I’m not compulsively organized at home, but I do keep a spreadsheet of all of the projects that I’m working on at the office and I’m a three ring binder junkie. At a former job, I used to have project plans for grant writing and checklists for coordinating meetings, but at home nary a grocery list. I think I realized in the last couple of years that there is a huge disconnect between how organized I am at work and the lack thereof at home.
I read an article a few years ago about someone who endeavored to work on one thing during the course of a year instead of trying to juggle competing interests and not getting much done. I thought this method might work for me since I’m a little ADD and my mind tends to be interested in EVERYTHING. My resolution for the New Year is to focus on getting organized in the home and garden.
So, I’m taking three baby steps to be more organized at home. The first step I took was to start using my work spreadsheet to track projects at home. Duh, why hadn’t I thought of that sooner? Now, I track my blog ideas and gardening to-dos. My spreadsheet already had an Issues/Barriers field, which I appended with "Lesson Learned" so I can participate in Bumble Lush’s meme, the Best and Worst of the Garden.
The second step I took was to create a garden journal. I read in mixing creative a fast and easy idea for creating a garden journal. charlie b. assembled a journal in a three ring binder. I love how she affixes plant tags on the pages. She also uses it for notes, ideas and seed purchase lists.
One last organizational idea that I love, Deb at Deb’s Garden uses the month of January to clear out unwanted photos from her hard drive.
I posted these ideas to my Organizing the Garden board on Pinterest so I wouldn’t forget. I’ll keep you in the loop on how my resolution is coming along during the year. Please share any garden organizing tips that you have!
So, I’m taking three baby steps to be more organized at home. The first step I took was to start using my work spreadsheet to track projects at home. Duh, why hadn’t I thought of that sooner? Now, I track my blog ideas and gardening to-dos. My spreadsheet already had an Issues/Barriers field, which I appended with "Lesson Learned" so I can participate in Bumble Lush’s meme, the Best and Worst of the Garden.
One last organizational idea that I love, Deb at Deb’s Garden uses the month of January to clear out unwanted photos from her hard drive.
I posted these ideas to my Organizing the Garden board on Pinterest so I wouldn’t forget. I’ll keep you in the loop on how my resolution is coming along during the year. Please share any garden organizing tips that you have!
Well first that photo is lovely. Don't remember you posting that this year. I plan out what I cam going to do in the gardens over the winter. I also keep a map of my plantings which I will redo this year.
ReplyDeleteCher
Some great ideas...I will check out a few...I am much more organized at work than at home...I think it is because I am not liking the extreme organization at work so I counter it at home...I am sure though I can organize a bit more and should in the garden...thx for the kick
ReplyDeleteWow...you are not alone! I always wonder why I can't be as organized in my personal life as I am at work. I work in publishing, so have to adhere to lots of very strict (and frequent) deadlines. At home, however, I'm constantly procrastinating and getting distracted. I also agree about focusing on one thing at a time...I'm very much like you...I have so many things that I want to get done...sigh!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks Girl Sprout!! I'm like that also – wanting to do so many projects I'm interested in. Lists and spreadsheets help a lot (I use them for bill paying too). For some reason, it seems like I get more accomplished if it's written down. And of course it helps me remember what I did too! LOL
ReplyDeleteThese are great ideas. I have far to many abandoned three ring binders around. Focusing on one might be a big help. I've tried some of the online project management methods and might be able to fold that into "just one thing", too.
ReplyDeleteMy inner nerd is doing a happy dance about the spreadsheet. I love them! (And that's a residual from my job too). Getting organized is something I need to focus on too, and it's something we can do throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteGood to know I'm not the only one thinking of new year resolutions this late! I love the idea of getting organized. I'm hoping to get all my tags sorted some day. It's amazing how many of those we can acquire! Thanks for all the tips!
ReplyDeleteOh I am an organization junkie! Although the last few years I have been a bit lax at home so I am trying to get things together this month. I am hopelessly addicted to Pinterest!
ReplyDeleteThis may be the year I do journaling. I'm always looking back at photos trying to remember wwhat and when. And a tote in the closet with all my plant tags could be a good start. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSounds like perfect way to start the new year.
ReplyDelete@Sunray - Cher, the photo was of my 2010 garden. Last year the garden was plain sad! :( I should start mapping plantings, too. I even have software for it.
ReplyDelete@Donna - I think the inner rebel in both of us doesn't want to organize at home. But this year I'm on a mission!
@scott - It's so easy to get distracted at home. We both sound like we prioritize better at work than at home.
@charlie b. - I pinned your blog post on Pinterest and 36 people repinned it! I'm not the only person who thought the garden journal was a great idea.
ReplyDelete@Patricia - Ironically, I do a lot of project management at work and am taking classes in it. Maybe, I can bring some PM techniques home, too.
@BumbleLush - I've used my spreadsheet so much this week at home. I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner.
I absolutely love the January clean out photo month idea.
ReplyDeleteI have a pretty simple life. Work, cook, clean, work. No spreadsheet needed. Sometimes I "forget" to do the clean part, but it doesn't bother me at all!
I do not get the whole Pinterest thing at all. What am I doing there? I don't know. They'll probably kick me off, I'm the least creative person in the history of the world!
@Holley - my tags usually blow away because I leave them near the plants. The next year I can't distinguish between two red penstemons and have no tags to show for it.
ReplyDelete@Karin - I've been avoiding the Pinterest vortex, but I think I've been sucked in. Happy pinning!
@Claudia - A lot of my friends give me gift cards to nurseries and I used to be able to recall who gave me what, but not so much anymore. This will be a good way to record those gift card purchases.
@Dewi - Here's to hoping that there will be lots of decluttering this year!
@Sissy - isn't it a brilliant idea (thanks Deb)! I already started a January tab on my spreadsheet and put clean out photos.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I worry about the work/home disconnect--what does it say about my attitude that I make more effort at the one rather than the other? And then I decide to forget about it and play online or outside instead... Happy organizing! Hope it works well for you.
ReplyDeleteStacy, you're so circumspect! I hope it works for me, too.
DeleteI so should make this resolution too. So much has gotten out of control and I am not used to being disorganized. My problem area is my office. Too much needs to be filed or work started. List making time....
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how a little list can get you going!
DeleteI do lots of "To Do" lists and have a journal I write in, but all sporadically.
ReplyDeleteAnd I forgot to say how much I like the photo on this post.
DeleteThanks for the ideas, and your photos are gorgeous! I pinned one.
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