I am typically a very organized person. I’m simply one of those people who has a container for everything but I guarantee you that it does not come naturally. I do have to work for it. Practice makes us better. Renewing your mind in a couple of key areas will help you to overcome your natural tendencies.
- Do It Now
When you see that something needs to be done do it. If you are currently working on another project that requires completion then write the other task down on your daily to do list. Don’t let yourself get sidetracked. As soon as you are finished with the other task you can begin on other tasks. I had to learn how to stop procrastinating. - Piles are Simply Unmade Decisions
If you are a piler like me (everything from papers and DVDs goes into a pile), then this is for you. The reason you have a pile is because you haven’t make a decision about what to do with that item. The way to prevent piles is to not put off making decisions. Write that date on your calendar now and toss the flier. Decide now whether or not your child will attend that camp. Call that ministry now to find out how you can help. Decide now to put those new scrapbook elements away. Refer to #1 Do it now! - Minimize Your Home
While preparing to sell our home I began the task of sorting through things we had to have and things we could store away. All of the how-to guides I’ve read on home selling state that you have to remove most of your belongings to make your home appealing to buyers. What I discovered through the process of simplifying our home is that I prefer things this way. It is strange that the more appealing I made our home for potential buyers the more appealing it was to us. Some things simply aren’t needed. It is okay to have some things you want but when you dedicate entire rooms and cabinets to stuff you simply wanted then that could be too much. Simplifying is liberating. When you have less stuff then you have less to manage and care for. - Set Up a Command Central
What is a command central you ask? It is a central location that houses most all necessary items and information for a particular task or event. We have a household binder that serves as our command central for all things related to paperwork, medical documents, and calendars. An organizing caddy stores all of my natural cleaners with supplies and I also have an organizing tote that keeps all of my bible study/prayer materials in one location. My favorite though is my travel tote. In it I keep my personal planner, office supplies, iPod, Kindle, headphones, notebook, and many other things that I can just grab and go when the need arises.
This is a guest giveaway by Eleisha of Thirty-One.
Through the month of April when you spend $31 you can buy a purse for half off. For every one that orders you will be entered into a drawing for a $100 shopping spree with me!
Giveaway CLOSED: Black Happy Dot Organizing Utility Tote
This is great for organizing cleaning products, to use as a diaper bag or a mobile office. It has 8 pockets!
This is the design of the bag that the winner will receive.
This Friday, April 20th is my birthday. The older I get the more simplified I want my life to be. I believe in some way we all want to simplify things. I’ve decided to celebrate my birthday week by hosting giveaways (from Oreck, TrueLemon, Lodge, Couponizer, Thrity-One Gifts, and many more) and sharing some posts on simplifying life. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe because over the next week we’ll discuss:
- Simplify Your Cleaning
- Simplify Your Cooking
- Simplify Your Time
- Simplify Your Creativity
- Simplify Your Blogging
- Simplify Your Relationships
- Simplify Your Finances
In order to enter all you have to do is answer the following question in the comments: what is your nemesis when it comes to time management? That’s all. Really. No hoops to jump through. However, I would be honored if you would subscribe to my free blog posts, like my page on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter. The giveaway will end on April 23rd at midnight CST.
By the way, be sure to enter the Oreck AirInstinct giveaway and take advantage of this deal from Simplify Your Life.
My nemesis… perfection! If I don’t have time to organize things just so, I don’t do them. Then, instead I end up with more stacks, piles, and clutter than I know what to do with.
My nemesis is probably getting up early, before all of the kids get up, and getting things done when my mind is fresh and ready to go. I can’t seem to do it consistently!
Maureen
maureen.tenney@gmail.com
Time management is really rough. When you think you are on schedule, somene knocks on the door or the phone rings.
My nemesis is sneaky children who mess something up while I clean another area. It sucks me into cleaning all day.
My nemesis is nap time. When given a couple of hours to accomplish stuff around the house when my active little one FINALLY naps, I usually find myself either napping as well to recoup some of the hours of sleep I lose in the middle of the night, or just flopping down and doing something quiet like surfing the internet and catching up on emails. The LAST thing I feel like doing at that point is cleaning or cooking, but it is basically my only time to accomplish these tasks uninhibited and uninterrupted.
My nemesis is where to start and time! The next thing I know I’ve spent half the time I had free just sorting through what to do and never get anything accomplished.
Hmm…all I have to do. Figuring out how to balance homelife, homeschooling, 800 cow dairy, do the farm books, care for my sick father & blogging/essential oil business. I just can’t figure it all out.
OK Mary, that makes me tired just thinking about all of that. You just put my life in perspective for me:) I need to remember you in my daily prayers. Taking care of a sick father is tremendously difficult not just physically but emotionally. I would like to visit you at your blog to ask about your dairy farm. See you there.
I pray you have a blessed week.
Kathy
I would say my nemesis is the inability to make a decision and follow it through…there are sooooo many options, ideas, systems out there now and each one seems more ideal than the one before. I just keep looking for the PERFECT choice so I don’t choose any and I remain where I am in the middle of the piles and the clutter and the excess weight and the guilt. That is probably procrastination at it’s ugliest!
I think my greatest nemesis is sorting through the urgent vs. important…and my analysis paralysis.
I would say like a lot of others definitely the computer!
monk5 at charter dot net
My nemesis is all the emails, blogs I want to read, facebook, sims, etc. Also I want to sleep early!
My nemesis is definitely my computer and the internet. I love reading uplifting blogs, catching up with others on facebook, and searching for things on Pinterest and Craftsy. As others have said…time seems to slip by so quickly and then my day is gone. It’s horrible!
My nemisis? Follow through! I start with the best of intentions, even get things set up (like a house hold bind- has had it for at least 6 years) and forget to use it!
I think my nemesis is Facebook….it just sucks you in and before you know it a bunch of time has passed!
Time and want too! Oh and happiest of happy’s to on your birthday. May it be a very blessed day full of laughter, fun, family and love.
Organizing paperwork
I’d read on some blog that if you can do something in two minutes, then do it right away. That’s helped me to do smaller tasks and then the room looks so much nicer and clean
It helps me to stay on top of things 
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 
Hmmm…I am my worse enemy
Brain damage – my kids gave it to me!
My nemesis is the Internet!
My nemesis would be decision making. I can’t decide what to do in what order to get everything done on time. I try to do too much and more then one thing at a time then it seems like nothing gets done.
definitely paperwork piles, lack of storage pieces for organization, and some time management are definitely hindering me along with battling life threatening illness… it seems every time I start to get order, my health fails, and I fall behind again, which is very frustrating!
Blessed birthday week!
Cathy B pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
@projecthope7 twitter palmbreezeliving.blogspot.com
Piles are my nemesis because it represents so many unmade decisions. When I look at them I want to avoid them even more.
I would have to say that I am my nemesis. I procrastinate and then things pile up and I get frustrated and then get in a frenzy! I would also say that the internet is also a big nemesis!
If I didn’t need sleep I could get so much done, but I suppose sleep isn’t really a nemesis. So, I guess focus. I am easily distracted by a tv show, shopping online, phone calls. It really comes done to staying on task.
My time management nemesis is my procrastination in filing. I like the tip about unmade decisions because it is true…when I get to my pile to file I usually throw out 3/4 of what what there and I only need to handle the remaining!
Oh my! I’m not the only one that the computer is their nemesis! I love researching recipes, garden ideas, reading this great blog, etc. I think I need to use it as a reward and then set a time limit! Example: If I get my house picked up and dinner on the table, then I can sit and read on the computer for 30 minutes. Thanks for your awesome blog and happy birthday! My bday is the 25th! April is a great bday month!
My biggest challenge is multitasking. It’s become a problem – I never actually get anything done well!
Then there’s the mommy guilt that I have when doing the home chores when I should be spending time with my kids . . . and spending time with my kids when I should be doing laundry, dishes, etc! Trying to find a balance between working and home jobs can be really tough. Thanks so much for your blog and all the help it offers!
I would say Focus. I always focus on 20 tasks at once and then can’t seem to get anything done!
I would say focus. I can’t always seem to focus on one task , I have to focus on 20 then I get all mixed up and never get anything done!
The computer and TV are my time nemeses. If I don’t sit down I am fine, but in the evenings, if I sit down I lose a ton of time. I have to learn to balance watching some TV with hubby with getting some things done to keep our house running more smoothly.
My greatest nemesis: is being distracted by the computer…I like to look a fb and also blogs like yours and before I know it I have been on the computer way to long. I do love your blog and would love to win. Have a blessed day.
My greatest nemesis: research! I love researching raw food recipes; great homeschooling tips; “simplifying my life;” things to help me get organized; new ideas on pinterest; how to parent. Then I find my self so busy reading and studying how to that I don’t actually do the “do.” My Bible Verse Reminder….”Faith Without Works is Dead.” I need to put the knowledge to Work!
My biggest challenge is procrastination. I am also challenged in follow through. I have GREAT ideas, but tend to put them off.
My nemesis would be the internet. If I am not careful I could easily spend hours reading DIY blogs. There is so much out there to be inspired by.
My nemesis in time management is that there aren’t enough hours in a day!
I am a major procrastinator! I set things aside telling myself that I will put them away/take care of it/make that call….later. We have a section of our counter in the kitchen that sticks out and has nothing on it. It ends up the catch all….piled with all my “do it later” stuff.
My greatest nemisis is getting sidetracked. When the phone rings or someone walks in the office – my tendency is to stop what I’m currently working on and work on whatever the new problem is. Help!
My nemesis: focus (or really the inability to focus!)
I have piles. I have containers. I have no idea how to focus to keep all the balls in the air, irons in the fire, and not fall apart while doing it. I get sidetracked by work, children, commitments, doing it ‘just right’….
Thanks for this series and the giveaways…Happy birthday!
I am a procrastinator, and am at my best when I am scrambling to meet a deadline. I would love to change that habit,though!
My nemesis is the computer and staying focused on what I am doing until it is accomplished.
My nemesis is definitely Facebook!! I love it, and I’m totally addicted to it.
I’m also totally addicted to bags, and I LOVE 31 bags of all kinds!
what is your nemesis when it comes to time management? Probably my biggest problem is not staying focused on the task at hand! While doing the task, I see something else that I “have” to do right then and then when I do it and have gone to a different room I see something else that I “have” to do right then and by the end of the day I have “done” so many thins, but nothing really substantial to show for it and I feel overwhelmed and frustrated! I get overwhelmed by the big picture and find it hard to stay focused and do 1 thing at a time and get it done!
While my computer does help in a variety of ways, including organization and time management, it is also a big time sucker. There are just so many interesting blogs, companies, and an occasional game or two. I really need to schedule computer time into my day (easy) and stick to it (difficult).
Well….. I think the biggest challenge for me is spending too much time on my computer.
My biggest challenge when it comes to time management is integrating what I need to get done around my 5 month old daughter’s schedule. She’s the boss right now, but the cutest boss ever (not my nemesis).
My nemesis is TV in the evenings. I could get so much more done instead of zoning out in front of that thing!
Keeping my priorities straight and not wasting time
I try to do it now, but sometimes this theory is my worst enemy! I’ll be working on one thing, then jump to another without completing the first. I am too easily distracted and then get easily overwhelmed when there is too much to do. At the end of the day, I wonder where my time has gone because I haven’t completed anything! I need all the help I can get with time management and organization!
Unfortunately, I have to say, this right here is my nemesis, the internet!
My nemesis is me, really. I find it hard to get motivated to get everything done. I get overwhelmed by the big picture and find it hard to break things into little bits.