Organize Happy » Organizing Time

Purse Organization

Margaret — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:04:28 +0000

Clients have asked me how I keep my purse organized so…here we go!

This is my beige purse. I got it for a great price at target and I love it for all the wonderful organizing attributes it has:}

The Left front pocket: one black pen, one Pink pen and my grocery/to do list.

The right front pocket: any trash I have that I can not throw away at the moment.

The first zipper pocket: my phone, makeup bag, and my “first aid” bag. My first aid bag has extra bobby pins, bandaids and a nail clipper. I also keep my rose water spray in this zipper.

The middle and shallow zipper: keys and keys only.

Back zipper pocket: germ spray.

Finally in the tiny back zipper I keep my i-pod which I use for work.

If I am using my other purse, which is very pretty but does not have good organizing pockets, I use little bags like this to sort my belongings. When I need something I pull out the appropriate bag. This is an example of my pen and grocery list holder.

I organize my purse this way so I never have to think of where my keys are or where my phone is when I hear it ringing. Organizing saves me brain power to focus on the important things…like the sunshine:}

Assigning Bags for Different Functions

Margaret — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:14:02 +0000

One way I keep organized is assigning bags for different functions.

I have one of two bags I use for dance.
Below is one of my dance bags.

I have a bag for errands. Whether it is returning a movie or mailing a letter I use this bag.
This is my new errand bag from my friend Mary. She designed and made it herself! Thanks Mary:}

Mary Zank Design

I have my Organize Happy bag that comes with me if I am going to a client. I keep all the items I might need when working in this bag.

Lastly I have my purse.

Keeping a function for each bag relieves stress. I never wonder where I should put my dance binder when I go teaching or try and crunch a letter to mail in my purse. I always know what bag to grab for functions outside my home. I also empty each bag when I come home with the exception of my purse and Organize Happy bag.

Key Chain Organization

Margaret — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:06:19 +0000

I organized my key chain by labeling each key on both sides.

I also put those little cards for the store discounts in alphabetical order so it takes less time to find them when I am on line. I just went threw those little cards and got rid of unneeded cards what a difference!

Organized Keys = Open doors of opportunity

Errand Bag

Margaret — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:06:45 +0000

My ‘Errand’ bag…..

When I need to return a movie, mail a letter or return something I use this bag. This is my ‘errand’ bag.

I used it the other day to go to the dmv. The papers I needed for the dmv were in my ‘to do’ folder. I put the ‘to do’ folder in my errand bag and taa-daa everything I needed in one little bag:}

Of course I make sure when I get home the folder goes back where it belongs…. my errand bag does not like to be full when not working:}

Lowkey with ‘to do’ folder:}

Organized tea = Happy me:}

Margaret — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:42:48 +0000

These pretty canisters are out on our kitchen counter. In them I keep the teas we drink on a daily basis.

From left to right:

Black tea
Green tea
Yerba Mate
Bedtime tea

We have a constant rotation of these teas so when I come home from shopping I just take the tea out of the box {recycle the box} and put them in their respective canister. OH how life is good!

Organized tea = Happy me:}

Apples & Oranges

Margaret — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:14:09 +0000

This is a shelf in my refrigerator. I use my drawers for veggies and I needed a solution for my round and “rolly” fruit. My mother-in-law gave me these cute little baskets. They work perfectly! We have been using this system for quite some time and it never fails. It feels so good when I come home from shopping- I just take out the baskets and plop them right in:}

They also like to live in a place that is easy for them to sit rather than rolling all around in the drawers.

Organized fruit = Happy fruit:}

Thanks Mom!

Organized time = Clear mind

Margaret — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:29:16 +0000

This is how I plan my days/weeks/years! I LOVE this scheduler- Staples brand.

Here is why I love it:

The year starts in September and ends in August.
The columns are vertical allowing me to visually see time differences between days.
It comes with dividers for months and a divider for the particular week you are in.
There is nothing on the pages except the days of the week making it nice and clean- yet fun.
It shows month & week and of course it is pretty!

Two things I dont love:

On Wednesday it is a little hard for me to write because the binding hits my hand. I am a righty I guess if I were a lefty Thursday would be hard to write in.
This year I could not find pink, the last two years I had a pretty pink one with pink ink etc. This year the only color ink I found was blue. But it is a pretty blue. SO many schedulers are not pretty. They use stale colors- why would anyone want to be organized if they did not enjoy looking at the pages that kept them organized?!

Also I suggest never buying an organizer that says, “Don’t Forget” in a column as a reminder for you to do something. To me this sends a negative message {very subtly} to our brains. If you do get a scheduler that has something of that nature- find one that says, “Remember to” this sends a more positive message.

My method of scheduling:

When I first buy my scheduler, in the summer, I write in tasks that need to be done yearly like the car inspection. Then every weekend I sit and write in weekly tasks. When I complete a task I check it off. When I do not do something I circle it {so I know I need to re-schedule} and after I re-schedule I cross it off. I literally schedule anything even if it is writing a thank you note.

My theory of scheduling:

If I write it ALL down then my brain does not have to think. I am like a business for myself. I do work and then the system runs itself. During the week I do not want my time to be spend thinking about what I need to do or if I am forgetting anything. I want to ENJOY my time- whatever it is I am doing. Doing the work before hand gives me so much freedom!

Example:

Say I have a bill to pay- I write in the day I am going to pay it. While I am waiting to pay the bill I have a folder with “To do” on my desk. This folder has bills, or anything paper oriented that needs to be done. –BUT I schedule these things in my scheduler before they go in this “to do” folder. So if I open my folder nothing is a mystery.

—To Do Folder with Lowkey posing:} She was waiting for me to feed her….hence her not so happy look!

I love organized time!

Organized Time= Clear Mind:}

Front Door…Keys

Margaret — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:06:03 +0000

This is our front door. I ALWAYS put my keys on top of this corner table. Then there is never a question of “Where are my keys!” They just always are there… near my front door.

Freeing my brain of having to find my keys- lets me focus on the pretty rocks that are under my keys.

The rocks say Peace, Love, Prosperity and Happiness. A wonderful gift from Dad and Mama Merly. Kenya {one of our beautiful cats} is posing.