S/O --For all you organized people

Melliebugs

ok so is this a learned thing or a born thing...I want to be organized---I read lots of mags such as real simple and it gives me great ideas, but I really have none of my own.  Wondering if it is hopeless or can I be taught???

 Also who wants to come help me clean out the clutter???  HA

Mom2CalebJ

Definitly can be taught...my parents are pack rats, so I had to learn organization on my own...now they come to me for help! LOL!

LOVE Real Simple they have great ideas...and they have a cute line at Target!

kep

I think some people are born with it (my sister) and others have to learn (me!). I can be easily very organized on some things (like at work, when I worked full-time), but others I have to really work at it. My bug hurdle is we don't have a lot of space, so there is just stuff everywhere. Ugh. I hesitate to get rid of too much baby stuff in case we have another one ... but where am I supposed to put it all?

MelissaS79

I would definitely say that in my case it is a born thing. My mom has always been this way too. But organization can be taught. My co-worker keeps asking me for lessons on how to keep her work organized and tidy. heehee.

But that doesn't mean that I don't have a TON of clutter in my attic and garage. Just need to get my butt in gear and start cleaning...maybe when it gets a little warmer out I will be more motivated! 

missmlp

For me I was born this way.  I have always been organized in terms of accomplishing task and goals.  Life seems to run smoother for me when I make list and stay organized (as much as possible considering I have a little one).  The easy start is everyday write a To-Do list of everything that needs to be accomplished.  For example, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, and check off each task completed at the end of the day.  It will help you feel more in charge of things, organized, and accomplished since you completed the task.

Also start off small.  I use the Kazan Philosophy of Small Change to accomplish big and major task so I don't get overwhelmed.  This just mean make small change little by little which will equal a big change or accomplishment in the end.

scherza

In my case, it's learned.  I was such an unbelievable slob as a child/teenager that it's not even funny.  Now I'm a total neat freak and hyper-organized.

Mostly it's just habits like picking up the toys and sorting the mail on a daily basis and having specific places for things that keep the house tidy.  When I go grocery shopping, I go with a list I've made up for meals for the week.  We keep a list in one place in the house and it's up to both of us to put things we need on there regularly.

I'm also a huge fan of lists.  DH and I have a list of long-term projects we want to do around the house that we've been working on for a year or so.

We clean out closets about twice a year, and I pack up all of Elizabeth's outgrown clothing and consign it or send it to my sister.

trinandgabe

As far as getting rid of clutter, you just have to be ruthless! And I've learned that those pretty filing boxes/containers aren't really motivating, like what the magazines suggest. The thought of going out and buying them is just another way to procrastinate on your task.

Just go through things and either trash/recycle OR keep; those are the only 2 options. And just focus on one small area at a time otherwise it'll get overwhelming. 

Good luck! It can be learned!

 

slwprincess

I think I was born this way.  I just love to organize things.  Even in school I used to make lists for everything.  And I'm anal retentive about my lists... I hate my handwriting so I want everything typed.  And I even take my lists to a whole other level with categories and subcategories.  My family used to think I was OCD but now they all call me for tips.  I will say that I have loosened up considerably since having a baby, but I am still over the top about organizing my house, my desk, even our car has an organization system!  Also, my biggest tip for cutting clutter is this rule... If you haven't touched it/used it in 12 months- you don't need it.  Yes, you may have to eventually go out an buy a replacement, but the cost is usually worth the sanity savings :-)  I use this rule to go thru my closet twice a year.  I donate the clothes to charity and make room for new stuff!