Monday, July 22, 2013
School Supplies - Get Organized for the Start of a New School Year
Summer is in full swing. There are a lot of activities to keep the kids busy. Swimming, sports camps, camping and hiking, playing with friends.
Who wants to think about school starting in a month? No one - but if you go to the stores the school lists and school supplies are already lining the aisles.
So - take advantage of the sales and get your school supplies out of the way now! Avoid the crowds of last minute shoppers. Avoid the stress!
Why wait until the week before school starts or for some people the day before school starts, to get organized and ready for school? Eliminate the stress by planning ahead!
If you are just starting to send your kids to school for the first time you should also think about the end of school - all of the pictures and projects that the kids will be bringing home over the next year. Think about how you want to organize everything and buy the appropriate tools now while you are buying everything else for school. This will save you a lot of time and money later.
There are many different options for organizing your kids papers and projects. A Pendaflex with space for each grade. A 3 ring binder, a file box.... Whatever works for you. By thinking about it ahead of time your year will be a lot smoother.
Clothes: Your kids will probably have grown over the summer. Go through their closets (yes, again - and tell them to stop growing already!). Make a list of what clothes they have and what clothes you will need to buy. Keep an eye out for the sales, but please don't get carried away! Buy only what's on your list.
Let the kids help. Tell them to keep an eye out for the sales ans teach them to shop responsibly. It's never too early to start teaching them how to be organized!
Get the shopping out of the way and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
More Space - Less Clutter ?
A lot of people say "I don't have enough space - that's why my house is cluttered - if I had more closet space my house would be clean".
Well - I hate to burst anyones bubble - but space, clutter and clean have nothing to do with each other.
The amount of space that you have and the clutter all around you are two separate issues. Just because you have a big house does not mean that you have an uncluttered house. Or a clean house. It just means that you have a big house.
The way that you use your space is the important issue. If you have things in a room that don't belong there - such as all of your bathroom products in your kitchen, brushes, makeup, hairdryer..... instead of in the bathroom where they belong... you will have clutter.
Oh - you don't have room in your bathroom? Well - make some! I know - sometimes it's not easy to find the space and sometimes you really don't have the space. But more often than not I find that clients are not using their space effectively. By adding some inexpensive shelving or bins you can contain all of your belongs where they belong and all of a sudden - you have space!
"Like with like" ..... that's an Organizers motto! By keeping like products with like products you have solved one organizing issue.
By keeping all of the things that don't belong in a room out of the room - you have solved another organizing issue.
By neatly folding and putting things in a designated spot - instead of just shoving it in anywhere - you have solved another organizing issue.
It's not about space - it's about clutter.
And then there's "clean". Having more space does not mean that you will have a clean house. It just means that you will have more space to mess up. Clean is a matter of degree - but that's a whole other topic.
If you can declutter your home or office first - then you can really see what needs to be cleaned and you can make all of the dust bunnies disappear. But if your home is so cluttered that you can't see the floor or any surfaces - chances are that you can't get to them to clean them.
So - the bottom line is - more space does not make a less cluttered or clean house.
So don't envy your neighbor with the big house. They just have a lot more work to do!
Now - go and GET ORGANIZED !
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, July 8, 2013
Your Car and Summer Clutter
Summer means a lot of outside activities. For us it's spending a lot of time camping and hiking. To avoid forgetting things and for those impromptu hikes and picnics I keep a lot of supplies that I might need in my car at all times.
I always have a few blankets and an old towel. If the kids want to put their feet in the river I let them - knowing that I have a towel they can dry off on before I let them back into my car.
A plastic table drop - for use under a blanket in case the ground is slightly damp - or as a table cloth.
I always keep extra grocery store plastic bags - for a variety of uses. Garbage, collecting who knows what, vegetables that I picked from my community garden plot...and so many other uses.
Since I now belong to a community garden plot I also keep some gardening supplies for those impromptu trips to pull a few weeds.
A small plastic container for vegetables or to contain numerous things.
Your car contents should change as the season changes.
Think about how you live and what you do and make your car fit your lifestyle.
Happy Summer!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
I always have a few blankets and an old towel. If the kids want to put their feet in the river I let them - knowing that I have a towel they can dry off on before I let them back into my car.
A plastic table drop - for use under a blanket in case the ground is slightly damp - or as a table cloth.
I always keep extra grocery store plastic bags - for a variety of uses. Garbage, collecting who knows what, vegetables that I picked from my community garden plot...and so many other uses.
Since I now belong to a community garden plot I also keep some gardening supplies for those impromptu trips to pull a few weeds.
A small plastic container for vegetables or to contain numerous things.
Your car contents should change as the season changes.
Think about how you live and what you do and make your car fit your lifestyle.
Happy Summer!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Planning Ahead - Get Organized Before You Start - Any Project
No matter what project you are working or planning on doing in the future - planning ahead - being organized is crucial.
Sometimes it seems like too much trouble. Sometimes it seems like a waste of time. But it's always a good idea.
Craftsman have a saying "measure twice and cut once". It's a great and powerful saying.
It means that you should be prepared and know what you are going to do - and make sure you are doing it correctly. Just like any project you are working on.
If you just randomly jump in and start working on your project without planning it out and thinking ahead - you might find yourself backtracking and doing more work - or possibly undoing some work you did - because it wasn't quite right or any number of other reasons.
I make a lot of lists. And I go over my lists before and after every event - and tweak the lists as life happens. Things change. Lists and plans should be fluid.
By constantly tweaking your lists you become more efficient. You find out that you really didn't need to pack XYZ - because you never used it. You might have - a long time ago - but you don't now - so take it off of your list.
Being prepared and looking and planning ahead means that you call all of the necessary contractors well ahead of time before you are ready to start a project - instead of getting upset that nobody is available when you finally decide to start the project.
Planning ahead means that you take the time to think about the "big picture" and organize your thoughts and ideas. To a lot of people this is a waste of time - but you will do it - if not in the beginning - then later when something unexpected occurs that you did not anticipate.
So if you are planning to move tomorrow - don't wait until the night before to call a moving company. And don't be upset when everyone doesn't change their plans to help you.
Treat your personal life a little more like a business - be organized and prepared - and your life will be much less stressful.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Sometimes it seems like too much trouble. Sometimes it seems like a waste of time. But it's always a good idea.
Craftsman have a saying "measure twice and cut once". It's a great and powerful saying.
It means that you should be prepared and know what you are going to do - and make sure you are doing it correctly. Just like any project you are working on.
If you just randomly jump in and start working on your project without planning it out and thinking ahead - you might find yourself backtracking and doing more work - or possibly undoing some work you did - because it wasn't quite right or any number of other reasons.
I make a lot of lists. And I go over my lists before and after every event - and tweak the lists as life happens. Things change. Lists and plans should be fluid.
By constantly tweaking your lists you become more efficient. You find out that you really didn't need to pack XYZ - because you never used it. You might have - a long time ago - but you don't now - so take it off of your list.
Being prepared and looking and planning ahead means that you call all of the necessary contractors well ahead of time before you are ready to start a project - instead of getting upset that nobody is available when you finally decide to start the project.
Planning ahead means that you take the time to think about the "big picture" and organize your thoughts and ideas. To a lot of people this is a waste of time - but you will do it - if not in the beginning - then later when something unexpected occurs that you did not anticipate.
So if you are planning to move tomorrow - don't wait until the night before to call a moving company. And don't be upset when everyone doesn't change their plans to help you.
Treat your personal life a little more like a business - be organized and prepared - and your life will be much less stressful.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, June 24, 2013
Take Five Minutes
Time is a very important thing. Something not to be wasted. But we all do it....waste time.
We sit on the couch and watch T.V. in a daze..... while we complain that we don't have any time to do anything and our house is a mess. Admit it....we've all done it.
So go ahead and watch T.V. ....but there are those commercials that give you plenty of time to get a few things done! Really, take five minutes and organize something. Do something. Anything!
* Bring your basket of clean laundry into the living room and fold your laundry
* Organize your purse, briefcase or backpack
* Organize a drawer
* Make a list of things to do for the weekend
* Go through your mail
* Pay a couple of bills
* Read your child a chapter in a book
* Write out your grocery list
* Write out next months birthday cards
* Sew the buttons on a shirt
There are a lot of things that can be done during a commercial break. Don't worry - those commercials will be on again (and again....) so you won't actually miss them!
Make better use of your time by doing small projects that you keep putting off. This is one time where multi-tasking is O.K.
Happy Organizing!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, June 10, 2013
Unexpected Loss - Are You Ready ?
Life doesn't always go as planned. We just lost a loved one and it was beyond devastating. My brain just stopped working and I was lucky that I knew what day it was. Everything was a blur.
But during the very hectic days where arrangements were being made the one thing that we didn't need to worry about was "where did we put things?".
A few years back I had put together a list of everything. Where the wills were kept, who the lawyers were, where all of the banking was done, where the investments were, names of all of the doctors and any and all pertinent information that someone might need to find.
When you are in an emotional state - the last thing you want to do is to scrounge through your house and frantically look for things.
By being organized and just putting together some lists we had everything at our fingertips.
It's not easy to think about the eventual future that we will all have to face. But by being proactive and thinking ahead - it helped take a lot of the stress out of the mix.
Re-read the article about "Organizing Your Paperwork" to learn more.
http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/2011/01/organizing-your-paperwork-and-your-life.html
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
But during the very hectic days where arrangements were being made the one thing that we didn't need to worry about was "where did we put things?".
A few years back I had put together a list of everything. Where the wills were kept, who the lawyers were, where all of the banking was done, where the investments were, names of all of the doctors and any and all pertinent information that someone might need to find.
When you are in an emotional state - the last thing you want to do is to scrounge through your house and frantically look for things.
By being organized and just putting together some lists we had everything at our fingertips.
It's not easy to think about the eventual future that we will all have to face. But by being proactive and thinking ahead - it helped take a lot of the stress out of the mix.
Re-read the article about "Organizing Your Paperwork" to learn more.
http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/2011/01/organizing-your-paperwork-and-your-life.html
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, June 3, 2013
Organizing Your Pantry and Your Freezer
Summer means farmers markets, fresh fruits and vegetables, which translates into canning and freezing. Well, at least at my house.
But have you checked your pantry or freezer lately? Have you used up all of your older products?
At least a few times a year you need to clear out your freezer and pantry. Take a good look. Rotate your food and check all of your expiration dates.
If you have not used up all of the products that you made last year you might want to re-think what you really use in your home and either don't make as many for the upcoming year or make them but give them away as gifts. People love homemade preserves and other food products.
Canning has once again made a comeback - believe me - I could not find any canning supplies last year because they had all sold out!
But some people tend to forget what's hidden in the deep crevices of their pantry and freezer. So take an hour and go through your freezer and pantry and take stock of what you still have and double check that everything is not past their expiration date.
Make sure that everything is neatly organized by product type so that you can tell at a glance how much you have.
Shopping - in your own home - what a great idea!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
But have you checked your pantry or freezer lately? Have you used up all of your older products?
At least a few times a year you need to clear out your freezer and pantry. Take a good look. Rotate your food and check all of your expiration dates.
If you have not used up all of the products that you made last year you might want to re-think what you really use in your home and either don't make as many for the upcoming year or make them but give them away as gifts. People love homemade preserves and other food products.
Canning has once again made a comeback - believe me - I could not find any canning supplies last year because they had all sold out!
But some people tend to forget what's hidden in the deep crevices of their pantry and freezer. So take an hour and go through your freezer and pantry and take stock of what you still have and double check that everything is not past their expiration date.
Make sure that everything is neatly organized by product type so that you can tell at a glance how much you have.
Shopping - in your own home - what a great idea!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, May 20, 2013
Organzing Your Childrens School Papers - Artwork Galore....
Kids come home from school with a lot of papers and artwork. All of which they are proud of and want you to keep - forever.
It doesn't matter if it's just a few scribbles on a piece of paper or a watercolor they think is a masterpice....they want you to keep it - forever.
Each piece of school work, each test....you just have to keep it - forever.
But the reality is....we don't have the space for it all. I try to sort through it and keep what I think are the really great ones - the ones that show their personality.
Each child has a folder and each day when things come home I pick the ones that go in my "keep" pile.
My husband...he thinks it's just a way for the teachers to get the stuff off of their desks!
Anyway....my "keep" pile ....was getting too big - so I had to sort through it - again. This time, I really had to toss just about everything (let's not tell the children).
It's near the end of the school year and I had a huge pile (a very neat pile - thank you). But I only have so much room and I got new containers for each child. So I had to make some very tough decisions and keep only a few pieces of art and notes that they have written.
The point is.... organizing is a continuous process. It is always evolving. You sort and keep things that you love and have great memories of....and in the future....in a year or two or three.... you go through the process again and again and make further decisions to de-clutter and dispose of things that you now can comfortably get rid of.
Organizing isn't stagnant. It's a process. It changes as you change. Be comfortable with that thought.
Now....go out and make some hard decisions. You can do it!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
It doesn't matter if it's just a few scribbles on a piece of paper or a watercolor they think is a masterpice....they want you to keep it - forever.
Each piece of school work, each test....you just have to keep it - forever.
But the reality is....we don't have the space for it all. I try to sort through it and keep what I think are the really great ones - the ones that show their personality.
Each child has a folder and each day when things come home I pick the ones that go in my "keep" pile.
My husband...he thinks it's just a way for the teachers to get the stuff off of their desks!
Anyway....my "keep" pile ....was getting too big - so I had to sort through it - again. This time, I really had to toss just about everything (let's not tell the children).
It's near the end of the school year and I had a huge pile (a very neat pile - thank you). But I only have so much room and I got new containers for each child. So I had to make some very tough decisions and keep only a few pieces of art and notes that they have written.
The point is.... organizing is a continuous process. It is always evolving. You sort and keep things that you love and have great memories of....and in the future....in a year or two or three.... you go through the process again and again and make further decisions to de-clutter and dispose of things that you now can comfortably get rid of.
Organizing isn't stagnant. It's a process. It changes as you change. Be comfortable with that thought.
Now....go out and make some hard decisions. You can do it!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, May 13, 2013
Vacations Made Easy - Lists and Stress Free Packing
We just got back from a really nice and relaxing vacation. A condo overlooking the lake with the mountains as the backdrop. It was glorious!
But it was one of those times where the few weeks leading up to our vacation were extremely busy with work, meetings and other activities so I didn't actually pack our suitcases until the morning we were going to leave. Believe me - this is not like me.
But I had a great excuse. Jeff Dunham. What can I say - I'm a huge fan! We got tickets to see his show and it was scheduled for the night before we were supposed to leave on vacation - so packing got pushed aside. I do have my priorities!
I then learned the power of lists! I've been packing up the house and kids for vacations for a long time so I have it pretty well down. But waiting until the very last minute to pack can be a bit stressful even under the best of circumstances.
With my packing lists it took almost no time at all and I didn't forget a thing! I had a checklist for each member of the family and everything went into the suitcases as planned.
Lists are great - they take the stress out of most things in our busy lives. Orderly and efficient.
So make fun of me if you must - but my vacation list saved the day and our vacation was very relaxing.
As an add on - remember that vacations are not only about packing your suitcase - but about making your house vacation proof.
When you go on vacation you not only have to remember to pack all of the things that you need…you also have to remember to take care of your house / apartment / cats or dogs / plants / garden / bills and a whole slew of things.
A few things that you might want to do:
• Put your mail on HOLD
• Make arrangements to get your lawn cut / your garden or flowers watered
• Make arrangements to get any inside plants watered
• Make arrangements for any animals ( to get fed or taken care of)
• Make arrangements to have your bills paid ahead of time
• Make arrangements to have someone pick up some basic food essentials for your return home so that you have something to eat until you have a chance to go to the store
By planning ahead you too can have a relaxing and enjoyable vacation and a relaxing return home.
Have a great vacation !!!
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Organizing Seminar - Stevensville Library
Spring is Here! Let's Get Organized!
On Tuesday, May 14th - from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. It's FREE !
At the Stevensville Library - North Valley Public Library.
Come and join our discussion on how much disorganization costs you, the organizing process, different types of clutter and much more.
Get some tips on how to de-clutter your home for spring.
Join us !
Organizational Consulting Services
Monday, May 6, 2013
Containers and Organization - What's the Difference ?
I love containers and everything in its proper place. It makes things look so neat and orderly.
But just because you have containers doesn't mean that you are organized.
Being organized means that you have a plan, a place for everything and you know where everything is.
It means that the things you have are "useful". You don't just have a bunch of "stuff".
If you have a lot of containers (boxes, baskets....) but you have a lot of "everything" thrown into them and there is no pattern or reason to their order - then you really aren't organized. You just have a lot of nice containers!
Organization means that you have put "like with like". It means that only things that are supposed to be in the room (or file or cabinet....) are in there.
It means that you have a plan for how things are supposed to be and you stick with the plan.
Containers are a tool. Organization is a state of mind, a way of life.
You need both to be successful and to make your life easier.
But don't get carried away and start buying a lot of containers when you don't need them or they aren't functioning in a way that is helpful.
Everything should have a purpose and a place. That's what being organized is all about.
Organizational Consulting Services
Monday, April 29, 2013
Organize Your Calendar
It's almost summer time - when lots of things happen. Activities - fairs, concerts, open air markets and so many activities that beckon us.
So how can we be sure not to miss anything?
It's easy - Organize Your Calendar!
Seriously - if you can organize all of the other aspects of your life - why not your social life?
There are a lot of things that you can do that does not cost any or very little money. There are a lot of outdoor activities, parades, outdoor concerts and other things that you can enjoy - if you know about them.
Every city or town probably has a city website where it lists all of the activities in the surrounding area.
Sit down with your calendar and put everything that interests you on your calendar. That way you won't forget it and you will have something to look forward to all summer long.
Schedule everything - including things like "hikes" or "go to the beach". Force yourself to get out and enjoy your town.
People always say "there's nothing to do". Yes, there is....if you look for it and schedule it.
Just like work projects - you have to organize and schedule your social life.
So....pick up your calendar and start planning your summer and learn to enjoy the simple things around you.
So how can we be sure not to miss anything?
It's easy - Organize Your Calendar!
Seriously - if you can organize all of the other aspects of your life - why not your social life?
There are a lot of things that you can do that does not cost any or very little money. There are a lot of outdoor activities, parades, outdoor concerts and other things that you can enjoy - if you know about them.
Every city or town probably has a city website where it lists all of the activities in the surrounding area.
Sit down with your calendar and put everything that interests you on your calendar. That way you won't forget it and you will have something to look forward to all summer long.
Schedule everything - including things like "hikes" or "go to the beach". Force yourself to get out and enjoy your town.
People always say "there's nothing to do". Yes, there is....if you look for it and schedule it.
Just like work projects - you have to organize and schedule your social life.
So....pick up your calendar and start planning your summer and learn to enjoy the simple things around you.
Organizational Consulting Services
Monday, April 22, 2013
Organizing Your Email
Everyone gets bombarded with email. How in the world do you keep up?
Unless you are on your computer (or other device) 24/7 you will eventually get behind.
So how can we keep our emails and constant electronic communication from taking over our lives?
It's addicting. We think that we can't live without being "connected". But not so long ago - people survived without email, texts, twitter and everything else.
If you are in business it's almost required to be connected these days. But at what costs?
What if you are not in a business where your job requires that you stay connected 24/7. Most people today are still obsessed with their electronic devices.
By being able to organize your email so that you can quickly decipher what is important and what isn't - junk mail that's not spam - you can save yourself a little bit of time.
Get into the habit of putting something into your "subject" line of the emails that you send so that the other person knows what the email is about. Hopefully you will be able to tell from other people's email subject line if it is something that needs to be dealt with immediately, if it's something that can be deleted, if it's something that can be dealt with at a later time or maybe it's something that can be filed in a "reference" file.
Get into the habit of checking your email at only certain times of the day. Quickly go through and put your emails into categories first.
After you have categorized them into "must read", "can deal with later", "for reference" and "junk - delete now" - then you can deal with each group when you have time.
Each person needs to decide on categories that make sense to them. By dealing with one category at a time you can get through your emails quicker.
By cutting down the amount of times that you check your email you will save yourself a lot of time and you will have more time to devote to more important things - such as your family and friends.
Organizing your email - your inbox - takes some time. But once you are done and get into the habit of putting things where they belong - you will be amazed at how easy it is.
Organizational Consulting Services
Unless you are on your computer (or other device) 24/7 you will eventually get behind.
So how can we keep our emails and constant electronic communication from taking over our lives?
It's addicting. We think that we can't live without being "connected". But not so long ago - people survived without email, texts, twitter and everything else.
If you are in business it's almost required to be connected these days. But at what costs?
What if you are not in a business where your job requires that you stay connected 24/7. Most people today are still obsessed with their electronic devices.
By being able to organize your email so that you can quickly decipher what is important and what isn't - junk mail that's not spam - you can save yourself a little bit of time.
Get into the habit of putting something into your "subject" line of the emails that you send so that the other person knows what the email is about. Hopefully you will be able to tell from other people's email subject line if it is something that needs to be dealt with immediately, if it's something that can be deleted, if it's something that can be dealt with at a later time or maybe it's something that can be filed in a "reference" file.
Get into the habit of checking your email at only certain times of the day. Quickly go through and put your emails into categories first.
After you have categorized them into "must read", "can deal with later", "for reference" and "junk - delete now" - then you can deal with each group when you have time.
Each person needs to decide on categories that make sense to them. By dealing with one category at a time you can get through your emails quicker.
By cutting down the amount of times that you check your email you will save yourself a lot of time and you will have more time to devote to more important things - such as your family and friends.
Organizing your email - your inbox - takes some time. But once you are done and get into the habit of putting things where they belong - you will be amazed at how easy it is.
Organizational Consulting Services
Monday, April 15, 2013
Tax TIme - Avoid the Stress Next Year
It's April 15th - Did you file your Taxes?
A lot of people wait until the very last minute to file their taxes. It's something that everyone hates doing. It takes a lot of time - especially if you didn't keep all of your needed receipts or records in an organized system where they were easily accessible.
So....what did you learn from this?
Do better next year !
You can start now by making up a few folders and putting anything tax related into them as they come in. That alone will save you a lot of time, frustration and stress next tax season.
A few quick ideas for file folders:
Get into the habit of filing these important papers into the appropriate files as soon as they come in - you will save yourself a lot of time next year. Time that is well spent this year.
Getting organized and staying organized is a lot of work. But well worth the effort!
Organizational Consulting Services
A lot of people wait until the very last minute to file their taxes. It's something that everyone hates doing. It takes a lot of time - especially if you didn't keep all of your needed receipts or records in an organized system where they were easily accessible.
So....what did you learn from this?
Do better next year !
You can start now by making up a few folders and putting anything tax related into them as they come in. That alone will save you a lot of time, frustration and stress next tax season.
A few quick ideas for file folders:
- Tax related
- Medical / Health Care
- Donations
- Investments
- Mortgage info
- Banking
Get into the habit of filing these important papers into the appropriate files as soon as they come in - you will save yourself a lot of time next year. Time that is well spent this year.
Getting organized and staying organized is a lot of work. But well worth the effort!
Organizational Consulting Services
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Spring is Here - Getting Your House Ready for Sale
Moving - when is it a good time? A lot of people think that spring and the beginning of summer is a good time to sell your house and buy another one - especially if you have kids. Once the kids finish school you can pack them up and move them without disruption. A great plan - if you are organized and leave yourself plenty of time to acccomplish everything needed to make it happen.
Start by going through each closet and cupboard and sorting through a lifetime of possessions.
Decide what you really need / have to have / want to pay to move. Moving is expensive, so for some things it makes sense to leave them (donate or sell) and to buy new after you get settled. Things like a ten year old washer / dryer - when the newer models are more energy efficient and more cost effective.
Get rid of mismatched dishes, clothes that don't fit or are worn out, toys that the kids have outgrown or are broken and anything else that you really have no use for. Be honest with yourself. Do you really want to pack and then unpack things that you are going to throw away once you get to your new home?
All of this takes a lot of time and energy. And....it is a very emotional process - even if you think you are prepared and ready to move.
So - leave yourself plenty of time and your move to a new home will go much smoother and be less traumatic.
Happy House Hunting !
Organizational Consulting Services
Start by going through each closet and cupboard and sorting through a lifetime of possessions.
Decide what you really need / have to have / want to pay to move. Moving is expensive, so for some things it makes sense to leave them (donate or sell) and to buy new after you get settled. Things like a ten year old washer / dryer - when the newer models are more energy efficient and more cost effective.
Get rid of mismatched dishes, clothes that don't fit or are worn out, toys that the kids have outgrown or are broken and anything else that you really have no use for. Be honest with yourself. Do you really want to pack and then unpack things that you are going to throw away once you get to your new home?
All of this takes a lot of time and energy. And....it is a very emotional process - even if you think you are prepared and ready to move.
So - leave yourself plenty of time and your move to a new home will go much smoother and be less traumatic.
Happy House Hunting !
Organizational Consulting Services
Monday, April 1, 2013
Get Outside and Organize Your Yard
It's warm and sunny and beautiful out! So don't stay inside....get outside and enjoy the weather! And while you're there you can get your yard ready for spring.
O.K. ....some of us enjoy it more than others. I love being outside and digging in the dirt. It's relaxing. Well. for some of us it is. As my kids say, "Really? It's not relaxing, it's work".
But, as with anything, once you have done the hard part, getting everything cleaned up....you can enjoy the fruits of your labor all summer.
Does your yard look the way you want it to? Do you want to plant more flowers or a vegetable garden?
Make a list. Go over it numerous times so that you haven't forgotten anything before you go to the garden store.
Is your garden hose in working order? Do you need any landscape bricks or borders?
Do you need mulch? How much? Or fertilizer? Or any nutrients for your yard?
What type of plants do you want to grow? Do you want to have vegetable starter plants? What materials would you need for that?
Thinking about all of this before you start will save you time and running back and forth to the garden store.
Organizing your yard work is the same as organizing anything else. One step at a time. Make a plan. Go over your plan. Make corrections.
Be realistic about what you want to accomplish and what you can accomplish.
Having a yard that you can be proud of and is low maintenance will let you enjoy your summer all the more.
Now go and have fun and get dirty!
Happy Gardening !
Organizational Consulting Services
O.K. ....some of us enjoy it more than others. I love being outside and digging in the dirt. It's relaxing. Well. for some of us it is. As my kids say, "Really? It's not relaxing, it's work".
But, as with anything, once you have done the hard part, getting everything cleaned up....you can enjoy the fruits of your labor all summer.
Does your yard look the way you want it to? Do you want to plant more flowers or a vegetable garden?
Make a list. Go over it numerous times so that you haven't forgotten anything before you go to the garden store.
Is your garden hose in working order? Do you need any landscape bricks or borders?
Do you need mulch? How much? Or fertilizer? Or any nutrients for your yard?
What type of plants do you want to grow? Do you want to have vegetable starter plants? What materials would you need for that?
Thinking about all of this before you start will save you time and running back and forth to the garden store.
Organizing your yard work is the same as organizing anything else. One step at a time. Make a plan. Go over your plan. Make corrections.
Be realistic about what you want to accomplish and what you can accomplish.
Having a yard that you can be proud of and is low maintenance will let you enjoy your summer all the more.
Now go and have fun and get dirty!
Happy Gardening !
Organizational Consulting Services
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
