Organize your keys

A big time waster is searching for keys. It is time to leave for work or to take the kids to their T-ball game, and you can't find the car keys. They cold be laying where you threw them last time you came home, or in a coat pocket. Who knows? When you are running late and need to get going is not a good time to have to hunt for them. A little organization will help in this area.

The first step to organizing your keys is determine a location for them. I have two key rings, one for my car and house keys, the other for all my work keys. I would keep them all on one, but that makes too big of a bunch for my pocket. When I get to work I put my car-house key ring with my brief case so it is there when I am ready leave. Then I only have my work keys in my pocket. The important thing is that I always hang my keys in the same place when I get home so I know where they are when I have to leave. We have a simple 3-hook key holder that says "Who's got the keys?" That's where they always go so I know where they are.

Once you determine where you want your keys, be sure to always put them there. Don't wait and say you'll put them away later. Later most likely will never come. If you lay them down, chances are something will get put over the top of them before you put them away and you won't be able to find them when you need them. If you leave them in your coat pocket, they will most likely still be there when you need them next time and you won't remember that. You can use a simple hook in the wall, but there are other methods that look better and are more functional. A Letter & Key Rack could serve a dual purpose and help organize outgoing mail as well. Or if you are one who locks yourself out of your house, you might try a 5-Key Key Safe With Cover.

Determine a place for your keys. Then always put them there as soon as you get home. Your family will thank you when they realize you are no longer delaying them. You are now organized and do not have to waste your time or their looking for your keys.

Organize by looking at the small picture

Getting organized can seem to be an overwhelming task. It is no fun looking at a cluttered room like that pictured on the right, or a desk that needs to be cleaned up. Looking at that large stack of papers that has built up on the "To do" pile can destroy one's motivation. Thinking "I need to clean up my whole house" or "I need to get this office straightened up" can seem like an endless task. We feel defeated before we even begin. Getting started can be the hardest step.

It helps to begin by dividing the task into small parts, looking at the small picture. Divide the house into rooms, then the room into sections and decide to get one of those small sections organized first. Do that entire small section until you are satisfied rather than doing a little here and there in the whole room. When that small section looks good, you will feel better. Then take a break and pat yourself on the back for a good start. When you are ready to tackle some more, do another small section.

Do the same with the office, desk or workbench. Start with the small picture -- a drawer or tool chest that needs to be cleaned out. Get that done first and you will have room to put some of the other things that you need to save but have just piled on top. Or begin with a corner of the desk or workbench. Tell yourself you'll get that done first. Then do another small section another time. In the mean time, be sure to keep the original small section clean.

If you have decided to take on the "to do" pile, take a small stack off the top. Actually the bottom portion of the pile is probably the oldest and needs to be done first. Do a quick sort to get at the smaller picture. Some items will be out of date and can be tossed in the waste basket. Toss them fast. Don't hesitate and think maybe you will look at them some other day. Some items will be important and should be taken care of immediately. Some can wait. Deal with the urgent stack of items immediately. Take care of them by dealing with them once. Don't allow yourself to put them back on the "To do" pile or you'll end up having to start all over. See my previous post in this blog on "Organize by dealing with it once." When you get that small stack done, take a short break, then do another stack. Or promise yourself you will do another small stack first thing in the morning. Get a small stack done each day. As long as you take more off the pile than you put on that day, you'll soon catch up and have that mess of a "To do" pile conquered. Then do your best to keep up with it each day so the pile doesn't grow again.

Break any organizational job into smaller tasks and look at the small picture only. Then the project won't be so overwhelming. Don't try to take on the entire house, or office, or utility shed, or garage. Break it up into a smaller picture. You'll get more done, and can be satisfied with each step accomplished. Soon you will feel good about being organized and it will be much easier to stay organized.