Can you become an "organised person"? Any techniques? I'm talking about a complete personality change required here

[Tinker]

I think I'm beginning to get sick of myself being so disorganised. I've been off work for over 3 weeks now. At the start of the summer holiays I vowed I would have the house tidy and be organised about holiday stuff etc. The house is still a tip and I left it until yesterday to ring abour insurance, green card, breakdown cover etc - we leave tomorrow! Also, only remembered yesterday that I should have registered last Friday for exams I'm taking in December - without the good humour and goodwill of the person dealing with this I would have had to stump up £200 up front. At work I'm either in a state of boredom or panic - things only get done when I have my boss on my back.

HOW do you change to from being a person who needs deadlines to get anything done to someone who passes through life smoothly and seamlessly? Anyone have any realistic workable tips/techniques?

Thanks

I went out and did some holiday shopping! Result.

Thanks for more advice everyone.

Hate to say it but, in some ways, MN has been the worst thing that has happened to me. If I don't turn it on in the morning I can be staggered when I get to 12.00 and realise how much you really can do in the morning. Much as I hate being told what to do and it is a kick against authority to be untidy etc I do respsond to the "You're going to be in VERY serious trouble if this doesn't get done" appraoch - definitely a stick rather than carrot person.

I might try the timer thing (if I can get round to getting one ). I think if I know there is an end time to the task it may get done. I can see that that might work for me.

i am the same tinker....my house is more fo a mess now that I am on holiday than it normally is when i work full time

Wow fruitful, that is exactly what I need.

Well it's obvious then isn't it?It's out of my control, I have a dopamine inbalance

Wasn't dopamine the drug used in 'Awakenings'? So we are almost catatonic?

also, schizophrenia is soething to do with problems with dopamine....

sounds good to me fruitful, I'm up for it

Surely I must get top trump for being the worst (or should that be best) procrastinator for not having got around to divorcing my husband after 5 years of separation ... ?

I am quite organised.
I do things really fast, everything, and go to bed really early

Only way I changed was listing things by MUST DO, GOOD TO DO, and NICE TO DO - ie laundry in must, make and freeze casserole in good and lie on floor giggling with ds in nice. Guaranteed I got one section cleared each day. And I always felt better cos I'd cleared a bit of my list. Shame it was always the nice to do bit!

I managed to do the kitchen and then DS1 and I stood watching our new water snail in the tank Gary (snail) lifted a rock!!!

CHANDRA HELP, the link didn't work, I urgently need all the help I can get too, forever failing on the complete personality transplant thing too as I'm forever trying but get nowhere Tinker!

just put www.flylady.net in the addy bar HTH

Don't watch television in the evening for a week. Make a list of all the things you need to do and DO THEM once the kids have gone to bed.

Have ONE diary and write everything down.

Make lists!!!

Does your mobile phone have a planner? I put birthdays and other important dates and my phone beeps to remind me - would dearly love a palm pilot but can't afford one.

Did I say make lists?!

yes you did enid!!!

DS1 (almost 7) has just sorted out all my clean laundry for the grand price of 2 roses chocolates

well tinker you inspired me to have a sort out, but now it looks even worse and I have RUBBISH......shit!

juniper!

fio - I had a sort out about 6 months ago - it's still all on the landing waiting to go in the loft!

Bur enid, I need to slump in the evening watching telly and drinking wine, I've earned it, I've been so busy all day

No slumping till all is clean

Right I'm off to buy school shoes - that definitely deserves some wine later.

Sorry Memder before I ruin it again here it is:

Clear your clutter with Feng Shui

A warning here, once I got addicted to Mumsnet I don't keep the things as organised as before though I feel a lot of guilt

Havnt read the other posts, but i was previously disorganised (especially dealing with paperwork etc) I now have a draw in my bedroom for all important things like passeports , dogs vaccinations etc. I have a tin in the kitchen for all the current documents that i have to deal with soon (eg holiday docs, things that need signing/paying)

I have just bought a great calendar that I really think is going to help me get my life organized. Its called the family organizer calendar and its the one flylady recommends. you can now buy it over here.
have a look here
It runs from september so you can get organized now ready for the start of school. It comes with stickers that you can use on the calander and it has really big squares so there is loads of room to write. There is also room to write lists etc. Its great for big families.
Also there are a couple of sites I use that have really helped me. A lot of what they say is common sense, but it has helped me to get focused. The first is good for articles and printable lists etc have a look at here
And the other one is good for organizing big families have a look at here