So, how to best begin organizing photos if you've fallen behind and you want to do it yourself? I suggest creating a time line. I list each year followed by my age and then the grade I was in during that year until I graduated from high school. I continue through to include my daughter's information and end at the present day. I put in other important milestones such as places I worked or where we lived. Here's just one year's info:


Now it's time to look at your loose photos. Create a box (or envelope) for each particular chunk of time - let's say 'by decade' to start: 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and the first ten years of the new millennium (what would you call that?!)

Maybe you can't remember what year the picture was taken but you might remember where you lived at the time or some other time-related fact. Just start putting as many photos in their corresponding boxes as you can. For the ones you just can't be sure of yet, leave them aside; later you may find that something will jog your memory and you'll just intuitively know where they belong.

An alternate approach to organizing photos would be according to subject or season e.g., all birthday celebrations or all holiday snapshots together.

How ever you feel compelled to sort your backlog of photos, the main thing is to begin. Just get started and you'll gain momentum. And here's a friendly reminder: perfectionism only leads to paralysis. Don't let it stop you from enjoying the process. Have fun with your memories of a lifetime!

And as I sign off, please remember...
being organized is just another way of being prepared. With simple and sustainable systems in place, you can prepare your home for guests, prepare your office for productivity, prepare your life for fun and relaxation! But don't forget to...

 

Keep It Simple Sweetheart!

 

Simply,

 

 

 

"Due to a typing error, the U.S. sends in the Maureens." W. Pauluk