Organize Me!

Everyday, I tell myself I will get something organized--whether it's the pile of papers on the kitchen counter or an entire system for doing a household task. And then, everyday, I somehow avoid doing anything of the sort, and often make it worse by adding to that pile of junk mail that needs to be shredded or put off until tomorrow what could have been done MONTHS ago! And then I wonder why I feel inefficient and unproductive...

I read every organizing article in REAL SIMPLE magazine, and inevitably get discouraged because I feel like I have to go to The Container Store and spend hundreds of dollars on matching bins and baskets. It should NOT cost a lot of money to be organized, right? Or maybe it does. I don't know.

This seems generalized, and I suppose it is--I have so many "things" that I need to organize; something's gotta improve so I can become more efficient.

Here's an example: digital pictures!!! I am so behind on my albums, yet I continue to take TONS of pictures of my kids. I simply don't know what to do with the thousands of digital pictures on my computer and on disks or how to compile them in a way that preserves the best images without leaving me with a box of random prints strewn about.

Does anyone else feel this way?? Tell me what you feel like you need to organize, and tell me also one thing that you HAVE organized and it's made you more efficient or feel more at ease. I love ideas from REAL people.

And if you've spent tons of money on matching bins, please don't respond.