Today's post is the final step in making organization a part of your daily routine

#3 Create an inspiration guidebook

Most people simply write a list of resolutions and some simply verbalize it. But getting organized is about developing new habits and making it a part of your daily routine. Create a visual picture of where you want to be by creating a collage with pictures and inspiring words. Incorporate your organization plan into it and then hang it somewhere you can see it everyday top inspire you – kitchen, office, near the medicine chest. The activity of creating your inspiration guidebook will reinforce your plan in additions to helping you maintain your daily routine.

Yesterday I posted step 1 of getting organized. Here is the 2nd step to help make organization a part of your daily routine.

#2 Make a plan.
Let’s say you’d like to have more balance in your life and spend more time with your children. So start brainstorming ideas on how you can achieve that. Look for ways to trim wasted time or do things more efficiently. Start with Larger concepts, such as stop wasting time looking for misplaced items, then drill down with specific steps to help achieve that goal. For example, you could determine a specific place to put away your keys as soon as you walk in the door and resolve to do it each and every day. Keep going until you have a plan.

Want to get organized in 2008? Here's how to make it stick.

Every year, getting organized makes the top ten list of New Year's resolutions. If so many of us want to get organized, why is it so hard to achieve? Here's the 1st step to help make organization a part of your daily routine.

#1 Get Perspective

Many people find it hard to stay organized because they don't have the right perspective. Getting organized shouldn't be a goal unto itself. Organization is a tool to achieve life's bigger goals. For example, someone might say they want to get organized but what they're really looking for is more balance in their life. By being organized, they wouldn't waste so much time looking for misplaced items, such as keys and glasses. They wouldn't get stressed by running late so often. The goal is much more than simply having a neat house. It's about quality of life. So before you start trying to get organized, ask yourself, what are the big picture goals you want to achieve? Do you want more balance in your work and personal life, to be more productive at work, or even get out of debt? Those are worthy goals. Your plan for getting organized should be centered on achieving a bigger goal.

In my last post, I wrote about the process of making changes. Now here are some specific tips to help you achieve your goals.


Eating Right
If your new habit is to eat better make sure you schedule a time every week to go to the grocery store to purchase healthy food and prepare your meals at home. Bring your lunch to work and make sure you have healthy snacks on hand when you those hungers pains set in. You don’t want to run to the nearest vending machine for a chocolate bar and a can of soda. For great ideas on how to eat right, take a look at www.webmd.com



Getting fit
If you’re new habit is to get in shape make sure you schedule a time to go to the heath club each week. Make an appointment with yourself in your weekly planner so that you do not schedule anything else that time of day. You might even consider working out with friend to add a little extra motivation. You don’t want to leave them on the treadmill while you’re at home hitting the snooze bar.


Getting Organized
If you’re new habit is to get organized make sure you schedule time each day to just put things away. Every night before you go to bed spend about 10 minutes going through each room and make sure everything is in order for the next day. You will appreciate it in the morning. Do the same at work. Put your projects away and clear your desk of anything that is not important for your next days work.


Don’t expect instant results. In fact, if you first concentrate on techniques rather than results, you’ll surprise yourself with what you accomplish. Don’t rush. Take time to establish a new habit before you go on to the next. Practice, practice, practice. That’s the only way you’ll improve.

Have a great day!

Karli
Professional Organizer

We are a week into 2007 and many people have New Year’s resolutions, which usually means creating new habits. There is a way you can establish new habits. The method I use isn’t new, but I find it very effective. Basically, there are five steps. Consistency is essential. Studies suggest that to form a new habit you have to do it 21 times in a row.

1. Establish your main goals. Perhaps this year, you’d like to focus on fitness and you’d like to organize yourself so you have more time to go to the gym and make healthier meals at home.

2. Make your plan. Organize your goals by writing them down in a realistic time frame. Take note of some things that you can apply immediately by breaking it into steps.

3. Establish rewards for each small step. To make sure that you will take even the tiniest step toward your desired goal, bribe yourself silly. Set up little rewards for minor steps along the way with bigger rewards for greater accomplishments.

4. Get started. The more you practice and get rewards, the more you will want to try again. You’re conditioning yourself to the idea that doing the new activity brings immediate pleasurable benefits.

5. Track your progress. Make a note of any positive accomplishment. Review these notes often. This final step of reviewing your successes can be a turning point in making your new-found skills belong to you permanently.

Have a great day!

Karli