Getting Organized

I never make New Year's Resolutions and this year was no exception. I didn't even crack my usual lame joke about resolving to break my resolution.

However as this semester has started, I've really been working to clean up the scattered mess that is my life. Unlike a resolution, there was no defining moment when I declared my intention. Instead it has been happening here and there over the last two weeks that I see something out of order and think, "My life would be simpler if that was neater."

It started with my email inbox. I cleaned out the hundreds of messages clogging my screen at every login, labeling the important ones, making all the reply's that I had been procrastinating and archiving everything for future reference. For the first time in more than a year I had an empty inbox. Now I try to empty it every evening.

The second day of class, I was taking one of the innumerable class handouts being passed around when I decided that I didn't feel like dealing with the huge floating pile of unsorted papers that has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. From that point forward, anytime I receive a handout or am given a piece of paper, I immediately label it in the upper right corner. I created folders at home for each of my classes and have been cleaning out my backpack and my desk into the folders a couple times a week.

I've actually started using a calendar. Geek that I am, I am using the web-based Google Calendar program. I inputted my schedule and all the test days on my syllabi, church, etc. setting them to repeat on all the proper days. I've also been using it as a kind of dated to-do list. Currently it's set up to email me a list of the days activities every morning at 0500. This gives me a reminder of all the things on my daily itinerary.

For the first time in my life, I've been self-motivated to keep my room clean. My Mom wouldn't believe it if she saw it.

As these small habit changes begin to permeate my daily routine, I have begun to have a much greater sense of relief. I'm not constantly worried about forgetting things. I feel less distracted. Really, it's a wonderful sensation.

Now, the only question is, "Will it last?"