habits that make a BIG difference

Do you wonder if it is ever possible to get organized and stay organized? Believe it or not, it is possible. It really is as simple as forming and keeping good habits. Once these simple habits are part of your daily routine, it will be much easier to get organized and stay organized. It only takes 21 days to form a new habit. Join along as we being forming habits that can make a big difference.

1. Get rid of the evidence. The easiest habit to form is one that will make a very big difference: getting rid of the evidence. For example, let's say you've just made yourself a sandwich. Simply put everything away that you used to make your sandwich. Get the bread back to the breadbox, perishables back to the fridge, flatware to the dishwasher, and so on. When you have finished eating your sandwich, bring your plate to dishwasher and napkin to the trash. No evidence remains that you had a sandwich. This practice will help eliminate a lot of messes around the house!

2. Pick It Up And Put It Away. Don't sit something down to deal with later. Later usually doesn't show up very soon. When you have something in your hands, go ahead and deal with it then and there. Put it where it belongs. In truth, it may be simpler at the moment to set something down and deal with it later. Get in the habit now of picking it up (whatever it may be) and putting it away the second you're done with it.

3. Nightly Pickup. Let's face it. After working a full day, coming home and cleaning the whole house just isn't the most attractive option we can come up with. However, we can do something that will make a big difference. Get in the habit of spending 15 minutes before bed each night picking up and straightening up. It will make a huge difference in your outlook in the morning when you don't have a mess staring you in the face. If you do this every night, even your weekly cleaning activities will be less demanding, because you haven't left a weeks worth of messes to deal with on the weekend.

4. Involve The Family. The reality is that every member of the family plays an important role in maintaining an organized home. Hold a family meeting to decide as a family which chores will be done by each family member. If the members of your family have a say in chore division, they are much more likely to take ownership and do a good job, especially if they know going in that the division of chores can be re-negotiated at future family meetings.

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com