Office Space Challenge Week 3

 Clear Out the Cobwebs

Lord, Luke says “and when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order.” (Luke 11:25)  I pray that You would bless everything I do.  Help me to see everything you would have me accomplish and enable me to do it to the best of the abilities you bestowed upon me.  Bless me with a great attitude, help me to have a clear sense of Your purpose in my life as I do my chores, to have a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment knowing that I want to do what pleases you.  Amen.

“We just have to put together a clean game.  When we do that we usually do well.”  ~  Todd Pridy

Remember the Rules.

I shall not get organized at the cost of my family’s budget or losing my sanity!

This is the week we’ve been dreading. There’s no way to make your space special if it isn’t clean.

If you can, open the windows to let the stale air out and let the sweet air in.

Turn on your favorite music.

Gather together all your cleaning supplies, so you won’t have to keep leaving the room for something forgotten.

Gather up rugs, slip covers, throws, curtains ~ anything in the room that needs to be washed.  Get a load of laundry going.  If you can, hang them out in the sunshine to dry.

Start your cleaning at the top and move down dusting and cleaning.  If you can, open the windows and let the sweet air in!

Overhead light fixtures             Ceiling Fans                                      Corners                                                  Beams              Drapery Rods

Window Frames                          Cornices                                              Door Frames                                       Walls                Light Switches

Bookcases                                     Shelving                                               Furniture                                             Lamps             Baseboards

Vacuum Furniture, if necessary                                                             Sweep and Mop Floors, if necessary                   Vacuum, if necessary Vacuum Furniture

Finish the room’s laundry and put away/re-hang.

I know how proud you feel right now!  The smell of clean in the air.  Express to the group how you feel about what you have accomplished.

 

Come join us for encouragement and support at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GiftoftheHome/

Office Space Challenge Week # 2

Lord, thank you for gifts of provision that you have so generously bestowed on me.  May I show appreciation for them always remembering that they come from You. May I not be attached to the things of this world but to follow Paul, when he said “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are of the earth.”  (Colossians 3:2)  Amen.         “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” ~ Hebrews 11:6
Remember the Rules.     I shall not get organized at the cost of my family’s budget or losing my sanity!

 

Review all you dreamed about your office space notes.  By reviewing them you’ll stay on track with your vision for your space.  It will keep you from getting off track this week.  This will be the most time-consuming week.  I’m sure that you have papers that you have accumulated and thought you would take care of later.  Guess what?  Later is here!  There will be thoughts and feelings attached to many of these papers.  Be bold, make choices without hesitation.  Don’t put this off any longer!

This week get at least four boxes (more if you think you need them) and label them:

“I Use”                 This box is for things that you actually use but you want to put in a different place.

“I Move”   This box is for things that should not be in your space.  Things that should have a home in other rooms.

“I Share”  This box is for things that are in good condition and you know you won’t use them.  You don’t want to throw them in the trash so donate them to a church, childcare center, scout troop or other organization that uses crafting supplies.  You’ll be giving back to the community and giving yourself more room in your space.

“Useless”  This box is for things that are no use to anyone and are ready to be discarded.  Be honest with yourself.  Clutter breeds more clutter!

“I File”

Take an inventory of your office supplies and tools.  Think about how often you really “use” each item.  Do you really need all the pens, pencils, markers, highlighters?  Streamline, Ladies!   Touch each item once, only once.  Add to one of the five boxes.

✞As you add items to the “I Use” box, take notes about where the item is stored, where it would be more convenient for you to have it for use.

✞As you add items to the “I Move” box remember that every item has a space, just not in this one.

✞As you add items to the “I Share” box, remember you are giving a gift to another.

✞As you add items to the “Useless” box, be ruthless.  Each item in our lives takes a space.  By giving up things that are useless you creating space for the things you really love.

✞As you add items to the “I File” box, keep a list of what important papers you need to keep.  A list can be found in the file section of the Gift of the Home.

Remember that organization is all about ease of use.  It doesn’t matter how “pretty” something is if it’s not a natural space for an item. When you are done taking an inventory of your items do the following:

✞Keep the “I Use” box in the room. These items will be put in their own space. Take the “I Move” box out of the room.  Put every item in it where it will be used most.  Don’t put it off, it just may not get done.

✞Take the “I Share” box and put it somewhere where you will remember to take it to your chosen donation site.  Schedule a day to take it, don’t just let it sit there, remember to share blessings within with others.

✞Take the “Useless” box to the trash.  Not just in a corner, or in the garage, to the trash.

✞Take the “I File” box and it’s time to file.  Really think about how you want to create a file system.  Do you want to use file folders?  Binders?  Scan them to your computer.  This is the time to create a system that works for you and your family.

Express to the group your thoughts and feelings about releasing items that are no longer in your life.

I hope that by completing this week you will feel lighter, more open and more humble as you have seen all that God has blessed you with.

Come join us for encouragement and support at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GiftoftheHome/

Office Space Challenge Week 1

   Choose to Open Yourself to New Ways

Lord, Thank you for creation itself and the incredible gifts and talents you so generously entrust to me. May I appreciate and develop these talents, always recognizing that they come from you and remain yours…  Guide me in using them for the benefit of everyone that I touch, so that they may be more aware of your creative presence and develop the creativity entrusted to them for the good of others. Help me also to use your talents to bring a creative spark and new possibilities to your world, living out my call to be an integral part of your creative force. Amen.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24

This Challenge will be a team effort!  It’s time to get the family on board!  Do the best you can, ladies!  This is a space that will be used by the family, not just you so it’s important you that you make this fun for all of you.

•  Choose your Room/Space.
  • Every home needs an office room /space, it’s a place where the actual running of the home occurs. 
  • If you don’t have a separate room for an office, consider sectioning off a part of a room for this purpose. You could use bookshelves, dressers that could double as a divider between your work station and the room.  Try and choose a location that can serve as a permanent workspace.  It doesn’t do any good to use the kitchen table and then have to move everything just to have dinner.
• Once you’ve chosen your space, I’m sure you want to rush right in ~ moving, decorating, trying to make it look pretty ~ we all have that tendency.  But don’t!  This is where it becomes a little tricky…who uses this space?  Is it you alone?  Your Husband?   Your children? Now’s the time to spend some time in the space and find out what the needs for this space are.
  • Remember the actual purpose of the office space ~ It is meant to be a place where you and your family can be productive and feel good when you come into it and leave it.
  • Express what everyone’s desires for this space are, how you want to feel, what you want to achieve with this space.
  • Write down what comes to each of you, what you envision your space to be, what bothers you, dream a little. Do you need to devise a plan for papers that come in?  Do you need to come up with a system for filing?  Do you want to paint?  Do you need a table with a different height?  Is the chair comfortable?  Do you need shelving? How is the lighting?  Where are the electrical outlets?
• Now look through your office supplies (no organizing, just look!).
  • Think about your supplies and how you use them.  Which ones do you use together?  Are they in a place that is easily accessible to your needs?
  • Determine what office supplies you may need to make this space work.  Make a list so you’ll have it handy.
• Now let’s let our imagination take control ~ you have written down all you need and want in your space.
  • Sketch out your dream space.  You may not be able to draw, I can’t, but you know what you are looking for to make this space your own. Don’t make “rules” for your furniture and storage containers, be open to new possibilities, and see things with new eyes.

Let the group in on what your family is dreaming.  Tell them what you are lacking.  What you need help with.  The purpose is to use what you have, to let other’s help you see things in new and interesting ways.

 

Come join us for encouragement and support at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GiftoftheHome/