Welcome to our fifth Tidy Thursday post! Here at VolunteerSpot, we’re committed to simplifying the busy lives of parents, teachers and active volunteers. Along that theme, we’re pleased to support your personal efforts in getting organized and gaining quality time and present guest organization expert April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach! This Thursday, April is tackling the most dreaded of organization tasks: the family roadster. These easy steps will make it possible to have your car function as more than a roving clutter collector. Thanks, April!
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Busy Life Systems for Functioning from the Car
By April Welch
What does your car look like right now?
As in Right This Minute ...
For most of my clients, this question sparks a fear like no other.
Images of the garbage strewn floor board, mismatched shoes or miscellaneous clothing floating from cargo space to optional seating flash through their minds.
Most importantly, the fear that I’m going to break out my camera crew & we’re going to take a field trip to their vehicle paralyzes them.
Luckily for all, I don’t believe in camera crews exposing folks clutter nor do I believe in judgment of individuals and how they live.
What I do believe in? Systems that function based on how the individual lives.
Since our society has become more & more dependent on our vehicles it’s important to address this area as a space in your life. Just like we liberated the refrigerator back in “De-cluttering Kids' Artwork without Tears”, we can liberate the center console of any car you frequent!
Best bets for getting started:
- Set aside some time for the task at hand
- Align supplies
+ trash bag
+ work gloves
+ recycle bin
+ laundry basket for miscellaneous clothes
+ empty container for other items to be returned to their prospective home
- Determine your support
+ Will you need a babysitter?
+ Do you want others to help out?
The day of the project:
- Jump in!
- Create appropriate categories
+ stays in the car
+ goes back to the kitchen
+ laundry
+ return to volunteer project area
- Finish the job
+ Deliver categories accordingly
From here forward:
- Take a look at what you uncovered in the 'stays in the car' category
- How can that be broken down into appropriate groups?
- Duffel bag or backpack with:
+ extra clothes
+ first aid kit
+ flashlight
+ emergency blanket
+ sneakers, power bars and a water bottle (for those living in earthquake prone regions - in the event of emergency, you can walk home if roads are impassible.)
- Do you have a garbage bag/container for the car?
- Containerize small items that tend to float {in my picture you’ll see things like}:
+ pens
+ extra batteries
+ car games
+ tissue pack
+ nail file
+ air sanitizer {I have boys ~ when the cleats come off I feel like I’m driving the locker room home}
+ dental floss
+ business cards
+ a reading light/magnifier
Most importantly, assess how you live in your vehicle. Do you commute long distances ~ requiring more comfort items be available? Or do you have shorter trips and carry comfort items in your work bag/purse? Either way, preparing what you’ll need in case of a time crunch can alleviate a lot of the chaos we find ourselves surrounded by (in our cars).
Speaking of being surrounded by ... next week we’re taking a look at all things summer ~ beach towels, sunscreen, flip flops and of course, the clutter it can create!
Keepin’ it tidy,
April
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April Welch, CPO© is a Certified Professional Organizer residing in Central Washington State with her husband & two children and has been instinctively organizing most of her adult life.
While her philosophies are centered on how individuals are ‘wired’ she believes in providing a fun and educational environment with simple solutions to all organizing dilemmas. She offers live workshops, virtual organizing, tele-classes, habit assessments, public speaking, a radio show online and most recently Mental Clutter Coaching. April is the Franklin Covey® Family Organizing Guru & the Spokesperson for ListPlanIt.com April can be found on: Facebook and Twitter
Great ideas - you've motivated me to clean up my car (but I'll wait til the heat wave passes - lol)
Posted by: Susan | July 08, 2010 at 11:24 AM