Big Goal Part 3 – Overhauling My Life to Get Organized

For the month of May, I am writing about a huge goal has been on my goal list longer than any other, and it goes like this: 

My home is completely decluttered, decorated, organized and always company ready. 

For parts 1 and part 2, I described what I was aiming for with the “decluttered” piece and the “decorated” piece. Now, it’s time to tackle the “organized” piece. 

I believe the biggest reason this goal has been stuck on my list for so long is because I don’t know exactly what achieving this goal looks like. If I get one area of my home “organized” but then a month later, it returns to the messy state, is the goal no longer achieved? When is this goal actually considered “done”? 

What “Being Organized” is Not

First, I need to define what “being organized” looks like so I know when I reach it. Here are some examples of what “being organized” is NOT: 

• I do not have a system (that I have stuck to) for incoming paperwork. 
• I cannot find important papers. 
• Every morning I have a peaceful routine until it gets crazy when the kids get up. I’m always about 5 minutes behind but each time I think I’ve got it. 
• Every breakfast option besides cereal seems daunting. 
• I have a million magazines and no true plan to read them. 
• I have over 50 books checked out from the library. 
• My kids cannot have consistent cold lunch because I haven’t figured out how to keep the supplies on hand. 
• I see messy areas of my home that are overflowing with items and I feel physical pain. 
• My computer files and photos are a mess. 
• I have an old laptop that if I lost, I would lose so many important videos and photos but I just can’t find the time to deal with it. 
• My pantry always looks nice once a year when I clean it and I can never maintain it. 
• Too many close-calls happen where if I had completed the task on time, I wouldn’t be stressed or in a pickle. 
• I can never find my kids’ library books when I most need them. 
• My email system has over 800 unread messages. 
• I return items at the last possible second, or not at all and have to eat the cost. 
• No printer ink to print invites (and I started 2 days later than planned). 
• I drove to the wrong town for an appointment for one of my kids (thankfully I was early so I was only 8 minutes late to the other office but didn’t realize it was at their other location ugh) 
• Phone is too full for videos and the video stops recording. 
• Phone is too full to view ClassDojo when I need it. 

I could keep going with this list but I think we all understand the point. In so many areas of my life I barely squeak through. I turn in something at the last second or I get lucky and someone extends the deadline. 

I’m tired of the luck and I just want to know I’m organized for once and for all. 

The issue is that solving these items above is not easy and especially not each to track. I have been enjoying keeping all of my tasks in Trello for the “decluttering” and “decorating” pieces, so I would like to find a way to use Trello for the “organized” piece as well. 

How I Will Track

What I’d like to do is create a list in Trello for “Organized Systems”. In this list, I will add all the “trouble” areas, like the ones listed above .. 

For example, in the Office board, I will add a List  called “Organized Systems”. In that list, I will add a task for “Computer files”. I can then add a checklist for sub-tasks, such as “photos” or “scanned receipts”.  

For the board for my kids’ rooms, I can add the item “Library Books”. This will at least give me a reminder that I want to solve the issue of losing my kids’ library books and having to scramble to find them at the last minute. I can add items to the checklist for “Research” to look at what options I might have, “Buying a basket” or some other way to corral the books, and other tasks that are related to solving this organizing issue. 

I feel like tracking everything in Trello (for at least three parts of this four part goal) will help me keep everything in one place. Thanks Trello!

What’s Next

Now it’s time to…find the time! One of the hardest things to tackle when it comes to any project I face. I’m very interested to hear how you organize your life, so please leave a comment below. Let’s do this!