Organize Your House

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Organizing Your Spices - 10 Tips For Choosing the Right Storage

By Ariane Benefit

Everyone's needs for spices storage are completely unique. Some people have lots of space, but only have a few spices to store and they don't use them often. Others have limited space, lots of spices, and use some of them all the time and some of them rarely. Often people buy many types of storage before finding the one they really like and use. So, to help you get it right the first time, here are a few things to consider in selecting the right storage to organize your spices.

Is it easy to use? Test it out in the store. Is it easy to open and close? Can you access it with one hand? How many steps does it take to use it?
Will it be easy to clean? Are there lots of nooks and cranny for dirt and grime to settle into? Can you submerse it in water without destroying the contents?
Is it the right size? Will you have to constantly refill containers? if so are they really easy to open, close, and refill?
Is it easy to get the right amount out of the containers? Can you fit your measuring spoon inside? Does it have controls to keep all the contents from accidentally spilling out at once? If this is important to you, today you can even get containers that meter out the right amounts for you! Just dial the amount you want and let it go.
Where in your kitchen do you have space? Don't buy a product unless you KNOW that you have a designated space for it and it will fit. Measure the area you plan to store spices in before you shop.
Will each spice have it's own home so that you will know exactly where to put it when you are done with it? And it will be easy to find?
Count the number of spices you have. Make sure the storage solution you buy will be large enough for all your needs, plus have room to grow. Consider using more than one solution. One to keep handy for everyday cooking, one for infrequent use.
Do you really love the look of it and will you enjoy using it? If you don't really love it, cooking will be less enjoyable for you and you may end up ordering out more often. Cooking at home is the best way to eat healthy and save money. So why not make cooking as easy and enjoyable as you possibly can?
Will it fit with your decor and colors even if you change them? Try to get something neutral enough to fit in with any decor. Having a theme to all your kitchen accessories is a great way to make it easy to redecorate and still have everything fit in. For example, your theme could be white accessories, or chrome or stainless steel. If your items conform to a theme, they tend to look less cluttery when they are out on your counters.
Don't buy an item just because it's a novelty and seems like a cool idea. When you get these impulse buy gadgets home, they often don't fit in and you'll probably end up giving it away anyway.

Thinking through these factors will help you get the right storage the first time. But just in case, whatever you buy, make sure it's returnable. Even the best shoppers sometimes get something home and find it just doesn't work.

Would you like to simplify your life and get more organized? Ariane Benefit is a Life Coach, ADD Coach, organizing expert, author and coach who has been quoted in Psychology Today, the Wall Street Journal, and more. Visit her popular Neat & Simple Living Blog at http://blog.neatandsimple.com Ariane has over 25 years experience helping businesses and individuals get the results they want. Take a peek inside her book, Neat & Simple Guide to Organizing Your Office at http://www.lotusbridge.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ariane_Benefit

Too Many to Do's? 8 Neat Ideas to Help You Get Organized, Stay Focused and Get Things Done

By Ariane Benefit

Are you one of the many people who have massive TO DO lists but really never get them all done? Solution? Create a realistic Master Plan and get organized! Whether it's buying a house, having a baby, deciding on a new car, planning a vacation, writing a book, moving, or even starting a new business or job, if you organize to get it done, you can make your dreams come true! One day at a time.

Here are 8 neat ideas to get you started on your way to getting things done.

Create a Master Plan. Review your To Dos and identify the projects or goals they enable you to achieve. Now make a Master Plan by listing the 3-10 major projects / things you'd like to accomplish in the next year. For example, you would include big picture goals like "buy a house," "read 10 books on a given subject," or "establish a vegetable garden." Do not includes tasks, decisions, or steps like "find a Real Estate agent" or "choose a neighborhood."
Prioritize Your Master Plan Goals and Set Timelines. For example, you many want to buy your new home in the fall when prices tend to be a little lower. Or buy in the Spring, so you can move while the kids are out of school. With a timeline in mind you can then set mini-goals and deadlines along the way to make sure your project gets done when you want it done.
Keep Your Master Plan Where You'll See it Often. On a wall or white board, in your calender or a computer file or make it a screensaver on your computer!
Make a Separate File Folder or Binder for Each Project. Your file folders can be paper or on your computer, or both! Keep your special project folders or binders together in a handy drawer, shelf, step file or portable file box. Make sure the files or binders are well labeled and near where you will do most of the work so you can easily access the information you collect and put related documents in them. If you have a file folder on your computer, keep it handy by creating a shortcut to the folder and put it on your Desktop or Quick Launch Bar (if you use Microsoft Windows.)
Break Down Each Project into Tasks. Use natural milestone decisions to be made, like finding the right agent, as your guide. Create a document listing all the steps you can think of to make each part of the project a reality. Put this list in your file folder or binder and update the list as you work each project. For example, here is where you would put the task of "find a Real Estate agent" or "choose a neighborhood." To accomplish each of those tasks you will then have To Do's. To Do's should be only those things that can get done in a single day during the week like: - Call Nancy, Scott and Jen to get referrals of agents. - Set up interviews with 3 agents. - Research 3 neighborhoods on the net.
Record Your Progress. As you make progress and do research, put your notes, brochures, web page printouts, drafts, ideas, etc. into the project folder. TIP: Record any particularly helpful related websites and phone numbers on the front of your folder for easy access!
Schedule Time. Mark time out on your calendar each week to make progress on your projects. You can just put a block of 1-2 hours that says SPECIAL PROJECTS or schedule time for each project every week. Then you only need to refer to your Special Projects Folders to pick up where you left off on whichever one needs attention.
Park New Big Ideas in a Parking Lot. Along the way you will get new ideas that could distract you from achieving your Master Plan. If you don't want to change your Master Plan, create a parking space for them! This could be a folder, a computer file, a section in your calendar, a special little notebook or any single place to write down all your ideas so you can get them off your mind. When one of your projects is done, you can always go to your idea file for inspiration for the next project. I call mine - IDEA FILE (Original huh? : )

Remember to be realistic. Each day, only put 5 - 6 things on your To Do list. Only put things you MUST do that day plus one or two others that move you toward getting your special projects done. You really can't do more than that in addition to your everyday chores and work! But if you keep at it, everything WILL get done!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ariane_Benefit

What to Expect When Working With a Professional Organizer to Help You Get Organized

By Ariane Benefit

Have you ever thought about working with professional organizer to get your home and life together, but hesitated because you are nervous about what it will be like? Here are 10 tips on what you should be able to expect. Use these tips to help you interview and choose the right professional organizer for you!

Each professional organizer has their own style, so use this only as a guide to help you interview potential professional organizers.

PARTNERING - Working with a professional organizer should be a partnership. A professional organizer doesn't just provide a set of hands to assist you in rearranging stuff. We provide expertise, recommendations, and ideas on new ways of doing things. In the end, it is your decision on which new systems and tools to put in place, but your commitment to listen to new ideas and try out new ways of doing things is what will allow you to achieve your goals and experience the rewards!

CHANGE SUPPORT - Getting organized is not just about putting new supplies and systems in place - it means changing from the inside out as well as from the outside in. As you go through your things, your professional organizer should be able to uncover beliefs and habits that are contributing to your current state of disorganization and help you replace them with more effective habits

COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL - If at any time you feel that you are changing too much, too fast, or you are feeling extremely stressed, you should feel comfortable to stop and share your feelings with your professional organizer in order to make the process as painless as possible for you!

ITS AN ONGOING PROCESS - Like losing weight, getting organized doesn't happen overnight. Some of the changes will happen on the outside, other changes have to happen within you over time. Getting and staying organized is an ongoing process that comes about by makes lots of little changes in the way you do things, in your habits, and most of all, in the way you think and feel about things. Your organizer should start with easier, smaller successes and work up to your more difficult challenges.

BE PATIENT & TOLERANT WITH YOURSELF - No matter how well organized you become, there will be times when you may slip back into old habits. This is natural. The trick is to catch it, learn from it, and get back on track! That is all part of the process of becoming organized. Don't get caught up in the downward spiral of striving for perfection. Pick yourself up, remember your successes, and start again. The most important thing is to not give up and take it one day and one goal at a time.

MEMORIES, STORIES & GRIEVING - While going through your things, you may experience a wide range of triggered emotions. Often deep, sometimes painful, emotional memories are stirred up and need to be released as part of making the decision to let a thing go. Some people absolutely need to tell their stories as part of working through their feelings so they can let things go. Most professional organizers are willing to listen and help you get through your grieving process. Just be aware that this does add to the time it takes to complete a project, and thus will add to your costs. On the other hand, some people just like to talk and get distracted! If you want to save time and money so you can see results quickly, ask your professional organizer to help you stay focused and do your best to not talk too much!

GETTING ORGANIZED CAN BE MESSY AT TIMES! - Some larger organizing projects can't be completed in a day. Sometimes it may get worse before it gets better - you may have boxes and bins of your stuff in your home for a while, but it WILL be worth it! Remember, sticking with it till the project is complete will ensure you get the maximum value for your investment!

LETTING GO OF YOUR STUFF - Your professional organizer should never dispose of an item without your permission. They should encourage you to part with items you no longer need or use, but not pressure you unduly to dispose of something you wish to keep. The final decision is yours.

HOMEWORK - Most professional organizers will give you the option to reduce costs by giving you a list of assignments to complete between sessions.

FOLLOW UP BETWEEN SESSIONS - On large projects, most professional organizers will provide some complimentary support via email or phone. Be sure to ask your organizer about this.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ariane_Benefit

How to Know When You Need to Call a Professional Organizer

By Alyssa Davis

When it comes to cleaning and organizing, there are as many different strategies and techniques as there are different people. After all, an organizational technique that works great for one person might not work at all for somebody else. If you're like most people, you probably have a favorite organizational strategy that works well for you and your family. However, a strategy that works well for everyday clutter might be woefully inadequate for those times when your home really gets out of control. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the need to get organized, a professional organizer might be the answer. If you're wondering if a professional organizer might be the perfect solution for your household, ask yourself a few of these questions.

Do I Feel Overwhelmed?

In today's busy world, it's often difficult to find time to do even the most basic house cleaning tasks. If things have piled up to an unmanageable level, working with a professional organizer can often be the fastest and most efficient way to get things back under control fast. Professional organizers have the tools and techniques you need to cut through the clutter and get your home in tip-top shape quickly.

Do I Have a Plan, But Not Enough Time to Implement it?

Many people have a pretty good idea of what they'd like to do in order to get better organized. Unfortunately, busy work schedules and family responsibilities often push cleaning and organizing tasks into the "maybe someday when I find some time" category. By scheduling time with a professional organizer, you'll have a structured timeframe each week in order to work towards your organizational goals. As an added bonus, two people can almost always get more done than just one. If it always seems as though you'd like to get organized but can never quite find the time, working with a professional organizer could be the perfect solution.

Am I Too Emotionally Attached?

If you find it difficult to get organized because you seem to be too emotionally attached to your belongings, a professional organizer can help you make the tough decisions. You might be surprised how much easier it is to choose what to keep versus what to throw away when you have a professional by your side.

Can We Work Well as a Team?

If you're like many people, you might be hesitant to work with another person when organizing your personal possessions. Although you might deeply desire a more organized home, you might also dread the thought of somebody else telling you what to keep and what to throw out. When choosing a professional organizer, it's important to find someone that is easy for you to work with. If you've got any doubts, try scheduling a single session. If you find that the two of you work well as a team, then you can schedule additional organizing sessions. However, if you find that you don't work well with a particular person, simply schedule a session with a different professional organizer instead.

This article is written by Alyssa Davis, who writes for http://www.metal-wall-art.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alyssa_Davis

Six Professional Organizing Tips That Address Common Time Management Issues

By Stephanie Shalofsky

We've all had that thought that we could use more time - more hours in the day to get through all of our tasks, to exercise, to get more sleep, to enjoy time with our family and friends. But since more hours in the day seem unlikely, time management tips and strategies can help you more effectively and efficiently use the hours to accomplish more of what you need to do - and want to do. Read on for professional organizer time management tips to help make your busy NYC days more productive.

How do you use your time? Keep a journal or diary (electronic or paper) for a week to track how you're spending your time. Write down the start and end time for your tasks - getting ready for work in the morning, your commute, stopping for coffee, phone calls, meetings, shopping for groceries, etc. Knowing how much time each task really takes is can help you to better plan for each day. This is a really key tip for developing a more effective time management strategy.

Once you know how you're spending your time each day, look for ways to better utilize some of the minutes and hours in your day. Could you catch up on reading trade journals during your 45 minutes on the train? And then later spend those 45 minutes taking a walk or having lunch with a friend?

Plan your day. Take some time at the end of each day or first thing each morning - it can be as little as 10 minutes - to review and update your calendar and your to-do list, making note of those items that are priorities for the day. Be realistic about what you can accomplish by the end of the day and plan forward those things that are not critical for the current day. Effective time management starts with accepting the reality behind this tip: A very limited number of priorities will be accomplished each day. Be sure that you focus on those that are most important for the day.

Schedule important tasks on your calendar . As a professional organizer will advise, any activity that is important to you and your business or personal life should be scheduled on your calendar. Appointments and recurring activities such as classes, meetings and regular networking events are obvious calendar items. But if exercising four days a week is a priority for you, put it on your calendar and honor the scheduled time. If you want to have lunch with your child at school one day each week, schedule it so that it doesn't get bumped by other events.

The type of calendar you use is a matter of personal preference, but it's important to have one calendar with all of your events and priorities listed. Managing multiple calendars becomes a chore in itself and utilizes time you could spend elsewhere. Electronic calendars, such Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar can synchronize between your computer and mobile device, allowing you to have an up-to-date view wherever you are. If a paper calendar works best for you, there are many options, including those with daily, weekly and monthly views. Be realistic about how many tasks you're going to list for each day and select a calendar that will accommodate your schedule. Planner Pads are a great option for a weekly view of activities that you can organize into categories.

Plan for and manage interruptions. No matter how well you think you've scheduled your day, you're going to have interruptions and distractions. Plan a few blocks of time into your day so that if you're pulled away from what you're doing, you can shift your schedule as you need to. For those tasks that require your undivided attention, establish a "do not disturb" signal to let co-workers and others know that you're not available.

Turn off your phone and use your voice mail message to let callers know that you will return calls at particular times during the day. If someone else answers your office phone, let them know when you do not want to be interrupted and agree on what constitutes an emergency. Disable email notifications so that you aren't tempted to check messages every time your computer chimes at you. Check email at specific times each day, putting these blocks of time into your schedule. And as much fun as it is to peruse your college roommate's latest vacation photos, close Facebook and other social media sites when you're trying to focus on other work. How many times have you signed in for "just a minute" and found yourself still there an hour later?

Don't procrastinate. Mark Twain wrote, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one." Start your day with the most important task on your list, even if it's a difficult one. Establish milestones toward accomplishing the task and just get started. Beginning each day with the most important tasks ensures that they get your attention before you can be distracted.

Take care of you . Recognize that you need breaks periodically and schedule them on your calendar. Go for a walk, drink some water, do some stretches. Often your concentration is helped by a few minutes of fresh air and a change of scenery.

Establish taking care of yourself as a priority. Getting enough sleep (7-8 hours is optimal), nutritious food and exercise are vitally important in reducing stress and accomplishing the things you need and want to do every day.

Be sure to reward yourself regularly for progress and achievement of your goals - celebrate your successes!

Stephanie Shalofsky is a New York Professional Organizer and the founder of The Organizing Zone. Using her extensive project management experience and organizational abilities, Stephanie is dedicated to helping residential and business clients manage their paper and computer information, time and space so that they can be more productive.

The Organizing Zone's professional organizer can help your New York office improve with simple strategies that are often forgotten in today's 24/7, always connected workplace environment. These are the basics and not-so-basics of organizing your NYC calendar and task list that help you maximize the workday and focus on the essential tasks.

Call (917) 375-0631 or visit http://www.theorganizingzone.com today to discuss how you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Shalofsky

Be S-M-A-R-T

By Stephanie Shalofsky

The S.M.A.R.T. acronym is one that has been presented, discussed and applied to goal setting in various aspects of business over the years. As there is some uncertainty concerning the originator of this concept, it is difficult to know exactly how and when it was first applied. In any event, regardless of when its use may have been first noted, it is a concept that we all should be aware of and apply to both our business and personal lives. This thought process will force you to be very precise and specific when establishing your goals. By doing so, your approach to the tasks at hand will be much more organized which will enable you to more efficiently utilize your time.

You can set both short term and long term goals. Regardless of the time parameter, it is typically recommended that goals be reviewed are regular intervals. As such, I prefer to set quarterly goals and assess my progress during the quarter as well as at the end of each 3-month period.

So, what does S.M.A.R.T. stand for? Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Timely. The inclusion of all of these concepts when establishing your goals should produce a goal which will yield very definitive results. Whether they are monetary in nature, procedural, or project specific, the ability to so completely define your objectives will significantly benefit your company over time.

Here are some thoughts to consider when setting your goals:

SPECIFIC: Your goal needs to be very clearly defined. In doing so, the objective needs to be as detailed as appropriate so that there is no question as to what needs to be accomplished.

MEASURABLE: There should be mechanism built into your goal that will enable you to measure the results.

ATTAINABLE: There needs to be an element of reality introduced into the goal setting process as it makes no sense to set goals which are beyond your reach. This is a very essential component as you should only be focusing on those goals that are possible to attain.

RELEVANT: The goal should make sense in context of your company's plans, mission statement and budget. As it relates to an individual goal, your plans, budget and schedule need to be taken into account when setting a goal. Introducing a goal which doesn't take these into account or runs contrary to these areas will only cause confusion, create additional and possibly unnecessary work and divert your focus.

TIME FRAME: The deadline or time schedule for attaining the goal needs to be established and should be realistic based on the amount of effort that will have to be invested.

An example of a S.M.A.R.T. goal which takes all of these concepts into consideration is as follows:

-Increasing awareness of your company and its products/services by creating a presence on the social media sites by spending 20 minutes per day for one month setting up profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, posting relevant business information (products, events, advice, or news) and building a network of at least 50 influential contacts on each site.

As you can see from the above example, each of the concepts has been taken into consideration when formulating the goal. In an effort to ensure that you are on the right track once your goal has been set, run it by a colleague, family member or someone whose opinion that is valued to ensure that the objective is explicitly clear, concise and complete. If this is not the case, it would be better to fine tune your goal so that you can stay focused and more productively tackle the tasks that need to be addressed.

Stephanie Shalofsky is the founder of The Organizing Zone and a Professional Organizer located in New York City. She specializes in office organizing and works with both small companies and individuals with home offices. Stephanie creates customized solutions that her clients can sustain so that they will be better able to manage their paper and computer information, time and space. She can be reached via e-mail atStephanie@theorganizingzone.com. http://www.theorganizingzone.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Shalofsky

Suggestions From a Professional Organizer for Creating a Productive Office Environment

By Stephanie Shalofsky

Let's face it - we're all busy. And the more we have to do, the more important it is to maximize our productivity and create a productive office environment. This is more than just having an organized desk or a filing system, important as those things are. According to Barbara Hemphill of the Productive Environment Institute, a productive environment is a setting in which everything around you supports who you are and who you want to be. In order to create a productive office environment, many professional organizers consider sharpening our organizational abilities and adapting good time management skills a must.

To begin, assess your objectives, which should be the basis for your daily and weekly to-do lists. With a finite number of hours in the day, it isn't possible to do everything that we might like to do, or sometimes even everything we need to do. Professional organizers advise sorting out the essential from the non-essential by applying the SMART methodology. When setting goals and objectives, make sure that they are SPECIFIC,MEASURABLE, ATTAINABLE, RELEVANT, and TIMELY. Following this methodology, you can focus on those tasks which will yield definitive results which will ultimately make you more productive in your office.

When your objectives are clarified, there's a list of tasks that need to be addressed. The method you use to keep track of your tasks can vary from a written to-do list to a mobile app - use what works for you and your lifestyle. Regardless of the format you use, recognize that not every item on your to-do list is going to get done today, tomorrow or even this week. Here are some tips that professional organizers suggest for creating a better process for reminding yourself of what needs to be done.

Assess the importance of each task and determine if it requires more immediate attention or relates to a future project.

Accept the fact that not all tasks have an equal degree of importance.

Identify the top 2-3 tasks that should be completed during a given day and focus on them until they are completed.

Block out time on your calendar to work on specific projects.

Recognize that there are tasks on your list that you will never get to and plan to re-assess their importance at a later date or just cross them off the list.

Delegate tasks as appropriate.

Get into the habit of consolidating all of your to-do's in one master list. Create a system that is easy to use and preferably one that doesn't include Post-It notes!

Group like tasks together. For example, schedule a block of time to make/return all of your phone calls.

The tasks you take on can create lots of paper, e-mail and other data, meaning you can find yourself spending valuable time trying to locate a specific document or folder. This is where an effective filing system for paper and computer files is key to being able to create a more productive office environment. Here are some that a professional organizer would share for better managing paperwork:

Start by clearing all of the paper on your desk so that all that is left are those papers related to either new or ongoing tasks.

Sort the remaining papers into categories by the type of action required and create action files for each category. File all incoming paperwork in appropriate folders upon receipt.

Create a system for filing pending items. Papers related to specific event or project that requires an action in the future should be included in this file. A filing system modeled on the "tickler file" is a good tool for tracking this type of information.

Set up an in box so that new incoming materials don't get mixed in with the paperwork already on your desk.

Using e-mail efficiently is just as important as managing the flow of paper in your home or office. Some tips to manage your overflowing inbox:

Schedule time to check your e-mail. Depending on the volume of daily mail, you may need to check it 3-4 times during the day, but stick to these times.
Turn off message alerts so that incoming messages don't distract you from working on other tasks.
Open a message only when you are ready to act on it.
Read all e-mails from one sender prior to replying.
Create folders and move messages that need to be kept out of your in-box as quickly as possible.

Once you've adapted these suggestions into your daily routine, periodically reevaluate your productivity to make sure you're still on track. Celebrate your successes and identify areas where more work may be needed. Taking the time to establish methods to create a productive office environment will pay off as you accomplish tasks and achieve goals with greater efficiency.

Call (917) 375-0631 or visit http://www.theorganizingzone.com today to discuss how you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Shalofsky