Balance in your life. Yes, having an organized home is important. But if you have children, remember that the dust will be there tomorrow. Don’t lose sight of the important things in your life – like playing with your children and going to the beach on a sunny day. Don’t put off the dusting for too long – but your children won’t be little forever. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Sometimes priorities aren’t as obvious as they seem.
* Summer basket: In the summer I always keep a basket filled with “picnic” items near my front door. Take advantage of the warm weather and eat dinner at the beach or the park. It’s amazing how going to the beach and eating dinner on a picnic blanket (which I always keep in my car for spur of the moment picnics) can relax you after a hard and stressful day at work. It’s like a mini vacation rolled up in a few hours. Looking out at the water and watching the sunset works wonders on relieving your stress.
In my basket I keep a supply of paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic silverware, salt/pepper, wet wipes, plastic bags for garbage, magazines, sunscreen.
I throw in some bottled water and grab some sandwiches (you can also get them at a sub shop on your way to the beach) or KFC (yes, it’s bad for you but it’s part of our summer tradition).
I always keep a bag of baby carrots, cut up vegetables, and some fruit in the fridge during the summer for quick healthy snacks….and these can be tossed in your basket too.
If you have little kids keeps a bag filled with a couple of buckets and shovels in your car for those “spur of the moment” trips to the beach. Keep an extra set of beach towels in your car and you will be ready to go at a moments notice.
Try it …. And see how much less stressed you will feel after an hour at the beach. We live less than 20 minutes away from the beach yet most people never take advantage of this great opportunity for a “mini vacation” during the week.
________________________________________________________________________________
* Emergency Kit: Instead of having band-aids and other emergency medical supplies spread out throughout the bathroom make up an “emergency medical kit” so that everything can be in one easy to find place. Use a container with a lid that has handles and when an emergency arises you can just take the entire kit with you and have everything you might possibly need at your fingertips. You can keep one kit in the house and another in your car. Some items that you might want to include are:
* Anti-biotic ointment
* Anti itch ointment
* Alcohol wipes
* Aspirin
* Band-aids
* Cotton swabs
* Eye drops
* Instect Repellent
* Hand Sanitizer
* Sunscreen
* Tissues
* Tweezers
Have a great summer..... be prepared for fun !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, May 24, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
SCHOOLS OUT: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL OF THE KIDS “STUFF” ?
Yippee ! Schools out ! The kids are beyond happy. Summer is almost here. Fun in the sun !
As you look around you see backpacks on the floor with the contents of their locker /desk strewn everywhere. Your office / desk / refrigerator is already bursting with their “art work” and crafts. How did you accumulate so much “stuff”?
Just remember – you have 12 years of this ! How do you get a handle on all of their “special papers” ? Don’t let the clutter overtake you. You will easily end up with more boxes of their “stuff” every year.
I know you and the kids are excited that school is out and the last thing that you want to do is spend hours going through their stuff. But it’s easier to just bite the bullet and get it done now and be able to enjoy the summer without having to look at the clutter all summer long.
There are a number of ways to go about this. One, get one (1) box or plastic bin for each child. Put in dividers for each school year. Pick one or two or three (no more or you’ll run out of room) great pieces to save. Put all of their report cards and awards into the folders.
Instead of a box, you can also use a large pendaflex folder for each child. You will need to explain to your child that you can’t keep “all” of their pictures because you just don’t have the room (trust me – my kids decorated an entire wall of my office with their art work and I left it up until they “begged” me to take it down when they were 15).
Do this at the end of every school year so that you are not overwhelmed when they are going away to college and you decide it’s “finally” time to clear our their stuff (trust me….they go from 12 to college overnight!).
Take a look at their backpack and see if it still is in good condition for next year. If it is, clean it out and store it for next year. If it’s, not throw it in the garbage.
Go through all of their school supplies and get rid of everything that is broken. Sort all of the “good” supplies into a box for next year. Make a list of what you have left over that can be re-used so that you don’t have to buy it next year.
Now you can relax and enjoy your summer…..that is until it’s time to “get organized” for the next school year. But that’s another article!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
As you look around you see backpacks on the floor with the contents of their locker /desk strewn everywhere. Your office / desk / refrigerator is already bursting with their “art work” and crafts. How did you accumulate so much “stuff”?
Just remember – you have 12 years of this ! How do you get a handle on all of their “special papers” ? Don’t let the clutter overtake you. You will easily end up with more boxes of their “stuff” every year.
I know you and the kids are excited that school is out and the last thing that you want to do is spend hours going through their stuff. But it’s easier to just bite the bullet and get it done now and be able to enjoy the summer without having to look at the clutter all summer long.
There are a number of ways to go about this. One, get one (1) box or plastic bin for each child. Put in dividers for each school year. Pick one or two or three (no more or you’ll run out of room) great pieces to save. Put all of their report cards and awards into the folders.
Instead of a box, you can also use a large pendaflex folder for each child. You will need to explain to your child that you can’t keep “all” of their pictures because you just don’t have the room (trust me – my kids decorated an entire wall of my office with their art work and I left it up until they “begged” me to take it down when they were 15).
Do this at the end of every school year so that you are not overwhelmed when they are going away to college and you decide it’s “finally” time to clear our their stuff (trust me….they go from 12 to college overnight!).
Take a look at their backpack and see if it still is in good condition for next year. If it is, clean it out and store it for next year. If it’s, not throw it in the garbage.
Go through all of their school supplies and get rid of everything that is broken. Sort all of the “good” supplies into a box for next year. Make a list of what you have left over that can be re-used so that you don’t have to buy it next year.
Now you can relax and enjoy your summer…..that is until it’s time to “get organized” for the next school year. But that’s another article!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, May 10, 2010
MORNING MADNESS
Some people are morning people…and some people aren’t. I am. My sister, well you never want to call her before noon. I always laid out my suit the night before and made sure that my briefcase was all packed. I knew where everything was and I liked to get in to work early and get a lot of things done before everyone else got there.
There are a lot of things that you can do to make the mornings go a lot smoother.
Some ideas:
* Get your coffee maker ready the night before
* Pack your lunch before you go to bead
* Decide what you are going to wear and lay the clothes out before you go to bed
* Pack your briefcase / backpack the night before
* Put your briefcase / backpack in a designated spot (along with your car keys)
* For kids > pack their backpack with their homework & put in a designated spot
* Pour your breakfast juice in your glass & put in fridge
* Set the breakfast table
* Set out your box of cereal and fruit for breakfast
* Cook hardboiled eggs ahead of time so that you have them all available for breakfast
* Pre-cook sausages ahead of time so that all you have to do is microwave them
* Make pancakes ahead of time & freeze them so that all you have to do is microwave them
* Stagger your kids wake up calls so that everyone has a turn in the bathroom & no one is late
By getting as much done the night before as possible….. you will have less to do in the morning. And if you're not a morning person…. you won’t forget anything.
By just changing the timing of when you do things…. you can be more organized.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
There are a lot of things that you can do to make the mornings go a lot smoother.
Some ideas:
* Get your coffee maker ready the night before
* Pack your lunch before you go to bead
* Decide what you are going to wear and lay the clothes out before you go to bed
* Pack your briefcase / backpack the night before
* Put your briefcase / backpack in a designated spot (along with your car keys)
* For kids > pack their backpack with their homework & put in a designated spot
* Pour your breakfast juice in your glass & put in fridge
* Set the breakfast table
* Set out your box of cereal and fruit for breakfast
* Cook hardboiled eggs ahead of time so that you have them all available for breakfast
* Pre-cook sausages ahead of time so that all you have to do is microwave them
* Make pancakes ahead of time & freeze them so that all you have to do is microwave them
* Stagger your kids wake up calls so that everyone has a turn in the bathroom & no one is late
By getting as much done the night before as possible….. you will have less to do in the morning. And if you're not a morning person…. you won’t forget anything.
By just changing the timing of when you do things…. you can be more organized.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, May 3, 2010
ORGANIZING YOUR GARAGE
When people think about organizing their living space they usually forget one very important “room” in their home ….. the garage. Unlike the other rooms of their house the garage serves many uses.
It stores their car… to keep it dry and warm and out of the bad weather.
It stores their lawn mower, gardening tools and lawn furniture.
It stores their snow blower.
It stores their bicycles and other sports gear.
Sometimes it’s even used as a workshop, complete with workbench and tools.
So many uses…..yet, it’s the least thought about room of the house.
When we go for walks around our neighborhood we get to peak into many people’s garages….since a lot of people leave them open. And I always says “those people need me !”.
Many people’s garages are packed from floor to ceiling with “stuff”. A lot of people can’t even get both cars into their garage because there is no room. Yet they have no problem letting the entire neighborhood see their disorganized space.
Organizing your garage is important because of the many functions that it serves. By stepping back and thinking about the various functions and organizing your garage into “zones” you can get the best use out of your space. Have a “sports zone”, a “garden zone”, a “tool zone” …and so on.
It is very important to remember that due to the various temperature changes and the humidity (and since most garages are not heated) you need to consider the types of materials (shelving, cabinets, storage units….) that you use. Plastic shelves and containers are probably better options than wood.
Don’t store things in paper boxes due to the moisture…. or you might end up with mold. Keep things off of the floor so that they don’t get wet.
There are numerous pegboard type systems out there that can be used to hang all of your tools and get them off of the floor. Remember to use your vertical space. You can also mount shelving to hang from the ceiling for “above car” storage. And there are numerous options to hang your bikes.
By using a combination of storage options for your various needs you can double or triple your space and have a garage that can also be used for your ….. car.
A company that has some great options to help you with organizing your garage is: Garage Outfitters
Another important thing to remember is that you should have a fire extinguisher and first aid kit in the garage.
Organize your garage…. and make your neighbors happy !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
It stores their car… to keep it dry and warm and out of the bad weather.
It stores their lawn mower, gardening tools and lawn furniture.
It stores their snow blower.
It stores their bicycles and other sports gear.
Sometimes it’s even used as a workshop, complete with workbench and tools.
So many uses…..yet, it’s the least thought about room of the house.
When we go for walks around our neighborhood we get to peak into many people’s garages….since a lot of people leave them open. And I always says “those people need me !”.
Many people’s garages are packed from floor to ceiling with “stuff”. A lot of people can’t even get both cars into their garage because there is no room. Yet they have no problem letting the entire neighborhood see their disorganized space.
Organizing your garage is important because of the many functions that it serves. By stepping back and thinking about the various functions and organizing your garage into “zones” you can get the best use out of your space. Have a “sports zone”, a “garden zone”, a “tool zone” …and so on.
It is very important to remember that due to the various temperature changes and the humidity (and since most garages are not heated) you need to consider the types of materials (shelving, cabinets, storage units….) that you use. Plastic shelves and containers are probably better options than wood.
Don’t store things in paper boxes due to the moisture…. or you might end up with mold. Keep things off of the floor so that they don’t get wet.
There are numerous pegboard type systems out there that can be used to hang all of your tools and get them off of the floor. Remember to use your vertical space. You can also mount shelving to hang from the ceiling for “above car” storage. And there are numerous options to hang your bikes.
By using a combination of storage options for your various needs you can double or triple your space and have a garage that can also be used for your ….. car.
A company that has some great options to help you with organizing your garage is: Garage Outfitters
Another important thing to remember is that you should have a fire extinguisher and first aid kit in the garage.
Organize your garage…. and make your neighbors happy !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
NAPO CONFERENCE - NSGCD EXAM
The world was slightly disorganized last week because a lot of organizers went to the National Association of Professional Organizers conference in Columbus. There were about 680 or so “professional organizers” at the conference. Talking about “organizing” of course !
If was my first conference and my brain is in “overload” at the moment.
There were so many interesting seminars that it was hard to pick “just one” for each session. From technology, marketing, growing your business, working with the aging population, hoarders, ADD, Green organizing …and so much more And people thought we only talked about “closets” !
And I am very (make that very, very) proud to announce that I PASSED my NSGCD CD exam !!!! (National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization – Chronic Disorganization exam).
I was talking to a client and she said “wow, you have exams?”. Yes, we do! As a very serious organizer we take tons (that’s dozens and dozens…..) of classes / seminars to learn everything we can about “organizing”. There are so many different aspects of organizing:
* Chronic Disorganization
* Basic ADD Issues with the CD Client
* CD Client Administration
* Basic Physical Conditions Affecting the CD Client
* Understanding the Needs of the Elderly CD Client
* Learning Styles and Modalities
* Basic Hoarding Issues with the CD Client
* Understanding the Needs of the Student CD Client
* Basic Mental Health Conditions and Challenges Affecting the CD Client
* Study in Life Transitions (LT)
The conference also had a special reception – a “meet and greet” with some of the members of the “Hoarders” show. It was very exciting! Lots of pictures and lots of chatter!
I want to give a special “Thank You” to Matt Paxton of Clutter Cleaner, one of the members of the “Hoarders” show for spending so much time with me discussing client issues (client’s names are never discussed and privacy is always maintained). Hoarding is a very serious and complex issue that requires the services of not only a professional organizer but also a therapist and other providers.
It was a long week and I think that all of the organizers that were there are now busily trying to incorporate what they learned at the conference into their businesses.
We are constantly trying to improve ourselves and the lives of our clients.
Remember….. “Less Clutter = Less Stress” (SM)
Happy Organizing!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
If was my first conference and my brain is in “overload” at the moment.
There were so many interesting seminars that it was hard to pick “just one” for each session. From technology, marketing, growing your business, working with the aging population, hoarders, ADD, Green organizing …and so much more And people thought we only talked about “closets” !
And I am very (make that very, very) proud to announce that I PASSED my NSGCD CD exam !!!! (National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization – Chronic Disorganization exam).
I was talking to a client and she said “wow, you have exams?”. Yes, we do! As a very serious organizer we take tons (that’s dozens and dozens…..) of classes / seminars to learn everything we can about “organizing”. There are so many different aspects of organizing:
* Chronic Disorganization
* Basic ADD Issues with the CD Client
* CD Client Administration
* Basic Physical Conditions Affecting the CD Client
* Understanding the Needs of the Elderly CD Client
* Learning Styles and Modalities
* Basic Hoarding Issues with the CD Client
* Understanding the Needs of the Student CD Client
* Basic Mental Health Conditions and Challenges Affecting the CD Client
* Study in Life Transitions (LT)
The conference also had a special reception – a “meet and greet” with some of the members of the “Hoarders” show. It was very exciting! Lots of pictures and lots of chatter!
I want to give a special “Thank You” to Matt Paxton of Clutter Cleaner, one of the members of the “Hoarders” show for spending so much time with me discussing client issues (client’s names are never discussed and privacy is always maintained). Hoarding is a very serious and complex issue that requires the services of not only a professional organizer but also a therapist and other providers.
It was a long week and I think that all of the organizers that were there are now busily trying to incorporate what they learned at the conference into their businesses.
We are constantly trying to improve ourselves and the lives of our clients.
Remember….. “Less Clutter = Less Stress” (SM)
Happy Organizing!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, April 26, 2010
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Everyone should be prepared for an emergency. Whether it’s the loss of power and electricity (which could last for days) or a hurricane, earthquake or other natural disaster…. Or a terrorist attack…
We’ve had numerous “disasters” in the last few years….the World Trade Center attack (9/11/2001), Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), Hurricane Katrina (2005), Haiti Earthquake (2010)…
Being prepared is not an “option” anymore. Even if just the electricity went out…and you happen to have an “all electric” home….would you be able to survive? Do you have enough food to last you for a few days? What happens if all the stores are closed?
These are just some things to think about…..
There are numerous websites and articles that tell you to be prepared to survive for at least three (3) days if an emergency occurs. The “72 Hour Kit” as some people call it.
Besides the basic kit, you also need to have an emergency plan in place. Below is a basic list that will give you some ideas to get you started (there are numerous variations of this kit).
Basic Kit:
Water – one (1) gallon per person , per day for at least three (3) days
Food – 3 days supply of non-perishable food. Some ideas are: soup mix, granola bars, trail mix, crackers,
peanut butter, beef jerky, fruit cups….
Plastic / paper – plates, cups, napkins…
Radio – battery powered
Flashlight – with extra batteries
First aid kit – basic kit
Whistle
Can opener
Garbage bags & plastic bags (various sizes)
Sleeping Bag
Blankets
Clothes – for three (3) days
Shoes
Coats & rain gear & cold weather gear
Personal hygiene products such as: shampoo, lotion, razors, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, feminine
products, sunscreen…..
Wet wipes
Toilet Paper
Sewing Kit
Paper & pencils
Matches / lighter (in water proof container)
Cash
Basic tools (wrench, pliers, scissors….)
Maps
Water purification tablets (or Chlorine Bleach)
Hand Sanitizer
String / rope / cord
Cooking appliances (portable stove with fuel….)
Some things (like medications…) cannot pack ahead of time…so have a checklist prepared for those items.
Checklist for supplies that need to be packed last minute:
Prescription medication
Infant formula
Pet food
Family documents (passport, birth certificates, identification cards, bank info, insurance info….)
Watch
Games for kids
Start thinking about how you and your family would handle an emergency….and start planning for it today…before that emergency strikes.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
We’ve had numerous “disasters” in the last few years….the World Trade Center attack (9/11/2001), Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), Hurricane Katrina (2005), Haiti Earthquake (2010)…
Being prepared is not an “option” anymore. Even if just the electricity went out…and you happen to have an “all electric” home….would you be able to survive? Do you have enough food to last you for a few days? What happens if all the stores are closed?
These are just some things to think about…..
There are numerous websites and articles that tell you to be prepared to survive for at least three (3) days if an emergency occurs. The “72 Hour Kit” as some people call it.
Besides the basic kit, you also need to have an emergency plan in place. Below is a basic list that will give you some ideas to get you started (there are numerous variations of this kit).
Basic Kit:
Water – one (1) gallon per person , per day for at least three (3) days
Food – 3 days supply of non-perishable food. Some ideas are: soup mix, granola bars, trail mix, crackers,
peanut butter, beef jerky, fruit cups….
Plastic / paper – plates, cups, napkins…
Radio – battery powered
Flashlight – with extra batteries
First aid kit – basic kit
Whistle
Can opener
Garbage bags & plastic bags (various sizes)
Sleeping Bag
Blankets
Clothes – for three (3) days
Shoes
Coats & rain gear & cold weather gear
Personal hygiene products such as: shampoo, lotion, razors, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, feminine
products, sunscreen…..
Wet wipes
Toilet Paper
Sewing Kit
Paper & pencils
Matches / lighter (in water proof container)
Cash
Basic tools (wrench, pliers, scissors….)
Maps
Water purification tablets (or Chlorine Bleach)
Hand Sanitizer
String / rope / cord
Cooking appliances (portable stove with fuel….)
Some things (like medications…) cannot pack ahead of time…so have a checklist prepared for those items.
Checklist for supplies that need to be packed last minute:
Prescription medication
Infant formula
Pet food
Family documents (passport, birth certificates, identification cards, bank info, insurance info….)
Watch
Games for kids
Start thinking about how you and your family would handle an emergency….and start planning for it today…before that emergency strikes.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, April 19, 2010
PAPER MANAGEMENT
Paper….paper….paper…
Even in this electronic age we are still inundated with paper. The mailman brings us stuff that we don’t even want. Junk mail, bills….. A never ending cycle.
So what do we do with it? Besides let it pile up and ignore it?
Where do we put it…besides the kitchen table? Or dumping it on our “office desk”? Where it sits…waiting for us to “do something with it”.
If you want to cut down on mail and paper there are a number of options:
* Send a letter to DMA and request that they stop sending you “junk mail”:
DMA Mail DMA Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, New York 11735 – 9008
* Cancel your magazine and newspaper subscriptions and read them on-line.
As soon as the mail comes immediately sort it into piles:
* Junk (immediately sort that right into the garbage can)
* Bills to pay
* Personal mail (letters, cards…)
* Business Mail
* Magazines & Newspapers
Pick a specific day or time that you are going to sit down and go through each pile. In business you will probably have to deal with it more often than on a personal level.
Set up a schedule where you will deal with your bills. Once a week, once every other week…whatever works for you. But then stick to it.
For business mail you should also have a schedule where you will sit down and deal with your mail. When you go through it put it into piles of things that you need to deal with immediately, things that you can deal with later, information to keep or things to toss.
By compartmentalizing your mail you are able to focus on one thing at a time and actually able to accomplish something instead of going from reading a letter, to paying a bill, to dealing with a business issue…and so on.
It is very important to remember that when you are tossing out mail or any papers that you remember to protect yourself and your identity by shredding personal or business information that has your social security number or credit card information or any other information that could be used for identity theft.
Another important aspect of paper management is “paper retention”. How long do you really need to keep information? There are record retention laws that relate to personal records (taxes, financial info….) and business records. Be sure that you know how long you actually need to keep things. There is no reason to keep papers forever…unless you happen to have lots of extra room that you have no other use for.
In your filing cabinet you should only have records for the current year. Last years information should be taken out of your files and stored elsewhere (basement, attic….).
Cutting down on your paper usage and paper shuffling saves you time, money and storage space.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Even in this electronic age we are still inundated with paper. The mailman brings us stuff that we don’t even want. Junk mail, bills….. A never ending cycle.
So what do we do with it? Besides let it pile up and ignore it?
Where do we put it…besides the kitchen table? Or dumping it on our “office desk”? Where it sits…waiting for us to “do something with it”.
If you want to cut down on mail and paper there are a number of options:
* Send a letter to DMA and request that they stop sending you “junk mail”:
DMA Mail DMA Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, New York 11735 – 9008
* Cancel your magazine and newspaper subscriptions and read them on-line.
As soon as the mail comes immediately sort it into piles:
* Junk (immediately sort that right into the garbage can)
* Bills to pay
* Personal mail (letters, cards…)
* Business Mail
* Magazines & Newspapers
Pick a specific day or time that you are going to sit down and go through each pile. In business you will probably have to deal with it more often than on a personal level.
Set up a schedule where you will deal with your bills. Once a week, once every other week…whatever works for you. But then stick to it.
For business mail you should also have a schedule where you will sit down and deal with your mail. When you go through it put it into piles of things that you need to deal with immediately, things that you can deal with later, information to keep or things to toss.
By compartmentalizing your mail you are able to focus on one thing at a time and actually able to accomplish something instead of going from reading a letter, to paying a bill, to dealing with a business issue…and so on.
It is very important to remember that when you are tossing out mail or any papers that you remember to protect yourself and your identity by shredding personal or business information that has your social security number or credit card information or any other information that could be used for identity theft.
Another important aspect of paper management is “paper retention”. How long do you really need to keep information? There are record retention laws that relate to personal records (taxes, financial info….) and business records. Be sure that you know how long you actually need to keep things. There is no reason to keep papers forever…unless you happen to have lots of extra room that you have no other use for.
In your filing cabinet you should only have records for the current year. Last years information should be taken out of your files and stored elsewhere (basement, attic….).
Cutting down on your paper usage and paper shuffling saves you time, money and storage space.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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