Life can be chaotic. It’s busy for us all. I was talking to some close friends today about how I often feel like I’m on a ride that just doesn’t slow down. I keep expecting the ride to stop. For just a minute! So I can catch up. Get ahead even. But that doesn’t seem to be in the near future. Especially with the holidays around the corner! My friends feel the same way so I’m betting that is the case with a lot of you too. We all have so many things going on.. so many balls to juggle each day.
Want to know what I do when I feel like this? When I feel completely overwhelmed? I organize something. Say what? You knew that already? ;) You might be wondering how do you have time to organize when you are busy and overwhelmed? I don’t. When life is especially busy I don’t have time to re-do a closet. Or to organize the garage. Or to clean out the playroom and get rid of old toys. Those makeovers take a few hours at least. But I do have 15 minutes. Everyone can find 15 minutes. And you wouldn’t believe what a boost a 15 minute organizing spree can give you. It can do wonders for your mood. It clears my mind and suddenly makes me feel like – hey! I can do this! I can handle everything on my plate! Funny that an organized drawer has that affect on me but it does.
We were traveling over the weekend so we got back in town and hit the ground running Monday. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done, so I took 15 minutes and typed out some updated daily checklists for the kids. 
Nothing fancy, but it allowed me to stop thinking about everything the kids’ need to get done each day after school. Now they have a list to follow and check off and I don’t have to remember everything for them. I can focus on what I need to be doing. So liberating! All I have to do is write down a family job or two for them each day. (I’ve found that varies so much I like to keep it open. Some days they vacuum the floor, some days they do dishes, some days they are too busy with homework and activities so I will leave it blank.) These checklists are similar to our past chore charts. I just tweaked and updated them a bit.
Even my 5 year old has a checklist. I still help him with everything but it has been good to give him some responsibility. He feels so proud this year in Kindergarten to be doing homework like his sisters. We’ll see how long that lasts. :) This took 15 minutes to do and it gave me such a productivity boost! Organizing something (even something small) can help you feel like you can tackle anything life throws at you.
Here are a few past posts for some 15 minute organizing inspiration! Quick and easy things to organize to give you a bit of an “I can do this!” pick me up.
{Organize Your Medicine Cabinet}
{Organize a Kitchen Utensil Drawer}
{Organize Your Fridge or A Kitchen Drawer}
This time of year usually isn’t the time to do major organizing, but a cleaned out drawer might be just what you need to keep your head above water. It definitely does the trick for me.
:)
Nice writing again. I do (did when kids were smaller, not so teen) the same!!!
Well,nowadays when I feel overwhelmed and too much ‘pressure’ to get everything done,I just leave everything and take my dogs and go hiking to the woods. That clears my mind and I do those lists on my head. After 30-60 min I’m back and full of energy; I can do this!
My kids are now teens and ‘over’, but they are talking/joking about me (mom) and cleaning: ‘When mom is upset/overwhelmed/frustrated she starts to clean. And she cleans and organizes EVERYTHING so you don’t find anything anymore. So better clean your room yourself or mom does’ :)
I so love my kids <3
Even my Hb says, when he comes home from business trip: 'You've been cleaning the clean house, so what's up hun?
PS. I loved that post about organize your purse! I did that and, I so love my 'clean' organized purse and handbag. Thank You!
Satu your comment made me laugh! My husband and kids say the same thing! They know I work out any emotion by cleaning. Ha! We have a lot in common my friend. :) Enjoy your day! xo
Perfect time to share this, Erin! Great minds must be thinking alike. :) Just this week I’ve been working toward doing a little bit here and there to help me feel less overwhelmed. I can now see the counter top in the kitchen. Whoo hooo! Have a great rest of the week.
YEA for clean countertops! Always a good thing. :) Enjoy your day cutie! xo
This post is so true Erin. organizing something so little as a drawer can be a game changer on how my day goes. (but, then again, I have issues. :)) It is almost like when I organize something it unscrambles my mind. Your right, days are busy, especially this time of year. After Christmas shopping yesterday, I came home and organized our garage. Still a work in progress but it’s getting there. I saved that one for last. Moving into a new house is a major organizing job! For some demented reason though, I love it.
xo.
We are so similar Cathy! Love it. :) Happy Christmas shopping AND organizing! xo
You are correct Erin. It’s always smart to use 15 minutes of time to organize something or to take a little baby step towards getting something organized. I used to have a checklist when my son was in school and I still have packing lists and routines in place for every day. I find that having a list is always helpful. I know I don’t go to bed at night unless I have my clipboard ready in the morning with the to do list on it. Heck, I even have a spreadsheet for light bulbs. That way I know what size each light fixture takes.
Wow Sue! A spreadsheet for lightbulbs!? Talk about taking it to the next level. I’m impressed! :)
Great post, love all these tips! Cleaning/organizing is the best kind of therapy! Now I have an itch to tackle my pantry! Who knows what little “hidden treasures” I may find in there ;)
Thank you! I usually find all sorts of treasures in our pantry.. and in most other places around the house. ;) Happy Organizing! xo
Hi Erin,
I finally got your site to load properly:)
Thank you for these great tips.
15 minutes (or quarter of an hour as we say in the UK) is just right for me. I tried to sort out some filing at the weekend & lost interest as I think I did it for far too long.
My new method will be “Just do filing etc for 15 minutes.”
So glad it’s working for you again Julie! Happy filing! :) xo