30-Day Org. Challenge part I

Planning:

1. What do I want the purpose of my room or area to be?
This is supposed to be our school room, where my kids will be able to do their schoolwork, without taking it all over the house.

2. What do I need in or near the room to serve that purpose?
The schoolbooks and materials we are currently using, plus any teachers guides or sourcebooks that I need to spice it up from time to time.

3. What can I remove from the room?
Everything we are not currently using, books that belong in bookcases in other rooms, toys, clutter that seems to find its way on, in or under my desk, bookcases, school table, or kids' desk.

4. What problems do I see with the room?
Theres not much light, and there is limited space for four kids plus everything we need for school, plus baby swing. There is currently the only window big enough to sustain houseplants for the winter, so I know that they will also be moving in here soon as well.

5. What organizational tools might solve those problems?
Getting the unused stuff out of here first will help. Perhaps I can give each child their own shelf, where their books can be kept, then they can replace them to their places after using?

Also it will help for me to clean out this desk and get the items that have been jammed in the drawers out of here - to the garbage - most of this stuff has been in place for 5+ years, I use only a very small part of it.

6. What habits need to change to solve the organizational problems?
Putting things back after we use them, and not using the school table as a dumping ground will be a good first step.

7. What kind of a budget do I have to create the organized room of my dreams?
Zilch.

8. What kind of a timeline is necessary to organize the room?
I hope to get this done in a couple of weeks.

9. What is my plan of action?
First, do the desk, then attack the shelves.

Read the complete article with descriptions of each of the questions here.

Finally ask yourself:

10. Who can I ask to help me with this?
Kids can help with some.