I’ve got a wonderful guest post for you today from a fellow Professional Organizer. Janine Adams from Peace of Mind Organizing is here to talk about the very important topic of creating and establishing routines to help you manage chaos.
Welcome Janine!
I’m a professional organizer but I’m not a super-organized person. In fact, I’m a naturally messy person. (Ask anyone who’s ever dropped in at my house!) But I love creating order in my home and I especially love helping other people create order.
The one thing I’ve learned in my efforts to create an ordered life is that the key to staying organized is to create daily routines. I call it automating my life. By creating routines that I do every day without even thinking, I always have a few ordered areas that never get deep in clutter or mess.
If you find yourself always having to clean up certain areas, I encourage you to give it a try. And I have some great (free) tools to make it easy!
My biggest victory when it comes to automating my life was the commitment I made to clear off my desk every day before I finished work. In years past (my whole working life, really), I’d arrive at work in the morning facing a messy desk. I’d either have to work around the piles of paper and notebooks and coffee mugs, or I’d take the time to clear the decks. When I did that, I always felt energized.
I knew that if I could start my work day every day with a clean desk, I would be more productive. (And less stressed.) But I just couldn’t seem to do it.
On January 5, 2008, I decided to give it a real shot. I’d read about a website called Don’t Break the Chain that was designed to help people keep daily commitments. You mark an X on a calendar every day you do the thing you’re trying to do regularly. After you’ve accumulated a few X’s, you don’t want to break the chain you’ve created. It’s surprisingly motivating. (Incidentally, I first read about the concept–which is credited to Jerry Seinfeld–in a Lifehacker post.)
At first, I’d have to remind myself to clear off my desk. Once or twice I even had to come back to my office to do it and get my X. But then, gradually, I started doing it without thinking. It’s now automatic. Since no more than a day’s worth of stuff accumulates, it takes a few minutes at most.
You can apply the same concept to any spot in your home that tends to attract clutter and make life more difficult. For you, it might be a kitchen counter or dining room table. If you make a habit of clearing off those spots before you go to bed, mornings will become more pleasant.
Another tool that can help you create routines is a website called Joe’s Goals. It displays a weekly list of goals you create. You check off the things you do. You can even assign point values and keep track of your progress that way. For me, Joe’s Goals doesn’t hold the power of Don’t Break the Chain, but it’s great for creating habits that you don’t want to necessarily do every day.
Another great way to create routines is to have an accountability partner. I’m in the process of creating a routine of leaving no more than 15 email messages in my inbox at the end of the work day. Each day, when I succeed, I send an email to my friend Aby Garvey of simplify 101. Aby does the same. Knowing she’s looking for my email gives me extra incentive. And her attaboys are very encouraging.
When was the last time you forgot about brushing your teeth before bed? It’s something you do at roughly the same time every day, without even thinking, right? You can make many beneficial things in your life (clearing clutter, cleaning out your car before get out, even exercising), just as automatic!
Janine Adams, CPO® is the owner of Peace of Mind Organizing in St. Louis, Missouri. With life coach Shannon Wilkinson, she offers a fun e-course called Declutter Happy Hour.
Penelope says
Love the “Break the Chain” idea…that’s good for someone like me who might be a little OCD…can’t break the chain!:) Thanks for sharing…
Liz Budd says
I’m so excited about the Don’t Break The Chain website. I’ve got my account and my goals all lined up. Thank you!
ter says
This is coming at the right time. I am going to try this. Thank you so much. I have never been a super-organized person but what little organization I had went out the window after my husband got sick and sent the last couple months of his life in the hospital. I find it so difficult now to get anything done because just the thought that I am the only one who can do it overwhelms me. Thank you for your post. I look forward to trying it and hopefully having it work.
cindy says
love these recommendations. Thank you!
Hip Mom's Guide says
Wow, these are great suggestions. Even if I never get past “clean my desk off every day,” I’d still be making progress. Thanks for the tips.
Joyce says
That’s great! I’ll have to check it out!
Donna says
Love the idea of Don’t Break The Chain. I am on Day 2 of the 30 Day Shred- maybe this will help keep me motivated.
Organizing Guy says
Good tips. It is definitely all about breaking bad habits and forming new habits that support your organizing goals.
Kim says
Great ideas! Thanks!
Hope Cantrall says
I live by routines! I have one for morning & one for nighttime.
Stacy Ott says
I just started using Don’t break the chain after seeing it on here! SO HELPFUL! Thanks so much for posting about it.