by Dannett Frey

Created on: January 13, 2009

The morning begins with you looking for the blouse that goes with the skirt you have to iron. Only problem is, you can't find the iron or the starch. You decide to find a whole other outfit to wear and are now looking for the shoes that match the pantyhose you are wearing. You forgot to make your lunch last night, gas up your car and the children need lunch money. All this and it is not even 8:00 in the morning.

You can't find the., well it doesn't matter what you can't find now as it is the same as every other day. You seem to fall more behind every day at home and at work and your life is full of stress. What can you do?

The easiest way to reduce stress is to find a system that will work for you. Take an honest look at your life as it really is and see what you need to do to reduce the unnecessary work you create for yourself when you are disorganized. With a commitment on your own part, some follow thru of yourself and your family; you can be organized and have more time and less stress.

Ask yourself three questions. Answer those questions with brutal honesty. You will thank yourself in the end.

1. How much of my time is wasted watching television, talking on the phone with friends, texting others about non-essential subjects, and surfing the internet?

2. How much time do I spend talking about or complaining about how disorganized you are without actually doing anything about it?

3. How much of the disorganization stems from my childhood?

No matter how you answer the questions, organization is easy if you choose to do it. Plan your day before the day begins and you will find you have more time in the day with less stress.

1. Get a calendar and a bulletin board that you can designate as the main communication area. This is essential whether you are a single person, a couple or a family. Use the calendar to record bills due, appointments, the day the chores will be done, activities and other items that come up in your day.

2. Spend a weekend organizing closets, living room, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. Put the items you need every day (even if it is everyday during one season and not the others). If you have old items that are not used or useful determine how to get rid of those items.

3. Make a plan to do what you can do in the evening to make the mornings easier. Put non-perishable breakfast items out on the counter or table. Make your lunch the night before and gather the items you need in for work and place those items by the door. Check your outfits for

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