I am an all or nothing person. It's sad, but true. My Sunday school class has been working through a book and I can't finish it because I can't get started again. There are only a few chapters in this book. I read the first one and it seemed to go forever. Because of that, because I felt trapped by the book in a long and rambly chapter, I haven't been able to get myself to start the next chapter.
When it comes to projects for home or school. It's all or nothing again. If I spend my prep working on lesson plans, then I want to get a whole month or a whole quarter done at one time. When I get interrupted, it frustrates me. I stay late after school because I want to get it ALL done. I haven't done any crafting at home lately because I feel like I'll use up all my free times just pulling materials out and putting them away. Why bother?
Recently I have been trying something new. I'm trying to break the larger projects into smaller portions. Then, if I finish a smaller portion, I feel like I have accomplished something. I have closure on that part of the larger task. Last week that allowed me to split my preps into time for long term planning and organization and short term tasks like shelving books or prepping new books for the library. I can be happy putting 5 new books in the library every day, but I'll never get any done if I let myself be consumed by having to finish every major project before I can switch to another one.
I saw a tweet the other day that linked to an excellent blog post called "How to Be a Teacher for More than 5 Years Without Killing Yourself or Others." The following portion really caught my attention:
You will never be finished with your work - A teacher’s work is never done. Seriously. You will never be finished. There will always be something else you could be doing. Every time you cross off one thing from your to-do list, two more things will be added. Like a sink of dirty dishes, it really can wait until tomorrow.
Even thought I am not a classroom teacher, this is still true for me. So I have to look at my to do list differently than I have been. It doesn't come naturally, so I really have to work at it. I keep reminding myself to just break it into manageable steps - even "baby steps." If I can get ONE step of a process done, I have to choose to be content with that. The all-or-nothing thinking stresses me out too much and impacts my ability to be content and manage stress.
How do you work best? Large projects or smaller steps?
Showing posts with label organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organization. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Cleaning House
"He [Jesus] is going to clean house - make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned." ~ Luke 3:17
This summer I've been working on cleaning around the house - cleaning out the office/craft room and helping my son clean out his bedroom. Each room was a major undertaking. When I do projects like this, I like to empty the room first in order to reconnect with the space and look for ways to reclaim some of the space in new ways. Then, bit by bit, all the things we removed either get a new spot back in the room or they are sorted into trash, recycle or give away piles.
I have to be in the right mood for this project. If I'm not fired up to make the "hard" choices of what to get rid of, it becomes a shuffling of items rather than any actual purging. Sometimes I have started this project and gotten only so far and had to just put it all back because I just wasn't ready to really make the tough decisions.
My son's room was the harder of the two projects. My son is sentimental and he keeps everything - rocks, papers, paper airplanes, tags, cards, drawings, stories, office supplies, etc. He had NO interest in letting me clean out the room for him, afraid I would trash all of his little treasures. There were times I would just stand in the middle of the room feeling overwhelmed. Some spots were in such disarray I didn't even know where to start. So, it took a whole week to do this one room.
We were in the middle of the bedroom project when I read this verse from the Message. John the Baptist was talking about Jesus and the work he was coming to do. I imagined Jesus standing in the "room" of my life. Does he stand there sometimes, noticing all the places that are so out of hand it's hard to know where to start? What are the things that I cling to, that I don't want him to purge from my character?
May I learn to let go as Jesus cleans up my life.
This summer I've been working on cleaning around the house - cleaning out the office/craft room and helping my son clean out his bedroom. Each room was a major undertaking. When I do projects like this, I like to empty the room first in order to reconnect with the space and look for ways to reclaim some of the space in new ways. Then, bit by bit, all the things we removed either get a new spot back in the room or they are sorted into trash, recycle or give away piles.
I have to be in the right mood for this project. If I'm not fired up to make the "hard" choices of what to get rid of, it becomes a shuffling of items rather than any actual purging. Sometimes I have started this project and gotten only so far and had to just put it all back because I just wasn't ready to really make the tough decisions.
My son's room was the harder of the two projects. My son is sentimental and he keeps everything - rocks, papers, paper airplanes, tags, cards, drawings, stories, office supplies, etc. He had NO interest in letting me clean out the room for him, afraid I would trash all of his little treasures. There were times I would just stand in the middle of the room feeling overwhelmed. Some spots were in such disarray I didn't even know where to start. So, it took a whole week to do this one room.
We were in the middle of the bedroom project when I read this verse from the Message. John the Baptist was talking about Jesus and the work he was coming to do. I imagined Jesus standing in the "room" of my life. Does he stand there sometimes, noticing all the places that are so out of hand it's hard to know where to start? What are the things that I cling to, that I don't want him to purge from my character?
May I learn to let go as Jesus cleans up my life.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Ten Things I Do Before School Starts
These are things I do every year as a mom, plus a few things I am adding now that I am teaching, too. These are in no particular order.
What do you do to get ready for the school year? I'd love to hear your ideas!
- I set a budget for school supplies and back to school activities (t-shirt, pictures, year book, etc.). It keeps me from being overwhelmed by financial surprises that hit all at one time.
- I buy school supplies for Writing Club (pencils, folders, paper, composition books) - even the things I won't use until the end of the year because the prices are better now than they will be in April.
- I troll around on Pinterest for bulletin board ideas, school lunch inspiration, etc.
- I clean out my school email so I have a fresh start when the new emails start rolling in
- I organize or re-organize my spaces, in the hopes of having a good system in place when the new year starts. In my mind, nothing is worse than starting the school year with piles because I don't have a system in place to maintain all the papers and information and ideas that are churning around during those first few weeks.
- I take notes - lesson ideas, bulletin board plans, etc. If I don't write it down, I won't remember it.
- I keep my to do lists close by at all times. The ones I started using this year have lots of space for note taking. I staple each week's pages together and carry a month's worth with me at all times so I can write down meetings or plans as they come up. These also help me visualize my schedule and divy up tasks across the week. One day, I left my to do lists at school and I felt like I was missing part of my body. Usually I wait until late December or January to get my calendar because I want a better price, but I will likely buy the 2013 version of this calendar the minute it is out so I know for sure I will have it.
- I blog ahead - like I am doing now - so I can focus on my back-to-school tasks without the pressure of my blog schedule or without taking a few weeks off.
- I wait a couple weeks to start Writing Club. This helps my students adjust to their new schedule and new class before adding an extracurricular activity. It also helps me do the same. It frees up a few afternoons to do set up, organizing, and planning.
- I try to plan out my year, as much as possible, knowing that things will come up to change those plans. I also know, from experience, that some plans are going to bomb and I will need to adapt. But it helps to have a plan to start from. My goal is to have lesson plans done for the first 3 weeks at a minimum, with at least a sketch or an outline for the rest of first quarter, by the time I show up for my first official teacher work day.
What do you do to get ready for the school year? I'd love to hear your ideas!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
SAVOR: A Break
I thought I had managed this earlier this summer! I thought I had already adjusted my plans for what work I was going to get done at school over break.
But it's July. There's only about 4.5 weeks of summer vacation left. I'd like to spend at least half of it away from the school. The only way to do that is to whittle down my to do list yet again.
Sounds easy enough. But I was so emotionally invested in my list, the idea of ignoring some of those major tasks made me feel physically ill. I was a wreck. I needed someone to come in and look objectively at my list and help me prioritize. What was funny was that I used to do that for other people! I had to shake myself and apply those skills to my own situation.
I wrote out all of the tasks I wanted to do this summer. Then I prioritized them based on what tasks were most important and what tasks could be easily done and checked off. I noted which ones had to be done at school and which could be done at home. I flagged what things had to be done before school starts.
After some journaling and praying and wrestling with that list, I finally started feeling better about the whole thing. I let myself enjoy the idea of a couple weeks completely away from school, even if I was still doing some school tasks at home. So far, it's going pretty well. It's not going to be perfect - I know I will be frustrated about some of the things that don't get done. But for now, I think I can handle that. I'll just SAVOR the look on my son's face when I told him our two weeks off were looking like a real possibility. He threw his hands up in the air and cheered. I have to make this break happen for him. This is his summer, too, and we both need to just "be" for awhile before we head back into a new school year.
But it's July. There's only about 4.5 weeks of summer vacation left. I'd like to spend at least half of it away from the school. The only way to do that is to whittle down my to do list yet again.
Sounds easy enough. But I was so emotionally invested in my list, the idea of ignoring some of those major tasks made me feel physically ill. I was a wreck. I needed someone to come in and look objectively at my list and help me prioritize. What was funny was that I used to do that for other people! I had to shake myself and apply those skills to my own situation.
I wrote out all of the tasks I wanted to do this summer. Then I prioritized them based on what tasks were most important and what tasks could be easily done and checked off. I noted which ones had to be done at school and which could be done at home. I flagged what things had to be done before school starts.
After some journaling and praying and wrestling with that list, I finally started feeling better about the whole thing. I let myself enjoy the idea of a couple weeks completely away from school, even if I was still doing some school tasks at home. So far, it's going pretty well. It's not going to be perfect - I know I will be frustrated about some of the things that don't get done. But for now, I think I can handle that. I'll just SAVOR the look on my son's face when I told him our two weeks off were looking like a real possibility. He threw his hands up in the air and cheered. I have to make this break happen for him. This is his summer, too, and we both need to just "be" for awhile before we head back into a new school year.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Library Purge
I also had scads of classroom sets of books in the library itself. Most people didn't know they were there or what was available. Now I am moving those into the library office. I hope to bar code their boxes so I can check out the set when someone wants them. I want to label each cabinet so that I know what I have where. I would love to have the office set up as a resource room for teachers. I can hardly wait to have it done.
Meanwhile, the library itself is a pit. There are boxes and stacks of books everywhere. I have to keep reminding myself that it is only temporary. I'll get it all put away again soon.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Organized Pack Rat Paradox
As soon as the school year wrapped up, I started cleaning out the library.
I took on my new job about a week and a half before school started last year. I had enough time in my new space to get a basic lay of the land, but there was a lot of material and no time to really dig into it to see what I had. All year I kept telling myself that I would sort my space out this summer.
As I mentioned in a previous post, my wish list of summer tasks is far too long to be reasonable, but cleaning out the office and organizing the library is a non-negotiable task. I have been dragging bags to the trash and recycling bins like a woman on a quest. In my frantic purging efforts, I have discovered some real treasures - resources that will be a great help to me in the coming years of teaching. But there have been moments where I have felt torn between my desperation about cleaning out and reorganizing my space and my pack rat tendencies. I hate the idea that I might throw out something I'm going to want later.
For example, I found a large stash of posters and poster boards stacked against the wall behind a box and other things I had shoved in the corner as the year was winding down. I threw away a large stack of poster projects completed by previous years' students. I reviewed book and reading-related posters, keeping ones that fit my personal style and sharing the rest with my colleagues. And I found several poster board game boards. I had no idea what sort of game they would go with, so I left those for my creative colleagues who might develop a game to go with the completed board.
Several hours after making that decision, I found the games that went with the game boards. Thankfully I was able to reclaim the boards before they disappeared. This only fueled my pack rat panic! As much as I want to purge the space and organize it anew, I also find myself thinking, "but I might want this later."
I'm afraid I will have to do this clean out again next year when I see how much of what I am saving I won't use this year, either.
I took on my new job about a week and a half before school started last year. I had enough time in my new space to get a basic lay of the land, but there was a lot of material and no time to really dig into it to see what I had. All year I kept telling myself that I would sort my space out this summer.
As I mentioned in a previous post, my wish list of summer tasks is far too long to be reasonable, but cleaning out the office and organizing the library is a non-negotiable task. I have been dragging bags to the trash and recycling bins like a woman on a quest. In my frantic purging efforts, I have discovered some real treasures - resources that will be a great help to me in the coming years of teaching. But there have been moments where I have felt torn between my desperation about cleaning out and reorganizing my space and my pack rat tendencies. I hate the idea that I might throw out something I'm going to want later.
For example, I found a large stash of posters and poster boards stacked against the wall behind a box and other things I had shoved in the corner as the year was winding down. I threw away a large stack of poster projects completed by previous years' students. I reviewed book and reading-related posters, keeping ones that fit my personal style and sharing the rest with my colleagues. And I found several poster board game boards. I had no idea what sort of game they would go with, so I left those for my creative colleagues who might develop a game to go with the completed board.
Several hours after making that decision, I found the games that went with the game boards. Thankfully I was able to reclaim the boards before they disappeared. This only fueled my pack rat panic! As much as I want to purge the space and organize it anew, I also find myself thinking, "but I might want this later."
I'm afraid I will have to do this clean out again next year when I see how much of what I am saving I won't use this year, either.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Wait and Pray
This past Sunday, I woke up far earlier than necessary - something that has happened on the weekends much too often lately. As I lay there, willing myself to go back to sleep, I started praying about various things. Then my mind wandered to all the things I had to do this week at school before the kids finished up for the year and all the things I wanted to get done this summer. In that moment I realized I hadn't once prayed about my priorities for the summer. I knew I had more tasks than time, even if I worked every day of summer break. I also knew I didn't want to work every day of summer break. But it hadn't occurred to me to pray about those tasks.
This past Sunday was also the celebration of Pentecost - the day in the early Church when the Holy Spirit was poured out and many were converted. Some time before this, when the risen Christ was still with them, Jesus told his disciples not to run off after he was gone, moving in their own power to fulfill their calling. Instead, he told them to wait and pray because God was going to send them help - power - for the tasks ahead.
Specifically, Jesus said, "Wait and pray."
Hmmmm. Wait. And pray. Same message, twice in one day - in the span of just a few hours. When that happens, I try to pay attention.
So fair, in my waiting and praying, I have determined that there is one project I was going to start this week that will move forward. Nothing else is scheduled for sure. I started a list of all the things I know I need to do, all the ideas I wanted to do, and the things I would like to get done.
It's a ridiculously long list. I felt the panic building as I wrote it all down in one place and really started looking at it. I started to feel like this was my life:
I really will need at least 4 of me to get everything on that list done this summer. I am so glad this revelation came now and not at the first of August when I am completely exhausted and it's time to get ready for the new year to start.
I don't know how it's all going to come out in the end. There really isn't anything "frivolous" on the list. But I feel better knowing that I don't have to figure it all out on my own.
This past Sunday was also the celebration of Pentecost - the day in the early Church when the Holy Spirit was poured out and many were converted. Some time before this, when the risen Christ was still with them, Jesus told his disciples not to run off after he was gone, moving in their own power to fulfill their calling. Instead, he told them to wait and pray because God was going to send them help - power - for the tasks ahead.
Specifically, Jesus said, "Wait and pray."
Hmmmm. Wait. And pray. Same message, twice in one day - in the span of just a few hours. When that happens, I try to pay attention.
So fair, in my waiting and praying, I have determined that there is one project I was going to start this week that will move forward. Nothing else is scheduled for sure. I started a list of all the things I know I need to do, all the ideas I wanted to do, and the things I would like to get done.
It's a ridiculously long list. I felt the panic building as I wrote it all down in one place and really started looking at it. I started to feel like this was my life:
I don't know how it's all going to come out in the end. There really isn't anything "frivolous" on the list. But I feel better knowing that I don't have to figure it all out on my own.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Simple May Be Better
I used to have a PDA. Then I had a Day Timer. I even tried one that was 8.5x11 in size so I could punch holes in any standard paper and add it to my planner (like meeting agendas, presentation notes, etc.)
They all left me feeling like Goldilocks. None of them was "just right."
I even tried to make my own. I designed my own pages for tracking the things I was interested in like book release days and book series and craft shopping lists and to do lists. That didn't even do it.
This year I bought this:
Ridiculously simple, right? I noticed this at the bookstore last year when I was working a less intense job because I thought the Sudoku puzzles would be something I could do in my down time. This year, when I actually bought it, I don't have time to do puzzles, but the simple to do list format is working perfectly. Every Friday I tear off the weekend page. Then I pull off the Monday through Friday pages and staple them together. Part of my Friday routine is to fill out a to do list for our weekend and start my lists for the week ahead.
Recently I added to that a system described by Michael Hyatt for managing your workload. Items that are both urgent and important are marked with an A. You do those first. The important but not urgent items get a B and you do those next. The urgent but not important are Cs and things that are neither urgent nor important are Ds.
This is by far the simplest planner system I have ever used, but it is exactly what I need right now.
They all left me feeling like Goldilocks. None of them was "just right."
I even tried to make my own. I designed my own pages for tracking the things I was interested in like book release days and book series and craft shopping lists and to do lists. That didn't even do it.
This year I bought this:
Recently I added to that a system described by Michael Hyatt for managing your workload. Items that are both urgent and important are marked with an A. You do those first. The important but not urgent items get a B and you do those next. The urgent but not important are Cs and things that are neither urgent nor important are Ds.
This is by far the simplest planner system I have ever used, but it is exactly what I need right now.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
My favorite notebook
I am a notebook fanatic. Yes, fanatic.
These are some of the notebooks I encounter each week, if not every day:
See what I mean? I am crazy about notebooks. Want to buy me a present? You can't go wrong with a notebook!
But my favorite notebook right now is a small, lined journal covered with purple floral material. I don't even remember where I found it, but I wish I did so I could buy more for the future.
I love this notebook because it has come to represent a snapshot of my life. This is the notebook where I jot quotes or websites or Bible verses I come across that I don't want to lose track of or that speak to me at that moment. I write down nutrition information, recipes, writer guidelines for magazines, and encouraging thoughts for the day. I write down blog or essay ideas.
This little book is my memory - my archive - of life today. I don't know what I would do without it.
These are some of the notebooks I encounter each week, if not every day:
- Small Vera Bradley "Pocket Pals" in Boysenberry - for scriptures that are speaking to me or that I want to memorize
- Yellow, single-subject spiral - blog and essay drafts
- Small re-covered (camping paper) spiral blank journal - book reviews by month (this is actually my 3rd notebook for book reviews)
- Boynton calendar/notebook - blog schedule
- Large spiral blank book with black cover - self-discovery and personal mission statement workbook
- A second large spiral blank book - inspiration book (pictures from magazines, notes, etc)
- Spiral-bound blank journal - "The January Book" - my journal (It's call the January book because I am usually better about writing in a journal in January than I am any other time of year!)
- Red, single-subject spiral - character analysis from a favorite series of books
- Small Vera Bradley journal (Simply Violet) - My book book where I track what new books are being released when.
- Set of three spiral notebooks - I use these to record the titles of books I would like to read some time (actually, this is the second set of three books I have created. The first set is full. There's one book for adult fiction, one for non-fiction and one for children's and young adult books)
See what I mean? I am crazy about notebooks. Want to buy me a present? You can't go wrong with a notebook!
But my favorite notebook right now is a small, lined journal covered with purple floral material. I don't even remember where I found it, but I wish I did so I could buy more for the future.
I love this notebook because it has come to represent a snapshot of my life. This is the notebook where I jot quotes or websites or Bible verses I come across that I don't want to lose track of or that speak to me at that moment. I write down nutrition information, recipes, writer guidelines for magazines, and encouraging thoughts for the day. I write down blog or essay ideas.
This little book is my memory - my archive - of life today. I don't know what I would do without it.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Unbelievable
This is my to do list. I have gone through TONS of different systems - a Day Timer planner, loose lists, other store-bought planners, a custom planner (with pages I designed myself) and finally this. A single sheet for the whole week with places for daily activities and then "Must Do," "Could Do" and "Should Do" sections.
Can you see the date on my to do list here - the one I took a picture of on Saturday?
December 13th - 2010. I haven't looked at my planner since the middle of December.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I can't really fathom that I haven't even set up a page in 2011. I have lived with this list, every day, every week, for years. And all of a sudden it's like it didn't exist any more. It isn't even like I knew it was there and was consciously ignoring it. It hasn't even crossed my mind.
I forgot it existed....
Now the question is - will I start using it again now that I remember it exists, or will I press on, living life "on the edge" without a list?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
More from the household purge
Here are some of the tools and techniques I used in our recent household re-org.
I got these shelf dividers at Walmart. We use them to help with our kitchen storage. My son had these "display" type items taking up space in toy boxes and they didn't make good use of this tall book shelf. With the dividers, everything fits and he didn't have to give away any of these "treasures."
I am big on boxes or "homes." Everything needs a home. If things don't fit in their home, then maybe we have too many. We use smaller boxes to hold smaller treasures, but the rule is that the boxes need to open and close easily. If not, they are too full. I also have a paper mache treasure box that we use for what I call "junk" - the things that come in treat bags, meal toys, etc. Once the box is full, things have to be thrown out.
The final thing that worked well this time around was a physical boundary. I had decided that all of my son's craft supplies needed to be in one spot, preferably in the kitchen where he can be supervised and where we do most of his crafts anyway. These boxes used to be filled with puzzles and some craft things. I said everything had to fit in the three boxes designated for crafts. That forced him to make choices about what he truly wanted to keep. We did the same thing for toys in his room. They had certain homes and everything he wanted to keep had to fit in those spaces. It worked beautifully!
So pleased with how the project turned out, even if it did consume my entire vacation from work and several other days as well.
I got these shelf dividers at Walmart. We use them to help with our kitchen storage. My son had these "display" type items taking up space in toy boxes and they didn't make good use of this tall book shelf. With the dividers, everything fits and he didn't have to give away any of these "treasures."
I am big on boxes or "homes." Everything needs a home. If things don't fit in their home, then maybe we have too many. We use smaller boxes to hold smaller treasures, but the rule is that the boxes need to open and close easily. If not, they are too full. I also have a paper mache treasure box that we use for what I call "junk" - the things that come in treat bags, meal toys, etc. Once the box is full, things have to be thrown out.
The final thing that worked well this time around was a physical boundary. I had decided that all of my son's craft supplies needed to be in one spot, preferably in the kitchen where he can be supervised and where we do most of his crafts anyway. These boxes used to be filled with puzzles and some craft things. I said everything had to fit in the three boxes designated for crafts. That forced him to make choices about what he truly wanted to keep. We did the same thing for toys in his room. They had certain homes and everything he wanted to keep had to fit in those spaces. It worked beautifully!
So pleased with how the project turned out, even if it did consume my entire vacation from work and several other days as well.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
10 Lessons learned from the annual household purge
1. This annual event is easier to pull off in January than December because my primary work space isn't home to a Christmas tree.
2. But doing it in December means making the charitable donation before the end of the year.
3. I am an inspiration collector - I buy fabrics that remind me of dear friends. I buy papers that make me want to create something. I buy new craft materials because I see things made by others and think "I'd love to make that, too!" I buy cross stitch magazines - the expensive ones from England - because they have projects that will look beautiful when they are done or will make great gifts for people I love and they come out more often than the US ones, giving me more inspiration for the year.
4. I can realistically only do one craft at any given time. If I have a love seat full of boxes and bags of craft projects to give away, that means I have let my "collecting" get the best of me.
5. I have enough craft materials in my house at this moment to keep me crafting for years to come.
6. It is time to stop collecting and start creating.
7. One child isn't very tough on toys which makes them easy to pass on to others
8. My son was my hero during this project. He set a great example with his willingness to pass on some favorite toys he doesn't use to a younger child who would love them.
9. It helped that we started talking about it at least a month before we actually did it so he could warm up to the idea. His room looks fantastic after all of our hard work!
and, my final lesson learned....
10. Legos are an evil thing to try to store! There is no good storage system when Legos are sold as sets to build specific things. I have a small house, so I don't have space to store each creation on a shelf. Legos have to go in boxes, which means they get broken or taken apart to make the lid fit. And no one is willing to just dismantle the lot of them and and start from scratch.
2. But doing it in December means making the charitable donation before the end of the year.
3. I am an inspiration collector - I buy fabrics that remind me of dear friends. I buy papers that make me want to create something. I buy new craft materials because I see things made by others and think "I'd love to make that, too!" I buy cross stitch magazines - the expensive ones from England - because they have projects that will look beautiful when they are done or will make great gifts for people I love and they come out more often than the US ones, giving me more inspiration for the year.
4. I can realistically only do one craft at any given time. If I have a love seat full of boxes and bags of craft projects to give away, that means I have let my "collecting" get the best of me.
5. I have enough craft materials in my house at this moment to keep me crafting for years to come.
6. It is time to stop collecting and start creating.
7. One child isn't very tough on toys which makes them easy to pass on to others
8. My son was my hero during this project. He set a great example with his willingness to pass on some favorite toys he doesn't use to a younger child who would love them.
9. It helped that we started talking about it at least a month before we actually did it so he could warm up to the idea. His room looks fantastic after all of our hard work!
and, my final lesson learned....
10. Legos are an evil thing to try to store! There is no good storage system when Legos are sold as sets to build specific things. I have a small house, so I don't have space to store each creation on a shelf. Legos have to go in boxes, which means they get broken or taken apart to make the lid fit. And no one is willing to just dismantle the lot of them and and start from scratch.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Inspired by.... Organization
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Editorial Calendar
I read several blogs that talk about - of all things - blogging and social media. I like ProBlogger (I get it emailed to me every day - the layout is a little hard for me to follow), Copyblogger, and Chris Brogan among others.
One of the tips I came across this year to help organize blogging is to use an editorial calendar. This helps the blogger plan topics to cover and helps combat the "I don't know what to write about" syndrome that inevitably strikes us all.
This tip made me feel pretty good because I had already implemented something like that.
I tried to use a spreadsheet to keep track of what books I already covered on my book review blog. But that system wasn't working well for me. So, this year I bought a $1 calendar at Target and color coded the month for the three blogs at I had at the time (I cut back to two this month).
The store bought calendar is where I record what I blogged about for a particular day. Then I also use a Google calendar, printed off my computer, to check off what entries are done so I know what I need to fill in next.
I am feeling more organized - more in charge - in my blogging than I did last year when I was scrambling to stay on top of things.
So, how do you organize for your blogging? How do you plan what to write about or keep track of topics you've already done?
One of the tips I came across this year to help organize blogging is to use an editorial calendar. This helps the blogger plan topics to cover and helps combat the "I don't know what to write about" syndrome that inevitably strikes us all.
This tip made me feel pretty good because I had already implemented something like that.
I tried to use a spreadsheet to keep track of what books I already covered on my book review blog. But that system wasn't working well for me. So, this year I bought a $1 calendar at Target and color coded the month for the three blogs at I had at the time (I cut back to two this month).
The store bought calendar is where I record what I blogged about for a particular day. Then I also use a Google calendar, printed off my computer, to check off what entries are done so I know what I need to fill in next.
I am feeling more organized - more in charge - in my blogging than I did last year when I was scrambling to stay on top of things.
So, how do you organize for your blogging? How do you plan what to write about or keep track of topics you've already done?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The Tax Man Cometh - Are You Ready?
It is tax season at our house. This means that I am spending a few hours here and there organizing my materials for our tax preparer. How do you get ready for tax season? Do you do a little bit here are there all year long? Do you have a spot where you keep all of your tax related stuff? Or do you spend the first three months of the year tracking everything down?
I like to do a little here and a little there. I have an accordion file where I keep my tax papers. As I go through the year, those papers move from monthly envelopes where I keep my bills and receipts to this accordion file. Then, after all the January documents float in, I organize the papers and transfer the data to a spreadsheet for my tax preparer.
It isn't a fun process, by any means. But it goes more quickly when I do a little every month - and I remember things better right after they happened rather than a year later!
I would love to hear how you manage your tax preparation. Happy Tax Season.
I like to do a little here and a little there. I have an accordion file where I keep my tax papers. As I go through the year, those papers move from monthly envelopes where I keep my bills and receipts to this accordion file. Then, after all the January documents float in, I organize the papers and transfer the data to a spreadsheet for my tax preparer.
It isn't a fun process, by any means. But it goes more quickly when I do a little every month - and I remember things better right after they happened rather than a year later!
I would love to hear how you manage your tax preparation. Happy Tax Season.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Secrets of My Success - Part 2, Coupon Systems
Okay, you have all of your newspaper and printer coupons. Now what?
Now, you need a system for them. Most people think of coupon files as either a card box or an accordion file with categories. Either option is great and they work for lots of folks.
I never liked those systems because I would have to scroll through each piece of paper and more often than not, I'd find the perfect coupon, but it would be expired. I started sorting mine just by month of expiration. Then on the first of the month I would just toss the entire previous month's leftover coupons. Alas, this is also far from the perfect system. Any time I wanted to run out and pick up one particular thing, I had to go through each month to find the right coupon.
The Coupon Mom recommends a binder system which I love. Switching over to the system was a lot of work, but I am so happy with the results. I was able to use a binder I already had. I bought one set of trading card sleeves for the small coupons and used extra 4x6 photo pages that I already had for the large ones. My binder doesn't sit up on a shelf because I have those longer pages in there, but I don't care. It works for me and cost me very little to put it together.
Before I assembled it or sorted my coupons, I first made a list of the "categories" I wanted to use. I try to sort by areas of the store. My categories are things like medication, toiletries, cleaning supplies, dairy, bread/coffee, etc. Then I put them in roughly the order they are in my primary store. I used file folder labels to make the tabs for my sections.
Now, not only can I see what I have very quickly and easily, but I can also see what coupons have expired and clean them out.
There's one more trick about clipping coupons that I should have mentioned yesterday. I print out coupons for things like cookie dough, frosting, brownies, and candy - things we rarely use at our house. Why? Because I have a school-aged child and his class has regular parties and other occasions where I am asked to contribute something to the celebration. By having these coupons on hand, I feel a little ahead of the game.
Also, I don't print out or cut out every coupon I find. I only do this for things we would buy anyway. I If I'm not picky about brand, I might cut out coupons for three different kinds of fabric softener and try to play the sale ads to get the best deal. Otherwise, I clip and use coupons for the things I know we will use.
So, what do you do with your coupons? Do you have a system to make them manageable? I would love to hear about it - I am always up for trying to ways to better organize my life!
Come back tomorrow and we'll talk about the next "secret" to my shopping success.
Now, you need a system for them. Most people think of coupon files as either a card box or an accordion file with categories. Either option is great and they work for lots of folks.
I never liked those systems because I would have to scroll through each piece of paper and more often than not, I'd find the perfect coupon, but it would be expired. I started sorting mine just by month of expiration. Then on the first of the month I would just toss the entire previous month's leftover coupons. Alas, this is also far from the perfect system. Any time I wanted to run out and pick up one particular thing, I had to go through each month to find the right coupon.
The Coupon Mom recommends a binder system which I love. Switching over to the system was a lot of work, but I am so happy with the results. I was able to use a binder I already had. I bought one set of trading card sleeves for the small coupons and used extra 4x6 photo pages that I already had for the large ones. My binder doesn't sit up on a shelf because I have those longer pages in there, but I don't care. It works for me and cost me very little to put it together.
Before I assembled it or sorted my coupons, I first made a list of the "categories" I wanted to use. I try to sort by areas of the store. My categories are things like medication, toiletries, cleaning supplies, dairy, bread/coffee, etc. Then I put them in roughly the order they are in my primary store. I used file folder labels to make the tabs for my sections.
Now, not only can I see what I have very quickly and easily, but I can also see what coupons have expired and clean them out.
There's one more trick about clipping coupons that I should have mentioned yesterday. I print out coupons for things like cookie dough, frosting, brownies, and candy - things we rarely use at our house. Why? Because I have a school-aged child and his class has regular parties and other occasions where I am asked to contribute something to the celebration. By having these coupons on hand, I feel a little ahead of the game.
Also, I don't print out or cut out every coupon I find. I only do this for things we would buy anyway. I If I'm not picky about brand, I might cut out coupons for three different kinds of fabric softener and try to play the sale ads to get the best deal. Otherwise, I clip and use coupons for the things I know we will use.
So, what do you do with your coupons? Do you have a system to make them manageable? I would love to hear about it - I am always up for trying to ways to better organize my life!
Come back tomorrow and we'll talk about the next "secret" to my shopping success.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Planning Ahead
Happy 2010! I hope your New Year was happy and healthy and safe.
I love a new year. There is something about the fresh start and potential of a new year that makes me giddy. For the last couple weeks I have been brainstorming goals and plans for the new year. It is a great time to start new projects.
I made a new journal for the new year - something I did in 2007 for a class at Big Picture Scrapbooking and have kept up ever since. Each year has a different design. This year I went back to a monthly format. I divided the journal into 12 sections, one for each month. That way I can keep track of my monthly goals. In retrospect, I wish I had done something else, though. In 2008, I had a list of things for each month, so I set the monthly sections up with a couple pages each at the front of the journal. That way I could "journal" in the section after the monthly tabs without worrying about running into the next section. I didn't think that through this time. Oh well. I love how it turned out and will make the best of things.
My monthly goals are:
I have other goals and plans, but I will save those for another blog entry. If you set some goals for yourself, post them here. I love to hear what others are working on.
I love a new year. There is something about the fresh start and potential of a new year that makes me giddy. For the last couple weeks I have been brainstorming goals and plans for the new year. It is a great time to start new projects.
I made a new journal for the new year - something I did in 2007 for a class at Big Picture Scrapbooking and have kept up ever since. Each year has a different design. This year I went back to a monthly format. I divided the journal into 12 sections, one for each month. That way I can keep track of my monthly goals. In retrospect, I wish I had done something else, though. In 2008, I had a list of things for each month, so I set the monthly sections up with a couple pages each at the front of the journal. That way I could "journal" in the section after the monthly tabs without worrying about running into the next section. I didn't think that through this time. Oh well. I love how it turned out and will make the best of things.
My monthly goals are:
- Read one writing book from my stash. I have a shelf of writing books that are gathering dust. I want to concentrate on one each month this year so I can make use of the material I have at my disposal. In January I am reading A Novel Idea.
- Memorize a verse of scripture. For January I chose Galatians 6:4-5 from The Message.
- Submit three pieces of writing to a publisher. I have toyed with this writing thing for too long. It is time to jump in. Three is a very small number, but doable regardless of how much I am subbing or how intense my parenting load is.
- Prepare one song to sing for church. For January I chose Savior, Please. I only sing once or twice a year at church, but I love to sing. By setting a goal, I can really dig into a new song, memorize it, have it ready in case I am asked to sing. In reality, this is probably more about me making time to sing for myself rather than about performing a song at church (which makes me a nervous wreck).
I have other goals and plans, but I will save those for another blog entry. If you set some goals for yourself, post them here. I love to hear what others are working on.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Back to Business
Okay, I think I have exhausted all I want to say about Sabbath. Here are some nifty things I have come across recently
Organization - I am always looking for a better way to organize things, and I love office supplies. Right now my torn out magazine pages are overflowing an office file box, awaiting the week I take the time to sort and organize them. But even when that is done, I don't really have anywhere to put them. (I have a 4-drawer file cabinet on the family wish-list!) It is tempting to run out and get some binders (some now qualify for Box Tops!) and sheet protectors and do as this crafter did.
Things like this make me want to quilt. I am not big on Halloween decorations, but the shoes are cute and I bet the pattern could be modified to some classy, girly fabrics.
Bouchercon - the annual mystery convention is coming to Indiana next month. One of my favorite mystery authors posted this on her page. I think there is a day at the convention that includes crafts. I would love to go....
Organization - I am always looking for a better way to organize things, and I love office supplies. Right now my torn out magazine pages are overflowing an office file box, awaiting the week I take the time to sort and organize them. But even when that is done, I don't really have anywhere to put them. (I have a 4-drawer file cabinet on the family wish-list!) It is tempting to run out and get some binders (some now qualify for Box Tops!) and sheet protectors and do as this crafter did.
Things like this make me want to quilt. I am not big on Halloween decorations, but the shoes are cute and I bet the pattern could be modified to some classy, girly fabrics.
Bouchercon - the annual mystery convention is coming to Indiana next month. One of my favorite mystery authors posted this on her page. I think there is a day at the convention that includes crafts. I would love to go....
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