Part 2: Organized Bliss

In Part 1 of this series, "Organized Bliss", we talked about how to get yourself organized enough to start being organized. Relying on your to-do list is a great way to get started, but you may find yourself at a loss when it comes to tackling those big problem areas. Or, you do it like you're supposed to and it just doesn't stay organized enough. You need a solution. Here we have compiled some tips from people who are, what we refer to as, effective organizers, meaning that when they organize something, not only does it look great, but it stays that way for long periods of time.

First of all, you need to create a manageable habit that will help you to stay organized. Keeping a small notebook in your purse, desk, pocket, or even a digital one on your computer will give you access to your plan all day long. If you use several computers throughout the day, you can set up a personalized e-mail homepage that holds everything you need, like your e-mail, your calendar, a notepad, sticky notes, and it can even pop-up reminders for you. I love mine because I can access it from anywhere. I update things as they pop into my mind using my phone, my home computer, my work computer, wherever I am. When you have a constant running list, you never have to worry about forgetting anything. This alone can relieve a lot of the stress that puts you at a standstill when it comes to getting things done in your own life.

Studies show that it takes three weeks to one month to create a habit. Practice living the way that you want to live for a month and chances are it'll stick. If you dedicate thirty minutes to straightening up the kitchen every night, you'll start to feel like you need to do it to go to bed. Taking the clothes straight from the dryer and hanging them immediately on clothes hangers will keep you from having to iron and also help you to avoid leaving them in there too long.

I like to straighten up for fifteen minutes in the morning, start a load of laundry to wash, and then go to work. When I get home, I move the clothes to the dryer and get out whatever I will need to prepare dinner. After dinner, I clean for another 15 minutes, hang up the clothes from the dryer on the appropriate hangers, and then wheel them down the hall on rolling garment rack, putting them away as I go. When the rack is empty, I load it with the dirty clothes and back to the laundry room it goes.

It seems so easy to me now since I've made it a habit. I don't stress about how much laundry isn't done. I don't pay attention to things that didn't get completely done in my fifteen minutes, because I know I'll finish it in the morning. When I feel like it I do more, but the maintenance that is achieved from doing it twice a day keeps things from ever piling up.