Someone send me the following challenge about getting organized…
I totally get that being efficient is the key to being organized and in my work life I have that down to the point where I think I could make a business out of it.
Its getting a routine here at home that I’d love to do. I had to laugh at the diagram in the report showing the ups and downs of getting organized then letting it slide then getting organized etc etc ad nauseum.
I work part time, am a sole parent of an 11 year old boy (24/7) and am studying for a degree in Western Herbal Medicine – only one unit at a time at the moment. I feel guilty for not studying whenever I do anything else including house stuff. I would like to establish some sort of routine for getting the housework done (because it really does annoy me when its not done and I’m not anal about it – just like it clean and tidyish), studying and recreation (including exercise) so I set a good example for my son.
It’s the variables that impinge on my attempts at routine. I know it can’t be a clockwork thing and I don’t want every minute of every day accounted for, I just want to establish a rhythm for getting things done. For example, if I am tired, I just don’t wash up after tea so the dishes are there til the next day – neatly stacked and rinsed of course but just not done! And there’s only two of us!!!
I hate vacuuming so I put it off until I feel like I need to wear shoes in the house to keep my feet clean! (slight exaggeration) . I don’t exercise and so I get tired so we don’t eat as well as we should so I don’t have enough energy and on and on it goes. I live in a fantastic location, right on the sea. I can walk or ride to work 3 days a week but find the ‘variables’ ie have to pick up my son because he didn’t ride to school sometimes stop that from happening. I want to factor in gardening time and a budget and be able to pursue the creative projects I constantly wish I could find time and energy to do. Maybe its just too big a problem????? It does seem a bit overwhelming when I put it all down like that. The reason I looked it up on the net was that I thought there might be some nice plan someone has gone to the effort to put together that I can follow step by step til I get it all sorted (and I KNOW it will never really be sorted – or that it will always be a fluid adaptive process!). I just want to have the time and energy to do what I want to do and I feel sure the key lies in being more organized!!!
First, I thought that’s an amazing story, of dedication to getting organized.
Here is my reply:
Good to hear from you and I appreciate how you feel. You’ve painted a vivid picture. A few things jump out at me…
- Not exercising
- Different variables.
- Your 11 year old.
- Possibly expecting a bit too much (which really does speak to my point about getting organized vs just being efficient).
- And good determination.
I think with the passion and determination that you show, you can certainly find the right balance, providing you accept in your heart, what you say about it not being ‘perfect’. And yes ‘perfect’ is the adaptive process.
On that note, I would suggest giving your self space and time to write out different daily scenarios, with if : then statements.
E.g. If son has gone on bike, then collect him on bike too. If son not gone on bike, then decide to cycle anyway and walk back with him, or, whatever.
I do think the 7 Steps Of Organizing product is likely to be helpful to you, simply because of your seriousness about applying an actual process.
I also think that you might be able to find a way of eliciting the help and support of your son, perhaps by sharing what you are trying to achieve in life, with your degree, and what would make you happy, and get his agreement, understanding, and commitment to share in the household reponsibilities with you.
Hope that helps a little.
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