GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW

Family, work, travel, commuting, home life, kids, pets, homework, college... It's a busy, busy world. How you organize your life can affect how you handle it and, in some instances, help to alleviate the stressors of the day. While some people think that organizational skills are innate, the truth is that, with practice, anybody can learn organizational skills to increase personal productivity.

The following are tips to help get your "ducks in a row" and become more organized:

• If you get it out, put it away. Precious time can be saved by designating a place for items and then returning them to this area when you are finished using them
• Keep a master calendar or daily planner. A visual depiction of appointments, commitments, and special occasions can help you to be prepared in advance. It can also help you to not over-commit yourself. Look at what obligations you have in the upcoming week and then plan ahead so as not to be caught off guard. This is also a great way to "schedule" time to relax and rejuvenate.
• If you finish it, replenish it. An easy way to avoid those time-consuming trips to the store because you have mysteriously run out of a household staple is to purchase 2 of the item. Place one item in its designated area and store the second one. When you use the entire first item, replace it with the second stored item and make a list of these items that need replenished for future shopping trips.
• Let go of clutter. In the last 30 years the size of the average American house has doubled while the size of the average American family has halved. It's not that we don't have enough space; we have too much stuff. Clutter can throw a wrench into the best made plans for becoming organized. A good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you have not used in the past 6 months. If you are still in question, put the item away in a box for up to a year. If after a year you have still not used the item, chances are you never will.
• Set mini-goals for success. Large tasks can be overwhelming and often left undone due to this fact. Learn to break large tasks into smaller tasks. If you need to organize all of your kitchen cabinets and don't know where to start, try doing 2 cabinets a day rather than all of them at once. This sense of accomplishment will keep you motivated to finish the rest. Be sure to reward yourself once the project is complete.
• Rome was not built in a day (or by one person). Organizational skills need to be practiced so do not become discouraged if you don't see results over night. Also, don't be afraid to delegate responsibilities. Are you forever behind in doing the laundry? Teach your pre-teen or teenager to assist you with this task. Post directions in the laundry room that they can refer to when you aren't at home.

Resources:

• Organizing Network
  Bringing Order To Your Life - Tips, Checklists & How-To's, the nicer we are to ourselves, the nicer we are to others. And it doesn't have to take all day using these tricks. Information on self, finance, family and home. Also, register for free newsletter. http://www.organizingnetwork.com/register_user.php
• Tips for Maximizing Your Time and Space - Multiple categories to fix everyone's life. http://www.organizedarticles.com/category/getting-organized

Books:

• Streetwise: Time Management
  
• Get More Done with Less Stress by Efficiently Managing Your Time by Marshall Cook
  Easy to read, a new way to look at the way you spend your time. Ranges from very general to specific.
• Absolutely Organized: A Mom's Guide to a No-stress Schedule & Clutter Free Home by Debbie Lillard
Easy to read, organize time and belonging. Includes a worksheet.