Energy Economy - How to Get Organized while Chronically Ill

How to Get Organized While Ill

If you have been following this 5 part series you already know that organizing, de-cluttering, and simplifying are three different things.  And, it is actually pretty important to understand their differences.  Otherwise things just get confusing.  See this post Coping with Chronic Illness – The difference between simplifying, decluttering, and organizing.

Confessions

OK, I’m just going to say it.  This is my least favorite subject in this series.  De-cluttering, I love.  Simplifying, I love even more.  But talking about organizing just brings things to a halt for me.

And this is why:  I literally have nothing new to say.  This topic is covered SO much – it is actually overwhelming to try to think of a new way to approach this.  However, there are one or two things which it is important to know.

Definition and Benefits of Organizing

To organize means to channel our stuff into orderly lines.  It does not require getting rid of anything per-se, it just requires setting up systems to juggle everything.

Being a little more organized can help us, the chronically ill, in various ways.  It can help us find things easily, even on bad brain fog days.  It can help us keep things clean with a minimum of effort.  It can give us a feeling of peace.  And that leaves your brain open for other activities.  

Different styles of organization

Now – there are all different personalities, attitudes and expectations out there.  Likewise, there are different ways of organizing.

Example of and Innie.  Mostly everything behind doors.

There are “Innies” – people who keep everything organized behind doors.  Nothing is left sitting out.  There are “Outies” – people who keep everything organized – but they do it out in the open where everyone can see.  They put things on counters, in cabinets with glass doors, etc…

There are strictly organized people.  There are people who like to be generally organized but not too detailed.  And there are people who are not organized at all – and that is their organization.  

Outie Organization - everything out in the open

Speaking personally – I’m a combination of Innie and Outie (I’m really an Innie, but due to brain fog I need visual prompts – which makes me part outie as well).  And I like general organization but with a free flow – not too meticulous.  I don’t like things to be super uniform, I don’t do labeling, and I’m a general inbox/out box sort of person – I don’t need different boxes for each type of mail or paper.  This is just me personally.

There are two keys to getting organized.  1. Go with your style of organization, don’t try to adopt someone else’s – you will fail.  2. Get organized enough that it helps simplify your life.  Don’t get so over-organized that it gets complex and weighs you down.  (Yes, that is entirely possible.)

7 area’s to consider organizing:

1.       Kitchen.  What could you change to make cooking, doing dishes, or finding things in the pantry easier?  While you’re at it, are your bowls and silverware still in convenient places for you?  What can you move or add to make things easier?
 

Can you change the organization of your kitchen to better suit your needs?

2.      Living room.  We want quick clean up systems.  Having furniture with storage capacity and cabinets that close can be very helpful.  Having a place for everything is even better.

3.      Cleaning routines.  Is it better for your health to have one big day of cleaning – or to break it up into 5-20 minute segments throughout the week?  Where do you keep your supplies?  (I am a fan of keeping the supplies in each major room in the house – keep detergents and rags in kitchen and bathrooms, I keep sheets in a drawer by my bed, etc… If I don’t do this, I won’t clean.  If I have to run all over the house for supplies, I won’t clean.) Is there anything that would make cleaning easier for you (see – Energy Economy– 14 Suggestions for Cleaning While Chronically Ill)?

4.      Wardrobes.  See the posts – Wardrobe Considerations For The Chronically Ill Part 1 and Part2. 
 

5.      Doctors appointments.  What days do you go?  What do you do before and after?  What is your system for resting after?  What is your system for reminding you of appointment times and days?  Who takes you (does it need to be a revolving list?)?

6.      Your personal area.  Where do you spend the most time?  Set it up so that it accommodates you, your life, and your illness.  For instance, I keep my bedside area organized with all the things I want but don’t have the energy to stand up and get (lip balm, floss, water, medicines, lotion, books, journals, magazines, etc…).

7.      Medicines.  I have so many medicines.  Literally, it takes up shelves and shelves.  We have allocated several shelves in our library to organizing our medications.  It is a part of your life.  Think about how you can keep it all together.

Now, we've mostly just talked about area's we could organize.  As far as how to physically get the job done - see the post How to Declutter While Chronically Ill - Part 2.

This is by no means an exhaustive list.  I don’t feel I have to provide one since so many other people have done a great job with this.  I’m going to send you to them.  And all of these people have suggestions which could be useful for a chronically ill person – not too pie in the sky for us.

Pro organizer tips:  What not to do when organizing your home. 

100 Ways To Get Organized  

How To Organize Anything   

How to get organized – check out the whole site, it’s pretty cool!  I especially like the ‘Organize Time’ section.  

And now it’s your turn.  What are your thoughts on this subject?  What organization personality do you have?

More in this series:

Living with Chronic Illness - Organizing, Decluttering, and Simplifying - What they Really Mean 

How to Declutter While Chronically Ill - Part 1 (the Mental side)

Decluttering While Chronically Ill - Part 2 (the Physical side)

More from Laina Laughing

Coping With Chronic Illness posts: 

It's OK to grieve your losses
Knowledge is power
Do not eat, breathe, and sleep your illness
Part 1 - Friendship is a basic human need (the dilemma)
Part 2 - Friendship is a basic human need (who can be a friend?)
Part 3 - Friendship is a basic human need (10 ways to be a good friend while chronically ill)
Part 4 - Friendship is a basic human need (How to be a friend to a friend who is chronically ill)
2 Reasons why lying keeps you sick
Let go of the dream, accept reality, and be happy (it breaks your heart and then rebuilds it)
Accepting reality - what it does NOT mean
3 Ways to advance in a new direction
18 Ways to ward off sadness
I Can't Do It Alone
Talk.  And Talk Some More.
You Do Not Need To Justify Your Existence
Coping with Chronic Illness - Dealing with Its Unpredictable Nature

Coping With Chronic Illness - Other People Have Problems Too
When I have no brain and no body
Caring too much what people think keeps you sick
Caring too much what people think - how to overcome it.

5 Ways to be a Good Friend to a Friend with a Chronic Illness
Coping With Chronic Illness Exercise - Part 1 - Is it Good or Bad?
Coping with Chronic Illness Exercise - Part 2 - 5 Myths and Facts about Exercise While Ill
5 Ways to Maintain Independence While Chronically Ill  Coping With Chronic Illness - Part 3 - How to Build Strength while Chronically Ill

Coping With Chronic Illness - For Better Health- Laugh!

Living With Chronic Illness - What Decluttering, Organizing, and Simplifying really mean.

The Interesting Life Plan

Energy Economy posts:

How to get food into our mouths while chronically ill part 1 Food part 2 Food part 3 

Grocery shopping and chronic illness
Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill - part 1
Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill - part 2  
15 suggestions for Leaving the house while chronically ill
14 suggestions for cleaning the house while chronically ill
Personal hygiene and chronic illness Dealing with people while chronically ill
12 Ways to simplify your grooming and dressing routines  

10 Ways to COPE with Cognitive Dysfunction (Brain Fog, Fibro Fog)  
10 Ways to COMBAT Cognitive Dysfunction (Brain Fog, Fibro Fog) 

How To Attend Important Events While Chronically Ill 

10 Ways to Make it Through the Summer Heat while Chronically Ill 

How To Declutter While Chronically Ill - Part 1 (The Brain Work)

How to Declutter while Chronically Ill - Part 2 (The physical work)

 

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