First, I must let you know, as I also told my Facebook fans, I made the mistake of Googling “Junk in the Trunk”. There are obviously different meaning for that term. By the way, I really need to know how the filter out the sexually explicit images from Google Search. Parents, if you haven’t already, I would strongly suggest you check into it. I don’t have any young children now, so I am sure that I am WAY late on this one…. Moving right along!
The trunk of car or your car as a whole is no different than a room in your home or office, when it comes to organizing. You need to know what is in your trunk and be able to put your hand on what you need quickly. The process of sort, purge and organize still applies.
Clutter is clutter, no matter what part of your life it occupies.
BEFORE
Let’s take a look at a few trunk organizing tools…
The maintenance process is very simple, in theory. There is a place for everything, and return everything to its place. This must become an unconscious habit (is that possible?). Now this may be a difficult task, especially for children, but try to keep it fun. Create a reward system for the children and the adults (my creative juices are flowing). When the toys are put back in the toy box or the tools are not left in the laundry room, or the high heel shoes are not under the couch in the family room…. you are well on your way to Order out of Chaos.
Again, this is an on-going process, but everyone must participate. Set aside some “organize time” at the end of the day (10-15 min.). Everyone puts away 5-items. When you are done…..
I decided to back-up and re-group and NOT try to name all the phases of organizing. I will stick with the name that works, “Dive Right In”and not make the process too complicated (no more contests for a while :-()… although I may try to stay with a water theme.
I started small with my project (as we all should) and worked under my bathroom sink. I had to separate my personal items from my cleaning items. Fortunately, my bathroom has two (2) sinks, so I didn’t need have to get my husband’s input, but I probably need to know what IS under his sink.
BEFORE
AFTER
You can buy small organizing tools along the way, like this little basket. But there is no need to buy unnecessary items.
Now if you have the CASH, then GO FOR IT!!!
After the project is complete, we need to develop a road map, NOT literally. But at least, we should have a general idea of what all the items are in the space. Take others on a tour of the new “organized”space, so that they know where everything is.
IKEA.COM
Now understand that NO organizing system is cast in stone, it continues to evolve. A system is meant to continue to improve and become more effective, the more you use it…..
Phase III – What’s Next!
lagwar.com
Now that we have a rhythm going, let’s go to the next space, using the same process. I am sure that we have made modifications along the way and adjustments based on “Lessons Learned”. With each new space, the process becomes easier and easier.
Once you have a “basic” organizing system developed, you can just “roll with the flow”!
Now this is VERY IMPORTANT, you have to live in the space and things are going to get out of place. Do NOT create a system that you can’t live with. Just don’t allow the clutter to build and get out of control.
NEXT POST:
We need a maintenance process and we need EVERYONE involved, including the kids.
For the past two (2) weeks, I had committed my blog to the contest and as my friend over at “Laughing at Everyday Life” said, once you are committed, you have to see it through. Needless to say, it didn’t exactly turnout the way I had liked, but I got a great name nonetheless. Again, I want to say “Congratulations, Cheryl” at Create a Beautiful Life, for the name “Dive Right In” for Phase 1 of Organizing. I never really know what the Lord has planned, especially if it don’t happen the way I think it should.
Let’s get back to Organizing… Now that we have completed Step 1 and we have gathered the input from the other members of the household about how to best utilize the space that we have identified, then we are ready to move on to Step 2…
It is imperative that we touch every item in the space. NO Really! Don’t Assume. I can hear you now, “I know everything in this space and I need to keep everything in it”. NOT! You should determine if you really need /want to keep an item, throw it away or if it belongs in another space.
Once we have decided what is going to stay in the space and or potentially what items that may be added to the space, we want to develop an organizing system that will maximize all usable space. Everything must have its proper place. We need to be able to find the item(s) and be able to direct someone else to the item, if necessary. Again, it would be great if all members would participate in the process but that is not always feasible. But if you decide to do it yourself, you don’t want “Candy, Where is my _______?”, which you will probably get anyway! Keep in mind that after the project is finished, we will still need their support to maintain it.
Now I am sure that you may have already decided, this is just TOO much work!!! But remember, once you have made up your mind to “Get Organized”, you have to “Dive Right In”. As I said in an earlier post, I am over-emphasizing the steps of the process, so that we do an effective job organizing our space and yet it doesn’t overwhelm us along the way. Clutter did not just happen overnight, so it will take time to get things back in order. We must think through the entire project, so that we avoid becoming extremely frustrated, especially if our space begins to look like it did before we started.
Now that we have completed “Dive Right In”, we can decide if you really need to buy something and what it might be….
Phase 1 of Organizing is normally the most difficult. Now the steps may sound a little complicated, but I am trying to emphasis the importance of taking the project seriously, so that you will finish it. Once you have completed your first project, you truly look forward to doing the next one and the next one, and the real FUN begins!
Rule # 1 – Please don’t buy anything until Phase 1 is complete. One of the biggest mistake that people make is that they think that if they buy a whole lot of plastic bins and “organizing” products they will get organized. It really doesn’t happen that way and you have spent money unnecessarily.
After you identify the area, you need to determine the following:
who currently uses the area
who may use the area in the future
how the area is used now and how to you want to use it
The other thing you want to understand is, is there another area of the house that is used for the same purpose or holds the same items.
Ask the rest of the users, how best to utilize the space. Yes, I know you just want to do it and get it over with, but unfortunately, you will not be able to maintain the organization of the space without their input.
Consolidate the items, if necessary, from the other areas of the house that are used in the same manner.
Depending on the answers to these questions, Step 2 begins….
Finding Order in Chaos 