Organized Chaos: Contain Your Life
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Life is Chaotic- Don't Control it, Organize it
Any attempt to control such a chaotic thing as life, especially in the dynamic environment of the family, is an exercise in futility. Because your life is constantly changing, the only way you can live free is by organizing as best you can, preparing for the unexpected, and holding on for the ride. My hope for this lens is to offer you some of the most efficient organizational tools to help you live a full life.
Featured Organization Tip
Space Planning
The main reason clutter takes over is because of a lack of planning. If you take a little time to plan your space appropriately, you will be able to recognize when an item is out of place. Here is a description of the method I use. It has been the best way I have found to plan for space.
These steps may not be the best for you, maybe you are more talented and can plan your space in fewer steps. The important thing is to have a plan. This will prevent you mentally from allowing the clutter to overrun your life.
The main reason clutter takes over is because of a lack of planning. If you take a little time to plan your space appropriately, you will be able to recognize when an item is out of place. Here is a description of the method I use. It has been the best way I have found to plan for space.
- Sit down and draw a quick, rough sketch of the room. It doesn't have to be pretty, it just helps to function as a mental guide.
- On another sheet of paper list off all of the available space in the room. For example, furniture with drawer space, closet areas, etc. You can make your list as detailed or as general as you want. The important thing is that you have a very good working idea of the space you have available.
- Create another short list of the things you need to store in the space. This may sound like a big task, but your list does not have to be very detailed. It just needs to be a list of collection items. For example, instead of listing shampoo, conditioner, make-up, etc., lump them all under the category of "toiletries".
- Working within your space limitations, assign the things you need to store to specific areas or spaces. Be creative in this and try to find the combination that will be the most functionally efficient.
- If you have more stuff left over than you have space to assign them to, evaluate the things you plan to store. Is there anything you can throw out or donate? Is there anything that could be condensed somehow?
- If you have culled out all the excess and you still need more space, think vertical. Without sacrificing precious floor space, vertical organizers can make the most of a small amount of square footage.
- Carry out your plan, rinse and repeat.
These steps may not be the best for you, maybe you are more talented and can plan your space in fewer steps. The important thing is to have a plan. This will prevent you mentally from allowing the clutter to overrun your life.
Online Organizational Tools
- Organized Families
- This site boasts that it's goal is to "provide a free venue online where mothers can locate information and resources to help organize their schedule, reach their goals, manage their homes, work, and family life."
- Get Organized Now
- This site offers several great resources including an organizational idea-pak.
- Fly Lady
- Fly Lady is an organizational hero! She once was like all of us- struggling with "CHAOS" (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), but she conquered her piles of mess and teaches us how to do the same. She even offers some ideas for a date night with your significant other.
- Real Simple
- This is the website for the popular print magazine. The site features simple ways to solve the problems life offers.
- Tips to Organize Life
- This site is maintained by a wife and mother who loves her open-door policy. This love has lead to a passion for organizing so she will never be caught in those awkward embarrassing moments when you are ashamed for other people to see your house. After years of finding tips, tricks and tools to be the housewife with an open-door policy, she shares her knowledge with you.
Organizational Tools From Amazon
ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/12/2009) 
Get It Together: Organize Your Records So Your Family Won't Have To (Book with CD-Rom)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009)
Organize for Disaster: Prepare Your Family and Your Home for Any Natural Or Unnatural Disaster
Amazon Price: $10.87 (as of 07/12/2009)
Organize Your Work Day In No Time
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/12/2009)
Organizational Stores
These stores cater to organization. It's what they do and they do it well.
- Container Store
- This is absolutely my favorite organizational store. They are constantly coming up with new, innovative ways to organize your life with style. They are also the business behind Real Simple Magazine.
- California Closets
- If you have money to spend on closet organization, this company is the best. While I admit it is pricey, you will get what you pay for!
- Lowes
- If money is an issue, but you still want quality, check out Lowes. They offer many items comparable to that of specialty stores like The Container Store and California Closets but without the inflated price tag.
Puzzle Play
Think you have what it takes to be an organizer? Try this puzzle to test your skills!
Make Organizing Your Career
If you love organizing and want to make it your career, this is the right place for you to be! Each of the links below will help you to create and support a booming new career as a professional organizer.
- National Association of Professional Organizers
- This site is great at providing lots of tips and ideas for turning your passion for organization into a profitable business. Membership will gain you access to specific benefits, opportunities, and networking available to members only.
- Professional-Organizer Training
- Offering training courses in professional training, this site could jump start your career in the field of professional organization. You can take the course at your own speed in the comfort of your own home.
- Professional Organization Certification
- If you are serious about building an organizing career, you need to get certified. It's a simple way to reassure your clients that you are legitimate and deserve their business.
Great Stuff on CafePress
Value T-shirt
"Professional Organizers are too lazy to look for their stuff." How comically true! I love this shirt!
Price: 13.99
Organizers Unite
Are you an organizer, or an organizer-in-training? Be sure to leave your mark below!
Catalysthere wrote...
Great tips for getting and staying organised, you are a featured lens for this week in http://www.squidoo.com/groups/Socialpostingangel
Posted September 08, 2008
annetteghallowell wrote...
In work I have always been extremely organized, but it never seems to carry over to my house! Thanks for a well organized and informative lens! 5*g
Posted August 20, 2008
tplus wrote...
Welcome to Get Ratings, Give Ratings! I'm all about organizing! Great lens:)
Posted June 04, 2008
kidzparties wrote...
I love this lens. I am an organisation freak and after completing the puzzle in under the average time I am proud to say that I am officially organised!! 5 stars *
Posted May 22, 2008
Featured Organization Tips Archive
Tidy Tunes
Clean up clutter quick using music! First, make a CD of five songs that you like, preferably they will all be very energized and upbeat. Personally, I love 80's Rock for this purpose! Put it on, crank it up, and get to work. Only work for as long as the CD is going, which should be approximately fifteen minutes. Remember your goal for this time is to spruce up the main living areas, not to clean one corner for the full amount of time. Hopefully the great tunes will help you avoid getting too bogged down in the nitty-gritty and allow you to keep it at the once-over level.
Clean up clutter quick using music! First, make a CD of five songs that you like, preferably they will all be very energized and upbeat. Personally, I love 80's Rock for this purpose! Put it on, crank it up, and get to work. Only work for as long as the CD is going, which should be approximately fifteen minutes. Remember your goal for this time is to spruce up the main living areas, not to clean one corner for the full amount of time. Hopefully the great tunes will help you avoid getting too bogged down in the nitty-gritty and allow you to keep it at the once-over level.
by cherangelry
I am a lover of learning. With a degree in psychology, I am currently working towards becoming an occupational therapist. Along my academic journey, I... (more)
