Chore Charts Don't Work

Have you ever tried to improve something around your home using a chore chart or similar device?

For example, have you ever gotten exasperated at one (or all) of your children for not helping out around the house and decided to post a chore schedule to remedy the situation?

And did that scenario work out for you?

If you're like many, many parents, the answer is a loud "NO". For a few of you, the answer is a firm "yes."

What's the difference?

The difference lies in understanding where the power is. The power, in this case, is not in the chore chart. Chore charts are just pieces of paper. All by themselves, they don't work. They are only a simple tool. The power is in knowing how to use the tool.

Let me offer an example to help make this whole idea clearer for you.

Let's say you decided to build a house. You assembled your tools. Hammers, screwdrivers, nails, wood, etc. You carefully organized your tools and showed your work crew where to find the tools. You said firmly, "Now, I expect our new house to be done by the time I get back from work."

You left. Your workers looked at each other. One of them asked "anyone know how to build a house?" No one answered THAT question, but there was a brief discussion how the boss (mom or dad) doesn't get it (again). Everyone left to pursue their own interests.

End result: no house built. Boss mad. Workers frustrated and apathetic.

Hmmm.

Now let's put power in that scenario.

Again, you decide to build a house. You assemble and organize your tools. But this time you understand you've just gotten started.

You talk to your workers. You tell them they're going to build a house and you're going to show them how. It will be work, but it will be a rewarding process, too.

You set up a reasonable training schedule. You work together to create a sense of teamwork. Progress is slow, but steady and real.

You point out how to better use the tools to your workers. They develop a level of skill with the tools. They also develop a sense of pride in their accomplishment. You reward them. Everyone celebrates. The house still has a ways to go, but it's starting to look like a real house.

People are working together. No nagging is necessary and fussing is at a minimum. Workers feel free to bring their input to the process, adjustments are made to the schedule and new tools are brought on board when necessary.

Hmmm.

Successfully using chore charts in your home is very similar. Chore charts never work by themselves, but they almost always work when combined with the proper training and support. They are a fine tool for teaching yourself and your family the merits of personal responsibility, self-discipline, and teamwork. (If you would like more tips on using a chore chart effectively, please see the author's resource box after this article.)

Make sure you understand where your power is, mom or dad. Arm yourself with EVERYTHING you need to get the job done in your home and you'll find your household running smoother by the day.

De-clutter Your Car

Are things starting to pile up in your car? Do you have to push piles out of the way when someone hops in your car? Make room for you and your passengers. Use these 7 steps to make your de-cluttering easy and watch your car sparkle.

1. Decide what you want your car to look like.

What do you want the inside of your car to look like? What is the main purpose of the interior of your car? For example, perhaps you want everything that you need to be in arm's reach. Or, maybe you want the interior of your car to be beautiful. Get a quick picture of what you want to create first.

2. Discover what's needed.

What things do you need inside of your car? Examples include a First Aid kit, cup holder and insurance card. Make sure the things that you need are in your car. Place them in convenient places so that you can access them quickly when you need them. To help, ask yourself the question, "Where will I find this?"

3. Discover what's not needed.

You just identified what you need in your car. Now begin to review the piles of things you don't need in your car. Pamela found that she had four jackets in her car, her kids' beach toys and used coffee cups. When she got to de-cluttering, she kept one jacket in the car and put the rest away. She discarded the coffee cups. Sand toys? She popped them in the trunk to make more leg room for her passengers.

4. Divide you car into zones.

Let's say you have a 4-door car. Divide your clutter clearing efforts into 4 zones. These zones include the driver's area, the passenger's area, the space behind the driver and the space behind the passenger. Decide which areas are most important and address those first. Your trunk will come later, as usually that area is a job in itself.

5. Conquer each zone.

Begin to rid the clutter from each of the zones you identified in your car. For example, address the passenger's area first. Then move through each of the other zones. By breaking down the process into mini-sections, it will be much more manageable. Use the following 3-Bag technique to breeze through each zone.

6. Use the 3-Bag Technique.

Grab 3 bags for your car de-cluttering task. The first one is for stuff that doesn't belong in your car. In this bag, collect the mugs, books, supplies and other things that don't belong there. The second bag is for things to give away/return. Perhaps you want to give away some of the extra clothes stashed in the back seat. In a regular organizing job, the third bag is for storage items. But for your car, use this bag for trash and recycling.

7. Clear out your trunk.

For some of you, this task may be the most daunting. If you're driving to the airport, you'll definitely need to clear out space to get your suitcases in! Set aside an extra 15 minutes to an hour for this task. Use the 3-Bag technique again to clear out your trunk. You may even find some storage items in there, like that computer monitor that has been sitting in its box for 6 months.

Use the above 7 steps to remove clutter from your car quickly and easily. Enjoy the ride with a clutter-free car.