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| My Desk From Ikea--my birthday present a couple of years ago! It was organized at the time...time to save it from the mountainous piles of life that are encroaching. |
Last Thursday I asked What Makes You Happy? Then I spent the week making a list of a few things that make me happy (i.e. being with family and friends, reading a good book, going to the movies, singing along with the radio, etc.). After I made the list, I made a plan for the next year. Each month will have a different theme and each Thursday of that month will have an action item that I am partaking of to help me better embrace happiness.
This scorching month of August is Being Organized (let's hope this doesn't ignite some OCD spark that becomes a new malady). I always feel better prepared for whatever life throws at me when I am organized. I also feel genuine happiness right after I complete a big organization task (maybe I am already OCD).
Nevertheless, with all the happenings in our lives the last few months, our home has become a clutter fest, thanks in most part to my lack of attention and general f-it feelings. My first action item has been to read up on getting organized. From here I will spend the rest of the month taking items from my research and putting them into action in the Hunter household.
The first resource I discovered is Simple Mom (Click on the title to go to her blog!). From this wise goddess I take tips on reducing our paper clutter. The best advice she gives is to "purge often, to have a place for everything, and to make decisions quickly." Point of order next week--ORGANIZING OUR OFFICE! That means I need the industrial shredder from work, file folders for the must keeps, and probably a few cleaning supplies and craft organizers.
My second landing in researching getting organized was the Real Simple website. I found this interesting article about clutter-busting. Basically, act like you're moving! Then you want to "purpose" each room in your house to make sure the activities in that room are well supplied and not over-stocked with useless items. I especially liked the part about "shopping your closet." If you would buy that blouse again, keep it. If not, then donate it.
Here's another resource out there--Declutter 101! They nailed it when they wrote, "Clutter is evidence of many things: poor habits, lack of organization, sentimental attachment, too much stuff." I am looking forward to using the four box method of decluttering (put away, give away, store away, or throw away).
And because buying magazines makes me happy, I just had to grab September's Family Circle off the stand by the check out. I mean really! Its main article is "Get Organized! Your Home, Your Kids, Your Life." How could I possibly ignore that impulse buy on the very week I start this little endeavor?!? I was "ehn" about the article on organizing but abso-absolutely LOVED "The Do Everything Better Guide"! INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLDING A FITTED SHEET!!! Also, did you know there is a treehouse resort in Oregon...that's just too cool for me to pass on passing on. I think I will get Hubby Dearest to take me!
Visit my blog each Thursday to see how My Happiness Project is going! This next week I am tackling our office. I'll follow with organizing our kitchen (YAY! Cabinet organizers!), and then I'll tackle the closets (EEEK!). Here's the plan by month so far:
- August--being organized
- September--eating healthy
- October--having energy
- November--being thankful
- December--focusing on family and friends
- January--focusing on marriage
- February--focusing on parenting
- March--being creative
- April--being helpful
- May--working smarter
- June--being adventurous
- July--loving Jaimee
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