Mister Roger's Entranceway

Everything I needed to know about organization I learned from Mister Rogers. Well not everything, but it still took me four decades to figure out that the way Mister Rogers took off his jacket and replaced it with a cardigan at the beginning of the show (ditto for his work shoes for sneakers) was exactly the kind of routine I needed to have to get and then keep my front hall organized.

Yes it’s obvious, but it was a major revelation to me. See I’m always bone tired when I come home, but even then I almost always hang up my coat. It's the almost that gets me into trouble on particularly grueling days. So the first step towards getting organized is to put your coat away. Not draped on a chair, but up on a hook, or a hanger in your coat closet.

I’m sure all you Classics are rolling your eyes thinking who DOESN’T put away their coat when they get home? Well, Organic Freedoms (NFPs) and Smart Freedoms (NTPs) tend to do what’s easiest and that often involves shrugging their coats off when they get too hot. And children are their own slovenly personality type altogether. But everyone can start a new habit, it’s just going to be harder for Organic Freedoms and Smart Freedoms.

Putting your coat away is such a revolutionary act to these types because they’ve always been told that they can put off tasks by putting them on a To Do list, or think that draping a coat over a chair is temporary. But for these types and their time challenged brethren, Funs (SPs), they need to take care of tidying right when they think or see the task, otherwise they’ll forget to do it until its time to leave the house again. To Do lists are anathema to them.

However if you’re a Classic (SJ), Smart Structure (NTJ), or Organic Structure (NFJ) and it’s getting too difficult to put your coat away because your closet is stuffed to the gills, well then it’s time to put “Clean Out the Front Hall Closet” on your To Do list and throw out anything that you haven’t worn in two years.

When it comes to getting and staying organized, even the smallest of steps can make a huge difference.