who is in need, or who just might appreciate them. i try to be generous with my stuff. i don't want to hang on to things and keep them in storage "just in case". if someone needs/wants something i have sitting in storage, i am likely to give it away.
4. relinquish old magazines and books. i do have to say, that i refer back to my magazines for a very long time. that being said, i can't let it pile up the way i typically do. i have stacks of old magazines under my desk in my studio. i am going to take before and after photos. it's ridiculous. i do feel pretty good about my system of recycling books. i use paperback swap, and it has been great for keeping new books coming in, and books i've read, moving on. there are very few novels that i keep. i'm all about passing them on and getting new reading material.  
5. have my eyes wide open. today, as i sort, i want to see things clearly. sometimes it helps to have someone close to me, come over and help me see things that i've become oblivious to. for instance my desk and it's piles. they become invisible to me.
6. when i sort through the basement, i intend to do it "clean sweep" style. clear out an area, and sort through each piece, piling each item in either a "trash", "get rid of" or "keep" pile. i do the same thing in my studio and other rooms when i'm in the right frame of mind. one thing i think is interesting, is that i never miss things i get rid of.
7. stop procrastinating. i have a pile of paperwork that i've been ignoring for weeks. i know it needs to be dealt with, and i know when i deal with it, i'll feel better...i just need to take the step to deal. phone calls are another thing i procrastinate...no idea why?
8. get back to my list making. it made such a difference when i kept a list of tasks. it helped me stay on top of messes and disorganization. i must start today.
9. i need to come up with some practical solutions for the clutter. last summer when my sister was helping me out, she cleared out a few shelves in a closet for me to use for photography paperwork, like brochures, business cards, publications, labels, etc... before that, i was just printing out brochures as needed and always frantic. so i know there are things i could deal with in a much more practical, efficient manner. i just need to take a look at my piles of clutter and find that solution. since i am a very visual person, i know that having things not only orderly, but attractive, does make a difference in my attitude.

simple case in point. we used to just mix up all the drinking glasses and mismatched cups. that drove me crazy visually. so making a simple change and stacking all the matchy drinking glasses on one shelf is much more pleasing. am i neurotic? ha!

  and yes, our shelves need to be painted...or something. with an older home, there are always projects. it can be overwhelming. so i personally need to focus on one thing at a time, and not let the little issues drive me too crazy. i must say at this time in my life, i'm much more at peace with things in my home not being perfect. hence my list today :)

sidenote: one simple little thing that i do that makes me much less frustrated in my kitchen. i don't let the cupboards get too full. if the drinking glass and mug shelves start to overflow, i get rid of something. emptying the dishwasher can be so exasperating if things don't fit in the cupboards, right? simple solution. purge. some of this may seem so silly to some of you super organized people..but for those of us,who it doesn't come naturally to, this is big!

     10. take it one room at a time. i tend to want to get it all done in a day. that's not realistic. so, my plan is to do something every day this week and maybe for the rest of the month and deal with it. somedays it may be a drawer, some days it might be a whole room...but just making a step a day toward organization will get me to my goal. i started this last month and fizzled....so i'm hoping i will do better now. i'm in the right frame of mind, so we shall see. i know that i love the feeling of having things in order. i feel so much lighter and freer, and more likely to do the things i really want to be doing. having things in order is Biblical. "let all things be done decently and in order". 1 cor 14:40.

i'm writing this for myself as much as anyone. if it helps someone else to get motivated, that's awesome! i just know i need it!

last night, we watched fireproof at donna and jamie's. what a great movie. such a powerful message. i think everyone who is married or thinking of getting married, should watch. i loved that they incorporated humor too. i know some friends of ours(who have a good marriage) are doing the love dare. i think it could be a life changing concept. 

God bless your day!   

       

Comments

[Cara]

I agree about the lovedare. I keep telling Chuck I want to pick the book up at Target. :)

[nely]

Very nice! I wish organization came naturally for me, too. I've been in decluttering mode, too, and it feels good! And like you said, it takes time. Best wishes on your endeavors, Becky!

[Tracy Schmitt]

You must have read my mind...thank you for this post. This weekend, I decided that I would have a spring sale also because there's some really "good stuff" that I think I could sell and feel good about that. Even cleaning out a single drawer would be an accomplishment :) Thanks for posting this and I'm ready for a "clean sweep" too. Have a great day!

[Tina]

Oh. The stuff I need to sort...my list is getting bigger and bigger and I can't wait to get started on it. Maybe if I do some spring cleaning and organizing spring will come sooner :)

[Meg]

Love the motivational blog! Great list! I'm packing so I need to keep in mind that if I don't find joy in it, it needs to go to Goodwill. :)

[erin yamabe]

hi becky,
love those cups! stephanie had them on her blog too. where to find them?
i sent you an email this morning. please let me know if you didn't get it.
erin_yamabe@yahoo.com
erin

[becca]

I've never thought of it that way, but I'm kind of a Clean Sweep organizer too. Maybe THAT'S why I can't seem to get my closet completely cleaned out...I'm trying to scoot everything around! AHA!

: )

xoxo.

[JANE]

Where did you get those owl mugs...? I just love them. Please email!

Thanks, Jane Fuehrer
Corona, CA

jane_fuehrer@sbcglobal.net