New Year - Time to Organize: 15ers

At the retail shop, we've been selling lots of closet supplies: slimline hangers, hangers that hold multiple garments, drawer dividers, under-the-bed storage, shoe holders. Seems everyone is thinking about getting organized.

But sometimes that thought can be overwhelming. Piles are everywhere. You may have a "domino" effect: Before you can clean the clothes closet, you need to clean the bathroom closet. Before you can do that, you need to clear out the hall closet. Before you can do that you need to pay the bills. Before you can do that you need to sort the piles of junk mail (and maybe not some junk mail). Before long, you just want to go back to bed.

Perhaps you don't have a day or even a couple of hours to devote to a project right now. Here's a quick way to get started without overwhelming yourself. The technique is called 15-ers and you'd be surprised at how motivating implementing it can be. Get a pen and paper. Or click open your word processor. Go ahead. I'll wait. Ok, got it?

Now, number one to fifteen. Now, look around. Fill the list with tasks that can be accomplished in 15 minutes or less. Once you really evaluate a task, realizing it will only take you 15 minutes to do it is extremely liberating! And once you get through that list, you will have accomplished 15 tasks! All of us have 15 minutes here and there.

Now, you may have to revive your multitasking skills but who of us is not used to doing 10 things at once anyway. Maybe you are on hold waiting to make an appointment with a doctor. You are probably going to be on hold 15 minutes anyway. Empty that dishwasher. Fold those towels. Even tackle that junk drawer. Personally, once I realized that emptying my dishwasher was really only a five minute job, the dread of the dishes went away. I spent more time thinking that I need to empty the dishes than it actually took to do it. (That is a huge tip to motivate your kids also. Use a timer to demonstrate the point.)

Here. I'll get you started.

1. Sort the junk mail.

2. Clear one shelf in the refrigerator.

3. Sort that utensil drawer.

4. Clean out a sock drawer.

5. Get all the pens and pencils out of the junk drawer. Throw out the ones that don't write.

6. Clean out one side of the cabinet under the sink.

7. Clean out the other side of the cabinet under the sink.

8. Alphabetize your spices.

9. Write a thank you note.

10. Send a sympathy card.

Ok, get it now? You can divide a lot of jobs into small chunks. Even if it takes you two weeks to get through your first 15 items, you will feel a sense of accomplishment when you are done. Then build your next list.

Oh -- post that list somewhere prominent and keep a good, black marking pen handy. Cross off those items boldly. This list is not a chronological list. There is no need to go in order. In fact, just list tasks quickly. Like brainstorming. Then pick whichever task suits the moment.

So here's my challenge for the week. Build your list. Share with us what you put on your list and how many you crossed off.

Have a blessed day.

--Laura