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.

REASONS FOR CLUTTER AND DISORGANIZATION:

• We’re too attached to our things.

• 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.

TWO COMMON REASONS I SEE WITH MY CLIENTS AND WHY THEY ARE DISORGANIZED AT HOME:

1. LACK OF DEFINED PRIORITES OR LIFE GOALS: Without purpose you’ll continue to run around aimlessly allowing others to dictate to you what’s important. Here are my priorities in life:

• FAITH
• FAMILY
• FITNESS
• FINANCES

2. LACK OF ROUTINES: Overwhelming reason for disorganization but one of the greatest tools to helping you get and stay organized.

• 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:

• 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.

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