Take this quiz to discover your next steps in creating space for living.
1) When I arrive home after a busy day, I feel:
a) Still busy, there are a lot of to dos at home
b) completely overwhelmed by the mess that greets me
c) Relieved and able to unwind in my space
2) My papers and receipts are
a) in fairly neat piles on my desk.
b) everywhere.
c) in file folders organized by date and category.
3) For dinner tonight I am having
a) something with chicken.
b) I have no idea; I’ll probably pick something up on the way home.
c) let me check my menu planner.
4) If friends are coming over
a) I stash my clutter in the closets or bedroom so that it's out of site.
b) I've run out of room to hide my clutter so I just do my best to straighten the piles.
c) I freshen up the bathroom.
5) My important dates are written down
a) in three different notebooks, whatever I am closest to.
b) on scraps of paper, the back of receipts, in notebooks, whatever I can find.
c) in my calendar, of course.
6) My home is cleaned
a) when I have the time but usually about once a month or so.
b) occasionally, like maybe before a party. Usually it seems like I just clean around the clutter.
c) on a daily or weekly schedule.
7) When working on a project
a) I always finish but sometimes I cut it so close to the deadline that I'm rushed and know I didn't do my best work.
b) I usually wait until the last minute and occasionally even miss a deadline all together either due to forgetting the deadline or not having the tools or space in my schedule to complete the project.
c) I break up the parts of the project into manageable steps and schedule my time to allow me to finish ahead of schedule.
8 ) I do laundry
a) whenever the basket is full.
b) when I am out of underwear.
c) I do 2 loads a day on the following schedule Monday- sheets and towels, Tuesday- darks and delicates, Wednesday-whites and kids, Thursday-Miscellaneous like rugs and comforters.
9) For an appointment
a) I mostly on time.
b) I am always running late.
c) I arrive in plenty of time with my book or magazine to read while waiting.
10) When I out grow something
a) I put it on the bottom of the drawer.
b) I put it in storage.
c) I give it away or throw it away.
If you answered:
Mostly a’s- Mess Manager
You're able to find systems that keep clutter and messes from completely taking over your space. Even though a majority of your systems are running smoothly you may find yourself slowed down by one or two trouble spots on a regular basis. Maybe you believe you don’t have time to sit down and become more organized.
By finding the time to organize cluttered aspects of your life you actually create more time in your day in the long run with more efficient systems. Take a look at the systems in your home and life. Are there things that consistently seem out of place? Start small with items you touch everyday to see the greatest impact. Do you have a place for incoming papers? Do you have a plan for your daily menu- breakfast, lunch, and dinner? While most of your mess is managed, you can take time to work out the glitches in your schedule so you'll be running smoothly in no time.
Mostly b’s-Clutter Bug
Being overwhelmed by the clutter in your life does not mean you are lazy. You may be feeling unsure of where to even begin or you may have given up on trying to dig yourself out of your messes. But no matter how your home, schedule or workplace got overrun by clutter, you can make small changes that will add up to big results. Ask yourself what type of clutter is around you. Are you a sentimental saver; holding onto past emotions and memories through stuff. Are you late to appointments because you couldn't find your keys? By identifying the clutter around you and looking at the way you want to be living your life you can move towards creating space for living.
Don’t put this off one more day. Once you get started your successes will build on each other and soon you'll be feeling in control of your surroundings and schedule. Resist the urge to start with the deepest, darkest corner of your closet. You’ll only be left with items sprawled all over the floor wondering why you started this in the first place. We'll conquer this bit by bit together.
Mostly c’s-Practically Professional
You feel in control of your day and your space. If an items is needed, you know exactly where to get it and you don’t have dig around to find its exact location. If are faced with an interruption, you can easily rework your day or project to recover from the missing time.
You may be interested in finding new and more efficient ways to do things. While it's great to tweak and improve your systems be sure to use all of the extra space and time gained by your organization to focus on enjoying your space for living too! And even those in the practically professional category can have slip ups and overwhelming days. Being organized does not have to mean you must be perfect! Share any tips that you have found work well for you.
Keep your eye out for specific organizing steps tailored to your level. Begin where you are!
Share your score below!
I'm an "a" Mess manager! I'm totally inspired to get some new systems into place to get my clutter under control!
I was also mostly A's, though I had a couple of C's and a B as well. I have always thought of myself as a clean and tidy person, but (and I hate to admit this) I find that I only do a really thorough cleaning when I have a guest coming over. I want to get better at that – I want my home to be clean for my sake, not for the sake of others. I think I would be happier if that were to happen.
I was almost all A's. I like being neat and organized,I just have a few problem areas. My worse score was for grabbing odd pieces of paper to write numbers and notes on. Yes,and I do usually lose the message. Becky
Sigh. Mostly Bs – Mostly messy. I feel better being told I'm not lazy. Really, I am lazy. I don't want to deal with the paper when I get home. then I leave it for a five days. Then there is so much paper! Plus, I'm afraid I'll find an unexpected bill in there. Then the bill would make me feel bad… I did have some A s in there. Maybe I'll try to open a few envelopes tomorrow.
Natalie, I find myself falling into that same trap too. I love your point about doing it as a gift to ourselves.Bethany I think that is a good plan to give yourself only a set number of papers to deal with each day. That way it won't be as overwhelming to open just 5 a day, no more.