Controlling The Chaos Challenge Days 24-31

Fantastic!  We have made it to Week 4 of the “Controlling the Chaos” Challenge.

We have our budget, bills, bags and loose paperwork under control now we are going to tackle our printed photos.

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Controlling the Chaos Challenge Days 17-23

Fantastic!

We have made it to the third week of the Controlling the Chaos Challenge!

Doesn’t it feel great?  You now have a clean purse, vehicle, wallet, diaper bag, briefcase and file system as well as a new handle on incoming and out going papers.   Right?

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Controlling the Chaos Challenge Day-Day 16-Your Vehicle

Controlling The Chaos Challenge-Day 16-Clean Out Your Vehicle

I know, I know it is probably quite cold outside BUT it NEEDS done, today.  (You may need some of the information from the papers later this week.)

I personally, thought I would only find a few odds and ends for the trash can in our vehicle glove box and storage areas.

BOY, WAS I WRONG! 

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Controlling the Chaos Challenge-Day 15-Clean Out Your Bags

Yep, that’s it.

Today we are going to clean out our bags.

For some of us this will only take 10 minutes, for others, a few hours.

What bags should we clean out?

Purses, Diaper Bags, Brief Cases, Wallets, Backpacks, Etc…

Why are we cleaning out our bags during “Paper”month?

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Controlling the Chaos Challenge-Days 10-14

Controlling the Chaos Challenge-Days 10-14

Apparently I have am MUCH farther behind (in posting) for this series than I anticipated.   I have been following my calendar but I have not been sharing with you and I apologize.

I can’t say our house has been chaotic.  It has actually been quite calm (and neat) but we have been struggling with more difficult than usual health issues, which of course effects, everything.   That, in addition to the all the projects I have going, plus internet issues has definitely set me back on posting this series but enough excuses, let’s get down to business.

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Controlling the Chaos-Sort, File, Shred, Scan and Organize Those Papers!

Sorting, filing, shredding and scanning is what we will be doing for days 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Yep, you read that right.

We are taking four days to sort, file, shred and scan our papers.  Remember you are to be creating, testing and labeling your new systems as you do this.

We are taking four days so that we have NO EXCUSES for not getting a handle on our paperwork before we present it to our families next week.

Still need inspiration?  Don’t be afraid to return to Controlling the Chaos-Day 5 for ideas and don’t put it all off until the last day.  The idea of taking four days is to remove the stress and be thorough in our processes.

My personal plan is going to work something like this (I hope):

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Controlling the Chaos-Day 5-Creating Systems That Work For You

Controlling the Chaos

Day 5

Creating Systems That Work For You

Today we are going to plan and possibly create paper systems that work for each of us individually.  Yes, I said systems, plural.  The goal isn’t just to create a filing system that you drop things in and forget about for months at a time, but a working, useful system for everything.

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Controlling The Chaos-Day 4- Gather Those Papers

Controlling the Chaos

Day 4- Gather those papers

Yep, you read that right.  Today you are simply gathering all your loose papers, magazines, previous calendars (wall and purse), receipts, artwork, etc…  I don’t mean the ones from 20, 10 or even 5 years ago.  I mean the ones laying around your house now.  The ones you had every intention of filing, paying, scanning,shredding, or using but never got around to last year.

Gather.every.last.one.

We are going to tame the paper monster this week!  By the end of next week every paper will have a controlled, organized home the minute it comes in your front door.

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Controlling the Chaos-Day 3

Welcome to Controlling the Chaos-Day 3

Today we begin the journey to not only decluttering and organizing but taking control and preventing the clutter, chaos, stress and disorganization each new week can bring.

How are we going to do that?

By creating a weekly checklist.

Sit down with yourself and other housemates and make a note of what items need to be completed on a weekly basis.

We recently implemented the checklist below and we love having it.

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Control the Chaos-Day 2

Yesterday, we decluttered, tackled laundry and dishes and found the inspiration to start our year “in control”.

Now it is time to remove and pack up any Christmas items you may still have out including outdoor lights, trees, garland, kitchen supplies, wrapping paper, etc …

Note:  If you live in Central Illinois you may need to bring all of your outdoor items in and let them dry completely and check them to be certain they still work.  (Experience speaking here).

Please remember to start the year off right by labeling and documenting ALL totes.  (Post it notes and tape work well for this.)

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