Organizing

Notes from these three blogs on organizing

Clear off kitchen counters

Papers that are confined or kept for the long-term should be in files. Papers that you use frequently should be in binders.

- Create a household binder with a tab for each family member. Store schedules and the like behind each person's tab. Have a numbers tab where you keep important phone numbers, account numbers, etc. Copy everything in your wallet and file it here for use in case of theft.
- Journal binders. Create a binder for each family member with tabs for each year of his/her life. It's just as easy to file them in a binder as in a file, and it will be complete when a child leaves home. Children will be much less likely to organize their papers later on, so this is a gift to them. File important papers and a sampling of the best school papers from each year. Be selective about what you save and file.
- Create an identity binder with copies of important documents. Keep one in a safety deposit box. Include detailed physical descriptions, photographs, fingerprints, copies of social security numbers, driver's licenses, birth certificates, deeds, insurance info.

What are we avoiding or postponing? Address those things.
- Think of your life as a wagon wheel. You are the hub. Take care of yourself first, then your spouse, then your children and any of the other spokes coming out from you. Then turn your attention and energy (if any remains) outward to the world. So many of us have this reversed.
- Figure out what your prime time is every day. When are you most alert, have the most energy? Do important tasks then. Take advantage of your natural energy highs and lows.
- Take advantage of your most alone time every day. True alone time means that no one is asking you a question, you don't have to answer the phone, and there is no media interrupting your spirit. Use your most alone time to: plan, prepare, think, and ponder. We all have more peace and calm when we have at least some alone time every day.
- A child who is loved well becomes a mighty force for good. Whatever stage of life you are in, saturate yourself with its joys.
- Only when we give up what doesn't matter are we empowered to do what is really important.

- Never wait uselessly. Have a plan of what you will do during wait time: read, write a note, find an opportunity to teach something to your children.

- Don't mistake activity for accomplishment. Do things less often, but better, and double your capacity. A different approach can make you much more efficient.
- Give yourself permission to play. The person who never plays is not fun to be around. Allow yourself, your spouse, and your children to see the fun side of you.

- Alternate what you are doing to give yourself energy to go on. Vary active tasks with sedentary ones, boring tasks with stimulating ones, activities we enjoy with those we don't. Stop before you are tired whenever possible.
- When planning your day, divide it into 6 sections: already in cement, things I would like to do, odds & ends, dinner, sit-down activities, and inspiration. Also, make your life easier by figuring out what you'll serve for dinner before noon.

Don't let inspiration go unwritten down!

--Get rid of tools and pans that don't work or aren't being used.
--If the tools you need are always in the dishwasher then it's time to get another one

Try to turn shelves into drawers by having trays and bins that slide out.

-Take up the pattern of the Law of Firsts (i.e., Do the most important things first and you'll always find time to do the rest)
--Put date night, temple visits, home and visiting teaching on the calendar at the beginning of the month.
--Prepare lessons ahead of time.
--Pay tithing as soon as you get paid.
--Read the scriptures first thing in the morning.
--Make sure to have family prayer, scripture study and Family Home Evening regularly.
--Find jobs you've been avoiding and do them.
--Act on promptings immediately.
--Take care of yourself first, then your spouse, then the kids and then you can work on saving the world...not the other way around!
--Find your prime time (most productive hours) in each day and do your most important things during that time.
--"A child who is loved well becomes a mighty force for good."
--Give up what doesn't matter to do what does matter well.
--No matter what season of life you're in, savor it.
--Don't answer the phone 20 minutes before leaving to go somewhere or you'll be late.
--The time to talk about change is NOT right in the middle of a fight.
--Heavenly Father doesn't care how much we get done in a day, He cares how we do it.
--When I have to wait somewhere, what is the best use of my time?
--Have a list of things you can do if you have 20 minutes (i.e., mini projects).
--While standing in line at a store with your kids teach them something they don't know.
--Don't ever be waiting uselessly.
--Every time we say "yes" to something, we are also saying "no" to something else (and vice versa).
--Make every decision with wisdom.
--Turn activities into accomplishments (i.e., make a roast for dinner that can also be used for lunch the next day and in a dinner recipe later in the week).
--Do things less often better.
--Give yourself permission to have fun.
--The woman who does not play is no fun to be around.
--Alternate what you're doing so you have energy to go back to it. (Mix up standing activities with sitting activities so you don't burn out).
--True alone time is when no one is asking you a question and there is no media to see or hear.
--Eliminate the interruptions to your spirit, we all need time to figure things out.
--Each day has solidified obligations, write those down and then plan what you're going to do with the rest of the time.
--Don't let inspiration go unwritten down!
--May this week be different!
--Take control and live the Law of Firsts.
--There is no woman who doesn't need YOU to come visit her. (This was in the context of visiting teaching.)