The Secret to Getting Organized...at least one, anyway

I've got a secret. I can tell you the key to being organized. Well, okay, maybe a little more organized than you currently are. Ready? All you need is your ABC's.

Your

After dinner

Before bed

Checklist

Checklists are nothing new. flylady.net recommends an evening checklist. I think that certain key things help you be more organized on a regular basis, and the ABC list is one of those.

Notice that this list begins "after dinner." For those of you (like me) who are not night owls, it is best to get some of this list done right after you finish eating. Others can wait until the 15-30 minutes before bed. Be sure to attach this process to your best energy level after dinner.

Create a list of 5-10 (no more than ten, no less than 5) items that, if they were done when you woke up, would make you smile and feel that little sense of relief. These will be different you than they are for me. They will relate to your lifestyle and schedule. Here are a few ideas:

• lunches made
• laundry done
• dishwasher empty
• clothes laid out for next day
• desk picked up
• menu figured out for next day
• personal grooming completed
• appointments confirmed/calendar updated
• outgoing items packed (i.e. mail to send out, items to bring somewhere, etc.)
• gym bag ready
• phone, laptops, etc. charged

You get the idea. Not all of these suggestions will apply to you. For example, if you have time after getting kids off to school, you may do some of the chores in the morning. But if you have to be gone all day, you will love to have these things done before you go.

Your ABC list will probably be modified from time to time. It's important to have a list that reflects what is most valuable to you. When you get up in the morning, it will be a great feeling to have these things done, especially if you happen to sleep in! And if your plans happen to change (i.e. a morning appointment gets cancelled) you'll have even more time to do something else to--gasp--maybe even get ahead!

What should be on your ABC list?

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