It is my favorite time of year. The school year is wrapped up and it is time to get organized for the following year. Do you start to think about what you want to change for the new school year? How you want to manage the schedule better? There are so many things to reflect on and plan for.
Did you know that one mark of highly effective people is that they are organized? And the key to being more productive is to be organized. So how do you do it when you have a house full of kids and running a business from home?
There is a lot going on and sometimes it feels like the growing mountain of papers is going to overtake everything. But I have a solution for you, and it is not that time consuming. Here are the 4 steps on how to get organized.
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Where it Came From
But before we get into it. I need to tell you where I first saw this 4 step process. Ten years ago I taught a class on administration, and I came across an article from HGTV on 4 steps to organize your house. When I read the 4 steps, I thought, this can be applied to everything—from your home, to office, to schoolwork, to kids’ playroom.
These 4 steps on getting organized step by step can be applied across any field. Since, this was so helpful 10 years ago, I wanted to write a post on it as well. I tried to go back and find the article, but it is either no longer there or buried so deep in the archives it will never resurface. Even though I can’t find the original article, I wanted to give credit where credit is due. Here is my application on how to get organized in 4 easy steps.
Before You Get Organized
I am sure you don’t need someone telling you to get more organized and the benefits of it. You probably already know that. You may be thinking, “Yes, I know I need more organization in my life. But how do I start?”
First, here is the warning. You can overly organize yourself. Have you ever organized yourself to the point of not being able to find anything? You put something in the proverbial “safe place” and then you go to look for it, but you can’t remember where it is. I am sure all of us amazing mom bosses have never done this to ourselves. Because we are so amazing. I’ve only heard of this happening to other people, like I’m sure you have too.
When something is properly organized everything should look like it is in the right place, without taking a lot of time to locate an item. If it is taking you twice as long to find something, you may have over organized yourself.
How to Get Organized in 4 Easy Steps
Let’s start getting organized. Whether you want to organize a room, your computer, a file cabinet, whatever it is, you can apply these four steps to your process. Pick a room, a drawer, a desktop, and let’s get started.
1. Handle it
It is so easy to put something aside thinking you will take care of it later. But what eventually happens is that pile keeps getting bigger and bigger until it is overwhelming. Here is the first rule to apply. If you can handle something within five minutes then go ahead and do it. As you organize, ask yourself can you deal with that item right now? If you can, handle it, and then move on.
2. File it
You need a clear filing system on your computer, for your office, and home. On your computer, create files that make sense to you. That means when you look at them you know exactly what’s in them. Be careful not to over file everything. But the good thing with your computer is there is a search option.
Can you scan in papers, so they aren’t cluttering up your desk or house? I have a document scanner, and it is really a life-saver. I’ve used it so much. I think I would cry if it ever broke. But a good way to declutter papers is to scan them in. Whether it is for work or schoolwork. If you need to keep something, scan it in.
Even though you are a remote worker, there will still be papers that need to be kept. Have a place to file these papers. Here is the system I use with file folders. I keep this on my desk, so I can readily file client papers into them. I like to have fun folders too. And of course, you need a label maker to keep all your files organized. It is the simple things in life that make me smile. (As a bonus, here is my desk drawer organizer too.)
Whether you homeschool your kids or they are in school, papers are EVERYWHERE. When the kids were in school, I applied the handle it to their backpacks as soon as they came in. Homework came out of the folder, graded schoolwork was reviewed and tossed, permission slips or anything else that needed to go back to school was hung on the refrigerator. Handled and filed.
Now that they are homeschooled, they are old enough to be responsible for their stuff. They each have a desk and they are responsible to keep it clean. At the end of the year, it is up to them to clean it out and toss what they don’t need.
3. Delegate it
This brings us to step 3 delegate it. As your kids get older, you can delegate their stuff to them. It is so relieving to reach this stage of telling your kids it is their responsibility to fold their laundry, put away their books, make their beds, etc, etc, etc.
You can also delegate chores around the house and dinner duties to your kids. Yes, they live in the house and should pitch in. This is totally age dependent, but you can do this. My kids enjoy making dinner. Most of the time it is something to do with breakfast, like pancakes or waffles. But they make dinner.
It is also possible to delegate some of your work from home tasks to your kids. For example, my 13-year-old is my video editor for my Youtube channel and podcast. He’s better at it than I am. He has also created logos for me and graphic design effects.
4. Get rid of it
This is my favorite one. If you can’t handle it, file it, or delegate it, then get rid of it. Throw it out. Don’t hang on to anything that you don’t need or can’t use.
Are there papers just hanging out on your desk? Or toiletries you haven’t used in 5 years hanging out under your bathroom cabinet…there might be a few. Get rid of them. Trust me, you will do a dance after you do.
Conclusion
You can apply these steps to your office, home, and even your to do list.
This may be a lot to take in all it once. But here is your next step. Pick something small. Just one room, or your desk, or underneath your bathroom sink. Pick the easiest place to start. And apply these steps. Then drop a comment below and tell us where you started.
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