Photo Credits: By Rubbermaid Products
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Getting The Spring Cleaning Completed
By
Julie Riber
If you feel like you are going to rip your hair out when you hear
spring cleaning, you are not alone. Many think that spring cleaning
means to clean every inch of your house in a month's time. That is
impossible for anyone to do and unrealistic. This article will help you
decide what to clean and how to do organize as you go.
Spring cleaning should be different every year. You should choose different areas to tackle each year. For instance, as your children get older, their rooms might need a spring cleaning as they move from elementary school to middle school or middle school to high school. Certain closets probably do not need to have a spring cleaning every year as they are not used as frequently as others.
The first step in spring cleaning is to list all the areas that really need it this year. Concentrate on those areas that have not been completely emptied in the past two years. The next is to prioritize them in the order in which they are to be completed. Consider the weather if one of them is your garage. The next step to complete your spring cleaning is to make an appointment with yourself for that area. If you can give 2 hours once or twice a week, put those in your appointment book. If you do not schedule the time, you will never get it done.
On your first appointment, remove all the items from the area and give the shelves, or carpet a good cleaning. Take a look at all the items and decide what items got put there by mistake and remove them from the area. Make sure to sort all the items into groups. Sorting has no right or wrong way, but only the way it makes sense to you. Sorting allows you to see how many of any one item you have. Maybe you have it in a variety of colors or you have duplicates. It is time to make the tough decision on what stays and what goes. Anything broken or torn should go as well as any item not used or missed in the last year. Keep only items you must have or use consistently.
Your second appointment should be used to put all the items left back in an organized manner. Make sure you label any bins or baskets you might use to contain small objects. If it is not labeled, how is anyone else suppose to know what goes in the container? You, too, might forget. Buy only containers you needs. I see clients everyday who buy many containers, but do not use them, or use them incorrectly. They end up with hundreds of containers cluttering up their home. Remember, being organized is not just storing items in a bin. It requires you to really decide if you need the items contained.
The last step is to donate the items you no longer need. There are hundreds of charities out there waiting for your unneeded stuff for others to use and enjoy. Now, you have completed a spring cleaning project. It is time to move on to the next one.
Spring cleaning should be different every year. You should choose different areas to tackle each year. For instance, as your children get older, their rooms might need a spring cleaning as they move from elementary school to middle school or middle school to high school. Certain closets probably do not need to have a spring cleaning every year as they are not used as frequently as others.
The first step in spring cleaning is to list all the areas that really need it this year. Concentrate on those areas that have not been completely emptied in the past two years. The next is to prioritize them in the order in which they are to be completed. Consider the weather if one of them is your garage. The next step to complete your spring cleaning is to make an appointment with yourself for that area. If you can give 2 hours once or twice a week, put those in your appointment book. If you do not schedule the time, you will never get it done.
On your first appointment, remove all the items from the area and give the shelves, or carpet a good cleaning. Take a look at all the items and decide what items got put there by mistake and remove them from the area. Make sure to sort all the items into groups. Sorting has no right or wrong way, but only the way it makes sense to you. Sorting allows you to see how many of any one item you have. Maybe you have it in a variety of colors or you have duplicates. It is time to make the tough decision on what stays and what goes. Anything broken or torn should go as well as any item not used or missed in the last year. Keep only items you must have or use consistently.
Your second appointment should be used to put all the items left back in an organized manner. Make sure you label any bins or baskets you might use to contain small objects. If it is not labeled, how is anyone else suppose to know what goes in the container? You, too, might forget. Buy only containers you needs. I see clients everyday who buy many containers, but do not use them, or use them incorrectly. They end up with hundreds of containers cluttering up their home. Remember, being organized is not just storing items in a bin. It requires you to really decide if you need the items contained.
The last step is to donate the items you no longer need. There are hundreds of charities out there waiting for your unneeded stuff for others to use and enjoy. Now, you have completed a spring cleaning project. It is time to move on to the next one.
Julie Riber is a professional organizer in the central Ohio area
for over 5 years. She helps organize individuals spaces, time, and lives
and she helps businesses streamline processes, increase productivity,
and organize their spaces. She is a Golden Circle member of the National
Association of Professional Organizers and Immediate Past President of
the Ohio Chapter of NAPO. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter with
organizing tips. http://www.transformare.net
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Riber
What You Can't Afford in This Economy
By
Susan Stewart
What you can't afford in this economy is to be DISORGANIZED. Here's why:
Buying duplicate items because you couldn't find what you needed or you didn't remember you had it in the first place wastes money.
Questions to ask:
Do you have more than 3 bags of pasta or spaghetti sauce in your pantry?
If your entire house were searched, would more than 3 staplers turn up?
When it comes time to get out the holiday decorations, are you unable to find them all and end up purchasing new ones each year?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be wasting money by purchasing things you do not need.
Food uses a bigger portion of the budget than is needed.
Questions to ask:
Does your lack of meal planning lead to eating out more than twice a week?
Do you often go out to eat simply because the kitchen is so cluttered that the thought of cooking is completely overwhelming?
When you grocery shop, do you shop without a list?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be spending more money on food than is necessary.
1 in 4 adults say they pay bills late (thus incurring late fees) because they lose them.
Questions to ask:
When a bill comes in the mail, do you have a consistent place to put it?
Do you have a schedule you follow for paying your bills?
Do you feel in control of the mail and have a system for dealing with it?
If you answered no to any of these questions, you may be wasting money on late fees.
Buying duplicate items because you couldn't find what you needed or you didn't remember you had it in the first place wastes money.
Questions to ask:
Do you have more than 3 bags of pasta or spaghetti sauce in your pantry?
If your entire house were searched, would more than 3 staplers turn up?
When it comes time to get out the holiday decorations, are you unable to find them all and end up purchasing new ones each year?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be wasting money by purchasing things you do not need.
Food uses a bigger portion of the budget than is needed.
Questions to ask:
Does your lack of meal planning lead to eating out more than twice a week?
Do you often go out to eat simply because the kitchen is so cluttered that the thought of cooking is completely overwhelming?
When you grocery shop, do you shop without a list?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be spending more money on food than is necessary.
1 in 4 adults say they pay bills late (thus incurring late fees) because they lose them.
Questions to ask:
When a bill comes in the mail, do you have a consistent place to put it?
Do you have a schedule you follow for paying your bills?
Do you feel in control of the mail and have a system for dealing with it?
If you answered no to any of these questions, you may be wasting money on late fees.
Susan Stewart is a professional organizer and the founder of
Perfectly Placed Professional Organization and Design in the Phoenix
area. Perfectly Placed simplifies the domestic lives of women through
organization. You can find out more about Susan and Perfectly Placed at
her website: http://www.perfectlyplaced.org
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_StewartOrganizing A More Productive Day
By
Julie Riber
The economy has put the world in a spin and many workers fear the
loss of their job. The more productive you are at work, the less likely
you will be picked when downsizing becomes the inevitable. Make sure
you are the one your employer look to for high productivity.
To organize a productive day at work, you must first look at your week as a whole. Whether you work 8-5 Monday - Friday, or if you work a different schedule every day, you need to take time on the day before your work week starts. For many in the workforce today, that day is Sunday. I will use Sunday as my example, but you can use any day of the week. First, on Sunday evening, take a look at your schedule for the week and look at the days you are booked with meetings or appointments. Next, look at the days you have time not currently filled.
Schedule in time for projects you are working on and time for correspondence. Schedule time for your to do list and any other item you need to work on this week. Not only are you looking at your day schedule, you need to look at the evenings too. Many families spend time at practices and games, so scheduling after school appointments, to do list time and family time is tough.
Every day should have time in the morning and early afternoon scheduled to look and answer at e-mail. If you leave your e-mail open all day, you will get nothing else accomplished. If your are used to looking at e-mail all day long, this will be a tough habit to break, but it will improve your productivity.
If you return a number of phone calls on a daily basis, that time too, should be scheduled. Obviously, something can come up that will disrupt your scheduled day, but this will not happen everyday. Try to stick to your schedule as close as possible to be the most productive. If you can, mark out time for these on Outlook so others do not schedule you for a meeting during these times, do so.
If possible, close your door during times you need to really concentrate. If you work in an open office area, try to put a note on your cubicle to let everyone know you are busy, or try a conference room for some privacy if you are interrupted constantly during the day.
Organizing your week will allow you to remember the projects and items that must be completed that week and you will become much more productive.
To organize a productive day at work, you must first look at your week as a whole. Whether you work 8-5 Monday - Friday, or if you work a different schedule every day, you need to take time on the day before your work week starts. For many in the workforce today, that day is Sunday. I will use Sunday as my example, but you can use any day of the week. First, on Sunday evening, take a look at your schedule for the week and look at the days you are booked with meetings or appointments. Next, look at the days you have time not currently filled.
Schedule in time for projects you are working on and time for correspondence. Schedule time for your to do list and any other item you need to work on this week. Not only are you looking at your day schedule, you need to look at the evenings too. Many families spend time at practices and games, so scheduling after school appointments, to do list time and family time is tough.
Every day should have time in the morning and early afternoon scheduled to look and answer at e-mail. If you leave your e-mail open all day, you will get nothing else accomplished. If your are used to looking at e-mail all day long, this will be a tough habit to break, but it will improve your productivity.
If you return a number of phone calls on a daily basis, that time too, should be scheduled. Obviously, something can come up that will disrupt your scheduled day, but this will not happen everyday. Try to stick to your schedule as close as possible to be the most productive. If you can, mark out time for these on Outlook so others do not schedule you for a meeting during these times, do so.
If possible, close your door during times you need to really concentrate. If you work in an open office area, try to put a note on your cubicle to let everyone know you are busy, or try a conference room for some privacy if you are interrupted constantly during the day.
Organizing your week will allow you to remember the projects and items that must be completed that week and you will become much more productive.
Julie Riber is a professional organizer in the central Ohio area
for over 5 years. She helps organize individuals spaces, time, and lives
and she helps businesses streamline processes, increase productivity,
and organize their spaces. She is a Golden Circle member of the National
Association of Professional Organizers and Immediate Past President of
the Ohio Chapter of NAPO. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter with
organizing tips. http://www.transformare.net
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Riber
Make the Most of Vertical Space
By
Susan Stewart
When working with small spaces, it is imperative to make use of
vertical space. If you can't go out, you've got to go up! Choose a
product that is attractive, and your organization is now doing double
duty as wall decor. Here are 3 tips for making the most of vertical
storage.
1. Pick the color intentionally, not spontaneously. Many people choose a product spontaneously because they like a color they see in the store. When they get home and realize it doesn't match the room they want to put it in, they become frustrated. A little planning can go a long way here. Think through where you will use it and choose your color accordingly.
2. Do not let pockets, baskets, or any container become a "catch all" or that is exactly what it will do. Containers that become "catch all's" are containers that gather dust. No one wants to sort through miscellaneous junk to find what they are looking for. Instead, give things a home and be consistent about placing that particular item (and only that particular item) in that spot. You can still use baskets or containers for these homes.
3. Too many sticky notes or things on a bulletin board or magnet board makes clutter. People tend to post notes as a reminder but when a board is covered with notes, the note doesn't get seen. Using a to do list for lists works better and easier to read. Use the board for morning reminders or motivating quotes.
1. Pick the color intentionally, not spontaneously. Many people choose a product spontaneously because they like a color they see in the store. When they get home and realize it doesn't match the room they want to put it in, they become frustrated. A little planning can go a long way here. Think through where you will use it and choose your color accordingly.
2. Do not let pockets, baskets, or any container become a "catch all" or that is exactly what it will do. Containers that become "catch all's" are containers that gather dust. No one wants to sort through miscellaneous junk to find what they are looking for. Instead, give things a home and be consistent about placing that particular item (and only that particular item) in that spot. You can still use baskets or containers for these homes.
3. Too many sticky notes or things on a bulletin board or magnet board makes clutter. People tend to post notes as a reminder but when a board is covered with notes, the note doesn't get seen. Using a to do list for lists works better and easier to read. Use the board for morning reminders or motivating quotes.
Susan Stewart is a professional organizer and the founder of
Perfectly Placed Professional Organization and Design in the Phoenix
area. Perfectly Placed specializes in bringing peace and order to busy
families through organization. You can find out more about Susan and
Perfectly Placed at her website: http://www.perfectlyplaced.org/
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Stewart
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