Overcoming Reluctance and 5 Steps for cultivating the Habit of Order

Every time Order week comes rolling around I get really excited. I have some beautiful idea about how order will look. Perfect piles of expertly folded clothes, a pantry with every item lined up in the proper place, every to-do properly entered into my calendar.

I imagine how different my life would be if every time I opened a drawer the item I was seeking was there. If finding a pencil or pen wasn’t tantamount to finding a cure for cancer. What would it be like if both shoes to the pair were somehow together and a shirt that matches the pants could miraculously appear in the closet where I thought it would be?

Last week I told you that I love the perfect piles of paper in stationary stores but even more I love every home organization tool. The Container Store taunts me with orderly compartments and closets of perfection. I can wander there for hours imagining the transformation of my chaotic home. I leaf through the latest issue of Real Simple, contemplating which special box or hanger will do the job of transforming EVERYTHING and I find myself paralyzed.

I am so enamored with the magazine ideal that anything less then perfection will not do. Chaos and disarray are preferable to partially fulfilled ideals. I hear myself thinking “What’s the use? It will never stay this way.” I am convincing in my defense of “pretty good” and “at least the dishes are clean.” Bottom line, with all my fascination and attention to the concept of order, I have never really given it a chance. I haven’t PRACTICED order. I haven’t created an intention for order (tune in tomorrow for Chel’s take on this!) I haven’t developed the habit of order.

Today this changes. Today I begin. Today I am challenging myself to just start.

• Step 1 – I’m making my bed. I’ve read in countless places over the years that this makes an enormous difference in how the whole home feels. It is a small thing. It is something I can promise and actually follow through on. It doesn’t require that I spend endless hours sorting through my stuff. Every time I see it, I will be reminding myself that Order is a priority for me and I’m working on making it a habit.
• Step 2 – I’m considering Order an Art Form – I have all these perfect pictures swirling in my head. Instead of paralyzing me I will use them as inspiration. When I try a new art or craft I don’t expect to be great at it but for some reason I haven’t allowed myself the same grace when it comes to  order. I will play, and try to make my magazine ideals reality but I won’t expect the Martha Stewart perfection my first time out. Frankly, it is unlikely that I’ll ever even aspire to that level of accomplishment but I may actually try out the label maker I haven’t previously freed from it’s box, while I no longer wait for the perfect rows of craft supplies.
• Step 3 –  15 minutes twice a day. Twice a day I will be taking 15 minutes to do something, anything that will lead me towards that magazine inspiration. Initially it may mean just keeping the dining room table clear and placing some flowers there but in time it could mean, cleaning out that kitchen catch all drawer. If I am inspired to do bigger projects down the road that is fine but 15 minutes twice a day I can be counted on for doing something orderly. I like the sound of that. I am starting to feel tidy already.
• Step 4-  I no longer have permission to call myself a slob. My bedroom may be a mess but I am not a pig. Laundry may be piled everywhere, half finished craft projects may cover the floor, the car may be filled with litter but it does not give me permission to call myself slob. Anytime I notice the word nearing my lips or arising in my head I will re-frame. The car is a mess, I am competent and capable of changing it.  This room is a disaster, I know just what to do first. I am able to be neat.
• Step 5- I’m bragging about my success. In the past I never really celebrated when I got on top of things. I was so embarrassed  that I couldn’t manage to stay on top of all the laundry, when I miraculously did have it all done, and even put away! I never said anything to anyone. Positive feedback makes a huge difference, particularly when one is taking those first baby steps towards a habit and my shame for not having everything handled kept me from utilizing this powerful tool. No more. You can count on me to share my successes when, if we speak, here in the blog, over on our Facebook page and even in my twitter streams. Until Order is truly a habit for me I’m going to let you know how things are going. Please, feel free to do the same if you are developing the habit too!

So there you have it. I’m not throwing everything I own away and starting over. I’m not even finishing my quest to get down to 40 wardrobe items. I’m taking simple workable steps towards making Order a habit and I’m starting NOW, with that made bed. Would you like to join me?