Well my “challenge” to myself this year was to get more organized. I have always tried to find a balance between my anal retentive side and my “fly by the seat of my pants” side – my flying side usually wins over. So this was my year to put all my excuses into storage and label my way to the stress free world of Organization.
To help me out I have been doing some research on the net and found some “Easy Organization Tips” 
from the so called experts. They seem easy enough but unfortunately some of them were very vague. I thought I would pass them onto you with my own interpretation of what they mean, to make it easier for you to get on the clutterfree bus…
1) Commit to making decisions. Do I really need it? – I find this one particularly difficult. I can?t commit to a long distance carrier let alone the pressure of deciding if I really need IT. What is IT? This is the info I need to know. If IT is a pair of shoes, then YES! If IT is a pair of jumper cables, then NO!
2) Don?t buy it unless you have a place to put it – Here is that IT thing again. I can find a place to put just about anything, so this tip really is not helping me. Besides, if there is no immediate opening in the house for my new purchase, IT can always be stored in the trunk of my car until a position becomes available… (or my husband is out of the house).
3) If you add an item, remove an item – I happen to like this one. The only part I am fuzzy on is that if I buy an item for myself, can I remove an item belonging to someone else in the house? If so, this is my favourite tip of all. After all, I have only ever seen my husband use that big shiny drill thingy once.
4) Say NO more often – Once again, I am feeling this tip. Just a little unclear about when to say NO and to whom. So I came up with a few possibilities…
“Mom what?s for dinner?” NO
“Honey have you seen my…” NO
“Hey Sweetie wanna…” NO
Yup…this tip could work.
So to help you out even more with this new challenge I suggest you enjoy a couple cocktails while you’re setting out your plan of attack. Here’s my pick for this occasion.
“Do Over” Daiquiri
1 1/2 ounces rum
2 ounces pomegranate juice
2 ounces grape juice
1/4 cup frozen raspberries thawed
Blend all ingredients with ice and serve in a tall glass. Garnish with heaping tablespoon of positivity and of course, LABELS…..!
15 Responses to Organization…WTH?
HAHA – I use my trunk also for storage! I’m good at organizing except for my junk room. Ohhh – that’s what were supposed to do, huh?!
I so use the car as storage, especially until hubby is out of the house. However, taking a pay cut at the new (amazing) job has helped curb that impulse spending. And now that I have my self/home office/workspace organized (more or less) I find I WANT to be in there doing the creative work. I am enjoying de-cluttering (I LOVE Kijiji!). Besides, once I get rid of stuff I don’t need (doesn’t fit, too old, no use), then I can buy more stuff of what I do need and like (shoes, picture frames, shoes, clothes, shoes….)
I haven’t used my trunk for storage..but Canadian Tire seems to have weekly sales on storage systems ..I think they cancel each other out.
I Love number 4. I believe I will practice saying NO right now..and say no to my schedule for today..after all, if I sleep in instead, I’m not busy creating more clutter.
I totally think you can remove other people’s items! Love that idea…I’m going with it
Love it! It was like looking inside my own head! ;D Particularly, tip #2..
I am also particularly fond of my portable storage container (aka minivan) when all other areas in the house are full. I vowed to get more organized and to PURGE all the unnecessary stuff in my house in 2010. The first 10 months haven’t been so successful…
Ah yes, finally someone who speaks the truth. I will never remove an item…why???? I may SOMEDAY need it for something (like a halloween costume). and my nieghbour/gf has ersorted to hiding her new items in the trunk of my car until she can “sneak” it into her wardrobe without getting caught.
Thanks for sharing yet another great cocktail but I must wait a few hours before trying it!
SO happy to hear I am not alone on this…Thanks for all the great comments ladies!! Cheers
I promise myself ever year that “this is the year I will get organized”. I start to PURGE all the unnecessary things that collect in our house and things always seem to be going well, except one room is ALWAYS left undone. I still have to figure out why! I will follow your tips…they just might do the trick. Thanks!
I need to do all of those things. But before I start, I’m going to have a few of the Do Over Martinis instead. At least I’ll get to lift out the martini glasses that have been in the cupboard for 3 years.
I can see myself using the “add and item, remove an item” tip. My closet is just overflowing with clothes from years and years that I have to go through and purge. This is hard to do with a 13 month old. I wish I had more time in the day.
I have gotten several organizational tips from friends and family…my favorite is from my mother in law – “Use it or Lose it”. That one works quite well for me. An uncluttered home leads to an uncluttered mind. I have discovered that if my home is more organized, I feel less stressed out.
Oh I really need to have a drink to get organized. Great tips. I need to print them out and put it on my fridge.
Thanks for the tips just printed them off and hung them up…Also thanks for the drink idea, think i’ll have to try that this weekend
I tried this out tonight as well as the drink and YOU ARE BRILLIANT. Thanks for the tips.