From Cindy's Heart

Paper Attack!!!! Waging War Against Clutter and Chaos! by Cindy Rushton

Paper Attack!!!! Waging War Against  Clutter and Chaos!

By Cindy Rushton

    I don’t know about you. But, I am absolutely SICK of all of my clutter and chaos! We are building a wonderful building for our business attached to our home.  I am thrilled about the extra room…convenience of having every thing close to home again…and of course, should I mention the bliss of having our COPIER and print shop attached to my HOUSE!!!  (Rhea, remember HOW I coveted your copier??? Oh, I have arrived as a homeschooling mommy!) Yet! To get it all together and finished, I am in the midst of daily organizing a little-bit each day in preparation for the final “move-in” of the business to the new facility!

     Do you know what has been the biggest percentage of my clutter has been?  Those that know me best will not be shocked by this…but it is PAPER!  Yep!  As much as I love Notebooking, Writing Books and Scrapbooking, you might think that every piece of paper I own could be in a binder, bound, or in an album by now…but…NO!   Well, maybe soon!

PAPER!!!

     Paper has been my best friend…AND worst enemy!  Oh! I LOVE paper!  But, if you want to get down to the biggest problem area in our home AND business is paper!

     I have been working every day bit-by-bit through all of my clutter.  You will laugh, but I have collected catalogs since the first year I began homeschooling—TWELVE years ago! Yep! Imagine the mess! I know! I know! But…what IF??????

     Relax before you close this issue!  I FINALLY decided to go through all of my old catalogs, magazines, and even BOOKS copying the help and ideas into a Notebook that has divisions for each subject and area of homeschooling.  I spent one whole evening copying to my heart’s content (since then, I have also been copying bit-by-bit on other days that I can snatch a minute here and a minute there!!). Not only was I filled with encouragement and ideas, but I was able to see a real dent in the amount of clutter!

ONE System for ALL  Information!

     Another thing that I have been working on is compiling information that seems to float around the house and office in the way EXCEPT when I need it!  For example, I had THREE address books.  Not on purpose! One for our family, one for my business contacts, and one for my planner. It seemed that I NEVER had the information that I needed because it was always in another address book!  Almost ALL of my life was divided up like this! A different system for each different role in life!  EEK! Begging for chaos!

      I took a look at all of the important information that I found myself needing (and lacking miserably at the most INCONVENIENT times) Then, I took a look at the best way to “keep” it in its very own spot!  I finally began working on each area of “paper-information” to design its VERY OWN “PLACE” where I could find it! 

     My biggest “helper” is my personal planner (more on that in a bit!).  I keep JUST what I need in it to make sure that it is my personal “brain” on the go!  However, I cannot carry everything WITH ME!  

     For example, I carry our “Mommy Planning Journal” with me while I plan out our new school year.  Throughout the school year, I add “finished” pages to a small 3-ring binder just for school records that I keep in my office.  This keeps my daily organizer more efficient—and takes the weight out regularly!

     At the end of the year, I take out all of my calendars, reading logs, and other forms that are left to also add to that notebook.  My homeschoolers are now “high schoolers” and they keep their own “Student Record-Keeping Notebooks.”  All throughout the year they add their finished daily logs (includes their daily work and reading log) to the notebook. At the end of the year, all I have to do is go back through tallying hours to figure out the credits!  Easy for me…easy for them! PLUS…everything is convenient for all of us!

     I also keep other “used” pages in separate binders like I would separate files (Binders are better for “pilers” like me who can’t fit their precious records in “files!”). For example, my sermon notes are kept in one binder that has dividers for the different “series” topics that my pastor teaches. I keep either one or two years (as much as can fit!) in each binder so I can easily find sermon notes that I am looking for! It is wonderful, especially when I am trying to look up a certain verse!  

     I use the same system with my business information that I keep in my binder.  I cannot tell you how nice it is to go back to my binders from years before to find directions to a convention or email addresses and phone numbers for my contacts! Again, at the end of the year, I just divide off my business forms into their own storage binder (with a labeled spine for ease in locating the information) and add new ones into my binder! This same method works for other sections of my planner that I use like my “Reading through the Bible Log,”  “Menu Planner” and my Homeschool “Mommy Journal” planner.  The information is in its OWN spot…and my brain can relax and enjoy thinking about other details!

My Handy-Dandy Brain-in-a-Binder!

     Are you addicted to your “Daytimer??” You probably KNOW how precious a planner can become! My planner has become my very own “second-brain!”  It helps me juggle all of my different roles and keep it all somewhat together! I keep all of my activities, phone numbers, events, goals, ideas…EVERYTHING from my personal life, homeschool, and business in ONE binder. I used to keep different binders, but I never had the information I needed with me. Now, I have a simplified system that has the information that I need the most all at my fingertips!  It is my companion!  And best of all…it knows EVERYTHING I need to know!

Those Little Scraps!!!!!

    I have also taken all of those articles, recipes and neat quotes that were on those little pieces of paper, cut the edges with paper-edgers, and mounted them on colorful paper in my notebooks. All neat quotes or recipes that come from new magazines and newsletters are being added daily to my new journal. It is so much nicer already!  PLUS…I am FINDING things I used to hunt all over the house and office for!

     Also, I finally bit-the-bullet!  I have been collecting pictures and memorabilia from my workshops, retreats, and conventions for years. I don’t know what I THOUGHT I was going to achieve by stuffing everything in boxes and on my desk and in my Bible and in my wallet and in all of those old suitcases. BUT! I bought my VERY OWN Creative Memories “Passport” Album (it has the CUTEST tapestry cover that sets the perfect theme of “On The Road!” I took pictures and memorabilia from my seminars, retreats, and conventions and I have been working on my “On The Road Album” a bit at a time!   I cannot tell you how fast my home and office has been cleaning up, not to mention I can finally find those precious goodies and enjoy those sweet memories!!

Little Journals with a Purpose!

     Another thing I began to notice when I began going through all of my beloved scraps of paper was the HUGE number of notes that I jotted down with just the “address” of neat Bible Verses...ideas for articles (and BOOKS!!)…and even workshop outlines!  I decided to begin a few journals that could be the “special spot” for my precious information.

     For example, I bought the cutest little “mini-journal” for my purse.  I am using it to copy Bible Verses into each day.  I also indulged myself with stickers to adorn the pages.  Talk about filling MY cup! There is something about copying the Word of God that just “fills” my cup!  This has also helped me to “find” those special verses (You know, those that DISAPPEAR when you want to find them!) that I want to share with others in my writing or when talking with a friend!

     Another journal that I carry in my tote has all of my favorite quotes, workshop outlines, and article/book outlines. I LOVE it! I have it with me all of the time, ready to jot down those things that the Lord brings across my mind! Plus…when I fill it up, I will KNOW that the goodies from “this year” are in this particular journal.  I love finding things instead of constantly hunting for “that little piece of paper!”

ATTACK!!!!

     Ready???? Oh! See that annoying, yet PRECIOUS piece of paper that has been staring at you during your time for tea? Why not find that information a home? 

     Just take a moment each day and over the course of a very short while you will find a place for everything!  Constantly stay on the lookout for easy ways to contain the clutter in your life!  Establish a workable system that is JUST FOR YOU!  You will find that not only will you be able to declutter, but you can also stay organized for the long-haul!  Oh! And if you are like me! That gives MORE time to find more great papers!!!

Battling the MESSIES?

You will LOVE our NEW E-BOOK: LET'S GET ORGANIZED! Check it out at our website:
http://www.CindyRushton.com/LGOEBOOK.html

Organize YOUR Brain! Make Your Own Brain-in-a-Binder!

WE CAN HELP!

http://www.cindyrushton.com/MYOBIBEBOOK.html