Organization is OPTIMAL
by Devon Fleming on November 25, 2009 at 12:08PM
"How do you do it all?" is a question I’m often asked and one I think about all the time given how many women I’m fortunate enough to meet and speak to: How do modern women handle all of the pressures of managing the home, taking care of their families, working, handling the finances and maintain personal friendships and activities? For me, it boils down to how you manage each day; and how you manage your days depends on how organized you are. In addition, looking at each day or week with its own business agenda also helps: what is the plan? What goals and deadlines do must be met? Which have more wiggle room? Where or to whom is there for support? How will you communicate and delegate to those on your team?
As I have mentioned, I like to look at my life in terms of “divisions” and while I have an overall “big picture” perspective on it, I strive to manage each area more or less separately. And it’s this management of what I call the daily ‘grind’ that I find much more challenging than the big-picture thinking and planning. There was a time when my children were smaller and I was blessed to have a greater amount of hands-on help around the home. Ah, those were the days. I had someone helping me with the cleaning, cooking, laundry, paperwork, paying the bills, managing the schedules for my personal and professional lives. The business of life was good! Now, fast forward a number of years: the kids are older and it is much harder to justify all of the help, so I am finding myself doing it all. Luckily, my husband is helpful but let’s face it, by and large, it’s the women who are in charge of family’s daily tasks and responsibilities.
Keeping your ‘stuff’ in order. I think one of the most helpful skills is something that women do intuitively: know where everything is and keeping your home and life orderly. This is so helpful with your kids (and husband too). Remove everything (constantly) that doesn’t belong or have a home – it’s a constant game of de-cluttering but the order that is found is well worth the daily “clutter scans.” Most offices are set up to be “command central” for running your job or your business. Files are kept, areas are designated for specific projects, shelves houses relevant resources and materials. Your home should be the same. Setting it up is the key to success. Getting in the habit of putting everything back in place is how you stay on track. If your children and husband know where everything belongs, then they know where to go to find everything. Sounds simple enough? Now try getting them to put everything away!! But that’s a subject for another column!
I am not a Mindreader! How many times have you found yourself saying that to your family? Well, the same applies to them. Does everyone know the plan for the week? Osmosis is not a method of communication. Do everyone a favor and keep the family schedule somewhere, on a board in the kitchen, or in a weekly email update to your family if everyone is online and old enough for the digital world. In those weekly dinner meetings (remember that column?) make plans and then write them down so everyone knows what to expect! This avoids confusion.
Ask for help if you need it. If your plumbing is broken, you call an expert. Why is it that so many of us Household CEO’s feel the need to figure it all out on our own? I haven’t read about too many successful CEO’s who do it all in their companies- so why should you? When it comes to organization, many women I know feel overwhelmed by the thought of putting systems in place because their “stuff” is so out of control they don’t know where to start. I’ve been there. I have called a professional organizer in the past. Just making the phone call helped. I ended up not even using her. She came over and after a few minutes, encouraged me by saying that I was doing a good job already. She gave me some pointers and I was off to the races. I offered her some referrals for her time and VOILA! We were both in a better place. Sometimes, just opening our minds to the possibilities and visualizing our goals is enough. Other times, putting on a large pot of coffee and spending the afternoon de-cluttering and removing unwanted items for good will is the solution.
Whatever your methods or organizational challenges, all the divisions of your life will operate more smoothly when you set up systems that work for your family and your home.
Go forth and organize!
Devon Fleming is considered the area’s Home and Lifestyle expert. She writes and publishes books, blogs, articles, gives radio and TV endorsements and hosts many charitable events.
Organization is OPTIMAL
By Devon Fleming, Posted 25/25/09 12:08 PM
"How do you do it all?" is a question I’m often asked and one I think about all the time given how many women I’m fortunate enough to meet and speak to: How do modern women handle all of the pressures of managing the home, taking care of their families, working, handling the finances and maintain personal friendships and activities? For me, it boils down to how you manage each day; and how you manage your days depends on how organized you are. In addition, looking at each day or week with its own business agenda also helps: what is the plan? What goals and deadlines do must be met? Which have more wiggle room? Where or to whom is there for support? How will you communicate and delegate to those on your team?
As I have mentioned, I like to look at my life in terms of “divisions” and while I have an overall “big picture” perspective on it, I strive to manage each area more or less separately. And it’s this management of what I call the daily ‘grind’ that I find much more challenging than the big-picture thinking and planning. There was a time when my children were smaller and I was blessed to have a greater amount of hands-on help around the home. Ah, those were the days. I had someone helping me with the cleaning, cooking, laundry, paperwork, paying the bills, managing the schedules for my personal and professional lives. The business of life was good! Now, fast forward a number of years: the kids are older and it is much harder to justify all of the help, so I am finding myself doing it all. Luckily, my husband is helpful but let’s face it, by and large, it’s the women who are in charge of family’s daily tasks and responsibilities.
Keeping your ‘stuff’ in order. I think one of the most helpful skills is something that women do intuitively: know where everything is and keeping your home and life orderly. This is so helpful with your kids (and husband too). Remove everything (constantly) that doesn’t belong or have a home – it’s a constant game of de-cluttering but the order that is found is well worth the daily “clutter scans.” Most offices are set up to be “command central” for running your job or your business. Files are kept, areas are designated for specific projects, shelves houses relevant resources and materials. Your home should be the same. Setting it up is the key to success. Getting in the habit of putting everything back in place is how you stay on track. If your children and husband know where everything belongs, then they know where to go to find everything. Sounds simple enough? Now try getting them to put everything away!! But that’s a subject for another column!
I am not a Mindreader! How many times have you found yourself saying that to your family? Well, the same applies to them. Does everyone know the plan for the week? Osmosis is not a method of communication. Do everyone a favor and keep the family schedule somewhere, on a board in the kitchen, or in a weekly email update to your family if everyone is online and old enough for the digital world. In those weekly dinner meetings (remember that column?) make plans and then write them down so everyone knows what to expect! This avoids confusion.
Ask for help if you need it. If your plumbing is broken, you call an expert. Why is it that so many of us Household CEO’s feel the need to figure it all out on our own? I haven’t read about too many successful CEO’s who do it all in their companies- so why should you? When it comes to organization, many women I know feel overwhelmed by the thought of putting systems in place because their “stuff” is so out of control they don’t know where to start. I’ve been there. I have called a professional organizer in the past. Just making the phone call helped. I ended up not even using her. She came over and after a few minutes, encouraged me by saying that I was doing a good job already. She gave me some pointers and I was off to the races. I offered her some referrals for her time and VOILA! We were both in a better place. Sometimes, just opening our minds to the possibilities and visualizing our goals is enough. Other times, putting on a large pot of coffee and spending the afternoon de-cluttering and removing unwanted items for good will is the solution.
Whatever your methods or organizational challenges, all the divisions of your life will operate more smoothly when you set up systems that work for your family and your home.
Go forth and organize!
Devon Fleming is considered the area’s Home and Lifestyle expert. She writes and publishes books, blogs, articles, gives radio and TV endorsements and hosts many charitable events.
