Temporary Chaos

Does your life seem chaotic at times (all the time)?  There are definitely many times throughout my week when I feel I’m in a state of “temporary chaos.”  We all have so much to do in a given day, and for teachers, this sense of “temporary chaos”  is very much a reality.  Sometimes, it can be hard to maintain order around the classroom.  There is always a flurry of activity, and paperwork sometimes threatens to take over my desk as I am instructing.  By day’s end, I need to focus intently on straightening my files and paperwork in order to leave the classroom the way I want it — neat, tidy, and organized for the next day.  But I think it’s important to remember that the idea of a temporary state of messiness can be okay in certain circumstances.

In chapter 3 of my book Organized Teacher, Happy Classroom, I mention that we need to “allow for temporary chaos to create order.”  This is especially true when we are thinking about organizing any space.  When you organize an area in your classroom, home, or office, you want visual confirmation that your organizing efforts are working.  But first, you need to be accepting of the chaos for that reality.

When purging any space, for example, it is likely that you have several piles in which you’ve placed items for trash, recycling, donating, keeping, etc.  This sorting can be rather daunting in and of itself, but even more so with the visual clutter you’ll start to see in those piles.  But when we can envision the improvement to come from this sorting and purging, we will be successful in our steps toward organizing.

Here are some tips to remember when purging:

• Define your sorting piles carefully, and stick to these categories.
• Be honest about sorting items.  If you love an item, keep it.  If you do not have a use for it, be honest with yourself, and donate or trash it.
• Try organizing one small area at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.  The sorting piles that ensue, even for small spaces, can sometimes be overwhelming, so plan for this ahead of time by not trying to tackle too big a space at a time.
• When you feel your organizing efforts are reaching that “chaotic” stage, step away from the process for a half hour or so and take a break.  Grab a quick snack, and come back to organizing when you’ve cleared your head.
• Visualize the final product of an organized space.  Think carefully about what it will look like when you are finished.  Allow that visualization to carry you through the somewhat chaotic stages.

So as you can see, chaos can be a good thing (as long as it is temporary!).  Happy Purging!