Break the Law and Restore Order

By Catherine Pope

   Every flat surface must be covered. This iron clad law rules in our homes, offices and storage spaces. The demand for obedience creates environments that threaten to bury us with no hope of ever being found again.

    I opened my bedroom closet Monday morning to get ready for work and ran screaming from the room as grasping tentacles of overstuffed space burst out. A falling black, angora sweater’s sleeve pulled down the beach bag filled with swimming gear from last years’ vacation to Palm Beach. Was that a sand crab skittering behind the door? Snow boots, sneakers and flip flops joined the avalanche reaching for my heels. I saw the down comforter slither from the bed into the mounting pile as I quickly slammed the door. I’ve been sleeping in the guest room ever since.   

   My husband has been lost in his workshop for two weeks. I’ve been sending in food and water through a small opening between the snow blower and the lawnmower. He promised to find a way out by spring and sent his love to the grandchildren.

   The seasonal floral arrangement on the entryway table is flanked by cobweb covered catalogs, current bills and various sweepstakes offerings that I have vowed to take care of by midsummer 2010. My car keys are also buried somewhere in the growing pile. The locksmith is coming today to make new ones so I can get to work without hitchhiking.

   This scenario is a bit extreme and yet as we laugh, the problem is closer than we’d like to admit. In Deuteronomy 28:2, we are promised abundance, “…all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee…” (KJV). However, living in the state of abundance can easily become a burden. As our collections of “stuff” grow out of control, we become overworked caretakers and no longer enjoy them.

   Always obey the law has been taught since we were children. But the flat surface law sneaks up on us. We are blindly obeying without noticing the deplorable results at first. Affluence makes us magnets for stuff. We enter our doorways with handfuls of mail, work brought home from the office, school bags and backpacks, coats, scarves and jackets, gym totes plus grocery and shopping bags. We need relief, so the nearest flat surfaces receive our deposits to lighten our load. We kick off wet, muddy shoes and boots that join a pile started the day before and the weatherman is predicting more rain tomorrow. The trail follows us to the kitchen, living room and bedroom. Coats and scarves almost get hung on the hooks by the doorway but slide off in a colorful heap. School bags make it to the floor in front of the nearest TV, while brief cases and purses land on the entryway table with the car keys. The gym tote drops to the utility room floor or decorates the washing machine. Kitchen counters and chairs receive the grocery bags. Mail is thrown on the table beside the living room recliner. Shopping bags sometimes make it to the bedroom floor, but more often they are dumped on the piano bench, the dining room table or clutter the computer desk.

   We put away the groceries that need to be refrigerated or frozen. Others are pushed aside to deal with after dinner. The frozen entrée goes into the oven or microwave. Then, to the bathroom to freshen up. "Time to start homework, kids." 

   As we backtrack with our arms finally empty, we wonder, “When did they move the landfill to my living room. Maybe we should move. The property values have probably gone down.”

   Moving things aside and dealing with the most pressing tasks help us to keep the blinders on and avoid the issue.

   The next morning brings frantic searches for homework left on the floor that seem to have disappeared, cars keys that have walked away, and finding shoes that aren’t wet or muddy.

   “Honey, I left my briefcase by my chair. Where is it?”

   “I haven’t seen it, dear. Have you seen my keys? They were on the table with my purse.”

   “Sorry, Hon, do you need a lift?”

   “I guess, but we have to take the kids to the bus stop.”

    “Shake a leg, kids. Grab umbrellas. It’s raining again.”

    “Mom, the dog ate my homework.” “Come on. I’ll write a note on the way and call your teacher.”

   The piles and clutter build day by day and we are overwhelmed at the thought of trying to regain order.

   “Where do I start,” begs an answer.

   But the bigger question is, “How do I start?”

   Tempers and patience wear thin while we try to function in the chaos we’ve created. Feelings of martyrdom grow, especially, if only one in the family is disturbed by the mess. Others can’t seem to understand or grasp the need to organize. Read on to find the steps to change.

   Rebellion Brings Freedom

   Once we recognize the landfill state has invaded our home, we must blow the trumpet and call for a rebellion. Breaking the flat surface law is rebellion that is not only permissible, but imperative if we want to restore order and serenity to our lives. Already full schedules and the overwhelming sense of a lost cause make us want to put off any change until a more convenient time.

   But the truth screams, “There will be no convenient time…just the right time.”

   Deciding the right time is up to you, but if you are serious, now is the time.

   Make a declaration of independence. Sit down in a quiet place with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea. Write out your goal. Writing it down plants a positive impression on your mind that change can be achieved. Then give yourself permission to start today to make the change.

   • I choose today ________________ to change our home from a landfill to a haven.

   • I will be consistent to apply the principles for change.

   • I will practice love and patience with my family while these changes are being made.

   • I give myself permission to stop procrastination and actively praise myself and my family for small victories.

   • I will not fall into old habits once the goal is reached.

   Fortunately, even if you are the only one to see the need, Mom, the steps to change can be accomplished with minimal pain.

   Simplify

    The first principle of restoring order is probably the most difficult. We all love our possessions but they become the possessors if we aren’t ruthless. If it hasn’t been used, worn or displayed in two years, get rid of it.

   That old pair of jeans with the orange paint stain, the spatula with the melted handle and the dolphin figurine that was stored when you changed the décor from early Atlantis to romantic Victorian can safely be discarded. The somewhat presentable shower curtain liner taking up space under the bathroom vanity needs to go. The 250 margarine tubs and 300 mismatched lids that fall out of the upper cupboard every time you take out the cereal boxes goes into the Hefty bag. The craft project you started when your first child was born will not be finished in this lifetime. You know the one that is missing the instructions and the skein of ochre yarn tangled by the first kitten your daughter adopted. Out!

   Depending on your music era, sell your collection of vinyl records, eight track and cassette tapes on E-Bay or similar auction website. Yes, there are people who still want them and you can put a little money in your pocket.

   Get rid of old entertainment toys as new higher tech versions are purchased. You know, the Walkman that was replaced with the i-Pod or MP3 player. If your kids aren’t still using the Gameboy that was replaced with the X-Box, move it on out.

   You get the idea, here. If it takes up space and has no purpose, it’s gone.

   Local charities are begging for donations and you might get a tax deduction in the process. Talk to your tax consultant to see how this works. A word of caution, though, if it's broken, missing parts and is beyond repair please don’t try to donate it. Your trash is not needed by anyone to add to their landfill and these kinds of donations create headaches for the charitable organizations.

   A yard sale can be fun way to free up storage space and make some extra cash; however, they require work and lots of patience.

   The following steps will get you on your way:

   • Once you’ve separated trash from treasure, divide into categories and box or bag together.

   • Watch the weather forecast to choose a favorable day or weekend.

   • Do advertise in the local paper and put up attractive signs. Remember to ask permission before posting signs and let your neighbors know your plan so they are not disturbed by the traffic.

   • Be prepared to rise early to set up your sale. You will always have early shoppers so don’t be surprised if they are waiting for you when you open the garage door.

   • A simple breakfast to start your long day and a crock-pot meal started the night before will save your family from starvation.

   • Get everyone involved. Put different colored stickers on items to identify who gets the money for a sale.

   • Create a spreadsheet or a simple notebook with columns for the corresponding colored sticker to record sales for each family member.

    • Do have adequate change on hand and one person appointed as cashier to avoid confusion.

   • If you are setting up in the garage you can get everything ready the night before, otherwise you will have to put your items on display early and wait.

   • Make attractive displays and rearrange them after each burst of “shoppers”.

   • The children might want to sell “reasonably” priced drinks and snacks. Remember you aren’t Circle K.

   • Have fun together and keep things light.

    Reward the hard work with a trip to the favorite fast food restaurant for dinner and relive the day’s experiences with laughter.

   After you have reduced the inventory, you can move on to the next step toward your goal.

   Organize

   Once you’ve simplified, make sure that what you have decided to keep has a place so that the flat surface temptation can be ignored.

   Put your car keys in the same place everyday before getting out of the car. A snap or a small pocket in your purse to be used only for your keys is helpful. A section of your briefcase for the purpose works, too. The secret is to put them there every time, every day before exiting the car and starting to unload purchases and children. Do not keep them in your hand with other items. They will get laid down without thinking about them and forgotten.

   Coat closets near the entrance are helpful. With or without a closet, be sure hooks and racks are available at child height so the biggest flat surface of all, the floor, isn’t used by the little one who cannot reach to hang things up. If you would rather the entryway kept clear, inexpensive racks and shelves can be installed in bedrooms. Shelves and hooks for caps, gloves and book bags stop dumping on beds, desks and chairs. During wet and muddy seasons, have tubs to deposit shoes at the entryway, preferably outside. But, before bedtime, make sure you clean and dry shoes for the next day. Do not be tempted to leave for another day. Soon you will have 20 pairs of shoes needing to be cleaned and none to wear.

   Closet organization can be as expensive or frugal as your situation warrants with the same results. Creative storage solutions are available at your local discount store and complete closet makeovers can be accomplished with a visit to your local home improvement store. On a tight budget? You can make some nice storage finds at the charity resale shop when you take in your donations during the simplifying step. But, it is easy to add to the oversupply problem, so keep your purchases geared to the project in the near future. Adding shoe racks, sweater shelves, double hanger poles in part of the closet and overhead shelves creates much needed space. There are hanger systems available that hang multiple slacks or shirts then collapse to the space of one hanger. Hanging similar items together make the search for a wanted item easier. If you are really into being organized, then hang similar colors together in each category.

   It is wonderful if the master bedroom has two closets. But, if that is not an option in your bedroom, then having a chest of drawers is a helpful option. Sweaters, shorts and pullover t-shirts can be nicely stored in a drawer. Scarves, ties, belts and other small accessories can be kept in order with drawer dividers you can purchase or create from cereal or other cartons cut to fit and glued together for stability.

   Hooks on the back of the door give bathrobes a home. Out of season items can also be stored in under bed storage systems. The new storage bags that have a vent to attach your vacuum hose in order to remove air are a great idea and store many items in a small space. Do it yourselfers can achieve the same result with trash bags. Place the items to be stored in a large, heavy duty trash bag. Insert the vacuum hose between items. Do not touch the plastic with the hose. Hold the neck of the bag tightly around the hose and turn the vacuum on. When most of the air has been removed, quickly remove the hose while twisting and closing the neck of the bag. Tape shut with package sealing tape. Be sure to label bag with contents before storing. If you use this method, carefully (even a tiny hole will allow air to re-enter) place the bags into cardboard boxes and seal. Plastic storage bins with lids are even better.

   In children’s bedrooms, make sure there are enough shelves and bins to keep toys, books and games in order. At the end of play, everything goes back to its home until the next play session. Purchase fiber boards at your local home improvement center to permanently attach race car and train tracks. They will cut them to size for you if you do not have the tools for the job. The whole thing can then be slid under the bed or stood against the wall when not being used.

   Hampers or baskets in every bedroom and bathroom keep dirty laundry contained. If space allows, have separate hampers for dark colored, light colored and white items. This is a time saver when starting laundry.

   In the kitchen, decide the priority storage need and assess the storage space.

   • Dedicated cooks need more space for pots, pans and utensils. Make sure pots and pans are stackable. Create standup space for lids if they do not lay flat in pot for stacking. Standup space is also good for flat cookie sheets and baking pans. Frequently used utensils can be stored on the countertop in a metal or ceramic container. Hooks can be placed under upper cabinets to hang these items if counter space is small. Store occasionally used items in a drawer with dividers to separate like items and to cut down on search time. If drawer space is limited, these utensils can also be placed on hooks under the countertop at the back of lower cabinets.

   • Warehouse food shoppers need more space for food items. Larger pantry shelves are nice for large bags and boxes of food items. If pantry space is not available in your kitchen, putting these large items in large plastic storage tubs that can be sealed and stored in the garage or storage shed is helpful. Fill canisters and smaller bins from this stock as needed for the kitchen. Unused closet space can also be converted to pantry space easily with shelf systems.

   • Entertainers need more space for dishes, glasses and flatware. Once again, make sure to buy stackable items when possible. Storage solutions from zippered soft vinyl cases to hard plastic bins are available for these items to keep in out of the way places when not in use. Keep the most used sets in the cupboards and china hutch for easy access.

   Take the few extra minutes to go through the mail everyday. Have a bill paying center on your kitchen counter or desk with files:

   • To be paid

   • To answer

   • To file

   • To follow up

   It’s a good idea to schedule time to do the necessary file maintenance at least once a week.

   Magazine and catalog junkie? Keep a magazine rack near your chair or desk with two sections. Replace old issues with the new ones as they arrive. Discard old catalogs and magazines immediately. If you must keep the back issues of your magazines, file them now. You can get magazine files that will hold 12 months worth of magazines or organizers are available to slide over the magazine and place into a 3 ring binder.

   Congratulations! Now you’ve got things organized, keep going to the next step.

   Recruit

   Years ago, I saw a cartoon of a weary mother picking up discarded dolls, books, toy trucks, shoes and jackets and dumping them into an overflowing basket. Following behind along the just cleared path, her children and husband were discarding more items. I stuck that cartoon on the refrigerator thinking my family would easily get the visual message it showed.

   Whew…problem solved! Well, not quite. It took some effort on my part to recruit their help in keeping our home clutter free. I called a family meeting.

    “Can anyone see a problem here?” I asked, pointing to the cartoon.

   My family all wore blank expressions when they said, “What problem Mom?”

   I quickly enlightened them.

   They wisely agreed to help.

   Change did not happen overnight, though. It took some tactful reminders. Consistency is the key.

   “Coats and hats need to be hung up, please,” gets better results than, “Can’t anybody do anything around here besides me?”

    Bad habits can be changed. Repetition makes it happen. I had to make sure I was not one of the culprits before reminding others of their faults.

   Make check lists to help family members get the idea. Praise the small victories. Reward the big ones.

   Hold another family meeting after a couple weeks to assess the results and take ideas for other changes needed. Everyone needs to be involved, old to young, for change to be lasting.

   Okay, everybody's on board. Now, let’s go on to the last step for success.

   Maintain and Enjoy

   Creating comfortable and pleasant surroundings is most natural to women. Men are more geared to practical and logical. Our families benefit from a combination of these abilities. Organization helps to curb strife and confusion. As we have seen though, it doesn’t happen without effort. To keep your household from falling back into old habits, go back to the simplify step at least once a year. If your family tends to be keepers and savers, you may need to do a checkup more often. Remember, the goal is not perfection but comfortable organization. Let your family enjoy the home you have created. The homes you see on the glossy pages of magazines are perfect, but they are missing the most important element…a happy family. I have learned that laughter, love and acceptance are more important in my home than maintaining a perfect showplace. But it is good to be able to sleep in the bedroom again and my husband was able to escape in time for dinner. His garage make-over is coming along. How nice!

Be sure to check our resource and product section for organizers and helpful charts.