Overcome Uncertainty with the Power of Organization

With so much uncertainty, many of us feel a lack of control, which breeds stress and anxiety. Getting your affairs in order can bring peace of mind and prepare you for the unexpected.

We've all said it; "If I had more time, I'd, fill in the blank." Well, it seems we'll all have a bit of extra time on our hands in the coming weeks. Whatever your "blank" is a well-organized home and workspace is key to making it happen. The benefits of creating a well-organized home and workspace are both emotional and physical. From helping you accomplish more in a shorter amount of time, to settling your nerves, in general, organizing your home in times of crisis is a great way to gain a sense of calm amidst the chaos.

Be honest about how much time you have to work on projects and don't over-schedule yourself. Getting run down during a pandemic is the last thing you want to do. Start small by organizing your workspace, kitchen, and living space, then if you have more time and energy, go deeper.

STEP BACK TO LEAP FORWARD

Let's be real, for some of us work hasn't stopped, not even for a second, and now you have a second job of "homeschooling" your kids. It's enough to break even the most super of super parents. Your workweek just intensified by a factor of 10. Now more than ever, you need your home to run like a well-oiled machine. Your sanity is worth pressing pause on work for a day or two to get organized so that the coming weeks can run smoothly.

Getting buy-in from every member of your family to live by these house agreements can help.

1. Clean as you go.

2. Finish what you start.

3. Work on papers and open mail in your designated workspace only.

4. Restore the order of your home at the end of each day.

How much time you have to put systems into place will vary, but if all you have is the hours, you would typically be out socializing with friends and family; here's a quick start guide to organizing for weeks of at-home time.

CLEAR THE WAY FOR WORK

If you're hitting the ground running and don't have an abundance of extra time, the objective is to reduce distractions as quickly as possible.

Act like, and I do mean act because no one is dropping by! But let's pretend anyway. Someone important to you just texted and wants to "pop by" in a couple of hours because they've never seen your place. Clean your house as fast as you can! Try to clear all surfaces of items that should be put away. No... don't shove things in random drawers and corners; actually, put them in their place. Oh!!! While you're cleaning, collect all loose papers in a box or bag. I'll tell you why in a minute, promise.

ORGANIZE FOR ACCESS AND FLEXIBILITY

KITCHEN

Need extra room for all that panic shopping you did!?

• Get rid of that bread maker that's been sitting, unused, in your cabinet since 1998. Yep, I said it! Trust me; you'll want to knead that bread yourself; it's therapeutic.

• Ditch all those single-use gadgets like avocado slicers, strawberry stem removers, etc. Improving your knife skills will save space in your drawers and make it easier for everyone to find the essential kitchen tools they need.

• Organize your pantry: Use grocery store shelf techniques such as facing and categorization, so it's easy to see what items need replenishment. Creating a healthy snack food zone accessible to the smallest members of your family is also helpful.

• The Refrigerator: Place easy to prepare or pre-prepared breakfast, lunch, and snack items within reach so they can help themselves.

LIVING SPACE

Reclaim this space as a place for calm and family togetherness.

• Store toys, books, and games so they are easy to reach and, if possible, place them in closed storage cabinets or bins that can be closed and rolled away when playtime comes to an end. Creating a space that works for the whole family includes creating a calm sanctuary for the adults in the house. It should take under 10 mins to put kids' stuff out of sight so you can enjoy a glass of wine, read a book, or enjoy Netflix once the kids are off to sleep.

• Create a craft corner. Store craft supplies near and put items you don't want kids to use unsupervised out of reach.

WORKSPACE

Designate a space for work, but be flexible. Whether you have an extra room or a kitchen table as an office, a mobile office is a great way to create flexibility. The kids sharing a room this week might need their own spaces after three weeks of togetherness. Poof! There goes your office (it's ok, temporarily) a mobile set up can make this a much smoother transition. If all you have is a kitchen table, commit to clearing the table each day when you've finished with work. Cleaning up helps you put a clear boundary on how much time you spend working and leaves the space available for other purposes as needed.

• Build your mobile office! Create an office supply toolbox; Stapler, post-it notes and flags, paperclips, tape, envelopes, stamps, pens, pencils highlighters, note cards, etc.

• Remember all those papers you found scattered throughout the house? Let's organize them by sorting them into three categories. Needs Attention, Keep for short-term, and Keep Indefinitely; then shred or recycle all unnecessary paper.

• File papers using binders and 50-page capacity expandable sheet protectors as file folders. Clear file pages allow for visibility and easy access. The whole set-up stores neatly on a bookshelf in or near your workspace leaving surfaces clear for other uses.

• Have separate binders for each "Keep" category and file items that need attention in a prioritized To-Do Binder. When working from home, it's easy to get distracted by your "home" to-do list and vice versa. Having one prioritized to-do binder that correlates with your daily task list in your calendar for both work and personal items ensures neither category becomes neglected.

LIMIT MULTI-TASKING

We know that this is a tall order when working from home with kids. Without fail, they'll need something just as you've started a call with an important client or the President of the Board.

Set up your home so they can access the things they need on their own. Additionally, try to be fully present outside of work hours. Kids will have a much easier time being on their own while you're working.

• Organize the kitchen so that they can access prepared snacks and meals.

• Create "Rules for Engagement" to limit distractions:

• Define emergency and non-emergency situations

• Create an "Ask me later" notebook or have them text questions.

• If interruptions are not an option: Create a clear signal such as; lighting a specific lamp to signal to children; if it's not life-threatening, it has to wait.

PLAN TOMORROW TODAY

Use your calendar to schedule all tasks, both work and personal. Be ruthless about work hours and prioritizing tasks using your calendar as a to-do list. It's really easy to let one category slip for another.

• Be honest with yourself about the time needed to accomplish a task.

• Be clear with work and your kids' teacher about how much time you have to fulfill their demands on your time.

• At the end of each day, reschedule tasks that are incomplete and schedule new tasks as they arise.

DREADED HOMESCHOOL

Take a relaxed approach; your kids will learn what they need to learn. And if they need to repeat a few units in summer school next year it's not a big deal; trust me they won't be alone.

For younger kids, prioritize your work schedule and ask teachers to work with you to allow for reasonable deadlines and times for engagement. Don't be afraid to ask for a copy of their lesson plan for the week with clear written instructions for each assignment before virtual classroom sessions. Having a well thought out lesson plan will benefit you as a "partner teacher" and enable you to employ multiple modalities for learning over Zoom. For older kids in Junior High or High school, it's essential to set clear expectations for work completion, but ultimately it's their responsibility to complete their work.

CONSIDER MEAL PREP

Designate 3-4 hours, twice a week, to prepare enough food to get you through 3-4 days of meals. Try to prep two proteins, one soup, and two sides that can mix and match for variety.

The benefits are threefold:

1. Less clean up during busy work and homeschool days.

2. Kids can grab meals as needed without asking you while you're working.

3. Consolidating cook time allows for focus on work instead of on what's for dinner.

Check out Downshiftology's YouTube channel for seasonal meal prep ideas or "Real Plans," a web and app-based service that builds meal plans, tracks macros, creates shopping lists, and integrates with Instacart for seamless grocery delivery.

Look, you can't control what's going on outside your front door. That said, you can put systems into place on the home front that can give you a greater sense of control during these very uncertain times. If you have any questions or need help to get started, email me! We're available for sessions over Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime.