10 Steps to Better Organization
Organization is a skill that takes time and effort. Yet caregiving, with all its immediate demands, will be much easier, if we can find ways to organize our space and our time. With this in mind, I found this list of ways to get on top of things by organizing our intentions. Let’s see how we do. . . .
- Set your priorities.
Determining priorities is the first step to getting organized. By creating your own set of priorities, you’re eliminating what doesn’t serve you and welcoming positive energy.
The trick here is to start with small, attainable steps toward your own list. This will help you eliminate feeling overwhelmed and allow you to celebrate small victories. Each night before I head to bed, I enumerate the top 3 little things I want to accomplish the next day. They are usually steps toward the larger goal of living the best life possible under the circumstances, but there are days when my list is simply walk to the mailbox, eat regular meals and empty the dishwasher in between all the chores. That is, eat well and exercise!
- Hold Yourself Accountable
It’s easy to miss the gym, home exercises or slack off when there aren’t any real consequences to your actions. Instead of leaving your progress up to chance, hold yourself accountable to actually doing what you set out to do. This will help you to stick to your schedule and stay organized. I need to exercise every day to stay pain free and mobile – thanks to an old auto accident. If I don’t walk my allotted time, the pain and stiffness increases – which slows me down the day after too. It’s much better to get up and move. Sometimes, it is just walking around the kitchen island for 20 minutes – but it counts and it helps! Pain aversion is what drives my action. What “pain” will help hold you accountable?
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Reward Yourself
In order to meet your goals and stay motivated, you have to reward yourself. Celebrate even the smallest of victories and reward yourself with self-care “treats” when you meet your goals. This will keep you excited about your goals and tempted to continue. A square of Dove Dark works really well in this house!!
4. Set Alarms
“One of the best ways to stay on top of your to-do list is to set alarms. Whether it’s on your phone or s setting traditional alarm clocks, having that little reminder will help you stay on track.” My observation: I can ignore dings, chirps and all sorts of other reminders and do it all the time. Caregiving doesn’t let you keep a schedule that tight! Are you going to walk away from a half changed soaked bed? Let’s face it, whatever a caregiver is doing NOW is more pressing than other “scheduled” and “alarmed” chores. Most things we do all day are alarming! I decided that advice adds to the stress.
5. Invest In a Planner
“Planners have become all the rage. People use them as scrapbooks, journals and more. Keep your life organized by investing in a good planner.” This one I did! A planner will give you a visual of what you need to accomplish. Writing out your responsibilities and scheduling them will give you clarity that’s unmatched. Seeing a visual of the month’s appointments and other required activity, such as ordering prescriptions, helps enormously in keeping a balance. That benefits you as well as the person for who you are caring. You can jot notes to yourself – an improvement or loss of physical ability in your LO, a running account of reaction to a new medicine. I was a skeptic, thinking keeping a planner would just be another chunk of my time gone. No – it saved more time than it took to keep it up to date. It gave me a sense of organization and control – two things that are easily lost in being a caregiver.
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Declutter
“Trying to stay organized in a cluttered space is counterproductive. In fact, it can bring about more stress than you initially intended. Being in an organized space will also help you save your mental strength and stay organized.” Can’t argue much with this one. Start with cleaning out clutter you may have in just one small area – the top of the dresser, say. Each day tackle another small area. Throw away old clothes, items and junk that’s simply holding you back. I find it easier to donate usable items, rather than throwing them away. That said, most households will yield broken, outdated, no longer needed items. Getting rid of them will calm your space and your thoughts.
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Create a Monthly Goal
“Each month provides an opportunity for a new start. Take advantage of this gift by setting goals you can meet”. As a caregiver, our ability to choose goals is — ummm – limited. Organizing our life is like rearranging the trees in a forest. We can count on only one constant and that is “change”. We learn to be adaptable and that means not making firm plans for much of anything. Instead, I prefer “open ended themes” of the month. My “theme” is to empty cupboard space, find homes for the items I remove and will still use, and put away the dysphagia equipment now setting on the kitchen counter. Whenever, the transfer is complete – the “theme” is complete. If he takes one extra long nap – done! Or it could take a month depending. . . . But whatever, it still feels like progress because I am doing something intentional!
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Practice Saying No
“One of the biggest hurdles to sticking to your personal schedule is getting caught up in other tasks”. Yup, that pretty much sums up caregiving! And there isn’t much leeway.
Next paragraph: “What do you do? Well, start by learning how to put yourself first and say no. Distractions, whether positive or negative, can throw you off of your schedule. This can make you feel disorganized and anxious. Learn how to say no and not feel guilty about it.”
Let’s face it. Being a caregiver takes this pretty much off the table. Many of us don’t get much “personal time” – and it is not up for negotiation. Instead we are learning to pivot on a dime, respond appropriately to all kinds of situations, exercise our executive skills in making and acting on decisions quickly, developing a strong resiliency we never knew was possible, and are unbelievably exhausted. We take our personal time when it comes and learn to make the most of even thirty seconds. Most of us never made this ”choice”, but we do what caring people have always done and keep moving.
- Wake up Earlier
“If you challenge yourself to wake up 15-30 minutes earlier each day, you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish. Doing this will give you the opportunity to get done everything you intended and start the day with a fresh mind.” My first thought: Give up sleep– are you crazy??? But, we were full time caregivers with no outside help for most of the time. Everything fell on our shoulders and definitely took a toll on sleep. If you are a temporary caregiver or have help or your loved one does not need total care, this might be a viable option.
- Prepare For the Day The Night Before
“We’ve all been there- rushing to get everything together while still trying to make appointments on time. The best way to alleviate those rushed feelings is to prepare for your days the night before. Lay your clothes out, pack your lunch and get your items ready before bed. This will make your morning routine seamless and enjoyable.” This I found to be true – except the seamless and enjoyable part. But it did reduce the rush and scramble, especially if there was a morning appointment. It also kept the environment more relaxed, which in turn was better for everyone concerned. Another one worth doing, I think.
Getting organized is definitely a challenge, but a fulfilling one. Make your time as a caregiver easier by implementing whichever of these helpful tips that resonate with you into your daily routine. You’ll begin to feel more organized and more prepared for everything that comes your way. While not all ideas are “good” in the caregiving realm, it does help to think things through and implement what will work for you and your situation. It is another way of taking control of those things that you can.
Positive habits will support your role as a caregiver.
——written by Charlene Vance ——-