Several weeks ago I wrote about setting up paper systems that work for you.   I’m going to expound on that a little bit this month and this week, I’m going to talk about inboxes.  One of the things that greatly simplifies my life is having ONE inbox.  I have all my email accounts going to gmail (all 6 accounts), one inbox for all my paper (it gets HUGE), etc.

Every week, I try to process all my inboxes at least once so that none of them take an inordinate amount of time.   Here are some things that I consider “inboxes” or things that would make life easier if I dealt with them [at least] once a week.

• voicemails
• cameras (photos/videos)
• email
• social media
• physical inbox

But before you can process everything, you need to condense things down into as few inboxes as possible.   Where are your clutter spots?

• Kid’s backpacks
• Diaper bag
• Purse
• Counter or Table
• Bedside table
• Dresser
• Bathroom
• Bookshelf

Think about the areas where paper usually collects.  Why are they there?   Can you make a habit to always empty <insert item here> in your inbox?  Do these things land there because you need to deal with them?   Put them in your inbox.    Is it because it’s a project you are working on?   Make a home for current projects.   Is it because you need to do something with it–soon?   Well, we will deal with those in the weekly review next week .

For this week, try to put ALL your paper in one spot.   Then forget about it.   You will go through it during your weekly review.

Where are your paper clutter nightmares?

This post will be linked to Works For Me Wednesday @ We are THAT Family.

There has been a LOT to think about for the last few weeks and so I’m going to take a break for the Memorial Day holiday so you can spend some time with your family.   If you want to think about the last several posts, here they are:

• Take Back Your Time! Or a radical experiment in time management .
• Family Mission Statements
• Personal Mission Statements
• House Rules
• Set Yourself Up for Success Or creating paper systems that work for you.

We will get back to working on taming the paper monster in June.  Our tentative schedule is:

6/1 – in-boxes
6/8 – weekly retreat/review
6/15 – scan/file
6/22 – weekly maintenance
6/29 – specialty/ someday/maybe

Until next week, enjoy your families and honor those who fought for our freedom!

This week is kind another kind of heavy week as far as thinking and pondering your life path and priorities.   In previous weeks, we have covered taking back your time, family mission statements and personal mission statements.  This week, we are going to talk about making house rules.

There are two reasons for this.  First, making house rules is a great first step in picking your battles.   You can’t fight about EVERYTHING, so these should be things worth picking fights over.  The second is, there are some super cute projects on the web that I wanted to share .

You have your personal and family mission statements and it’s not hard to pick out your house rules as the detail of how your mission works.  Here is ours:

Thank God for this day, this family & this home.

Obey the first time.

Husband, love your wife.  Wife, support your husband.

Say grace.  Be thankful.  Eat together.  Clean up after yourself.

Have fun.  Be kind.  Ask first.  No fussing.  No whining.

Sing silly.  Dance crazy.  Laugh often.  Hug more.

Use your manners.  Yes, please.  No, thank you.

Resolve conflict daily.

Cheerfully serve others.

Give love, grace & mercy.

Too much tv is bad.  Too much reading is good.

Use nice words.  Ignore dirty ones.

Work hard.  Pray harder.

Next week, we will take a break (for this series) for Memorial Day. See you in June!

Last week, we worked on (or started, anyway) our Family Mission Statements.   This week, we are going to talk about PERSONAL Mission Statements.  I had you do a family mission statement first because if your family was going to be flexible and travel and you wanted to start college and go get your doctorate…well, the two don’t mesh well.

I’m also going to keep this one short because I got long winded last week and you may still be working on the Family Mission statement.   I do have breaks built in quite regularly so no fears about “falling behind.” .

Why have one?

Having a personal mission statement help to direct your path and decide on opportunities that come your way.   If you have read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, it’s habit 2:  Begin with the end in mind.

How do I make one?

I’m not going to reinvent the wheel here.  The best resource I have ever seen is from Inspire to Action.   Just subscribe to their RSS and there will be a link to a Mission Statements for Moms, a free ebook.  TOTALLY worth it.

Do you have one?

Yep, I wrote it before kids and I think it pretty much says it all.

To make a warm & happy home & family.
To help family, friends & neighbors.
To stay healthy & fit.
To read.  To learn.  To travel.
To have integrity in all that I do.
To be patient.  To be faithful.  To set an example.
To pray.

Do you have a mission statement?