I can't seem to stay organized. Can you please give me some pointers on how to get organized and stay that way?
By Wit's end
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It's just a matter of setting your mind and getting in the habit of staying organized.
If you have too much materialism, you can stay organized easier by dejunking your life of stuff that you no longer use.
Do one room at a time or you won't be able to see your progress, and that could discourage you. Starting in the first room, have a keep box, a donate box and a trash sack. Decide what you will do with each item, then pitch the trash, drop off the donate items, and place each item from the keep box in the room you want it to permanently be. Once one room is organized, move on to the next room.
Lots of people keep items just because someone has given them to him/her and he/she doesn't want to hurt that person's feelings by getting rid of it. If you don't really want it, get rid of it.
Also, some people keep items because they bring back a memory. Remember that the item is not the memory, and even if you get rid of the item, the memory will still be with you.
To keep everything in order, make it a house rule that when anyone 'uses' anything, they must put it back where it goes as soon as they finish using it.
Do you misplace the same item; cell phone, car keys, wallet, glasses, remote often? Have you ever heard of "A place for everything and everything in its place"? Figure out what that place is and stick to always putting the item in that place. If you find you have chosen a place that just doesn't work, change that place. Some items may need "a place" and "an alternative place".
Do you have multiple pairs of scissors but can never find one when you need it? Mark each pair with the room where it belongs and hold each family member to put it in that place.
More hints in a minute.
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When straightening the house, put all items that are not needed in that room into a container and walk around later (or have the kids do it), putting them away. If you are cleaning a drawer, do the same thing. Take everything out, dust it and only put back what belongs there.
If you find that you are wasting time at cleanup time, figure out what is holding you up. If you have a pile of magazines near your desk and you find that you always begin to read them instead of organizing your desk, move them to another room permanently. Have a reading place that you can use When you are done straightening!
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If kids or spouse are a distraction, set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes and tell them that they cannot interrupt you until it goes off. Work fast for that time and only stop if there is an emergency. Don't answer the phone. If you think of something else you need to do, don't stop to do it at that time.
If you go to work each day and use a computer, keep a list on your email each day at work to remind yourself what you need to do at home. Email it to yourself as you are leaving work.
Every evening, I do a walk around to put stuff away. If one area always needs the same stuff moved, I know I need to rethink how I am organizing that stuff/area since it isn't working.
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