What do you use to keep yourself organized? I'm to the point that I think I might just go through my entire house and alphabetize everything. Okay, that might be a bit extreme... But am I the only one that starts the year (and by 'year' that can be the beginning of whenever I feel that "now is when I get organized!") with everything in its place and by oh, I don't know, a few months later, its all in shambles?
I'm a list maker, but not a list follower. I'm a perfectionist, but also a procrastinator. I'm also a pack-rat. There is no counter for that one- it is what it is! I'm thrifty but buy a lot of 'inexpensive' things. I buy many things after careful deliberation but then fail to use them. And of course, that goes back to the pack-rat bit. Do you see the pattern here?
I have been putting together my creative writing lesson plans for co-op and I know I already have tons of great resources. I know I do. I have to- after all I have a page with websites that is organized by subject (and some are even referenced by grade/ages). I even have a few spots on a few bookshelves that are dedicated to writing books and such. But wouldn't you know, when I went looking for these resources, I often cannot find them or I find something else that I think is so great (but come to find out later I already have it). Something that is absolutely amusing to me is when I have a document or website open in front of me and it has what I need, right there, but I go looking somewhere else and forget about what I already have.
Organization is obviously not my best character trait (yea, I won't be putting that down on my resume). I would love to have a program on my computer (since I pretty much am always on it) that catalogs all my magazines, DVDs, CDs, files, documents, books, resources, etc. into a database that will allow me to search by subject or topic, or simply random words to find where it can be found in my already owned items. Do they make such a thing?
So, what do you use to keep yourself organized?
I am a lot like you. Love, love, love lists and forms. I do have trouble with the follow up. I am on my 3rd "organization system" since Jan 1! (yes, 2011)
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am not a packrat. That is my husband. We drive each other crazy. I throw everything away.
I want to change but am starting to suspect that I can't. At lease I am in good company. :-)
Would you mind sharing your organization system? ;) What doesn't work for one may work for another! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it's always nice to see we are in good company ;)
So. I"m not sure you are asking the right people. . . . . I'm a list maker, never ever to read the list again Its like once I have it on paper, I'm good to go. Homeschool Tracker has great resource lists, that you can tag to people or subjects. I like entering it, I've um never actually used it for anything. . . . but to print it and say. How Pretty. We reviewed Collectorz and the people really liked it, but I don't want to enter every book and cd I have. They do have a scanner. . . . .Maybe create a following of really type a personality go getting martha stewarts. :)
ReplyDeleteI love lists also, and I am pretty well organized. Right now I have a home notebook of sorts on Google Documents. I use Google as an organizational center. I have my calendar there. I have forms for our budget, for the kids school records, for house cleaning. I keep them organized in folders, so I can find them easily. I have links to my menu planning site- Dinner Tool - and to my blog and other important sites right on my Google home page.
ReplyDeleteI really haven't found anything I like better. I used to have an actual paper home notebook which worked well, but when I got my new laptop two years ago everything went digital.
Oh, Blossom, we're a lot alike. I read way too many books about organization but am very poor at follow through. Maintaining is the key, and that's where I often fall behind.
ReplyDeleteI organizein my own style... Or thats what I have tried to convince everyone for years... I am a list maker to an extent.. The extent of the list is till I lose them. But once I write it down I usually remember it short term anyway!
ReplyDeleteSure, I'll blog about all the things I've tried, the pros and cons and link to your post. I'll work on that today. Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteHi:) Good discussion! I'm interested to see what others have done also. I am awful with organization and scheduling. I am not so much a pack rat as a "hider" I'll stuff closets and drawers so the room looks more restful to me! But, knowing what's all in there is stressful:) I know I have things I could use more, especially our school stuff.
ReplyDeleteHi again, I never got to write that post so here are some things I use/used. Momstoolbelt.com, hisgraceworks.com (this is the one I always go back to), the SHE system and oganizedhome.com.
ReplyDeleteAs far as organizing all the "stuff." I have bins. Hundreds of them in all sizes. But they have to match. I have clear ones with white lids. I store everything not used on a a daily basis in bins in the basement.
Books, CDs, DVDs I keep on shelves in the family room. I keep alphabetical lists by subject. I just type it up and put it in my homemaking notebook. But I never look at it again. I just like making the list and knowing that I have it. lol
I'll see what else I can come up with. I know I've tried more but can't remember right now.
Have a great night.
Lorie- thanks so much for sharing those sites. I had to search for SHE (had never heard of it) but came across it easy enough -I think.
ReplyDeleteLol- the lists- yep, I make a lot of them.
So it sounds like Leah is the only organized one here! Perhaps you'd care to share some of your success tips :)
Of course for the rest of us, perhaps Angie's tip will work best for us!
Thanks so much Lorie, Angie (peeblekeeper), Leah, Trisha, Tonia and Heather for taking the time to come over and talk organization with me :) Someday maybe we will all get it down!