Kelly's Show Us Your Life: How I Stay Organized

Okay, first and foremost, I need my so-called real-life friends to stop laughing.  I'm sure that I am even daring to post on the subject of organization is hilarious them.  (Also, all of you laughing, we aren't friends anymore.)  And the rest of you, give me a moment as I prepare to reveal my not-so-secret shame. The thing is, I am messy, but I am not disorganized.  Nine times out of ten, I know exactly what is in each and every pile, and if you move it, my entire system will be destroyed. 

My problem is not with the organization itself.  I love storage bins just as much as the next girl.  My problems are in the getting it that way and keeping it that way realm.  I get overwhelmed easily and when I'm overwhelmed, I tend to just shut down.  Not exactly the most productive way to handle it, but here we are.  I also have entirely too much stuff.  I am, in fact, a packrat and I always have been.  (I've decided that it's hereditary, because my mom and grandma both are, too.)  I'm sure that if I throw something away, that will be the exact moment that I need it.  It's crazy, but it's true.  I'm not eligible for A&E's Hoarders or anything, but I just hang on to things that I don't really need.  So, what I'm saying is that I actually need to get reorganized at home.  I'm actually planning to do some of that this weekend.  I don't have anywhere to be for the greater part of two days, and I'm quite frankly tired of looking at all of the junk everywhere.  One of the ideas that I really want to try is making flipflop hangers which I found on EPBOT, because believe me when I say I have too many shoes all over the place.

As far as my schedule, my date book is everything to me.  The only way that I could work with four extracurricular clubs, coordinate RtI stuff, and do my regular teaching stuff is to write down everything.  I make weekly to-do lists (which is why I keep a notebook in my purse), try to lay things out the night before, and plan ahead as much as possible.  I'm also a big believer in keeping all of my files on the computer organized by what they pertain to.  It's the only way that I could keep track of files, music, pictures, etc. 

I'm anxious to see what everyone else has as far as their organizational methods.  Maybe I will pick up a few helpful hints!

**Update:  After reading some of the other posts, I realize that there are some things that I do for organization that I don't even really think about anymore.  One is alphabetizing my CDs and DVDs (the shelves for which take up the whole wall of my office) and color-coordinating the clothes in my closet.  Maybe I'm more organized than I thought.  (But probably not.)**