How Do You Make Organizing A Lifelong Habit?

Being organized is all about having the habits in place to maintain order. Being disorganized is all about having habits in place that inhibit maintaining order. As you go about your day, stop yourself and ask, "Am I finishing tasks that I begin?" I happen to be easily distracted and have to work hard to complete tasks. My husband is a task master, when he starts a project, nothing can stop him until it's complete and every piece is properly put away. I, on the other hand, get distracted at a moments notice. I can fly from one thing to another without a second thought. I have to work to remind myself that I'll be so much better off if I take the time to put everything away when I finish. I've used this quote with my children since they were very small, it's a constant reminder to me and to them, "finish one project before you start another".

If you want to create habits to help yourself become more organized, read my blog post, "How To Create A Habit". Living organized is all about having the habits in place and the discipline to maintain them--much easier said than done!

Organization: It All Boils Down to Creating Good Habits

The rituals we go through each and every day inevitably become the habits we acquire. Getting organized requires creating and maintaining good habits to keep systems in place. For example, do you rush out of your office and leave it a mess? Creating a habit of cleaning off the surface can not only help you feel more organized, but it will also increase your productivity. Here are a few steps to follow when you're ready to make a change:

✓ Start Small: Change one habit at a time. Putting too much on your list will only sabotage your hopes of making it happen.

✓ Write it Down: Write down the good habit you plan to acquire. Even write it on a sticky note and put it up somewhere so you can see and be reminded.

✓ Be Accountable: Having an accountability partner always helps to ensure success. Schedule set times to check in and confirm your progress.

✓ Have Urge Defeating Strategies in Place: Try the "Only 2 Minute Rule". When you're rushing out of the office commit to spending 2 minutes on straightening up. You'll be amazed how much can get done with two minutes of clear, focused time.

✓ Give it 30 Days: Experts are firm in the fact that it takes at least 30 times of consciously repeating the task in order to even get started acquiring a habit.

✓ If You Stumble, Don't Quit: We all stumble from time to time. Use this as a time to go through the checklist again. This will help to ingrain the good habit even more!

"First we make our habits, then our habits make us." Charles C. Noble

5 Steps to Efficiency

With the economy in a downward spiral, and at the urging of our new President, it's time for all of us to take responsibility and work towards being more efficient. At Chaos to Order we have spelled out 5 steps that can lead us to a more efficient and organized life.

1. Spend Wisely - Chaos to Order has developed a Home Efficiency Program (for more information call (847) 825-8400). It's guaranteed to help you cut costs on household expenses. There are so many ways to economize and now is the time to do it. Trim down on everything from storage locker space to cable bills, Chaos to Order has a step by step guide to help you get the best deal.

2. Cut The Clutter - When we were on The Oprah Winfrey Show with Suze Orman, she reinforced to us how much excess we all have. We helped weed out the home of her client, thus enabling them to be more efficient and streamlined. A good place to start: Arrange for a charitable donation to come once a month to pick up give-aways. Knowing you have a set date can motivate you to go through the house and regularly fill a bag for them. Bonus - you will get a tax deduction for getting rid of your clutter!

3. Create a Time Management System - Two items that are necessary in every household: calendar & filing system. Whatever type of calendar you use, make sure it's big enough for all tasks and appointments. A working filing system is the other absolute necessity. Have a place for everything, even if it's only temporary, and stop wasting time sifting through papers and mail.

4. Don't Overschedule - to avoid overscheduling, I suggest you actually schedule downtime. Our lives are moving at such a busy pace that unless we work to create time to balance out, we will continue to feel hurried and tired. Taking time out will actually make you more productive because you will be relaxed and focused.

5. Create Good Habits - I talk to clients who say that when our organizer arrives, they will finally start to get organized. I tell them not to wait, start right now creating good habits of putting away as you go. Chaos to Order is happy to help you get things organized, but to keep it organized is a constant process!