Spreadsheets for Organizing Your Life

Being “Organized” takes on many meanings. By documenting information that you use over and over again it makes your life easier.  I have created numerous forms and spreadsheets that will help keep you organized and keep important information together at your fingertips. Each grouping comes with an instruction sheet.

FOR YOUR HOME 

·         House Expense List - an Excel spreadsheet to track monthly / yearly expenses  

·         Donation List - tracks donations for the year

·         Grocery List - Alphabetic Food & Household Items to make grocery shopping easier - 2 pages

·         Automobile Service Record - lists basic services for your car

FOR YOUR KIDS & YOU

·         Babysitter Information Sheet - important information needed in case of emergency

·         Children’s Chore List - basic list of chores for kids –  track your kids progress weekly

·         Vacation List – What to Pack – never forget an item again - (Beach & Snow)

FOR HEALTHCARE 

·         Medical Information – List of Providers (basic form to list your doctors)

·         Medical Information – List of Doctors / Providers (different format – more space)

·         Medication List – keeps track of all medications

·         Medication / Allergies / Health Problems – keeps tracks of important info

FOR COLLEGE KIDS 

·         What to Pack & Buy for living at College – (6 pages) – Use this list year after year so that your child doesn’t forget anything.

*  Clothes                      Personal Care          Dorm

*  School Supplies          Medications              Miscellaneous Items

                                                                                         

FOR YOUR HOME INVENTORY

·         Home Inventory List – (24 pages) – broken down by rooms. Enough pages for a 6 bedroom / 4 bathroom home.  Tracks everything in your home so that you have an accurate list of everything that you own in case of a disaster.  Don’t be caught by surprise when your homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover something. 

 
                              Spreadsheets for Organizing Your Life




Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/





 

Spring Break - Keeping Your Sanity When Your Kids Are Home

It's that time of the year!  Spring Break!  The kids love it - an entire week off of school and parents are pulling their hair out!

By stepping back and planning out the week you can get through it in one piece and with some sanity left!

First, take a look at some of the events and things that are available in your area. Depending on the age of your kids and what they can do with or without supervision - there should be a lot of things that can take up their time - and leave you with time for yourself.

Start by looking at all of the free things - like hiking and checking out some of the museums in your area that you never have time to go to. There are probably some programs at the YMCA or at the University that would be of interest to the kids.

Find another parent that you can swap with to take your kids for the day (or 1/2 day) - to give you time to yourself - for running your errands, shopping, or just having the day to yourself. Then it's her turn.

Ask the kids what types of things they want to do. Make them responsible for their own fun.

Plan out the week - like you would a job.  Morning for reading. Afternoon for a movie. Game day. Craft day. Hiking by the river. A family bike ride.

Look at your calendar - and write it all out. That way it's planned and the kids have something to look forward to.

Don't worry - the week will eventually end and your kids will return to their normal schedule. Not soon enough for most parents!

Have a great spring break!



Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Organize Your Office Day

Tuesday, March 14th is "Organize Your Office Day".  Yes, there really is such a day!

So how do you start?

First, clear everything off of your desk. Either put it all into a box or find an area where you can set everything into a pile. Have a garbage can or bag handy.

Second, clean off your desk. You probably haven't done this in a while. Depending on what your desk surface is made of - either use some furniture polish or wipe it down with soap and water. You know this will be one of the few times this actually happens.

Next, you go through everything that you put into your box or pile. If it's garbage - throw it out.

Make four (4) piles:
             * action (something needs to be done with it - you need to make a decision, send an answer...)
             * pending (you are waiting on something or someone else before you can deal with it, or it is  due later)
             * file (put it into an appropriately labeled file)
             * read (articles or things that you need to read)


Next, you through your drawers (where you probably have a lot of "junk") and sort everything into categories. Throw out the garbage and things you don't need or use (you all know you have it). Get some drawer dividers and put in only the things that you really, really need. The dividers can be as simple as using checkbook boxes or other small boxes. Anything that will divide the drawer into smaller compartments. You don't need to buy fancy or expensive things.

If you have files in your desk - go through all of those and make sure that only things that you still actually need/use are in the files. Get rid of (or store if you are required to keep them for tax purposes) things that you are not currently using. Be sure to shred things that have your personal or identifying information on it.

After everything has been gone through, sorted and gotten rid of - it's time to start putting things back. But - only put back what you really need. Don't clutter your desk with a lot of useless stuff - or things that take up too much room. You need room to work.

An uncluttered desk gives you room to work and presents a more professional image.



Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Seniors - Downsize/Rightsize - Do It On Your Own Terms

As people age and their family size decreases (kids grow up and out) - they tend to need less room and don't want the responsibility of having to take care of a large house.

Downsizing - or rightsizing can help them get rid of the extra work needed to run a larger home.

The problem with a lot of seniors (and all people really) - is that they have a hard time letting go. They have collected items - precious items - over the course of 50 or 60 or 70 years - and it's hard to let go. Their things mean something to them.

However - they might not (and usually don't) mean anything to anyone else. It's all in the eye of the beholder!

Another issue to consider - is aging and medical issues that force people to give up their homes and move into assisted living or senior apartments. They are then forced to make some very hard decisions and get rid of things - very quickly.

So - do it on your own terms!  Start downsizing/rightsizing as you age.  Instead of waiting until you die to give things to people - do it over time - on your own terms!  This way you can see them enjoy your prized possessions. And if they don't want them - you have the chance to give them to someone that does!

Take control of your life and your possessions!  Don't let someone make these decisions for you!


Downsizing can be a tough process for anyone, but especially for seniors who find themselves with a large home. More and more are tackling the huge job of downsizing their living spaces. In fact, about six percent of Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 move each year, according to the Over-50 Council of the National Association of Home Builders. As seniors reach the time to downsize belongings and move into smaller, more manageable homes, many have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of the “stuff ” they’ve accumulated over the years.

To have a more simplified lifestyle many seniors decide to move to a smaller, more manageable home.

Following are some tips for seniors downsizing:

• Get rid of the guilt factor — Many seniors feel they are the “keepers” of their family heirlooms and have a hard time getting rid of items for which they no longer have room. And even adult “children” have a hard time with their parents leaving the “family home” thinking that their childhood memories will be gone forever.

Instead of waiting to give your children some of your possessions that you would most likely leave them anyway - give them these pieces now, especially if you are not using them on a regular basis anyway. They will be able to enjoy them now and you will be able to watch them enjoy them!

However - please don't guilt your family members into taking things that you like - but they don't. Parents have a tendency to want to give things to their kids - that the kids don't want or have a use for. You might think that you are being kind and generous - but consider the other persons taste and lifestyle. Not everyone uses good china anymore. Don't let your feelings get hurt if they don't want the item. Give it to someone that will appreciate it. It's your choice.

If younger family members are not interested in taking the items then consider donating them to a worthy cause. Some organizations purchase furniture, high-end clothing, and porcelain, and then sell those items to raise money for specific causes or charities.

Professional organizers can help seniors sort through household items to strategically figure out what will work in their new space. They also can help seniors identify which organizations to turn to that are best at finding new homes for family heirlooms.

• Find movers specializing in senior needs — Moving is stressful for everyone, but some moving companies specialize in making the transition easier for seniors, and professional organizers can help find the perfect “mover match” for a client. A professional organizer can help pare down items before the move and make the process easier at moving time.

Some professional organizers will also help with things such as helping the clients hang pictures on the walls for clients unable to do so themselves, handling the change of address and utilities, setting up electronics at a new home, and much more.

• Have a professional organizer reassess every five to ten years — As seniors get older, modern appliances or high shelving can become more difficult to use or simply unnecessary considering their lifestyle changes. Hire a professional organizer to evaluate and reassess your needs every five to ten years to make sure your home is still working for you.

For example, seniors who usually eat dinner alone should bring two to three sets of dinnerware to their level instead of keeping everything in out-of-reach cabinetry. Sometimes seniors don’t realize everyday activities and household chores can be made easier just by adjusting the setup in their homes. Professional organizers are great resources to help identify easy ways seniors can simplify to improve their overall quality of life.


Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Eat Healthy - Cut Your Food Costs and Save Time

Everyone is so busy these days that many people forgo their health and think they are saving time by getting and eating fast or prepackaged food. They want everything done instantly.

The reality is that not only are you spending a lot more money than if you bought your own food and prepared it yourself - but - you are also neglecting your health. Everyone knows that "fast food" is not healthy. Calories, cholesterol and lack of nutritious vitamins. Everyone knows this - yet people try to justify it by saying that "they have no time and they need to feed their families a quick meal before they go to..." (whatever activity they have that day).

If you planned ahead - if you planned out your week and your meals - if you took a step back and realized that "yes - you can prepare a healthy meal for your family - in a short period of time" - you would realize that you are not saving time or money by buying fast food.

We are so ingrained into buying into everything that is advertised that we forget to think for ourselves.

Yes - fast food or prepackaged food can be a treat every once in a while. But it should not become the staple of our home.

By being organized and planning out your week and your meals - you can save time and money.

Start by making a schedule of your activities and putting it on a calendar.

Plan out your meals for the week and make a shopping list. The meals don't need to be fancy. On days when you have activities that you need to get to they can be as simple as grilled cheese and a salad. Or soup and a salad. But homemade food is less expensive. You have control over the ingredients and the quality of the food. By planning them out in advance you won't feel rushed during the week and you will feel better in giving your family a "home cooked" meal - as simple as it is.

By buying in bulk you will also save money. Look for sales and something that is in season and available locally that week. If something is in season and available locally - it will probably be less expensive. If it's not something that you planned on serving that week - be flexible and adjust your menu. You can save money by doing so.

When you get home from the store spend the extra time and divide your purchases into portions that you will use at one time. By buying in bulk and making your own individual bags of snacks for the week - instead of buying individually portioned items at the store - you will save a lot of money.

For example - by buying a big bag of carrots and peeling and cutting them yourself and putting them into individual bags for your lunch - you will spend a lot less money than if you bought prepackaged baby carrots.

Buying fruit and healthy snacks - instead of junk food - teaches your kids good nutrition.

Spending a half hour sorting and packing your bulk items into correctly portioned items for your family size - will save you money. But most importantly - you will have provided your family with healthier options.

Buying a weeks supply of meat and portioning out the amount you will use during one meal - and putting it into freezer bags or tupperware - will cut down on the time you will need to prepare that meal later during the week.

At dinner time it will be much easier to pull out the already portioned meat and vegetables and cook them - in a short period of time.

Or you can take the portioned out ingredients and toss them all into a crock pot - and have a delicious home cooked meal waiting for you when you come home. Fast food!

By being organized and planning out your week - you will save time and money. But most importantly - you will have provided your family a healthier eating option.



Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Work/Life Balance - Is There Really Such a Thing?

Everyone talks about "Work/Life Balance" - but the question is - "is there really such a thing?".

In today's world everyone is so busy it's hard to find enough time for your family and all of their activities, much less yourself.

Then we throw in the reality of today's world - where everyone is connected all of the time and we never get any "down time".  Facebook, Twitter, email, messaging ....and the rest of the internet keeps interrupting us 24/7.

Be honest - our cell phones are never out of our hand. We constantly check it. It keeps interrupting our life. And we allow it!  We would be lost without it!

Or would we?

What did people ever do before cell phones and the internet?

They talked to each other in person. They shared their life with people they actually knew - not strangers they meet online. Strangers, or acquaintances they call "friends".

Social media is everywhere. We are inundated with it. It might have it's place - but so does out family and our friends.

Throw in our jobs - which in many cases - due to cell phones - keeps us "working" 24/7. We are never far out of the reach of our jobs and our bosses. We constantly answer work related questions even after we come home. There is never any "down" time. Our "family time" is constantly being interrupted by outside forces.

It might be the "reality" of today - but it affects us in many ways. And most people really aren't aware of it.

Paying attention to people when they are speaking to you. Being "present" when they are speaking to you - doesn't happen very often anymore - because someone is messaging us and we are reading the messages - or we are reading our emails on our cell phone.

It might be the "norm" - but it shows a lack of respect for the other person.

It might be "important" that you answer your emails from work 24/7 - or so you think. It might just "make you feel important". Are you getting paid extra for working 24/7? Is it really going to make or break your job/career?

It has been shown that people need a break. They need down time from their jobs. They need to take "real" vacations - without the disruption of their jobs. They need to refresh, regroup, recharge!

It's hard!  But if we don't allow ourselves to get recharged - if we don't allow ourselves to be "present" for our family and friends - we won't really be our best. We will miss a lot of the special moments in our family's life - because we aren't focusing on the moment because our minds are elsewhere.

Take a step back - be realistic on how your work, your family and your life interact with each other.

Make time for yourself. Make time for your family and friends. Make time for your job. 

Organize your life - organize your priorities. Yes - family and friends can and should be scheduled activities - just like you schedule your meetings at work. They are just as important.

Your health depends on having balance in your life.

Figure out what's working and what's not. You don't have to be in every single activity and on every single board. You might want to - but you don't have to.

Work/Life Balance is not always balanced. But you can adjust it - and you should - every so often.





Take our Work/Life Balance Assessment to see how well you are doing.


Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

How Organized Are You? Take A Quiz And Find Out....

Being ORGANIZED is a way of life. It's not a "one time, fix it up and be done with it" process. It's an ongoing event.  Some people might be organized in one part of their life and not in another. They might be organized at work and unorganized at home. It's perfectly normal and very common.

Just because you have an organized desk doesn't mean that you are an organized person.

Do you process your mail in a timely manner? Do you pay your bills on time? Do you drive all over town from one end to another? Do you realize that if you planned and consolidated your trips your could be saving time and money?

Being organized affects every part of your life. From when you wake up in the morning and have your clothes laid out for the day and your lunch made ahead of time....until you are ready to go to bed at night and have your tomorrow all planned out.

Do you have routines in place for sorting through your closet and getting rid of things that you never wear? Does your family know what you expect of them? Do they know where to put things? Do they even know that you have a plan?

When it comes to families - everyone should be on the same page - at least they should know there is a page. By coming together as a family and having a common goal you will be able to eliminate some of the stress that daily life brings.

Start by teaching your kids that you have expectations. You will be helping them grow into a better and more organized adult!

Take our  Personal Organizational Assessment   and see how organized you really are.



Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Calculate the Cost of Disorganization. How much money is your business losing?

Disorganization costs your company money. When you waste part of your day looking for reports or files because you did not put them where you could easily find them - you are wasting time and time is money.

When you are not ready for your meeting or you are late for your meeting because you are disorganized - you are wasting other people's time and money.

When you waste part of your day doing things - other than the job you were paid for - you are wasting your employers time and money.


Being disorganized is epidemic.

According to the NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) database you will find research showing parents spend an estimated 23 percent of their time outside of work coordinating their children’s and family’s schedules.  Being organized is crucial.  Yet, it's a problem that a lot of people can't get a handle on.

A few thing that can help:

1) Put your appointments on a calendar (paper or electronic) - and check it daily.
2) Give yourself extra time to get to your appointments.
3) Get ready for meetings the day before - to allow for any complications.
4) Get yourself & your family ready for work/school the night before.
5) Find a filing system that works for you - and use it!
6) Try to understand why you are so disorganized and let someone help you become more organized.

Calculate the Cost of Disorganization



Read this great article from Forbes on 
 Wasting Time At Work





Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Keep Your Family Organized

In today's world everyone is so busy it's hard to keep up with what's going on in your own life much less everyone in your family. Trying to juggle your work schedule, your personal schedule, doctors appointments and more - is well - hard. Add in your spouse's schedule and your kids schedule and it's a managing nightmare.

Gone are the days when a family sits down to a family dinner every night and the kids are playing in the backyard. Today's kids are in multiple activities and it's rare that everyone is in one place at the same time.

Keeping track of schedules and commitments requires a lot of planning and coordinating. One great option is Cozi.

















It's an online family organizer that not only allows multiple people to share a calendar - but it also lets you create to do lists, plan meals, shopping, send messages, journal - and a whole lot more.

And it's FREE !  It's a great organizing app!

Check it out - and see if your family can become more organized - and you don't forget any more important appointments.






Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

The Cost of Disorganization - Some Interesting Statistics

Lost something already today? Misplaced items cost us ten minutes a day.

We spend ten minutes every day rummaging for lost items, from books and phones to car keys and even the cars themselves, a survey has found. And a total of 3,680 hours or 153 days is spent searching for stuff, over our lifetimes.

The research found we also lose up to nine items every day - or 198,743 in a lifetime. The daily loss calculated over a year means an incredible 3,285 items are misplaced every 12 months - or just under 200,000 bits and bobs over the course of 60.5 adult years.

The research found we also lose up to nine items every day - or 198,743 in a lifetime. The daily loss calculated over a year means an incredible 3,285 items are misplaced every 12 months - or just under 200,000 bits and bobs over the course of 60.5 adult years.

TOP MOST LOST ITEMS

1. Mobile / smartphone
2. House keys
3. Car Keys
4. Paperwork
5. Sunglasses / spectacles
6. Purse / wallet
7. Lip balm
8. Hair brush
9. Gloves
10. Clothing
11. Umbrella
12. Book
13. Bank card
14. Train / bus ticket
15. Coat
16. Diary / personal organiser
17. Sun hat
18. Laptop
19. Car
20. Tablet / e-reader

(03/20/2012 - Esure Home Insurance Study of 3000 adults. By the Daily Mail Reporter)

These are some interesting statistics from our NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) statistical database.

Being disorganized costs you time and money. And a lot of stress when you are constantly searching for things. By having a more organized home and a more organized life - you could be doing a lot of things that are a lot more fun than searching for your car keys!

Having a "place for everything - and everything in its' place" will make your life a lot easier and a lot less stressed.

Now go and find your missing car keys! 

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Paper Managment Filing System - Another Great Option - Freedom Filer

Paper management is a never ending nightmare for most people. We get inundated with paper every day. What do we do with it all?  Where do we put it? How do we find it?

Being organized - with paper - is a challenge for a lot of people. Having some type of system in place - whether it's a filing cabinet and file folders or an electronic filing system - really makes a difference in being able to find the papers and information we need - in a timely manner.

Not being able to find a document causes frustration and stress. Especially if you wait until the last minute to find that important document that you need.


Another great system that can really save you time and frustration is the  Freedom Filer  system. It is a self purging system that is easy to use and easy to set up.



Company Info:
 FreedomFiler™ provides state-of-the-art, maintenance-free paper organizing solutions for the home and office. Created by an award winning development team, our flagship product is a self-purging home filing system that forever eliminates the need to clean out and reorganize files, while dramatically reducing the time and energy required to file and retrieve papers.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/