Do you want life to work better, be more organized, and have less messes?  If so, it is time to consider some organizational ideas about launching and landing.  This is an important concept, both with regards to the places where we launch and land, the methods by which we launch and land, and the timing we plan for our launching and landing. 

As I work with men and women, one of the things that keeps them from being more organized is they simply do not have designated places in their home for launching and landing.  Yes, they have a kitchen counter where they do put things if the counter isn’t already “busy”, but they don’t regularly plan to keep that place free for launching and landing. 

So, if you have a kitchen counter upon which you regularly put the groceries when you come home from errands, this counter should be relatively clean and clear (at all possible times) so when you come in the door with grocery sacks in your arms there is a safe place to put the groceries.  This is called a landing pad.  Your landing pad might be near your backdoor, it might even be in your garage, or maybe it is near the front door, but again, it is a flat surface that is left empty except for anticipated items that are being landed.  Since we land something and often many things each and every time we return home, this will be a well-used counter.

In the same way, there needs to be a place for launching.  This is where you will put items you are going to take when you run errands, when you go a meeting, or when you have another obligation.  Because of the mistakes I have made in my own life, I have chosen NOT to use my desk (near the back door) to be my launch pad because I walk right past my desk and all its neatly stacked items and go off on my errands or to my meeting with everything still sitting at home.  And so for me there’s only been one good launch pad, and that is the back of my vehicle.

Second, we must think about the methods we use for putting things away and for gathering things up.  For instance, when you bring groceries home do you not only put the groceries away but also take the time to put those bags or sacks completely away in their designated home?  And do your receipts find their way to your special “receipt” receptacle?  In other words, when you land, do you finish?

In the same way do you have a method for gathering up, for preparing to launch?  For most people, it is very important to have a sturdy, oversized bag or other container for each regularly repeated activity or project.  For instance, there might be a pre-school teaching bag (with manual, visual aids, crayons and extra paper) or a bag for going to the dentist (with toys and books to read children) or even another bag for yourself when you get your hair done (with a book or crocheting/knitting) to occupy you while you wait.   

Finally, we will want to think about launching and landing timing.   Successful home managers plan for and allow time for launching and landing.  Launching is the hardest because we are usually so stressed, in a hurry, and ready to go, we don’t really have the time to think well or thoroughly.  That means launching is best done quite early: tonight for a tomorrow morning’s needs, in the morning for an afternoon appointment, today for tonight’s needs. 

At the same time, if you can, please try to allow a few minutes to wind up before leaving as you will usually think of some last minute “to do's".  And then allow time to come down or “land” after you arrive home from anywhere.  In other words take time to land after you have come home from an activity, a project, or another emotionally draining situation. 

It is taking these little bits of “time” spaces for launching and landing, in these methods that we learn about the best way for each of us to launch and land, and it is the specific places that we designate for our launching and landing pads that will make “L&L” a more successful process in our strivings for a more orderly life.

Take good care now!