Finding the Fun in Getting Organized
Do you remember the feeling you had as a kid when school started up again in the fall? I can still feel the excitement of getting ready for 4th grade and shopping for new school supplies; the jumbo box of crayons, unspoiled spiral notebooks, colored folders, and clean pink erasers. Everything was fresh, untouched, and full of potential ... a clean slate.
Apparently I haven't changed much since 4th grade, at least when it comes to being seduced by the potential of a new notebook! I had a break between clients yesterday and stopped into the drugstore for a few minutes. With time to kill I wandered to the school supply section and immediately fell in love. One of those 5-subject notebooks, with pockets and a red cover, called out my name. I envisioned instantly how it could make my many-threaded life be more organized, productive, and fresh. Forget the almost used-up notebook with many half-crossed-off to-do lists ... it was time to consolidate! By the time the train dropped me at my second appointment, I was on a roll.
Getting a new notebook won't make you more organized, things never do. You yourself have to become that way ... however if a new notebook enthuses or inspires you to get it sorted out, then by all means get the notebook, or bins or folders or planner or scheduling program ... whatever inspires you to make the time to organize.
Flylady seems to have a great handle on that market), but encourage you to find your inspiration, even if it means going back to that "first day of school" feeling! Have a system that isn't working for you? See if it's time to reboot and start fresh, or add some color or rearrange the boxes. Are you a Tactile or Visual learner? My husband is an artist, and when it comes to organization he's out-of-sight, out-of-mind ... so his lists and piles (which he likes making) need to be large, handwritten, and left out in plain sight. The file folders of current projects that he let me tidy his desk into one day lie there untouched ... I learned my lesson! Make it work for you, or you'll never stick to it! Not a paper fiend? Go digital. Hate technology? Write it down ... big!
I feel organized, on top of the week, and ready to check things off my lists, mostly thanks to a shiny new notebook. Whatever gets you excited about being organized, make it fresh and fun and see how far it takes you! Need a little more help? Sign up for Flylady's tips, or get yourself a coach for some serious tackling of the clutter! I'll let you know how the notebook's doing next month :)