Do you have trouble organizing because you are easily distracted and have trouble focusing?
I do too and sometimes I feel like I am organizing with ADD. I have not been officially diagnosed, but I definitely don’t think in a linear, analytic way and I am so very easily distracted. Organizing life can become overwhelming very quickly.
The three primary ways I make organizing simpler are:
1. Write everything down in one place;
2. Use the 10 Minutes a Day Declutter approach focusing on one area at a time;
3. Organize things into large groupings instead of worrying about all the small details.
My key secret to staying organized is creating a weekly plan. Each Sunday night I take time to review my long term goals as well as the appointments and obligations I have for the upcoming week. I choose the priorities and tasks that I want and need to accomplish and I schedule time for each of them in my planner. Life doesn’t always go according to plan, but I am much more likely to complete my goals when I have them written down.
You can read How to Create a Weekly Plan here.
In addition to my organizing with ADD problem, we also have the issues of organizing small living spaces in our current home and the fact that we have VERY little closet or storage space. (There is not even a pantry in the house!). My solution has been to purchase inexpensive shelving for each room. The problem with open shelving is that it’s open. 🙂 You can see everything, which means it can easily make a room look cluttered and disorganized.
This weekend I ditched the 10 Minutes a Day Decluttering idea and got motivated to do an entire house shelf overhaul. We had homeschool items on shelves in three rooms, office supplies scattered about, books and notebooks in boxes– and it was making me crazy. Again, I didn’t worry about the small details, but just grouped like items together.
My first project was the shelf next to my desk in our office space. I like to group things together in the way that I use them so it makes sense to me to use containers and baskets for storage. I found these baskets at the thrift store and paid $3.00 or less for each of them.
I moved everything off this shelf that doesn’t immediately apply to my current projects. Homeschool books were moved to another shelf and any other items were disposed of or placed where they belong.
As you can see, I like binders. They help my keep life organized into categories which helps me to focus on one thing at a time. I currently have my Brain in a Binder (watch my video here), my Holiday Planner (read more here), my Blogging Binder (watch my video here), my Financial Binder (this is a new one which I’ll be writing about soon), and three book projects.
I also like to use unusual containers for storage. I found this cool wooden box at the thrift store for $.99 and it’s perfect for organizing office supplies on the shelf.
My next project was the homeschool shelf. This shelf is in progress, but I have our text books and materials (the children have some in their rooms as well), journals that I keep for my children, magazines to cut up for art projects, etc. We have another shelf in our living room with more reading books.
I also had plastic bins filled with photo boxes in my bedroom closet, which didn’t leave much room for other items that needed to be in that closet. I took the photo boxes out this weekend and placed them on this shelf. I will be using the 10 Minutes A Day approach soon to organize the photos better so that I can start scrapbooking again.
If you would like more free ideas for organizing clutter check out my Organize On A Budget page here.
You can also follow my Pinterest Organizing Board here or follow all my Pinterest boards here.
How are you doing with your 10 Minute A Day projects? Leave a comment and let us know. 🙂
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Just found your blogspot a few minutes ago, as I am shuffling paper clutter from one place to another, not knowing what to do next. It’s all scrambled on my mind, seeing all your little post-its is exactly how my mind feels right now. I don’t stick to one project till completed before my mind wanders to other projects needing to be done. My mind never rest..it is so frustrating. What a perfect name for a blog! Count me in for a new follower/fan. The dining room and kitchen table are so cluttered. My bedroom is a mess with organizing, decorating and garden magazines on side of my bed that I’ve been looking through for ideas and information, clean clothes piled on my bed that need to be folded and put away and the list goes on and on. I pick up before the cleaning lady comes every other Monday and if I don’t get that accomplished before she comes, I change the sheets, make my bed and pile everything off the floor beside my bed neatly so she can vacumn and clean in that room. The sunroom carpet needs cleaning and the list goes on and on. My DH had surgery in Jan. and we’ve been” on a roller coaster” every since. It seems like he has one medical or health issue after another. I feel like screaming!
Hi Betty! Welcome! I have been in that place where everything is cluttered and scattered. One important step is to create a morning routine that you follow every day. You can start every morning by spending a few minutes of quiet and prayer before you look at anything else. Then go on to the next item in your routine. My Weekly Planner 3 would probably be a good fit for you. Here’s a link: https://thepeacefulmom.com/2011/08/31/the-peaceful-mom-weekly-planner-3/.
Just print out a copy of the planner on Sunday afternoon or evening and fill in the top portion with your focus for each day and any appointments in the lower section. Every morning, check it first thing and just work your way down the list on the morning routine. Let me know if you have other questions. 🙂
Hi Kimberlee, I wanted to let you know I linked to this post in my Weekend Goodies. It’s a linky party, so do come check it out. I’d love for you to share some more of your posts. I’ll be copying some of your shelving ideas this weekend :o)
Thanks so much Shannon!
I am doing my whole apartment when i recieve my federal tax refund within 2 weeks. I am expecting my 3rd and final baby may 2nd and my disabled bf and i live in a small 2 bedroom apt with my 2 boys and he has 2 daughters with an ex that visit. so its chaotic and stressful but i am hoping to get what i need to organize it so we can fit 2 cribs, my youngest baby is 7 months now, and other baby supplies in the apartment. i need to go up with the stuff instead of having 5 thousand (not really that much lol) shelves all over the place. its hard to have certain things when my bf is in a wheel chair so having things i can put on the wall or in the closet will help a ton for me! even using the extra pockets in my shoe organizer to put gloves and hats in!
Wow! You have a lot going on! Good for you for organizing to simplify your life!
Hey, everything looks great!!!
Thanks Elaine!