So now that the first quarter of the year is almost finished I hope that everyone has had a great incoming fall season, Thanksgiving and holidays. Yes, I'm still busy, dreadfully busy.....reading and losing weight.
I've finished reading David Allen's 'Getting Things Done', Drs. Yeun & Burka's 'Procrastination: What it is...What to do about it', and I'm about to begin reading Julie Morgensterns' daughter's book 'Organizing from The Inside Out for Teens'. Now why on earth would I read a book for teens you might ask. After reading, and then buying, one of the best books on earth written by Dr. Neil Fiore' 'The Now Habit' I realized I have to start where I ended, in high school.
Although the beginning of high school was not great as almost all of my friends were seniors, soon graduating. One of my business teachers suggested that I purchase a calendar to support FBLA. I had no idea what use I would have for the thing. Yet I plucked over three bucks as it was for a great organization I would join in a year.
After looking at the pretty cover I realised my handwriting will be very tiny, but I wrote shorthand so that's no problem. This purchase, which I thought was very insignificant, actually helped me keep some kind of order to my life. I would write my schoolwork projects, vacations, practice schedules and job interviews into a one inch square. This 'tiny' writing schedule spilled over to my bedroom, which I shared with my sister which could only accomodate two twin beds, a chesterdrawer a large dresser with mirror. I eventually squeezed a night table for my books, which would grow into a magazine station for 10-12 stackable fully loaded cassette drawers.
My second high school job was part-time position at a PR firm and I needed a much larger calendar as I dealt with multiple and monthly work projects. Too much clutter for only having a staff of three and over 12 clients. I eventually stopped visiting the library for fun unless it was necessary. My days consisted of going from one small 'box of a room' to another at home, school and work. I loved my bedroom and school was good, but the clutter at work was overwhelming and not being able to afford another office...well. Now fast forward, really fast, to my life today and the same situation has resurfaced, except it's the reverse. My bedroom as an adult it much smaller of that as a teenager. My bookcase, bed, file cabinet and five unpacked boxes leaves very little room to walk.
I've recycled and gifted many items that were important, but that I had not touched in months, if not a year. Items have sentimental value of loved ones passed, neices, nephews, church families and friends. My rubberstamp and cycling hobbies have been moved to the livingroom, camping gear to the front closet as many shoes and handbags are properly packaged in my closet. The thought of selling these items has crossed my mind a lot lately.
So you have a view of my little dilemma and why now I need to use a teens organizational book just to arrange my room and life. There are lots of lesson plans that accompany this item online to teach other teens, and I know a couple churches full of teens who drive their parents sad of their organizational skills. Yet has anyone sat down to actually read and teach them? Are you as a parent/guardian organized and punctual? Humans learn more by seeing and doing more then reading and instructions.
Help a teenager, yourself or even another adult along by helping them 'Get Things Done' Now, Inside and Out.
Reading five books in two months with varying views of the same topic will give you more options. Now that this topic is almost done I can begin on the next item and cross these off my list.
We are surviving through winter! Be patient spring and summer are coming.
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