Today's topic is "The letter O." It took me a while to narrow down what my "O" word is. I don't know why, because anyone who knows me well knows that this "O" word is one of my most obvious character traits.
I'm talking about organizing! I'm hooked on organizing! I just blogged about organizing a closet in my home, and I recently blogged about organizing with Bloglines. I even blogged about organizing my scrapbook supplies. Why wasn't this "O" word obvious to me from the start?
I think my love of organizing is an attempt to control the (sometimes) chaos in my life, reduce stress, and gain some balance in my often un-balanced world, but whatever the case may be, I like being organized.
A few tools that help me stay organized:
1. A planner (datebook, calendar (both the real kind and my Yahoo calendar)
2. Containers (plastic bins, baskets, boxes, binders, whatever works)
3. Lists - I'm a list person. To-do list, grocery list, gift list, etc.
4. Folders (both the real kind and the computer kind-I can easily find both paperwork and computer files.)
5. Plans. Not the same as lists, exactly. Lists can be checked off as you complete items. A plan is a guide, sketch, diagram, or method for completing a task, for example, a travel plan, a retirement plan, a cleaning plan, , menu planning or a plan to paint my living room, which I'm working on right now. If I plan ahead, I avoid unwanted surprises, and I'm able to manage my time more effectively. Of course, it's not always a written plan, but it's a plan nonetheless.
Unfortunately, I can't always keep my family of six organized, but I try. So looking at my home, one might not realize how much of a priority I place on organizing. Sometimes people say I'm organized as though it's a dirty word. I prefer to think of myself as EFFICIENT. (But that doesn't start with "O!")
Being a professional organizer sounds like a dream job to me! Maybe someday?
I hope you'll check them out.
Heads or Tails is a weekly meme organized by Skittle's Place. Check out the HoT homepage for more!
from the look of it you are organized. i wish i could be too!
ReplyDeletehere's my HOT! hope you can drop by. thanks.
You know never say never. I always wanted to be a Professional Organizer and then when the company I worked for closed down and left me unemployed it gave me the push I needed to finally start my own organizing business. Dreams do come true!
ReplyDeleteGreat list by the way, of course I like the container one the best :)
What a great take on the theme! You are very organized! :o)
ReplyDeleteI would love to be organised - I think I missed out on that gene though!
ReplyDeleteI love organising things in boxes and containers, but that's about as far as I get.
I like "efficient" though, that IS something I can aim for :)
Happy HoT!
wow...you such an organizing person. great. Me too always use agenda for monitoring my blogs..
ReplyDeleteVisit me in here Thanks
I think I should look at those organizing sites.
ReplyDeleteStrike that, my children should look at the organizing sites. LOL
Yes, I am a listmaker too.
Hope you can check out my post.
I really need to get organized. At least I have a grocery list and it goes in order of how the store is laid out.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in law school, I became involved in many activities and student groups. People began to rely on me for a lot of things, and it really started to get hectic. In my effort to stay focused and not let anybody down, I created a customized weekly planner that blocked off my class schedule so those times were permanently "booked", then I penciled in any commitments I made as I made them. I instituted a rule that I could not say yes to anything unless I had my planner in hand and I wrote it down immediately. And at least one day every two weeks, I blocked off an entire day in which I had no classes, no commitments, nothing. Just a day that was open for me to do with as I pleased.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, yes... organization. Great "O"!
Happy HoT!
-smarmoofus
I use two and three a lot myself. I have found great use for the medium snap and slide [lids] see-through plastic containers that I have stacked in a closet. They're stacked in rows of three...and they're about as high as a filing cabinet [stacked on top of one another that is] ---and I can see through them all and know right away which one I need for legal papers or 'heirloom' drawings of our kids...etc. etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteThen, I make lists. Of jobs of work I need, groceries [which I tend to forget sometimes, to take it with me] even lists of weekly menus to go by so I can know what to take out of the freezer, etc. etc.
Organization is not part of my vocabulary. I've been a "wing it" type of person all my life. Good for you with your organizational abilities.
ReplyDeleteI like the new look. Organi what? whats that?
ReplyDeleteGreat topic for today's HoT. Sometimes being organized can be a challenge but it in end it is well worth it.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was half as organized as you!
ReplyDeleteBTW...LOVE the new header!
I'd hire you! I am one of those tragically unorganized people...
ReplyDeleteFortunately, my sister's like you and she takes care of me.
Mine's up at:
www.rtmm.blogspot.com
cjh
thats an excellent habit and a skill to possess...
ReplyDeleteI think we could all learn to be more organized.
ReplyDeleteOrganization is my key to sanity. Without it I would end up in the funny farm.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for this week.
Happened upon your blog...glad I did. I love all things organized! And I'm a list person for sure. Maybe too much so. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was more organized...but I'm just not....Sigh...LOL!
ReplyDelete