Organization

I find myself organizing things at home and at school with regularity.

Most of the time, the organization process is cathartic for me (much like cleaning).

It gives me a sense of calm, control, and order.

Calm + control + order = a happy me.

Being organized allows me to quickly find items when I need them (in most cases), saving me both time and money.

A few of you have asked about my organization systems.

Below are a few of my simple methods.

Let's start in my office/workshop.

The main way I organize papers in my office is on the four clipboards hanging above my computer monitor.

Here's a closer look at them.

From left to right, the first clipboard holds lists and notes related to scrapbooking.

The second clipboard is for school stuff like my work calendar, grading sheets, and directions/passwords for websites such as Scholastic.com.

The third clipboard holds a smattering of miscellaneous items: newspaper articles that piqued my interest, instructions for State Fair entries, Photoshop tutorials, etc.

The fourth board has been dedicated to our bathroom remodels for several months. However, now that the remodel jobs are complete, I need to clean off this board. I'm planning to clip information for our upcoming summer trip here.

Also, adjacent to the clipboards is a 12-month calendar, my husband's work schedule, and a small whiteboard for my daily to-do list. Having both calendars right next to my computer monitor is handy.

I'm also a big fan of binders, but I'll save that for another post.

Now, let's move onto the bathroom.

Each morning, I pull this caddy out of the cabinet and place the products out on the counter. As I use each one, I place it back in the bin and when the shelf is clean, I return the caddy to the cabinet. (Thanks, Mom, for sharing this idea with me!) Originally, this bin was used to store crayons, scissors, and glue sticks in my first grade classroom. I bought it at Lakeshore Learning for $3.99 (the tag is still on it), but I'm sure you could find a similar one at Dollar Tree.

It's not pretty, but it's pretty darn functional.

Moving onto my closet...

As I mentioned in a previous post, my clothes are organized by type and then by color.

In the laundry room, behind the door, hangs this battery organizer, which Brian built recently to hold our batteries. In the past, I had to dig through the hall closet to find batteries. Now, they are conveniently located, readily available, and with a quick glance, I can tell which types of batteries I need to place on our shopping list.

As you know, I love to make lists and take notes. My iPod Touch (and now my iPhone) allow me to organize (and access) information effortlessly.

Right now, I'm using the "notes" feature on my phone, but I may purchase a list-making application in the near future.

A few of my note titles include: To buy (Target), To buy (Costco), Week of ____, For me (clothing), and Ideas for bathrooms. The possibilities are endless.

In addition, I place reminders on my phone calendar (as well as in Outlook on my computer), so I don't forget any appointments or social engagements.

Now, I'm not claiming to be an organization expert; God knows my house (and classroom) are not perfectly organized.

I'm guessing that you organize your stuff in certain ways. In fact, you've probably come up with lots of clever ways to catalogue and arrange and systematize your belongings.

So, tell me: What organization methods have worked well for you?

J