Organize Your Life in Two Weeks
In a single moment I realized I was completely overwhelmed with my parenting life. However, the same conversation also raised a challenge. Could I settle my stress and organize my life in two weeks? I was going to do it. Now you can too.
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How It Started
A while ago, a friend asked me if I’d like to sign one of my kids up for a class with her. Although it seems an innocent enough question, it sent me reeling.
I had no idea what my schedule would be like in a few weeks when the class started. I was working on a day by day basis, feeling like I was somehow just barely making it through each day, always a little late and a little forgetful. Not to mention the house was constantly in a state of chaos and dinner was continually a last-minute fling onto the table. Could I handle a class in that schedule?
Life had not always been this way. Previously, I was organized and calm. Now I felt like that famous chicken, you know the one running around with its head cut off.
Additionally, while I thought it would be a good opportunity for my child, I didn’t know if it was the best for him at the time. What did he need from me right now? Could I even fit this into our budget?
With thought after thought in that moment, the state of my life sunk in.
We had moved into a new stage of life, and suddenly, I was completely overwhelmed.
So I told my friend, “Give me two weeks to get my life organized, and I will get back to you.”
Organizing a Life
Two weeks.
I said it because I did not know what else to say. However, as I drove home, I wondered, “Could I really organize my life in two weeks?”
I starting thinking about all the things in my life that needed organizing, and the list was long. However, something whispered inside me that I could take control of my life. Humans are created to act, designed to make choices that determine our own outcomes. That felt true.
I also realized that I felt organized in a busy life before, and I knew I had the skills and resources to do it again.
Therefore, I decided to do what it took to steer my own ship-to feel like I was living my life consciously-not just being blown about by the chaos of raising kids, working part time, running a household, and trying to be a person with relationships.
After realizing that I could do it, and that I would do it, I did it.
I organized my life.
You Can Take Control of Your Life
Every parent has felt that overwhelm at some time. I want you to feel the truth though, that even if you need to be busy at this stage of life, you do not need to feel overpowered by the forces around you.
You can feel in control of your own life.
The point of organizing a life is not to get everything we want: there is so much that is outside of our control. Instead, the goal is to live in a way that is purposeful, dictating how we spend our limited resources of time, energy, and money.
Hence the purpose of this mini-series is to help you gain the perspective to choose what direction you want to take your life and the organization to help you do it. Ultimately, this organization will bring a sense of calm and peace to your life.
What You Need
The list is short of what you need to get started in organizing your life.
1.) A Journal, notebook, or binder.
- You will be doing a lot of thinking, writing, listing, crossing off, etc. You need one place to keep all of these thoughts together.
- A one-inch, three-ring binder works well because you can add tabs and extra paper as desired.
- The Organize Your Life Workbook is currently available for free! The workbook is the perfect tool to walk you step by step through this challenge.
2.) One hour a day for two weeks.
- I probably sub-consciously chose two weeks when talking to my friend because I tend to do most things in two week increments. More on that later. The point is that it is a short enough time that you can stay motivated, while simultaneously long enough to actually make bona fide progress.
- Get out your calendar and schedule one hour per day to Organize Your Life, “OYL.” It can be during naptime, staying up an extra hour, or better yet, get up an hour early. (Remember, it’s only two weeks! And that is coming from a woman who LOVES the snooze button!)
- After scheduling, show up. Make your life (and in reality your family’s life) your priority during that time.
And that’s it.
The Two Week Schedule to Organize Your Life
Day 2: Organize Your Relationships
Day 11: Organize Your Paperwork
Day 12: Organize Your Kids’ Toys
Day 13: Organize Your Bedrooms
Each day a new post will guide you through organizing different parts of your life. Over time, I will add even more resources and links to these posts, but if you have questions or challenges, please reach out via the comments or email.
The End Result
After these two weeks, you will have a handle on your own life, and you will have a system in place to move forward in the direction you want to go. You will have time and space to be and become the parent you want to be.
The more intentionally you life your life, the more you will accomplish and the better you will feel about the big picture. Because in the big picture, we do not want to just run around in circles, feeling exhausted and engulfed in the day to day. Stress or overwhelm should not impede our relationships.
The necessities of life should be handled so that we can be calm and present for our Littles. We want to have the time and energy to focus on what matters most, loving the people in our lives.
It is my hope and intention that as a result of completing Organize Your Life, you will find yourself in a place of more fully Lovin’ Life with Littles.
What kind of organization tips are you looking forward to most? Let me know in the comments.
