Please share your best tips. I can't seem to stick to Flylady or any number of things but I need to do something.

...raises hand...

don't hate me, ok?;)

My three major organizing MUSTS-

1. Get rid of as much stuff that you own as possible.

2. Make sure everything you decide to keep has ONE place where it belongs, and it is in that place if no one is using it.

3. Pick ONE day a week that you do a particular chore.

For example, for us- sweeping is Mondays, trash is Wednesdays, Laundry is Saturdays.

OK, I know you have sooo many more kids than I do, but I swear by these rules. They saved my brain!

those are great ideas laura!!

i'll add them to my list of things to do...lol! i am determined to get organized before i start wathcing 2 lil ones in sept.. i jsut have a few weeks!~

:)

I agree with LAura, I have a schedule to my week.

I bought a planner and I put my chores on one side and accomplishments on the other side of each date. So for example, if a chore is to call the home owner's association, the accomplishment is what they told me, who told me what, dates etc. I will forget if I don't write it down!!!

I menu plan on a blank calendar.

I have a master grocery list on the fridge so I can just check off what I need.

I have a cleaning schedule.

I get rid of as much stuff as possible.

I am always thinking of ways to make my life easier. I just organized my laundry room since it was getting messy. I used shelves and stuff I got free from people or on the side of the road.

I keep like things together... all the winter scarves, mittens etc. are in a crate in the entryway closet.. always

I try to keep ahead of the season. I am now washing the winter gear so it is ready when the real cold hits.

Label things so you can find stuff easily

I'll try and think of more

Got any specific "problem" areas i could help you with?

THis is what I do: I downloaded the chore charts at tipztime and then use them this way:
I put them in paper protectors and have them on the backs of the door in the room that corresponds to the chart. I put my Weekly chart (lists all chores) in my family notebook.
I assign a room per day and do the daily chores as needed.
Like :
Monday - living room
Tuesday - computer room
Wednesday- bathroom
Thursday - kitchen
Friday - laundry room
Saturday - outside chores

This has really helped me in not getting overwhelmed.
I also let the kiddos help me, they love dusting and cleaning the door handles and wiping the counters. And digging, when I need it in the back yard.

I don't stress about it though because if my kids need me, they need me they need me more than a squeeky clean house they can live with dishes not being down after breakfast but they can't live without our love.

Every area is a problem area. ;) I know I have way too much stuff. I have trouble getting rid of things, and most things don't have an assigned spot. I have more things than places to put them. :( A bigger house would help tremendously but that's still a ways off. I guess my office and bedroom are the worst.

Have you seen the new show on TLC called 'clean sweep'...it's incredible and they really teach people how to organize their stuff. 'mission organization' is a great show on hgtv. (can you tell i love to organize.) i've been getting my MIL to watch because she really needs to get organized.

I think the best thing to do is try really hard to find a big chunck of time to work on a room and work on one room at a time. This is if you are doing a real room overhaul. the most important thing is to NOT MOVE STUFF FROM ONE ROOM TO ANOTHER...you never get rid of your junk.

figure out what the purpose of the room is and work around that function..if something doesn't work in that room..don't be afraid to get rid of it. don't keep things just because they were a gift..if you never use them or hate them. don't keep things because you "think" they are going to be worth a fortune...unless you really have a serious plan to make some money off them or unless you love them. i mean really..is an antique "whatever" really worth it if you never sell it and you hate it?? don't let yourself keep something unless it really has a purpose.

spend a little money on systems to organize. baskets work great on shelves to organize little things....there are also so many types of plastic bins and drawers etc...you could do so much with.

don't get overwhelmed by your whole house..you probably just need to learn how to become organized. it isn't a natural thing for a lot of people.

let me know if you have a problem area and what it is and i'll help you come up with a storage or organizing solution.