CONFESSION: I am not organized…. at all!! An old
friend just found this out a few days ago, and was in utter shock. Why?
Because many moons ago, I was organized. I’m
talking OCD organized. At work, I drove my co-workers nuts with my organization
and expected them to do the same. At home, my closet was color coded,
shirts were hung in order of sleeve size (sleeveless, short sleeve, long
sleeve) and color coded within those categories. I remember when I
student taught and my mentor teacher chuckled as I labeled and organized
her entire classroom. I remember her saying “Wait till you have
your own classroom, you won’t be able to keep this up.” And boy was
she right! I started out strong, but as the year wore on, my
organization began to slip. And it seems now that is how my teaching
year goes. I start out super organized, everything is labeled, etc.
Then slowly is creeps up on me. I’m the queen of piles… thinking
I’ll put it away later that day, but somehow the pile is there the next day.
Until I end up staying late just to organize and clean up. In the
last 3 years, I’ve gotten married, moved into our forever home, and had a baby
(the last 2 happened last within the same year) . So … I think you know
where I’m headed here…. my home and classroom are not as organized as I’d
like.
friend just found this out a few days ago, and was in utter shock. Why?
Because many moons ago, I was organized. I’m
talking OCD organized. At work, I drove my co-workers nuts with my organization
and expected them to do the same. At home, my closet was color coded,
shirts were hung in order of sleeve size (sleeveless, short sleeve, long
sleeve) and color coded within those categories. I remember when I
student taught and my mentor teacher chuckled as I labeled and organized
her entire classroom. I remember her saying “Wait till you have
your own classroom, you won’t be able to keep this up.” And boy was
she right! I started out strong, but as the year wore on, my
organization began to slip. And it seems now that is how my teaching
year goes. I start out super organized, everything is labeled, etc.
Then slowly is creeps up on me. I’m the queen of piles… thinking
I’ll put it away later that day, but somehow the pile is there the next day.
Until I end up staying late just to organize and clean up. In the
last 3 years, I’ve gotten married, moved into our forever home, and had a baby
(the last 2 happened last within the same year) . So … I think you know
where I’m headed here…. my home and classroom are not as organized as I’d
like.
Enter my 2016 goal:
This year I want to start to create habits that will help me be
organized all of the time. Not just when I’m cleaning
up! I want to put systems in place that will help me to continue to be
organized both now and in the future. I know that if I work on it
everyday and keep it up that I won’t have to spend hours doing it all in one
day.
organized all of the time. Not just when I’m cleaning
up! I want to put systems in place that will help me to continue to be
organized both now and in the future. I know that if I work on it
everyday and keep it up that I won’t have to spend hours doing it all in one
day.
One thing that stops me is that it always takes so long to
organize. But I realize that it because I don’t take a few minutes each
day, or put something away right away, and things tend to pile up. That’s
why my goal is to START organizing and create habits where I
will take a few minutes everyday to stay organized. In order to get
anything done you have to start somewhere, right?!
organize. But I realize that it because I don’t take a few minutes each
day, or put something away right away, and things tend to pile up. That’s
why my goal is to START organizing and create habits where I
will take a few minutes everyday to stay organized. In order to get
anything done you have to start somewhere, right?!
To help my on this journey, my amazing hubby bought me an Erin
Condren Life Planner!! Whooo!! I’m so excited!
Condren Life Planner!! Whooo!! I’m so excited!
Here’s my simple plan for using my life planner:
The picture on the top right is the monthly view and the bottom right is the daily view.
Do you have any successful organizational tips to share? How do you stay organized throughout the year? I’d Love to hear your tips!
