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Routines Briefing

CLUTTER FACTS:

  • 1 in 10 households in the US rents a storage unit.
  • The average size of our homes has grown from 1000 sq ft in the 1950’s to 23oo sq feet today…even though the size of our families have decreased.
  • The average 3 bedroom home has 350,000 items in it!
  • The average person wastes approximately 55 mins per day searching for things: clothes, purse, keys, documents, etc.
  • We’re exposed to hundreds and even thousands of advertisements a day that distract us and compel us to buy more!
  • Technology is becoming such a distraction and addiction that there are studies being conducted on how it’s rewiring our brains causing us to lose focus and be less productive.

REASONS FOR CLUTTER AND DISORGANIZATION:

  • We simply have too much and have become slaves to our belongings.
  • We don’t know how to let go…we buy more new but never get rid of the old.
  • We feel like we have to keep up with the Jones’….cool toys, gadgets, cool vacations, etc.
  • We allow others to dictate what makes us happy: expensive makeup, clothes, cars, homes, schools, etc.
  • Social influences cause us to feel compelled to be the perfect mom, wife, homemaker, professional, school volunteer, etc.
  • We’ve become overwhelmed with our stuff and our obligations…Can’t say no to shopping, spending, volunteering, etc.
  • Never learned how to get organized, or how to develop systems to maintain an organized home.

 

CONFESSION: I WAS A MESS FOR 5-10 YEARS OF MY ADULT LIFE!

  • Messiest of 4 kids growing up

  • Disorganized as a young adult

  • Recovering procrastinator!

 

HOW THE HECK DID I GET ORGANIZED AND BECOME A CPO? LOOKING BACK:

  • Graduating from college and being responsible for 25 men and their careers as their superior officer in the Air Force.  Their careers depended a lot on how organized I was as their leader.

  • Marriage and kids…greatest gifts in the world but require a lot of restructuring and organizing ;o) Tough enough keeping yourself organized…now it’s an entire family!!!

 

RECOGNIZED COMMON / RECURRING CAUSES OF MY  STRESS AND DISORGANIZATION (WHICH I NOTICED IN MY CLIENTS AS WELL):

  • Not focused on own priorities…instead had to succumb to the priorities of others

  • With lack of focus = lack of boundaries.  Again…with no priorities or focus in life you are at the whim of others.

  • Life got (or rather…was made) too complicated .  Realized that the majority of it was self-inflicted (like over obligating oneself)

  • Distraction and Procrastination (too many outside or internal distractions like technology or coworkers, etc.)

 

FINALLY STARTED TO RECOGNIZE  THINGS THAT HELPED…AND NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR MY CLIENTS TOO!

  • Focus on priorities = Empowerment and ability to establish boundaries in order to accomplish goals and focus on priorities

  • Less = More…it just makes sense!

  • Routines are great  to help counter distraction and procrastination

BENEFITS OF ROUTINES: 

  • Focus on priorities
  • Builds confidence
  • Less stress
  • Better able to handle emergencies
  • Creates calm.
  • Teach you and your children important life lessons: boundaries, responsibility, accountability and independence.

 KEY COMPONENTS OF CREATING ROUTINES…ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR FAMILY ON BOARD:

  • Establish EXPECTATIONS: want your kids to clean room, make the bed, get ready for bed, clean up time, play time, etc.
  • SHOW exactly how to get the task done and WHY.
  • PRACTICE with your kids…repetition and recency(do task often and not too far about…daily) are keys to learning a routine faster.
  • Establish a system of REWARDS and CONSEQUENCES: treats, extra play time, movie time, extra stickers, money….or no treats, no extra play time, time outs, no Happy Meal, no allowance, etc.

 COMMON ROUTINES TO HELP MOMMIES “MANAGE IT ALL”  

1. MORNING  and NIGHTLY ROUTINE: Your day really starts the night before!

    • Pack lunches.
    • Set out clothes and iron if necessary (I use a hanging shoe organizer to set out 2 weeks worth of clothes).
    • Set yours and your kids’ alarms clocks.
    • Have kids shower at night…it’s calming and one less thing to worry about!
    • Prep your coffee and set out your vitamins and medications.
    • Set the breakfast table.
    • Check school backpacks and folders.
    • Review your calendar and school schedules.
    • Create a checklist and post it on the door or common area for all to see.
    • Prep dinner: review your menu, take out freezer items to defrost.

2. PAPER AND MAIL ROUTINES:

    • Check mail daily and sort it right away…don’t let it pile.
    • File…don’t pile.
    • Use and Action File to organize your daily papers.
    • Use a scanner to keep digital files instead of paper files.
    • Save documents in Evernote or Dropbox.
    • Sort through your kids folders daily and be scrupulous.  Don’t keep what’s not important.  Use a keepsakes bin to store your child’s favorite papers.
3. AFTER SCHOOL ROUTINES-AFTER ERRANDS ROUTINES:
  • Clean out your car!  Pick up all trash and items that need to be put away.
  • Put away groceries or new purchases.
  • Create a Drop Zone at the main entry of your home.
  • Clear backpacks: edit folders, review homework (then throw away if not needed for a test), check schedules and lunch menus, edit artwork.
  • Establish homework routines.
 4. MEAL PLANNING AND GROCERY SHOPPING:
  • Establish 1 day a week to plan your weekly meals.
  • Or consider a 31 day meal plan: the number represents the day of the month so you never have to guess what’s for dinner.
  • Create a grocery list.  I use Grocery Gadget to manage several different lists at once.
  • Pick a specific day and time to go grocery shopping.  I prefer a weekday in the morning to avoid long lines, etc.
  • Create a spot to record your grocery list: magnetic dry erase board or notepad on the fridge, or a message board on the wall in the kitchen for example.
  • Make a week’s worth of meals and snacks in advance. (I make a week’s worth of pancakes and boiled eggs for my daughter for easy breakfasts and snacks).
5. LAUNDRY ROUTINE:
  • Designate your laundry days and times: 2-3 times/week or maybe 1 -2 loads every day. Be consistent.
  • Include FOLDING and PUTTING AWAY your clothes as part of your routine!
  • Set a timer on your phone or separate timer to remind you when a load will finish so you don’t waste time or forget.
  • Use a multi-bin laundry hamper to help you with sorting as you go.
 6. TOY CLUTTER ROUTINE:
  • Limit the amount of toys your children play with at one time
  • When you buy a new toy try and get rid of one: the One-In…One-Out Rule
  • Designate homes for different types of toys: sort and categorize
  • Use open bins for toys and laundry
  • Use hooks for jackets.  Command hooks work great!
  • Establish times to clean up toys: before going out or to school, before nap time and before bed.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BEING ORGANIZED JUST REMEMBER THESE THINGS:

  • Be realistic…disorganization doesn’t happen overnight and neither does getting organized
  • It’s a process…take it step by step and a little bit at a time
  • If you don’t know where to start either start with something small or with what’s stressing you out the most
  • Stay committed to your goals
  • You may have to tweak your systems as you and your family grow…that’s part of the process
  • Maintain your systems by keeping up with your routines and tweaking them as you need
 

 

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