Maintaining an Organized Life

“. . .  I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” ─Thomas Edison

                

I’ve spoken with many people about organizing who complain that while they have attempted several times to get themselves or their homes organized, they never seem to STAY organized.  Frustrated and out of ideas, they give-up, under the false assumption that they are simply destined to remain unorganized.

While frustration is understandable, I think many people try to implement methods that either are not customized enough, or are just too complicated.  For example, one woman I met at a networking event told me her kids are just too lazy to get organized. “I try to get them to put their shoes away when they come inside, but I always find miscellaneous shoes just lying around the house.  And when it’s time to leave for the day, they can never find the shoes they need!  It’s just hopeless!”

When I pushed her further, I found out the problem is most likely her system, NOT her kids.  Her first attempt at dealing with shoe organization was to install a shoe rack in her mudroom closet.  She assigned each of her three children an individual shelf to neatly line up their shoes as they took them off at the end of the day.  This system only lasted a week before the she was back to tripping over multiple shoes left all over the mudroom floor. Next, she decided to require the kids to take their shoes to their respective rooms when they came home, and line them up in their own closets.  This system NEVER took off and instead they left their shoes all over the house.

I suggested that instead of challenging her kids’ habit of “dumping” their shoes, she instead work WITH it.  Assign each child a different color, appropriately sized bin, to be kept either in the garage by the door to the mudroom, or inside the mudroom closet.  Now, the children can simply “dump” their shoes in the bin.  There is no need to retrain them to line shoes up or force them to take the extra step of going upstairs every time they need to put away or retrieve their shoes.  It is not giving in; it is coming up with a system that works for those who are using it.  The ultimate goal is to have the shoes off the floor and have them quick and easy to retrieve. I’m happy to report that in the two months she’s been using this new method, she has yet to trip over a misplaced sneaker!

Not every organizing challenge has a one-size-fits-all answer.  Sometimes the path to discovering what works, means going through a little trial and error with what DOES NOT work.

Simply yours,
Debbie

Click here to visit The Lazy Organizer's Talk About Tuesday Blog Carnival!

Comments

[Org Junkie]

Yes, yes, yes!! Not setting your kids up for failure is something I am constantly saying.

Great post!

[Princess Momma]

What a smart idea. Instead of reinventing the wheel and creating a new habit, we just work within the habit we already have to create something that works even better. I like it! Now, to figure out how to do it with my own organizational challenges....

[Richelle F]

That's a great post. I am reorganizing my scrapbooking stuff right now. It wasn't working for me the way I had it. I am trying to get ALL like things together. Hopefully it will help, and hopefully I won't have to try 10,000 ways it doesn't work first!

[Thea @ I'm a Drama Mama]

This is so true, and I'm finding, too, that different kids have different needs: the thing that worked for my son is not working for my daughter! Back to the drawing board.

[Debbie]

I agree with you, Thea, about the need to adjust things according to the needs of the kids. But as long as it's doable-it's perfectly OK to have different systems for different kids.

Thanks to all the new visitors for stopping by to "chat"!

[Reese]

Good post.

I'm enjoying looking through your blog. I'm attempting to become a more organized person. So far, I've created a command center and am nearly satisfied with my kitchen's state. The office is next---- YIKES!!!!!

:)

Reese

[Ginny]

I love that quote so much. Thanks for this article, I really struggle with doing things right. I tend to not do at all if it isn't working perfect.

[Jenna]

Neat thought. Thanks for posting this. Now tell me how to quit piling papers all over my office. ;)

[Elizabeth M.]

I recently learned this little lesson myself. An organizational system will work for me only if it makes sense to me. It has to work with the way I think and do things. I'm starting to slowly figure things out. I just keep trying new methods when I find something not working.

[Debbie]

Customization really does lead to better organizational success, Elizabeth. When I work directly with a client, whether it's in their home or through our "Virtual Organizing Consultant" program at D & R, we can easily set up a system to work with the client's needs, organizing and thinking styles, and specific goals. When you read tips and advice (whether it's here or somewhere else) you really have to be flexible and consider modifying the advice for YOUR needs, style and goals.

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and comments on this!