Target Zone

When you are trying to organize a room, what is one big stumbling block? For many it is getting side tracked. You pick up a basketball that doesn’t belong in the kitchen and walk it out to the garage where it does belong. Then what happens? Let me tell you…..

You see what a mess the garage is and get over whelmed and think you need to work on it. You pick up the new package of toilet paper that got left in the garage to take it up to the bathroom. You get to the bathroom and screek because it is such a mess and the tub has a ring around it and the kids left the toothpaste on the floor without a lid on it. So you grab your supplies to clean the tub….and so on and so forth. Well, forget ever getting back to that kitchen today….and so your kitchen has made no progress. So what is the solution to organizing without “drifting”. Stay in your Target Zone.

What is a Target Zone?

Your Target Zone is the area you are working in. That room, or area or small space that you have designated “I’m going to organize THIS today”. Once you leave your target zone you are open to anything and everything that grabs you and pulls you away from your mission. When you are in “organizing mode” usually you are ready to go and your mind is in …”Let’s get this Done” gear. So everywhere you look you see things that you need to work on. We want to do it all Right Now. But that isn’t possible.

How Do I stay in my Target Zone?

It is actually easier said than done when you are organizing. Like I said there are going to be items that do not belong in the space you are working. What you need to do before you start is set up a box or a bin. You have your sorting cards to help you sort your piles, but for your “move to another room” card…you will need a box, or two. Rather than taking that basketball to the garage, simply put it in the box that goes somewhere else. Then you are not leaving your Target Zone. It will help you tackle the space you are working on. Focus is the key. You are focusing on one space right now.

Results of staying in your Target Zone

The main result is that you will have an organized space in the place you have targeted to accomplish that day. But you will end up having a box or pile of other items that you have to find homes for. Allow yourself time at the end of your organizing of your Target Zone to take that box and drop off the items in the rooms or places that they belong. An easy thing to do it to leave that box sitting full of stuff and you have another mess. I just had someone recently leave me a comment that she had a similar box that she cleared out of one room and stuck in her laundry room (I think). She ended up leaving it there for 2 years and was saying she had to go back and go through it. My comment to her was that if she has not missed the items in that box for 2 years….it is time to get rid of the entire box.

Think Target Zone

Think Target Zone when you go to organize your next area. Even make yourself a sign that says it. STAY IN THE TARGET ZONE! You can even make it a little game with yourself. When you are tempted to go take something to another place…say to yourself, “Oh, I can’t go out of my Target Zone!”, and stay put. Just put that item in your “move to another room” box.