Time Mgmt., Being Organized & Self-Motivation [Archive]

freemonkey

01-02-2006, 11:52 PM

I've never been overly organized and I'm an expert at wasting my own time. Self-motivation is a crap shoot with me. I'm motivated enough not to starve, to stay reasonably fit & healthy, keep my mind working (somewhat) and have some fun with what I do in life. Buuuuuut...... I have difficulty seeing clearly beyond next month. I forget things, I'm easily distracted.

I know that each of these three ideas - time management, organization & motivation are connected to eachother. I know that time management requires goals, as does self-motivation. I know that getting (and staying) organized requires not only goals, but also motivation and good time management.

I have great ideas, in my head I make goals and plans. But when I try to make a list, I forget stuff. I don't know where to start. When I actually do write some of my plans down, I lose the list. I've bought a couple books on the subject here and there, but never seem to finish them because something more pressing usually "comes up".

I have spent several hours the last couple days comparing personal planners (you know, like DayRunners/Filofax/etc). None of what I looked at is what I really want or need, I don't think. Too big, too small, the notes pages are wrong, blah, blah, blah. I ended up with a small cheap book because I wanted something, anything and knowing I'd probably not actually use it, I opted to spend less that $5 on it.

And don't think this is the first time I've put myself through that. Every time I try to change this part of me, I waste more time trying to get started on something I abandon weeks, sometime only days later.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a complete failure. I do have success and happiness in my life, despite my poor organizational skills, but I'd like more. Plus I'd like to make some more money. A lot more money. Working less hard, wasting less time. I'd like to nip this before it gets any worse ('cuz it is getting worse). I'd like to see the floor of my garage again.

I'd like to hear about others' struggles with this, plus if, and how, you were able to improve. At the moment, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by this and could use some suggestions.

Widget

01-03-2006, 12:13 AM

I havn't seen the surface of my desk in years, but manage quite well to find what I need. My computer desktop used to be similar till the FF desktop post and then I cleaned my act up somewhat.

I dream up ideas daily, I keep a folder for different projects and add to them constantly, I can go back at anytime to see what turns my crank and then work on it and then return it to the folder with the added info attached. I find this a little easier than filing scribbled notes into a drawer some place.

ms_ann_thrope

01-03-2006, 05:05 AM

Freemonkey, not sure how much these suggestions will work for you, but here are some that work for me:

1. Use lists. You mentioned that you have tried but not had much success with making lists. This might sound dumb, but it really does take practice to become a good listmaker! I always keep a small notebook in my purse so that I can jot down things as I think of them. When I have a spare moment, say, stuck in traffic, or in a waiting room, I review my list. Sometimes I find that items are no longer relevant, or that I've actually accomplished one of the things on the list. I put a little square in front of each item on my list so that I can "X" it out when it is completed. "X"-ing out a box provides me with a tremendous feeling of satisfaction (go figure, I get no joy if I draw a line through the item or scratch it out... it must be an "X" in the little box. I think it might have something to do with being able to still clearly read what task I accomplished... seems to provide positive reinforcement).

Anyway, lists... I use them for everything, from decision-making (I make up 'Pros' and 'Cons' lists) to errands (I figure out where I need to go to get my things done, then plan my route to be as efficient as possible in terms of locations, anticipated traffic, what side of the street something is on, etc. --- this also helps with time mgmt). Your cheap little book might become your best friend! No need to worry about 'forgetting' anything, or not knowing where to 'start' --- a notebook is like a continuing story. Don't forget that you can edit or rewrite/recompile your lists as often as you want to. Might be worth it, after you jot some things down, to break them into short-, medium-, and long-term objectives. Then tackle the smaller, short-term ones first --- but since you have the larger or more long-term things also written down, you won't lose sight of them.

2. Banish clutter. And by clutter I don't just mean paper, I mean anything that is not adding value -- could be art supplies, shoes, books, etc., anything. This is a hard one for me, as I am a natural-born packrat, but I am getting better at it. For incoming paper (bills, magazines, etc.) I use what is called the "touch once" system (or something like that... I read about it in a magazine and thought, 'Damn, that might be useful'; tried it and now do it). Anyway the idea is that something comes in and you either toss it, need to respond to it, or need to file it. You disposition stuff as it comes in, so it never gets out of control. I do the same thing with magazines (I used to have YEARS' worths piled up). Get it, read it through once; after I'm done, if there was something I thought was really good and might want to refer to later, I go back and cut it out and put the article or whatever in a specific file folder ('Recipes,' 'Crafts,' 'Health & Beauty,' etc.). Then I dump the magazine. No more ginormous piles of paper! This feeling of having things nice and tidy is, again, very satisfying for me, and encourages me to keep it up. I'm sure it's all very Freudian but whatever, it is working for me.

As for the other clutter... as much as possible, I try to keep the level of "stuff" in the house at zero sum or below. IOW, if I want to buy a new pair of shoes, an old pair needs to go. And if I want to buy some craft or art supplies, then I have to finish up whatever project I was working on first. I adopted these rules because (a) I was running out of closet space, and (b) I was getting depressed by looking around and seeing things that I bought that I was 'going to do' but never did. Like a big old mountain of unfulfilled plans staring back at me... :shudder: Slowly but surely, I am digging my way out from under crushing piles of useless crap, and the feeling is wonderful.

I can't really help with inspiring motivation, as I often feel like I am one of the laziest, most non-ambitious mofos in the world. But the lists keep me from drifting aimlessly, and the clutter-minimization keeps me from getting bogged down and feeling overwhelmed. I don't have any specific end-state goal for my life mapped out, but I do have a vague sense about in which direction I would like to travel... so I just kinda do things that go in that direction. Seems to be working out pretty well so far.

I think it's all because of the lists... :chin:

viscousmemories

01-03-2006, 06:12 AM

I wish I could help, but I have all the same problems and more. Hopefully we'll both get the help we need here.

pescifish

01-03-2006, 08:10 AM

I can't really help with inspiring motivation, as I often feel like I am one of the laziest, most non-ambitious mofos in the world. I dunno. What you describe makes me think you are my new hero! I would love to have one of those "zero sum" homes as you describe. It really is inspiring just hearing about it.

know that each of these three ideas - time management, organization & motivation are connected to eachother. I know that time management requires goals, as does self-motivation. I know that getting (and staying) organized requires not only goals, but also motivation and good time management.I've never been what I consider a goal oriented person. Nor have I ever employed much in the way of time management or organization. However, for all of my life (including being a kid), I've had strong self-motivation, excellent skills at prioritization and a very solid ability to manifest (i.e., Make It Happen) what I picture for myself.

I've just written several drafts trying to explain just how this works for me, but it all sounds way too weird. But it really does come down to the Star Wars Jedi concept of "do not try, just do" and the next step up from that as outlined in the Tao der Ching: "do not do, just be".

It's sorta like mis_ann_thrope's zero sum home only applied to one's own daily life and actions: if you want to be an astronaut, then only do what an astronaut (or pre-astronaut) needs to do. Prioritize your life such that you do only those things that fit the person you want to be (or become.) Keep moving. Keep your eye on the person you want to be.

Aargh. This draft sounds as nuts as the previous three. I'm going to hit "submit" and make salsa from the tomatoes that the crowd might throw at me.

freemonkey

01-03-2006, 03:53 PM

I've just written several drafts trying to explain just how this works for me, but it all sounds way too weird. But it really does come down to the Star Wars Jedi concept of "do not try, just do" and the next step up from that as outlined in the Tao der Ching: "do not do, just be".

It's sorta like mis_ann_thrope's zero sum home only applied to one's own daily life and actions: if you want to be an astronaut, then only do what an astronaut (or pre-astronaut) needs to do. Prioritize your life such that you do only those things that fit the person you want to be (or become.) Keep moving. Keep your eye on the person you want to be.

Aargh. This draft sounds as nuts as the previous three. I'm going to hit "submit" and make salsa from the tomatoes that the crowd might throw at me.
No, no, I get it. It makes perfect sense, and its the way I'd like to be. If only I weren't so distracted by distractions. And stuff.

I don't know, if you've always been this way maybe you're wired differently than I am.

freemonkey

01-03-2006, 04:15 PM

1. Use lists. You mentioned that you have tried but not had much success with making lists. This might sound dumb, but it really does take practice to become a good listmaker!

Yes, I start doing it, but abandon it days later.

You've given much food for thought and practical advice, ms_ann, I'll try to keep some of your ideas at the forefront of my mind, especially this:
No need to worry about 'forgetting' anything, or not knowing where to 'start' --- a notebook is like a continuing story. Don't forget that you can edit or rewrite/recompile your lists as often as you want to. Might be worth it, after you jot some things down, to break them into short-, medium-, and long-term objectives. Then tackle the smaller, short-term ones first --- but since you have the larger or more long-term things also written down, you won't lose sight of them.

2. Banish clutter.
NEVER!!

This is a hard one for me, as I am a natural-born packrat, but I am getting better at it. ................

...........(b) I was getting depressed by looking around and seeing things that I bought that I was 'going to do' but never did. Like a big old mountain of unfulfilled plans staring back at me... :shudder:

:sadyup: I have a lot of clutter, but its not as bad as it could be. I live in a very small house, plus run a small business from home which also takes up space and creates some clutter of its own. But yeah, I do have that collection of actual junk, too. Many things I brought home to use in paintings and have not got to yet. I get busy, forget my plans. When I see the item, I say, "Oh, yeah, I'm still gonna do that when I get the chance." But then, I don't.

I can't really help with inspiring motivation, as I often feel like I am one of the laziest, most non-ambitious mofos in the world. But the lists keep me from drifting aimlessly, and the clutter-minimization keeps me from getting bogged down and feeling overwhelmed. I don't have any specific end-state goal for my life mapped out, but I do have a vague sense about in which direction I would like to travel... so I just kinda do things that go in that direction. Seems to be working out pretty well so far.
I think you have helped a great deal, thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

I'm getting the opportunity to change the scope of my business, and take my life more in the direction I've always wanted and I don't want to blow it (this time). I always sabotage myself and I think its my disorganization and lack of clearly defined goals/priorities that get me every damn time.

freemonkey

01-03-2006, 04:55 PM

I dream up ideas daily, I keep a folder for different projects and add to them constantly, I can go back at anytime to see what turns my crank and then work on it and then return it to the folder with the added info attached. I find this a little easier than filing scribbled notes into a drawer some place.
I often do the scribbled note thing, but my problem is that I have several notebooks, folders and drawers to put them into. I used to keep an idea box where I would put musings, and the thought was that whenever I was at a loss for ideas to pursue, I'd reach into that box. I wonder where that box is these days.....

I get ideas usually when I'm right in the middle of doing something else. Like driving, showering, working with a customer... times when I really can't stop to write it down. Heh, a couple of the best songs I ever wrote (IMO) came to me while I was showering or washing dishes. But I could just keep singing them til I was able to write them down or record them.

godfry n. glad

01-03-2006, 05:25 PM

Hahahahahahah

Time management? Mine sucks.

Organization? Hmmm... well, being married I found out I was half of a decent team for housekeeping. I don't like too much clutter and will act upon it, so my place has this "episodic" cluttered look about it. I tend to sort stuff as it comes in the door, my wife would bring stuff in, place it on a horizontal surface and then paw through it on multiple visits whilst passing by. She, however, had the "cleaning/dusting gene" which has eluded me entirely. I'm somewhat taxonomically compulsive. I've been a recycler and currently work in a library. To me, everything has a "proper place" and if none, then out it goes. My wife finally decided that since she was the major source of "stuff" coming into the house, that she would set herself the goal of disposing of something before she would obtain something new...she called it "purge and purchase". I did my damnest to keep her away from my stuff.

The net result is that since her death I've managed the clutter quite well (upon arriving for her memorial open house and seeing how it had been "spiffed up" for the occasion, one friend actually commented, "Well, I guess we now know who the "neat" one was," meaning me. I got a giggle out of it), but I've female friends who are threatening to come over and dust for me.

Motivation. That's a tough one for me. I used to have all sorts of ambitions, but I became realistic about my personality type and innured myself to the idea that I would like not be any kind of leader. I have too big a mouth and I'm far too likely to express my opinions undiplomatically. I'm also basically skeptical of authority. Consequently motivation tends to be things which "move" me, but have little to do with career or wealth accumulation. I'm content and comforable materially. I suppose I would become very motivated if that were threatened, but it's not. I tend to wait for "inspiration", usually something that moves me to act on some specific goal, but when there is no inspiration, I tend to just stumble along and wait for the next inspiration. It's been years at times. During that time, I'm just "going through the motions" enough to keep my head above water.

Dayplanners do squat for me. I do use lists, but I tend to lose them or leave them behind when I really need them. My memory sucks; I suffer from chronic CRS. (I've reached that time in life where the incidents of "elder moments" has increased noticeably...y'know where you get up from your desk to do something and by the time you get to the general area of where ever it was you were headed, you've forgotten what it was you were supposed to be doing. Also called "Sometimer's Disease".) My calendar does it best for all my appointment stuff...it's right next to the main phone and within eyesight of the refrigerator....which reminds me, I've got to put up the new calendar.

It's off to breakfast.

Happy new year, folks.

I've realized I do far better in all these if I have a partner.

JoeP

01-04-2006, 11:27 PM

Sadly, and this is not a joke, I don't have tme to respond properly to this now. I may have a lot to say ... if it looks sensible after I've written it down.

freemonkey

01-04-2006, 11:58 PM

Sadly, and this is not a joke, I don't have tme to respond properly to this now. I may have a lot to say ... if it looks sensible after I've written it down.
If its a rags to riches tale of how you were a dirty, messy, good for nothing slob and champion time-waster who is now a paragon of organized virtue, I'm all ears, sensible or not.

Well, either way, I'm all ears.

Plant Woman

01-05-2006, 05:11 AM

Hell, back in the early 90s I decided once and for all I would be organized. I went out and bought a book called, How to Organize Your Life in Seven Days or something like that. I set it down somewhere in my clutter and lost it.

I always admire those who can organize their life. Is there any truth to artist-types tend to be sloppy, disorganized, cluttered?

Actually I am much better than I used to be, my husband and I keep uncluttering our lives. Simplify, simplify, simplifly. A lot of energy goes into having stuff.

godfry n. glad

01-05-2006, 06:09 AM

I have a penchant for souvenirs. Many of the objects in my home are pleasant memories, or they wouldn't be there. I have objects which gather dust, but I still love them.

For example: My wife and I decided that what we really needed was a new clothes dryer. So, we went over to the regional flea market, in search of a semi-new dryer. What we came home with was a fairy statue. We both fell in love with it and each decided separately that we wanted it. We waited a couple more paychecks for the dryer. It's a bronze piece on a green mable base, about 14" high, with dragonfly-like wings, semi-nude, with toes extended, as she were just about to alight or take flight, with both hands holding a flower petal like a saucer, as though she were taking a drink from it. We placed a clear bead in the petal, as though it were a bead of water. I could never part with that.

But then, I have hundreds of those kinds of things in my home. Tchachkies, she called them. People new to my house seem to like to wander around and look at all the stuff. Between the books are wedged hats and objects. Artfully. Done, of course, in my philestine way. The basic design underlying it all is Arts and Crafts style wood furniture. It's a 1922 bungalow, so it goes quite well. Bouguereau on the walls, of course.

Widget

01-05-2006, 06:21 AM

OK I willl ask, what is Bouguereau?

freemonkey

01-05-2006, 06:55 AM

TomJoe

01-09-2006, 04:17 AM

Freemonkey,

I feel your pain. I'm always telling myself : Next week, things are going to be different. It's never tomorrow, it's always next week. Go figure.

2. Banish clutter. And by clutter I don't just mean paper, I mean anything that is not adding value -- could be art supplies, shoes, books, etc., anything. This is a hard one for me, as I am a natural-born packrat, but I am getting better at it. For incoming paper (bills, magazines, etc.) I use what is called the "touch once" system (or something like that... I read about it in a magazine and thought, 'Damn, that might be useful'; tried it and now do it). Anyway the idea is that something comes in and you either toss it, need to respond to it, or need to file it. You disposition stuff as it comes in, so it never gets out of control. I do the same thing with magazines (I used to have YEARS' worths piled up). Get it, read it through once; after I'm done, if there was something I thought was really good and might want to refer to later, I go back and cut it out and put the article or whatever in a specific file folder ('Recipes,' 'Crafts,' 'Health & Beauty,' etc.). Then I dump the magazine. No more ginormous piles of paper! This feeling of having things nice and tidy is, again, very satisfying for me, and encourages me to keep it up. I'm sure it's all very Freudian but whatever, it is working for me.

This is an excellent bit of advice. I'm going to try my hardest to implement this ... tomorrow. ;)

godfry n. glad

01-09-2006, 08:05 AM

OK I willl ask, what is Bouguereau?

William Adolphe Bouguereau (http://www.xs4all.nl/~frqnc23/framesen.html), French painter of the Academic School, 1825-1905.

I have inexpensive prints framed in frames which are more valuable than the prints. When I get back to work, I think I can find a pic of the front room wall.

I think his work precedes and portends, yet transcends, the work of the Fine Arts School of British painters, better known as the "pre-Raphealites".

godfry n. glad

01-09-2006, 08:25 AM

People new to my house seem to like to wander around and look at all the stuff. Between the books are wedged hats and objects. Artfully. Done, of course, in my philestine way. The basic design underlying it all is Arts and Crafts style wood furniture. It's a 1922 bungalow, so it goes quite well. Bouguereau on the walls, of course.
Arts & Crafts and bungalow style are some of my favorites. I saw that pic of your room, godfry and it was not messy, IMO.

Ah, but of course! I wouldn't take a picture of it in it's dissheveled state.

I'm a big fan of Arts & Crafts and my wife and I were helping keep a group of local handmade wood furniture makers keep their business going. They refuse to stain their woods. The finish is oiled and sanded to the smoothness of a baby's bottom. I have several pieces, mostly natural cherry wood, including two beds, two front room leather cushion chairs and the sofa. It's all heirloom stuff, and I have no heirs.

But the house is more pseudo-classical revival, with columns on the smallish front porch. Cheap interior woodwork that has probably been painted from the beginning (save for the kitchen, which is now 100% new golden oak cabinets and trim.) My good friends and neighbors across the street live in a 1918 Arts & Crafts bungalow, with a long, low roofline and a fully covered front porch that spans the entire front the the house. True to the style and all. With all the original interior wood - unpainted. (I don't feel too bad, their bathroom and kitchen floors are falling apart and their one bathroom is tiny.)

godfry n. glad

01-11-2006, 09:38 PM

My humble abode, Ravenswood :V:

http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/7/0/rvnswdfront.jpg

Here's the front room. Bouguereaus on the right wall :V:

http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/7/0/interior-frontroom.jpg

:V: This is the print on the left of the ensemble, known at "Evening Mood".

http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/7/0/eveningmood.jpg

:V: This is the print on the right of the ensemble, known as "The Abduction of Psyche".

http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/7/0/wbpsych.jpg

maddog

01-11-2006, 10:15 PM

I am both organized and disorganized. I manage my time both well and badly. One thing about attacking clutter . . . I am a packrat, but I believe in yard sales. At my last yardsale, I sold/gave away probably 25-30 books on . . . organizing. I kid you not. I love being organized and I love ideas about how to organize stuff. And I buy books on how to solve these time-management and organization problems all the time. Mind you, I still have one 12-inch shelf of organizing books . . . the others were just the ones I got rid of. I kept the best ones! My house is inside out from other people's. Other people's homes are neat and tidy to look at, but the garage, drawers, cupboards and closets are like Fibber McGee's. I'm just the opposite. What you see on the surface in my house is piles of paper, clutter here and there, unfinished projects, and you're lucky if you have a place to sit. But the drawers, closets, and cupboards are all neat, organized and nicely arranged. In the kitchen, the arrangement is logical so that if you're looking for something, you can probably find it, even if you've never been in my kitchen before.

I like organizing and time-management as topics, and I've got a lot of ideas and strategies, but it's a very large topic, so hard to get started. And it's also a case of blind leading blind, b/c I've also got huge problems in these areas. But I'm willing to share and have us blind folks help one another along. What's the biggest problem you are facing right now? One idea is that, whatever the big problem is, it didn't get that way overnight. So don't expect it to change overnight. It can get better even with the devotion of like 15 minutes a day of paper-piling clutter-busting. Tackle one problem, or one room, or one drawer, and start there. A journey of a thousand miles, etc.

#664

freemonkey

01-12-2006, 09:03 PM

godfry n. glad

01-12-2006, 09:24 PM

Wow, maddog.... I can't tell if you are actually organized or not!

I'm getting closer to defining my problem(s)

small house + plus no proper storage/cabinets + too many things for the space I do have + a little confusion, indecision & procrastination + some bursts of laziness + some bursts of busy-ness + a natural aversion to housework = mess. There's probably more to the equation.

Other? As in, is the space shared?

Anyway, I think the biggest, most important step will be making some plans on how to deal with it. Just need to figure that part out...... :chin:

I can relate to:

small house + plus no proper storage/cabinets + too many things for the space I do have + a little confusion, indecision & procrastination + some bursts of laziness + some bursts of busy-ness + a natural aversion to housework = mess.

Hmmm... I was going to be selective, but they all apply.

I used to share my space and my wife was a knitter and spinner, with a weakness for shoes and handbags. We had (I still have) plastic tubs of yarn, fleece and axillary tools and equipment, plus two trunks full of knitwear. We recommend plastic tubs with lids (some in all sizes, including those that slide under the bed). Steamer trunks work reasonably well and can be used for party seating. Wardrobes. Around Puddle City there are a number of "antique" dealers who are basically buying European stuff and importing it. Decent deals used to be possible for chiffarobes, wardrobes and other self-contained cabinetry. My curse is books, so I have a fair amount of my wall space dedicated to book storage. I also find it useful for storing other things of interest, like souvenirs and hats.

I find that if I establish dedicated locales for material on it's way out (recycleable paper, etc.) and strive to keep them contained and sorted on a fairly frequent basis. Dedicated times for doing regular jobs has worked well in the past for me.

LadyShea

01-12-2006, 10:00 PM

I bought a bunch of those plain, 3-ring binders with the pocket in front to display stuff. A whole case is like 20.00 or something.

Anyhoo, I create project folders. I had one for my IVF, I have one with printed calendar pages and everyone's birthdays and addresses, I have one for Cade's book project, I had one for our trip to the UK last year. You can divide and tab them, color code them, put cool pictures on the front cover, put pockets or envelopes in for receipts, etc.

What kinds of things are you trying to remember/get motivated about? If I don't deem it "important" I am lazy about it (like cleaning house)...I couldn't be this organized for everything.

ETA: I have heard awesome things about this site, you could try it http://www.flylady.net/

freemonkey

01-18-2006, 08:21 PM

Other? As in, is the space shared?
Yes, and he (husband) is also not a neat freak. He's the drop the clothes on the floor where you're standing when you take them off kind of guy. And he doesn't clean up after himself. But that's OK.
I can relate to:

I used to share my space and my wife was a knitter and spinner, with a weakness for shoes and handbags. We had (I still have) plastic tubs of yarn, fleece and axillary tools and equipment, plus two trunks full of knitwear. We recommend plastic tubs with lids (some in all sizes, including those that slide under the bed).
I'm wondering why you still have this stuff, but I realize that's probably very personal for you. :huggle:

Steamer trunks work reasonably well and can be used for party seating. Wardrobes. Around Puddle City there are a number of "antique" dealers who are basically buying European stuff and importing it. Decent deals used to be possible for chiffarobes, wardrobes and other self-contained cabinetry. My curse is books, so I have a fair amount of my wall space dedicated to book storage. I also find it useful for storing other things of interest, like souvenirs and hats.
I would love to have that kind of stuff, wardrobes, shelves, trunks, whatever. The problem is money when you add it up, it gets to be a lot. Over the years I've picked up shelving as needed, and I just get what I can afford and fills the space/need I have at the time. Not a very good way to manage things, I know.

And finding a mutual consensus on what to buy when we do decide to do it. That's another issue.

We've got an armoire in the bedroom for clothes, plus a couple mismatched dressers. I've got bookshelves behind the bedroom door, but we've grown out of them. I need to build better shelves back there, but am lacking some of the skills/tools to do it right. I may have to hire someone to help me.

I'd also love to build a new closet in another room, as it will be hard to sell this house without them. I'm actually thinking of a modular deal from Ikea that I can buy over time. Just a thought.

Dedicated times for doing regular jobs has worked well in the past for me.
I think I'm finding that the time thing is at the heart of my problem. I'll write more on this later.

freemonkey

01-18-2006, 08:24 PM

I bought a bunch of those plain, 3-ring binders with the pocket in front to display stuff. A whole case is like 20.00 or something.

Anyhoo, I create project folders. I had one for my IVF, I have one with printed calendar pages and everyone's birthdays and addresses, I have one for Cade's book project, I had one for our trip to the UK last year. You can divide and tab them, color code them, put cool pictures on the front cover, put pockets or envelopes in for receipts, etc.
That's a really good idea..... tkaes up less space than filing cabinet's, doesn't it?

What kinds of things are you trying to remember/get motivated about? If I don't deem it "important" I am lazy about it (like cleaning house)...I couldn't be this organized for everything. everything, lately. If I don't have to do it for someone else, I don't feel like doing it. Maybe its because its winter, though.

freemonkey

01-18-2006, 08:26 PM

Mind you, I still have one 12-inch shelf of organizing books . . . the others were just the ones I got rid of. I kept the best ones!
which ones are your favs?

maddog

01-19-2006, 03:03 AM

I like Steven Covey's 7-Habits books for inspiration and a way to use a calendar/datebook/planner.

The Organization Map by Pam McClellan "thinks" the way I do, in terms of spaces and what you need to do in them.

Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern does a lot of strategizing about how to overcome psychological blocks, and making an action plan to tackle particular areas.

Confessions of an Organized Housewife by Deniece Schofield covers four types of containers/systems for organizing your stuff and then adapts it to what you have/need in your house.

Stephanie Winston's Best Organizing Tips also has good hints.

The "Organized Housewife" book talked about "centering" your kitchen, having the stuff to do one kind of operation all grouped together. The Side-Tracked Sisters Catch-up in the Kitchen capitalizes on this and goes into great detail. The Sidetracked Sisters' organizing schtick is 3x5 index cards, but that was too complicated for me.

Jeff Campbell, of the Clean Team, has some little books about how to do housework efficiently. One of his little books is about controlling clutter.

Lauri Ward's Use What You Have Decorating shows how to place furniture in a room so that it's more focused, looks better, and is easier to get around and is more functional.

Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger is devoted to the paper monster in my house. I can't tell you how much I hate the mail!

Then I go for the picture books of storage ideas.
Sarah Susanka - Not So Big Solutions for Your Home
Lorrie Mack - Conran's Living in Small Spaces
Elizabeth Hilliard - Simple Storage Solutions
Paige Gilchrist - Country Living Stylish Storage
Wolfman & Gold - A Place for Everything
Maxine Ordesky - The Complete Home Organizer
Martha Stewart - Good Things for Organizing
and the Pottery Barn's Storage & Display book

This group of books gives you a way to see how people solve storage problems in real homes, esp. some small homes. You can see an idea, and think of how something like that might work for you. I find the pictures really idea-provoking.

That's what's on my shelf right now!

ETA: similar to the picture books, I like architectural style books. I like the Arts & Crafts movement, 20th C. "Moderne" and Zen style, so I have several of these books as well. I use them in the same way. I see something I like in a picture, about how clean the lines are in a room, and think about how to do that myself. My old house was a 1920's small house. My current house is a 1970's California ranch. Each style has things to recommend it, and I like looking at the pictures to see how to "use" the spaces both to suit my purposes, and to remain in keeping with the feel and style of the house. Of course, the architectural style books are a whole 'nother shelf!

ETA2: And I have three new ones I haven't really tried out yet:
Simplify Your Life by Marcia Ramsland
Organize Your Garage in No Time by Barry Izsak
The Declutter Workbook by Mary Lambert
#668

JoeP

01-19-2006, 10:41 AM

*dumb admiration*

I think of myself as a pretty organised (or more accurately, organising) person. But I don't have a single book on organising methods and habits.

Who has time to read so many books on time management? :D

maddog

01-19-2006, 02:57 PM

You're pretty organized. You don't NEED any books!

Who buys 'em? People who are sitting in piles of crap! Hey, reading or looking at a book about it is WAY more FUN than cleaning up the crap!

Pathetic, no?
#669

JoeP

01-19-2006, 08:18 PM

I have piles of stuff waiting to be organised.
Hey, reading or looking at a book about it is WAY more FUN than cleaning up the crap!I can understand that ...

freemonkey

01-19-2006, 08:53 PM

Who buys 'em? People who are sitting in piles of crap! Hey, reading or looking at a book about it is WAY more FUN than cleaning up the crap!
Hey! I resemble that remark! :ffwink:

Actually, I'm learning more and more about my specific issues these last couple weeks. I read the book, Making Peace With The Things In Your Life (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312284888/sr=1-1/qid=1137702589/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-3209978-9203860?%5Fencoding=UTF8)and some things hit home. One concept in particular: One Thing At A Time.

When I was younger I could do all kinds of things at once. I knew where everything was. I got everything done. I worked a demanding 40+ hour job, had relationships, hobbies, socialized, PLUS art and music stuff.

As I've aged, I've lost something. Memory.... energy.... ability to multitask.... I don't know. At the same time, I don't know how to do One Thing At A Time, either. So I get completely overwhelmed when I see a pile of stuff. :sadcheer: I just need to learn how to slow my brain down and focus.

I'm also a perfectionist/procrastinator who can get things done for everyone else, but not for myself. I don't know when that happened.

On the up side.... In counting up my stuff, I realize that on the scale of too much, I'm really not so bad. Its just that a lot of it is not properly housed, and there are solutions to that.

My time management problems are also a matter of my needing to confront my perfectionism and procrastination issues head on. :hm: And learning to stop and plan my day. I have a hell of a time making that To Do list.

Finally, it has been at least 2 weeks since I've been in a second-hand store. Even when I did not buy a thing, the bargain-hunting chewed up a good amount of my time. I feel quite proud of myself for resisting the urge. :bowing:

maddog, I do have that Organizing From The Inside Out book, plus her other one on time management (both picked up at Goodwill, but that was like a month ago!). I've thumbed through both but I've not gotten in-depth, yet. What, in particular, do you really like about her?

ms_ann_thrope

01-23-2006, 01:18 AM

freemonkey, thought of you this weekend while perusing 'PARADE' in the Sunday paper. It included a pretty good feature on strategies for getting (and staying) organized. In case you missed it, the article will be posted here (http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_01-22-2006/Reorganize) starting on Wednesday. :1thumbup:

inland wave

02-14-2010, 03:09 AM

I know, I know, dredging up old threads, but it fits my thoughts for the moment.
I have time management problems, fitting everything in can be frustrating. Self motivation is also an issue these days, but I am getting better, hopefully much better after today. I need a place of my own for study and work projects and have wanted for years to remodel the home office, but have decided to work with what I have and make it a place that I can use to become a more focused student. The office is off the den and has a door that can be closed for privacy. It has a desk top that is the length of the back wall and book shelves above the work area that also take up the length of the wall. There is a space beside the furnace closet that has room for another desk but is now occupied by a lateral filing cabinet that is filled with STUFF at the moment. I want to move the filing cabinet out and move the computer that currently resides in the master bedroom in the space which will make the area another work space. I got the bug to clean up the office and make use of it today. I removed an old printer, cleaned the space moving other electronic equipment to clean the complete desk. The desk has nice size drawers underneath to place pencils and other office items. I have an old metal sewing machine base that has wheels and a Formica top that I can use to make a L shaped section for working with school and office projects. It moves with ease so it works perfectly for the space. On the other side of the movable table is the community computer that everyone uses. We have two printers, I removed one and left the dell printer in hopes of replacing it with a wireless all-in-one printer in April. I have setup a second monitor for both my personal and work laptops. It's been sitting around, so I decided to put it use and it works nicely. My I-pod/FM radio base is on the movable table and the house phone sits by my monitors in easy reach. Next weekend I will work on the bookcase shelves on my side of the desk. I wish I had been creative and put the workspace together a couple of years ago. Better late than never I guess. Nice...cozy....feels good, yep, I like it and Ding is impressed with the space conversion.
I will post picks when the space is completed in a couple of weeks.

wildernesse

02-14-2010, 04:33 AM

Yay for a new project area, iw! It's so nice to have a space that is comforting and set up just right.

We are in the midst of a major decluttering spree, as we prepare to move. We took a car load and a half of things out of the house today--recycling, trash, thrift store donations, etc. There are probably 3 car loads left. And yet we will still have an apartment-full when we are done. It's a little disheartening, especially when I realize that I've been decluttering for the past year in anticipation of moving! We are accumulating at a much slower rate than in the past, so that's something positive.

We emptied the attic today, and will review the contents of the bins we pulled down tomorrow. My goal is to have the closets all packed up by the time RA goes back to Houston. That will leave me the kitchen to work on this coming week.

Every thing we get rid of now is one less thing that we have to pack and move.

inland wave

02-14-2010, 04:41 AM

I can totally relate. Just remember to move around every few years to keep the clutter down. Now that we have been in the same place for 9 years, I see the clutter piling up and I am ready to purge or move.....

wildernesse

02-14-2010, 02:30 PM

The last place we lived, we were there for 6 years and we probably had a dumpster full of things to chunk. This time, it has only been 3 years for me being here.

Right now, the attic and linen closet are empty. I'm about to pack up the china cabinet as much as I can. Later today, we'll empty the two large bedroom closets. I would like to pack the small appliances today also, and the kitchen cabinet with the extra plates and serving pieces. We'll see how far I get.

Dingfod

02-14-2010, 06:13 PM

OMG! Hoarders!

inland wave

02-14-2010, 06:16 PM

I was thinking today, that when I graduate I will get rid of all my papers except statistics and college algebra. Most all of this work was done on the board and lecture not from the book. (probably will scan onto the hard drive) The rest will be on line in the college library that I will have access to from now on. I am finding that I use algebra more than I thought I would and I find stats interesting, but not something I would like to do on a full time basis. The rest of the stuff I will chunk. I am thinking about buying a portable hard drive to store info and get rid of flash drives entirely. I have found that flash drives are really flaky. If I work on things and save them from my laptop or work laptop and use it at school on one of their computers it will corrupt my data. I hate it when that happens cause I can't retrieve the data and I am not going to spend a hundred dollars for a program that says it will and do a half ass job of getting my information back. (I know, I need to have a back up on the hard drive, but I get in a hurry and forget to save it).