So I’ve been thinking it might be fun to run another 30 Day Organizing Organizing Challenge during the month of November. Before I do that though I’d like to get your input. I can’t decide if I should change it up this time or do something similar to last time. The first challenge last fall was wide open and only one category. The second challenge last spring was two categories, a small space and a whole room, and did make judging a little easier. However another other idea is having a room centered challenge where everyone organizes the same space. I’d really like to know what you think, what you thought worked well last time and anything you’d like to see done differently.
Are you in?
Got any ideas?
Throw them out there.
And if you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about you can read all about the last two challenges here.
And of course we are going to need some sponsers and I’m working on that!
Marcia says
It’s hard to say, Laura – everyone has their own “issues” – for some, it’s home offices, some it’s kitchens, etc.
From a judging point of view it will be easier if everyone does the same thing but I don’t know if people will all participate if their problem area isn’t the ONE chosen.
I’m also keen to see what people say 🙂
Oh, and thanks for the link on the other post 🙂
Organising queen and
Marcia’s take charge blog
Katy says
Yeah, I agree with Marcia. Most of my house is already organized…so….if you would, let’s say pick the kitchen…i don’t think i would be able to participate. I think i will be working on my bedroom! It needs serious attention! LOL But i think to have a challenge will be great motivation!!! 🙂
Chele76 says
I’m a stalker… er, regular reader 🙂 and I don’t think I’ve posted before…. oh, Hi! My name is Michele! 😉
Anyway… I am tempted to play along if it is an office, kitchen or a closet or two.
Jen says
I think kitchens would be a good ones….maybe utility rooms…..or even garages…..
Kim says
I could use some focus on my kitchen, specifically food storage. Or dish storage. Or cabinets. Ok kitchen.
We also have a problem area right outside our garage door. It tends to collect clutter and I need to work on that. Shoes, sports equipment, tools, broom/mop…just a catch all.
Anonymous says
I could use help in the garage/mudroom area. Kitchen, hall closet……..Let’s see, I’m working on my masterbedroom right now but any advice you can throw my way would be wonderful. Thanks
pictureyellow says
i just bought a house, and should be moved in by November…so i’m game for any room that you choose!
Mary says
My whole house needs to be purged and organized so pick a room, any room and I’m game. That includes the garage and the basement too!
Jen says
I am in agreement with the mudroom/garage area idea.
With 5 kids, my in/out spaces are always cluttered with backpacks, shoes, coats, papers, even a Bearded Dragon! I am at my wits end with it.
Jen / domestika says
I’ve finally found a solution to my mudroom clutter, LOL — ignore it ’til Spring, then tear the old mudroom down and build on a larger one!
But my “spare room” could use some serious help… Purge? heck, we’re maybe talking Exorcism here!
Lorri says
How about about multiple categories like master bedroom, kid’s room (playroom or bedroom), kitchen, utility/laundry/mudroom, garage, specialty room (craft room or another room that might be a little more niche), with one grand prize for the best overall.
Lili Bollero says
well, I would like to participate.
So, explain what you really want – lol!
I dont have any ideas to give but I am anxious about what can be done!
hugs…
Lili Bollero
http://lilibolleroinenglish.wordpress.com
Rhen (yestheyareallmine) says
I have no other ideas for ya (other than what others are saying) but I really would like to participate!
PS- take a little look-see at my blog. On this week’s Tackle it Tuesday I posted pictures of last week’s TT. You really helped me to be inspired to organize everything. Thank you!!
Gwen says
Since I live in a small shoebox in Vancouver, all our rooms are multipurpose. Maybe we could have an item category. For example, I really need to thin the toy herd and get it organized enough for my son to play with them. Easier ways to organize the toys so he can also start to put them away himself. If people wanted they could organize/purge their books, or their clothes or their scrap-booking/craft items.
What do you think?
Thea says
I agree with Marcia that setting a specific room might limit the number of people who participate. But I dig Gwen’s idea of a category…
I’m no help at all.
Howdy says
I sure wish I’d found your site a couple years ago.
Maybe you could sponsor a ‘Pretend you’re Moving’ organizational cleanout?
Nothing says ‘get rid of it’ quite like a move – especially if like me you’ve been settled in for a very long time.
I’d participate in what ever you had going on this fall except that I really am moving and what I am keeping to take to the next place is sitting in PODS in the driveway right this minute.
My working plan was that if I could replace it for less than it would cost to store it… it went away… I found a junk man who promised to take ‘everything but your spouse’, we put a lot of stuff on the curb next to a ‘FREE’ sign, crafts were donated to a local Sr. Center, and the man who drives the garbage truck probably has a hernia now!
I even found things I lost when we moved into this house in 1991.
I am pretty much clutter free… and loving every minute of it.
Cheryl (Copper's Wife) says
I think it would be fun for everyone to work on the same room or space.
If you choose to do your challenge that way, a neat thing mid-challenge might be for folks to submit ideas of things they’ve already accomplished as they’ve worked. That might be helpful to others in the challenge (or even those not participating) to see how other folks are handling particular problems. For example, in a boys’ room it might be dealing with sports equipment/or ball caps, in the living room it might be dealing with CD collections, or magazines. Seeing what someone else is doing might just be an “aha” moment for another.
Melinda says
Hmm… I “think” I’m in, but I just don’t know for certain.
How about closets? I’ve got a few that need help. Or master bedrooms. How many other people use their bedroom as a dumping ground when cleaning the rest of their home?
Hugs,
Melinda
Rocks In My Dryer says
Sorry if someone else has said this already–but what if you just called it “Urge To Purge” and challenged everyone just to GET RID of as much as they can, from their entire house? Have people take a picture of their “purging pile” when they’re finished, and the person who purges the most wins? Would be a nice way to encourage people to donate to charity, too.
Tsoniki says
I’m just about ready to redo my craft/office room – so I’ll wait to see which area of the house gets picked! Will it start soon? I’m itching to get going. LOL
Grace @ Rose Cottage Lane says
Maybe it would be easier to have a focused issue. It usually helps me better if someone says – declutter your bedroom this week, than if someone says “go declutter”. I think it helps with accountability and motivation. I’m game – can’t wait to get started! I need a swift kick in the hiney like this.
Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry says
I am game for whatever kind of challenge you decide on. Pretty much the only room that doesn’t need help is…oh, there’s not one.
So I’m in, no matter what you choose.
Beaded Desert says
I think you should split it into the two sizes again, large area and small area. Then break that down further. So for example, say this month’s challenge would be kitchens. For some people, the whole kitchen needs to be done and they’re up for it, so they’ll go for the whole room, which would fall into the “large space” category. For someone else though, the whole room may be too daunting so they’d just do the pantry or the fridge or the junk drawer, and that would fall into the “small space” category. Next challenge, pick another room and break it down again. So say the next room is Bedrooms. You could do the whole room for the “large space” or just focus on a closet or the dresser for the “small space”. For studies/craft rooms you could do the whole room (large) or just the desk/work table (small). For garages you could do the whole garage (large) or just some shelves (small). That way all the spaces relate, making the judging a little easier, and participants could feed off each others’ progess a little more. Maybe you could ask people to post once a week with a brief progress update, what’s working, where they’re stuck, ask for suggestions, etc.
Just my thoughts. I have lots of spaces, large and small, that need some serious purging so I’m looking forward to this next challenge to give me a little more accountability. ;P
The Fritz Facts says
I think a bedroom, doesn’t matter which one or whose it is, just a bedroom. That would be great to see multiple ideas for many areas, even with them being so similar. Guest rooms would also fall under that then. I can’t wait!!!!
Dana D says
I only discovered your site a couple of weeks ago, and would be tickled to participate! The only problem I forsee in setting up catagories based on specific rooms is that some people might not have that particular type of room. Unfortunately, my house doesn’t have a mudroom, basement, or garage. But, I think most people have cabinets, closets, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms though. A generic category might have more participants.
Also, I’m always looking for ways to re-purpose items and be creative without having to spend money on every little organizing gadget out there. It would be great to have a catagory just for “creative solutions”. I’d love to see some fresh ideas!
Sonja says
Hi
I love the whole idea.
Seperate categories are a good idea too,
But I mostly love the thought of declutter like you are moving.
and pictures of how much stuff is gone/going would be great!
I am not so worried about prizes cause I live in Australia –
Ter says
I started reading your blog right after a challenge ended so I have been looking forward to another challenge to start so I could participate.
I would say “small space” “large space” because not everyone has the same kind of rooms. I do not have a mudroom nor a garage. My problem areas are the office (too many papers) and the basement (too many yardsale items, and out of season things being stored down there but no proper storage!)
I look forward to the challenge! 🙂
Kim says
I say we definitely do master bedroom closets! I need to work on mine, and I know that I would win…LOL. Really anyway you do it will be fun. I’ll be excited to see what we are going to do. Have a good day tomorrow.
Mom Chatter says
Oh… I’ve been wavering in my motivation to purge (in need of a BIG purge)… this would be PERFECT! I like all the ideas so far, although I don’t have a garage! 🙂
Anyway, I’d be up for a challenge! 🙂
Lindsey says
I like the large area and small area idea – so many people really want to participate, and they each have a certain thing they need to work on. I would LOVE to do my guest room/office – I just moved, and my whole apartment is awesome and organized EXCEPT for that room – it became a dumping ground for when I was organizing everything else! I would really like to participate again, last year it changed the way that I live . . . and I’m still upholding most of that from last year, even in a new apartment!
Mayogi says
I’m in! No matter what room you chose I’m in! My house is in such a mess due to the makeover that I need to start from scratch again.
I think several categories would be the best. I think most of us have problems with our kitchens so that could be a good one. And then a smaller area, like the entrance or a closet or something.
I’m really looking forward to the challenge, I definitely NEED it! *lol*
Marcia says
Hmmm, are you any closer to a decision?
Based on the other commenters, I have another idea.
What about a different challenge every week of the month? And then you can set up a survey on surveymonkey (sorry, I’m giving you lots of work but hey, I’m a coach!) and get all the bloggers to go quickly fill it in and based on responses, you pick the 4 top problem areas.
For my target market, the top areas are kitchens and home offices, but that will probably differ to your blog because I have lots of small business owners and work at home moms on my mailing list.
Email me offline if you want to discuss – I’m happy to bounce some ideas around with you.
And tonight is the last night of church conference so I’ll have some time again 🙂
Organising queen and
Marcia’s take charge blog
Anonymous says
I vote for the large and small area categories. I’ve already set aside Thanksgiving week to clean out my garage (much to my husband’s dismay)! It’s a real mess, so the before and after pics would be great.
Shannon says
I’m not sure if I’ll be in enough dissaray to be part of the challenge as we will just be receiving our household goods the first week of November. Now if you said it was something like “who could unpack an entire house of boxes in the quickest amount of time” I’d be up for that, LOL. Best of luck to all the participants.
HL says
I’m in! As for idea’s I agree not everyone has the same problem areas. I’d say maybe a catagory of getting rid of paper clutter, clothing, toys… a challange like we’re moving I’m definitely game… I have many boxes that still need unpacking!
Thanks for having your blog – it’s great.
Heather
http://hljourney.wordpress.com
(as I am currently not updating my blogger account.)
Jenn says
I love the idea of a challange – I know I could use the accountability! I think maybe a small and large is best. Not everyone would have the same room in their house unless it was say the kitchen or something like that. Can’t wait to see what you decide!
http://www.fullofboys.wordpress.com
MrsThompson says
Hey there!
I’m up for it, I think! We moved into our first home a year ago and are having our first real party (I’m turning 30 and the Hubby is turning 40) and most people attending haven’t been to our house yet! Nov 3rd the shin dig so I’ll be doing tons before then, including remodeling a bathroom!
Jennifer, Snapshot says
I was going to say the exact same thing that Shannon (Rocks) said–a contest to see who gets rid of the most stuff. Piles of stuff ready to go, or better yet, shots of the trunk or the back of the SUV. I know that is what I have taken away from the Org. Challenges. I never seem to be able to get things all neat and functional, but when I get rid of stuff or throw away huge piles, then I am automatically more efficient.
This would be harder to judge, and I don’t know if I want to be holding on to all of that stuff until November, LOL. You should start it now if you do it that way, because with my competitive streak, I’d have to wait until then.
Jennifer, Snapshot says
I just read some comments, and I sort of like Marcia’s idea of focuses on a different room each week as well.
Annie says
Familyroom!!
Familyroom!!
Familyroom!!
Jenny says
Yes, my house is certainly up for a challenge…bring it on!
Mattie says
I don’t have a huge need to purge but just last night, I was thinking of offering to purge and organize my mom’s garage. It’s really bothering her and she’s not in really great health. So… I’ll take pictures just in case.
Sandy says
Hi Laura, I’m just always so amazed at your energy when it comes to this organizing stuff! Lotsa great ideas here. I struggle with my kitchen the most, because the space is small. Very few drawers!
Sandy
Stacey says
Kitchens!! I need way better organization because I don’t have many cabinets!
Other than that, I think leaving the room up to us is a good idea because everyone has different needs!
I love this challenge and I can’t wait for it!
KarenW says
I think some kind of variety where each person can choose what needs to be done would be good. Or how about organizing what’s hidden behind closed doors. That could be a cabinet, closet or even a master bedroom.
Ali says
I’d like to join in too! I don’t have a basement though. A cupboard, eg, kitchen/linen is something that I’m sure we all have.
Tricia says
I am all about this one. I will be participating in this one. I am really excited. I think the masterbed room is the room I would be working on and the closet. So I am really looking forward to it.
The Conroys says
Hmm, I know personally, that I don’t have any rooms that are in enough of a “before” state to qualify for this challenge (which is your fault really!) So maybe something about organization for the holidays? ie: how do you keep up with your gift list, keep gifts from invading you home, decorating, parties etc?