Here I am again with more tips on getting organized in 2011. Just remember, I am not a pro. I am only sharing information that has helped me or that might help me in the future. Organization is an ongoing project. It only takes a little accumulate of things to feel out of control. And I like to be in control. Just ask Sweet William.
Work on the areas that are visible first. For sure, those closets need your attention, but putting your visible surroundings in order first will give you a respite when you take a break from the closet chaos. Besides, if someone drops in unexpectedly, you don’t have to make excuses for the whole house being in an uproar.
Keep only one, and I do mean only one, calendar. This takes some discipline but is well worth it. Whether you use a Day-Timer binder, a Blackberry or some hand-held computer, or a simple calendar on the refrigerator door, use only one. Otherwise you will mark an appointment on what is at hand and forget to transfer it to your personal planner.
Keep an ongoing box for Goodwill or Salvation Army. Regularly deposit items that need to be re-positioned out of your house into the designated box. Don’t go back through the box when it’s full and ready to be removed.
Remember the stuff you keep is really keeping you. Have you realized this? The more stuff I have, the more time it takes to dust it, wash it, straighten it, and protect it. Is that really the way I want to spend my life?
Reward yourself. After you complete a number of tasks, take a break and do something you enjoy, like paging through that new magazine (stacked neatly with your other reading material) while sipping a great cup of hot coffee (made from the pot that is sitting on a neat kitchen counter). Set the timer so you can get back at the task at hand.
The wise man Solomon said this in Ecclesiastes 3 – “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away . . . ” (verse 1 and 6).
January is my time to cast away. More to come tomorrow.
I wish you a happy, safe New Year’s Eve and a blessed New Year 2011.
Are you making resolutions or goals for next year. Leave a comment. I’ll share some of mine with you later.
Peggy's Journal 
I’m to busy trying to take this all in to respond. Good information.Happy New Year. 2011 Bring it On!!!
Peggy tell me how you keep from one small job not becomeing another job, I seem to start out in mind of doing one small area but it seems to take me into one more thing and one more thing and before I know it my whole day is gone. I’m having trouble stoping and not making it turn into something over whelming…..Yikes…Help how do I stop this???
I have that trouble, too, Elaine. We females are stuck with the multi-tasking mind which complicates our work sometimes. I often talk to myself, saying “focus” or “finish this first.” Sometimes that helps me stay on task. Other times, I look around and see several unfinished projects. But we keep trying to do better.