Easier said than done
The origin of the phrase ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ is unclear but is said to date back to the 1700s. That means we’ve had this wisdom for 300 years and yet, it remains easier said than done.
As I contemplate this week’s issue, I sit in a meditative pose channeling the organizational dynamic duo of Mari Kondo and Mary Poppins. And I’m successful! I whole heartedly get what they’re throwing down.
I just don’t wanna pick it up.
What is that resistance that stops us from picking things up and putting them in their place?
We all do it in some way, shape or form.
We get the dishes from the table to the sink, but then let them pile up in there while the dishwasher sits empty behind the evil forcefield that keeps all family members from taking 3.5 more seconds to get their plate into it.
If you don’t have a dish problem, how about laundry? Do you get it all clean, dry and folded and then display it in neat piles in each bedroom, loathing the idea of putting it away?
Years ago, after reading Marie Kondo’s famous book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I did the things – right up to and including sushi-rolling my socks and underwear, and I love the way it looks when I actually make time to do it.
Most of the time, however, when the items come through the laundry, they sit on top of the dresser because I don’t want to take the extra time to roll them and put them away. So, instead, I lament that things haven’t been put away. I’m my own worst enemy.
In theory we have a place for everything but perhaps what holds us back from getting items into those places is one of two things: 1) the “place” is no longer fit to hold the stuff or 2) there is a flaw in the system for getting stuff to said place. In the above example, it’s quite possible that Marie’s system just isn’t for me… and that’s okay, but I need to stop pretending it is.
This week’s resources tackle both scenarios.
In our Podcast Playlist this week, you’ll find an episode that offers a 3-step process for identifying how to find a place for everything.
The Smart Reads article highlighted below is a quick read with a powerful message: even if we have a place for everything, if we haven’t considered the level of ease in getting things to that place, we need a better system.
Finally, our Insightful Video acknowledges that organization is not one-size-fits-all and offers 4 different organizational types. Which one are you?
Access all three resources in The List below for expert tips to discover a system for putting things away that sparks joy (Kondo) and can be implemented in a snap (Poppins)… with grace!
The List: 15 new resources for moms, published weekly…
6 skimmable articles to offer perspective on this week’s topic, 8 informative and/or entertaining podcast episodes to make the chores fly by, and 1 insightful video to inspire you to move forward with grace.
📖 6 Skimmable Articles
🎗 Awareness 🏡 Home 🗂 Productivity 🥗 Wellness 🧗 Growth 👨👩👧👧 Family
🏡. “Make it easy” is my favorite approach!
“Next time you are looking at setting up a system for something in your home, think about making putting things back the easy part – you really will notice a difference!”
Read Why You Should Always Make it Easy to Put Things Away.
🎗 Give yourself grace with these strategies.
“If you’re like me, and putting-away doesn’t come naturally or effortlessly, these strategies might help….sometimes!”
Read Ten Somewhat-Effective Strategies for Putting Away Your “Stuff”!
🗂 This is the stuff the gurus don’t tell you.
“Putting things away is the most cost-effective, highly productive ways you can keep your home or office organized.”
Read The Organizing Solution Often Overlooked: Putting Things Away
👨👩👧👦 Can I get a little help around here?
“Does it seem pointless to try to stay organized, with everyone making messes right behind you as you go around the house tidying up?”
Read 10 Ways to Trick your Family into Being Organized
🧗🏽♀️ Nike said it best, Just Do It!
“It’s cliche, but an ounce of effort on the front end of this will save you a mountain of headaches on the back side.”
Read Putting Things Away Right Away: A Clutter-Busting Habit!
🥗 “Physical clutter saps our time, energy and space.”
“Getting your physical space and life organised will help you to declutter your mind and boost your mental wellbeing.”
Read Six Ways to Declutter Our Minds to Achieve Mental Wellness
🎧 8 Podcast Episodes
KEY:
📰 Newsletter Topic
👸🏻 Society & Culture
💡 Ideas: Big and Small
🤰🏻 Motherhood
😎 Relax & Escape
🧗 Growth
👨👩👧👧 For the Family
⏭ Series
💣 explicit language
🌭 frank content
⚠️ sensitive topic
📰 “A three-step process to figure out HOW to find a place for everything…”
Are you stuck in the cycle of trying to figure out where to put everything in an organized way in your home?
Listen to Motherhood Simplified | How to find a place for everything in your home when everywhere is cluttered (38 min)
👸🏻 “It all starts with a simple principle: Not everything has to be so hard.”
We need rest and the ability to take a pause in our busy lives.
Listen to What’s Essential hosted by Greg McKeown | Rest: The Art of Doing Nothing (27 min)
💡 “Breathing is essential to life.”
“Lately, the safety of the air we inhale, or the need to pause and take a deep breath, is on our minds a lot. This hour, TED speakers explore the power of breath.”
Listen to TED Radio Hour | Breathe (59 min)
🤰🏻 You’re not alone if…
“you have a kid at home who obsesses over collecting or acquiring the right kinds of things or just all the things in general.”
Listen to What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | My Kid Wants All the Things (9 min)
😎 Well, we didn’t see that coming!
“Back in 2014, Corey Knowlton paid $350,000 for a hunting trip to Namibia to shoot and kill an endangered species. He’s a professional hunter, who guides hunts all around the world, so going to Africa would be nothing new. The target on the other hand would be. And so too, he quickly found, would be the attention.”
Listen to Radiolab | The Rhino Hunter (52 min)
🧗 Is water the magical elixir?
“Glowing skin, increased energy, higher mental function and weight loss: These are just a few of the benefits we have been promised for the low cost of 8 glasses of water a day. But can this magical elixir really do all that it claims?”
Listen to Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter | How much water do you actually need a day? (36 min)
👨👩👧👦 Grab the family and solve this mystery!
“Can you figure out who’s lying about vision?”
Listen to The Big Fib | Vision (23 min)
⏭ Are you following this series? We’re fascinated!
“Elizabeth brings on an unexpected character as her right-hand man at Theranos and it turns out they are hiding a big secret. They strike a monumental deal with Walgreens that could potentially put millions of lives at risk while insiders say a culture of fear and intimidation at the company leads to incredible tragedy.”
Listen to The Dropout | The Enforcer (34 min)
🎬 Insightful Video
Organization is not one-size-fits-all
“[Cassandra] has identified four unique organizing styles and developed the Clutterbug Method™ to help individuals discover their style and implement customized solutions that will finally get them organized long term.”
Watch The Clutter Connection | Cassandra Aarssen | TEDxWindsor (14:08)
That’s The List for this week!
Do you have a favorite strategy for putting things away or a take away from this week’s list? Drop us a note in the comments!
As always, we hope our newsletter inspires you to get your ship together and get through your week with grace.
Have a good one and please reach out if we can be helpful to you in any way!
Love & Grace,
Rachel & Amanda
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🎧 Podcast Playlist 6/3/21