| I admit it. I'm a pile maker. Piles in the | | | | that list. |
| closet, piles in shelves, piles in cupboards, | | | | |
| piles in the corner. I'm always digging | | | | In the kitchen, I am designating part of a |
| through a pile somewhere looking for stuff. | | | | cupboard just for cookbooks & recipes. Also |
| I was sitting down a couple days ago and | | | | put my control journal in this cupboard. |
| thinking about getting better organized. A | | | | What is a Control Journal? Its a 3 ring |
| couple times, I've gotten the right idea & I | | | | binder for keeping track of chores, meal |
| have a few little plastic drawer carts for | | | | planners, grocery lists, supplies, and |
| things like the kid's craft supplies. That | | | | addresses of your friends, families, doctors, |
| works great. So I was thinking, how can I | | | | vet, insurance agent, etc. Two good places |
| apply that to the rest of my "stuff?" | | | | for forms and checklists are the Yahoo |
| | | | Control Journal Group and the Flylady |
| I sat down & started making categories for | | | | |
| the things I saw in the piles. I realized | | | | And then there is the physical activity |
| that the bulk of the piles were all my stuff. | | | | stuff. I had designated a couple of shelves |
| I never thought of it this way before, but | | | | of a plastic bookshelf for my husband's |
| it turns out to be categories for my | | | | hockey gear. But things don't stay on it |
| interests. Child Development, Counseling, | | | | well and it takes up a lot of room when stuff |
| Zen Spiritual, Home Economics, Computer | | | | is side-by-side. I was thinking about those |
| Games, Reading/Education, Physical | | | | little plastic drawer carts that worked so |
| activities, Clothes & body care. | | | | well for my craft supplies. I had some old |
| | | | empty file boxes and so I filled them up with |
| My husband's stuff consists of weights, | | | | things like iceskates, tennis rackets, balls, |
| hockey gear, books, computer gadgets and | | | | & snow gear. 'Made my own drawers to put on |
| equipment and clothes. Then we have kids | | | | the shelves - I don't put lids on them, |
| stuff such as bedding, toys, clothes. My | | | | letting things like a tennis racket stick |
| husband's stuff and the kids' stuff all have | | | | out. This could also work with plastic bins |
| places to go. I have designed our space for | | | | or baskets. And you could even label them so |
| their stuff. Not mine. My stuff just gets | | | | that if kids or spouses get into them, they |
| piled in random obscure places that are left | | | | know where to put stuff back. This was so |
| over. I give my interests and my stuff low | | | | convenient, I think I'm going to get another |
| importance. Wow. That was an eye opener. | | | | one and do the same thing with tools. |
| | | | |
| I have a lot of books and files. So I | | | | The one I saved for last is the one I was |
| started looking at which ones of my interests | | | | most dreading: my clothes, jewelry, shoes, |
| could go into filing cabinets. Child | | | | hair, skin and body care. Our bedroom has a |
| development is my preschool curriculum files, | | | | tiny closet, so I used Fashion Mash to |
| books and resources -that can definitely go | | | | organize my clothes into outfits. I found |
| in a filing cabinet grouped by topic. | | | | that some things I never wear because they |
| Counseling/Psych has a lot of research files | | | | just don't match anything and so they are |
| and books. That can go in a file drawer. | | | | going with stuff that doesn't fit anymore to |
| Reading/Education is mostly all books, so | | | | be donated. Since our closet is so little |
| that can go on a bookshelf together. Zen | | | | anything that can be folded like jeans, |
| Spiritual is books, papers & videos on | | | | sweaters and even some T-shirts are going in |
| Christianity, Reiki, Taoism, & Feng Shui. | | | | drawers and on a shelf. We have this old |
| That can go in a file drawer. Computer games | | | | wicker trunk, so my shoes went in it and now |
| I want to keep can go on the bookshelf and my | | | | my cat enjoys sitting on it. |
| notes on computer games I'm designing, can go | | | | |
| into a file drawer. I'm keeping only what I | | | | And here is where yet another drawer cart |
| really need. Nice new books will go to the | | | | came to the rescue. One drawer has my hair |
| library, older stuff is going to the | | | | stuff. A second drawer has my jewelry. The |
| Salvation Army or the Goodwill thrift stores. | | | | third drawer has the skin care, deodorant and |
| | | | everything I use in the morning. The last |
| Home Economics is a big category for me. My | | | | drawer has my nighttime stuff, fingernail |
| craft supplies are decently organized in the | | | | polish and things I use less often. Makeup |
| drawer carts like I mentioned. However, I | | | | and most personal care products have a shelf |
| don't have a place for scrapbooks, so I will | | | | life, so take the age of your products into |
| have to plan bookshelf space for those. Next | | | | consideration when you decide what to keep. |
| are Finances. I used to have that nicely | | | | |
| organized in a file cabinet, but we've moved | | | | I'm still working on some of it. I'd love to |
| since then & I never got started again. I | | | | hear back on anyone else's organization |
| found a good list of family records to keep | | | | tricks & tips! |
| and I'm shredding everything that is not in | | | | |