What is Organization?
Organization is being able to find what you need, when you need it. There are a lot of misconceptions, though, that can lead to discouragement, so let’s talk about some things that organization is not.
What is Organization Not?
Organization is not neatness. Usually, neatness will go along with organization, at least to a degree, but the two are not equal. Many people are “pilers” rather than “filers” and there is a method to their madness. Just because your desktop has stuff on it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re “disorganized.” It might just mean there’s stuff on your desk. 😉
Organization is not all-or-nothing. Your baking supplies and your kids’ closet may be disasters, but that doesn’t make you an organizational failure. You probably have plenty of other areas that are well under control. We each have dozens and dozens of “categories” we have to organize in our homes and our lives, and it’s pretty much a given that some of them will get lost in the shuffle on occasion, at least in part due to our next point…
Organization is not a one-time accomplishment. It’s a process. As our lives change: we move, children grow older, babies are born, we add or drop hobbies, etc., our organizational needs change. Things are in a constant state of flux. That means we must constantly make adjustments! Occasionally, we have to reassess the situation, to see if needs changed without our noticing and making the necessary adjustments. If many life changes have taken place over a short period of time, it may have simply been impossible to keep up, and we may find ourselves “behind.” If that’s you, please give yourself grace! It will take time to address all the areas where your needs have changed.
So Where Do We Start?
Once you have accepted these truths as fact, you have to assess your needs. What’s working? What’s not working? What do you need places for (items and activities)? What will you use your spaces for?
If you’re using the worksheets (which have been corrected for a typo since I originally posted them — thanks, Mom!), you can use them in whichever order works best for you. Some people will need to start with the “what’s working?” questions. Others will already know what “stuff” they need to make room for. Still others will know what activities they need to accommodate, and fit them in room-by-room. Do whatever works for you!
[Organization is not a one-time accomplishment. It’s a process.] – I love this sentence of your article. One thing I get from most people that enter my home is, “Your so organized, will you ‘do’ my house?” I used to jump in and go “clean someone’s house” thinking I was helping them only to see it chaotic the next time I visited. But organization is like brushing your teeth, it has to be done daily. It is not a one-time thing. AND the other thing I tell people is that it is probably going to take a little bit of investment for storage containers, shelves, etc. And the third obstacle I run into is that people won’t throw things away. You can’t keep every card, letter and trinket, there just isn’t room, well, that is if you want to live organized.
We actually have “things” we have to keep until certain people die. (This does not come from me). These “things” are in boxes in our storage area and have been for years.
Organization is a discipline. I have always said, “God is a God of order and I was created in His image, so what else would I be if I was not orderly?” 🙂
Persoanllly, for me, I can’t think when things are out of order so therefore, my immediate surroundings have to be orderly for me to even function. I guess I am CDO (OCD, in order).