Managing Your Habits

Welcome to the final installment in our series about how to live life organized.  If you are new here, we are so glad to have you! Stand up and introduce yourself.  I hope you enjoy reading this, and please take the time to read the last four installments in the series.

Week One: Managing Your Time
Week Two: Managing Your Stuff
Week Three: Managing Your Chores
Week Four: Managing Your Paperwork

Learning to life live organized is not accomplished in a day or even over a five week series. You need to change your habits in order to make your life easier, and changing your habits takes time.  These are some important habits to keep you on top of things.

Be okay with good enough.

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Perfection is overrated. If you can get your house mostly cleaned in an hour or get it perfect in 8 hours, go for good enough. Become a person that does not need perfection.

Think through your day, 
and be prepared for anything.

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If it is going to rain, toss that umbrella in the car. If you are going to the gym later, go ahead and bring your tennis shoes now.  Bring your cell phone charger and a notepad. Bring a magazine. You never know what could come up or what you might have time for.

Write it down, 
you will not remember it.

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Write down appointments and grocery lists. Write down what you need to do and who you need to call.  Write down when library books are due and when your mother-in-law’s birthday is.  Write it down and keep it all together, and free your mind for more important things.

Don't procrastinate.

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If you can do it now, why would you do it later?  Don’t put things off.  Complete each task and then bask in the joy of crossing it off your list. 

If you get it out, put it away.

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Take responsibility for cleaning up after yourself.  Make others in your family clean up after themselves also.

Keep your sinks and flat surfaces clean and clear.

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Flat surfaces mean floors, tables, and counters, and these should be kept virtually clutter-free. This includes appliances in your kitchen. If you use it every day, then leave it out and accessible. However, if you use your bread maker once a month, then keep it in a cabinet.  Keep your sinks empty and wiped clean at all times.  This is easy to do if your dishes are done!

Get rid of anything you do not need, use, or love.

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Declutter your schedules, your lives, and your homes, so things can be simpler and hopefully better for you.  Peter Walsh is a professional organizer, who has appeared on many television shows including TLC’s Clean Sweep and Oprah.  He wisely says, 

"What I know for sure is that when you declutter- whether it's in your home, your head, or your heart- it is astounding what will flow into that space that will enrich you, your life, and your family."

It is amazing what you can do when you learn to live life organized.