Battles VS Wars

I do not always identify ‘being organized’ as a talent, I usually label it an obsession, and sometimes I curse it.  Regardless the adjectives, I have it and hope that I can help others figure out how to take and use what they want of it without revealing too much of my own compulsion.

I recently came across a posting I liked on Facebook and shared it on my page. 5 Things... Tidy Homes

I laughed out loud as I saw myself in many of the descriptions. The one that I resemble the most is “being in the constant state of tidying”.  I know this about me now, but did not realize it until my husband pointed this habit out to me.  I’m pretty sure that a heightened level of anxiety about structure and order is passed down genetically and I can vouch that 3 generations upward in my family possess it – the jury is still out if my daughters have it or not. 

I’ll take suggestions where I can get them.  There are lots of lists on ways to KEEP organized; several more on how to GET there. I want to help you GET there.

How do you arrive at the point where you no longer have to declare a 3 day war on the chaos to create peace in your space?  Where do you begin to dismantle the clutter so that you can start to maintain?

I’ve said many times that the point is to JUST START.  Pick a drawer and begin.  Embark with one mini session and often times that will lead to another.

Start small.  Like 20 minutes small. 

Dedicating those no work Mondays to tearing apart the mess and setting up a system is very gratifying but it’s not necessary.  As much as I enjoy spending that extra holiday conquering my daughters’ bedroom, I prefer to engage in mini battles and keep my weekends free – it keeps my accomplishment list growing while still allowing me to enjoy time with my girls on a day off from school.

Much like a student with a test coming up or a term paper due, I will set a small amount of time aside several days a week to work on a task.  Depending on the goal and the deadline, I’ll adjust the length and the start time of the sessions to accommodate my needs.  Twenty minutes is a good length for my schedule and if I realize that I have to adjust my goal because I discover it’s impractical, I do so without guilt.  

At the end of each mini battle I have a completed drawer, shelf, or cabinet and I take a moment to relish in my micro accomplishment because that gives me motivation to engage again.  Add several of these up over the course of a month and the dresser, pantry, or hall storage is now complete and I’ve ticked several more things off of my TODO list.

Win one for order.