The Basement Report: Day Five May 16, 2008

On Monday I posted about the worst organizing project I’m tackling: the disaster we call the basement.

I realized that committing to spending just 15 minutes a day down there was more than I could face, so I decided to aim for five minutes, every day.

How have I done? I’ve worked down there 3 out of the last 5 days, and I’m thrilled. It may be absurd, but the truth is that if I keep at it, even for just 5 minutes at a time, it will eventually get cleared out and cleaned up. And I’ve made more progress over the last five days than over the last five months.

Baby Steps, Baby Steps (as flylady would say) toward order, serenity and peace of mind.

Is Getting Organized Really Just About Getting Organized? May 15, 2008

Today I read two posts out in the blogosphere that got me thinking.

One was about productivity at The Growing Life, (more on that in another post); and one was about emerging trends in blogging, posted by Darren at ProBlogger, where I like to hang out with the cool kids.

Listed among the five emerging trends was the growing popularity of “multi-topic” blogs. That was good to hear. Just this week I read posts from two fellow bloggers- Vered at MomGrind and Kelly at mysmallcents - who were questioning their ability - or desire - to stay “on topic”, and I could instantly relate.

Aside from the fact that my blog can’t decide if it’s giving advice or seeking advice, writing One Bag Nation is about much more than organizing socks or spoons . . . it’s about achieving peace of mind, feeling happy and experiencing more joy.

I’ll be the first to admit that my tidy sock drawer is thrilling - really - but what that tidy drawer means is that I’m not spending time frantically searching for socks, all the while lecturing myself on how disorganized I am and how hopeless it all is. That feels terrible; at worst it erodes my self-esteem and at best it makes me just plain cranky.

So . . . . all this to say that I’ve given myself permission for One Bag Nation to be about all the issues that arise when we feel overwhelmed by clutter, to do lists, and the demands on our time; a little bit about how we got here in the first place; and with any luck some useful ideas for moving forward.

Whether you call it getting organized, decluttering, time management, or being more productive, I’d say it’s complicated stuff that goes beyond “neat and tidy” or “getting more done”.

So join me on the cutting edge of trendsetting, multi-topic blogging while we navigate the complex journey to order, serenity and peace of mind - and we might even sort a few socks and spoons along the way!

What Works, What Doesn’t: Another Small Victory May 14, 2008

When I was growing up we kept our teaspoons in a pitcher on the kitchen table. Following that tradition, I’ve been keeping ours in a glass container by my tea canister. So far so good.

What Doesn’t Work? Cramming spoons of various sizes into a container that is too small. (We kind of have this Goldilocks thing going with Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear sized spoons).

What Works? My new silverware caddy, purchased this weekend at Storables for just $11.95 - I’m in love!

So easy, so inexpensive and yes, another step taken on my journey for order, serenity and peace of mind.

My Internet Addiction May 13, 2008

My husband finally put it into words last night, and he’s right. I’m addicted to the internet.

Needless to say this is not doing much for my productivity. The one bright light is that I used to be addicted to internet window shopping; now I’m addicted to improving my blog. “Clicking around” is also very soothing somehow; I guess it requires so little real thought or effort, and if you’re at all a curious person the possibilities are endless . . .

So what to do? I can’t imagine giving it up entirely, though I know people who don’t have an internet connection at home. I suppose some kind of schedule or limits are in order - I feel like a wayward child!

If any of you, dear readers, have suggestions, please share!

Taking My Own Advice - Just Five Minutes May 12, 2008

The biggest, baddest mess in my house is in the basement. There’s the “holiday room” which is bursting with stuff not put away properly, and lots of “just in case’ gifts (this room is where my hoarder tendencies live); there’s the laundry room, which I say is the dirtiest room in the house; there’s my exercise corner with the treadmill and the TV (which is sitting precariously on top of an enormous old freezer); there’s whatever junk my husband has accumulated down there, and then there’s the middle, which is mostly kid stuff that needs to go.

I absolutely, positively hate working down there. I’ve tried to get myself to devote just 15 minutes a day to clearing out (I can do anything for 15 minutes, right?), and I never do it. Today I committed to just five minutes and I actually made some progress down there. I think I can continue to chip away at it, knowing I only have to spend five minutes at a time.

The payoff will be so enormous and will be a Giant Step on my journey for order, serenity and peace of mind.

Putting Life on Hold May 11, 2008

Remember “The Shining”? All work and no play make Jack a dull boy . . . that movie scared me so much I haven’t seen a scary movie in the theater since - and I think I saw “The Shining” in 1980.

But that’s not the point; the point is that even though there are still many areas of my house and my life that need work, I have to make time for creative projects (scrapbooking, knitting), socializing and twiddling my thumbs. Recharging, they call that, right?

A friend invited me to get together this afternoon while our husbands took the kids out to the park. I almost said no because I thought I should take advantage of time at home alone to “work” on something; there’s always a million things to do when you’re on a quest for order!

I realized that I’m a little obsessed now about all this organizing . . . either I’m writing about it, reading about it or tackling some project or other. But what will be left when I’ve finally reached organizational nirvana?

There’s a big (disorganized, messy) world out there and I still want to be in it! I still want to have friends and hobbies and a life - isn’t that why I’m on this quest in the first place?

Another Small Corner Decluttered May 9, 2008

This week I had big plans to tackle an organizing project each day. I only managed to do one, but it has made mornings so much easier around here: I cleared out my daughter’s sock and underwear drawer.

It doesn’t sound very exciting, I know, but I was so tired of digging through odd socks, socks I knew didn’t fit anymore and undies that had seen better days.

A small project to be sure, but another step towards order, serenity and peace of mind.

Organizing the Day the Night Before May 8, 2008

I read a lot of productivity and organizing blogs, and it’s unanimous: whether you’re a super high-tech type or you’re striving to unplug, slow down and simplify, one of the best ways to get your day off on the right foot is by preparing the night before.

What works for me? Cleaning up the kitchen after dinner; making lunches; spending a few minutes picking up the house before I go to bed; setting out my exercise clothes; and reviewing my To Do List with an eye to deciding what needs to be done the next day.

There’s simply no comparison between waking up to a tidy house and wading through clutter and dirty dishes just to make coffee. Making lunches the night before gives me more time to read my email and my favorite blogs early in the morning. And for some strange reason, my lists don’t make me nearly as crazy at night as they do in the morning - go figure!

A small investment of time in the evening can have a huge payoff the next day, taking me one step further in the quest for order, serenity and peace of mind.

Struggling to Get Things Done May 7, 2008

I should begin by clarifying that I always get some things done, maybe even a lot of things done, but often not the things on my list.

There are days when I forget to even look at my lists (yes, plural); these are the days when I think I suffer from ADD. Then there are the days when I look at my list and feel overwhelming anxiety; these are the days when I think I need medication (real medication, not chocolate or wine).

Occasionally, I manage to look at the lists and actually make progress, happily checking things off and feeling productive. These are the days I think I’m perfectly okay.

I fantasize that there are zillions of people out there cheerfully and efficiently breezing through their to-do’s with time to spare . . . living lives brimming with order, serenity and peace of mind. Are there?

Mind Clutter: Doing Too Much, Moving Too Fast? May 6, 2008

I feel like I’m always in a rush. I feel like I’m always rushing my daughter. I feel like I’m always trying to do too much, and the result is predictable: something falls through the cracks.

Last week this bad habit came to light in a very embarassing way. I had a networking lunch with a woman I had never met before. We really hit it off, had a great meal and a great conversation, and decided we’d definitely keep in touch, perhaps even work together.

Hours later, when I was getting ready for bed, I looked in the mirror (which I obviously hadn’t done in the morning) and realized I was wearing two different earrings!! At first I got the giggles, then I was a little spooked; where in the world was my head?

I know exactly what happened: my earrings are in a little dish on the bathroom shelf; I grabbed two and put them in while doing twelve other things at the same time, dashed out the door and never looked back. As I write this, I realize I also did some shopping, and picked up my daughter from school. Oh my gosh! No one said a word.

What happened with my new friend? I emailed her and asked if she had noticed; she said yes and had decided I must have a rebellious streak - ha!ha! that was kind of her.

I don’t think you can run along the path to serenity, order and peace of mind . . . I think it’s time to slow down.