Easy Does It, Wins the Race

Did you ever notice that people seem to have so much to do these days? You ask someone how they are and they tell you “busy.” We all strive to get things done in life. It can be frustrating to spend more time spinning our wheels and less time actually doing things. You know you really want to get yourself and your life organized, but aren’t sure how to start.  

There are various tasks you want to do. It might be cleaning out the basement. Maybe it is organizing the kids’ closets. And the kitchen — it needs organizing too. Whatever it is, divide the task into smaller parts so the job doesn’t seem so intimidating. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Try setting small achievable goals that you can do in a short period of time. Spending 15 minutes and completing one task can result in a great feeling of accomplishment. Many times people set unrealistic goals and expectations which cause overwhelm and frustration before we even begin! 

The first objective is to figure out what your ultimate goal is. Once you know that, you are well on your way. Divide it into parts. You can simply make a list. A lot of people have great success just from putting ideas down on paper. Really break the task down into its smallest parts. The more parts you have, the easier each little job will be. If and when you get stuck, try to think about the next action you need to take to get closer to your goal. You will be clicking off your accomplishments almost effortlessly.

If you have no idea how to get started, you are certainly not alone. There is a lot of help out there for people trying to set goals and achieve them. Of course, Aim 4 Order can always show you the way. One of our goals is to help you achieve yours. There are also some websites, and even some smart phone apps, that can help.

Goals on Track is a phone app that can help you stay on course with your goals anywhere. The nice thing about this app is that it charts your progress as you go. Seeing results gives you encouragement to keep going to the next challenge. CAUTION -- if you are not able to quickly understand how to use the app, move on. The last thing you want to do is waste hours of time on the internet. OK?

Joe’s Goals is a program you can get for free. According to Joe, this system worked for him. You can list tasks and days of the week to do each task. This program includes “negative goals” or vices that detract from accomplishing objectives on your list. It’s kind of a fun way to get things done, and also see what stumbling blocks throw you off your game.

Google Docs is becoming a very popular way to store lots of documents. You can be anywhere with internet access, and get to your documents. By using spreadsheets in Google Docs, you can keep track of your goals and set them up however you want them. You can make a column of goals and set up a row for each day of the week. Next to each goal, place a check mark as they are completed in the column for that day. However, try not to let the software become something that keeps you from getting things accomplished. That defeats the purpose of it.

These programs might be a good way to make sense of things. On the other hand, your way might be more basic. You might make a list on a piece of paper and put a line through each one as you do it. The main idea is to get things done. Set your goals, divide them into smaller chunks and then go after them one by one.

Linens Away!

How to avoid a linen avalanche

It’s time to change bed linens and you go to the closet. When you open the door of your linen closet, will a pile of towels come tumbling out? If so, it’s probably time to clean and organize your closet.

Unfortunately, the first step in cleaning the closet is to completely empty it. Thoroughly clean each shelf. A 10% bleach to 90% water mixture will clean any mold and mildew while making the closet smell clean. Once it air dries, you can start to put things back inside. 

Organize linens and towels.

You can cover the shelves if you want to perk up the look of the closet. Non-acid paper can be used. An alternative is using rubbery shelf liner. It will keep stacks of linen from sliding around wooden closet shelves.

Generally, shelves can be moved closer together and you can even add some and make more surface area. If you decrease the amount of space between shelves, the stacks of linens will be shorter and less likely to topple over. If the shelves are not easily moved, you can put dividers between the stacks of towels and other linens. This will help keep them upright. You may even consider putting a towel rack or two on the back of the closet door so you can hang things there.

Some people use Space Bags, or other types of sealed bags with the air sucked out of them, to store winter blankets or other seasonal items. While using those bags compacts the contents, you will still need to leave a bit of space for them. If large comforters can find a home in a bedroom closet, you can clear out a lot more room for other linens.

Small items like travel size shampoos and soaps often end up scattered all over the closet. Add some clear bins, so you can see what is inside, to keep the little containers in one location.

If you decide to hang onto heirloom linens like tablecloths and cloth napkins, keep those items up higher in the closet. They are more difficult to clean so avoid putting them on the floor unless they are in sealed containers that will keep them from getting dirty. 

If there is space in the dining room, tablecloths may be stored there instead of the linen closet. You will now have easier access to them when you need to dress up the table and free up more space in the linen closet for sheets and towels.

Towels can be sorted by size or color, whatever works best for you. A good rule of thumb is to keep about two to three sets of sheets per bed and the same number of towel sets for each person in the house. Excess towels can make great rags or can be used for pets, donated or given away.

Have you ever located a fitted sheet and then spend the next 15 minutes sorting through everything looking for the matching flat sheet? You are not alone! Fold the sheets and put one inside the other, along with the pillowcases. Some people tuck all the sheets inside of the matching pillowcase. Finding the complete set will now be breeze.

Sometimes linen closets have a musty smell. An inexpensive little box of baking soda, changed on a monthly basis, can go a long way to help with closet odors. There are all kinds of air fresheners and potpourri products that will make any closet smell wonderful. Mothballs can keep insects at bay, but may transfer their odor to the linens. 

After you put everything back into the closet, it will smell great. Think about how easy it will be to find the towel you want or the fresh set of sheets. There may be a nice stack of things to donate or give away. On the surface it might not seem like a big deal, but in the end you will have a fantastic feeling of accomplishment. 

Ready, Set, Emergency!

The recent storms got me thinking about emergencies. Every person and family should have some kind of plan in case there is a dramatic weather event, fire, blizzard or any other type of emergency that might happen. Remember that earthquake? According to the t.v. news, a lot of people did what you should do for a tornado, which is not necessarily the right thing for an earthquake. Who knew?

Be prepared for electrical storms or other emergencies.

During an earthquake, you should stay indoors until the earthquake is over. Most people who are injured, get hurt while going outside when the earthquake is still ongoing. Stay away from big windows, large light fixtures, ceiling fans or other things that might break and fall on you. If you happen to be in bed, stay there and put the pillow over your head. Duck under a table if there is a sturdy one nearby. There is not a lot of time during an earthquake to do much of anything. 

When there is a tornado, head for the lowest point in the residence, the basement works well. If there is no basement, go to a room with no windows, like a bathroom, closet or hallway. Flying glass can be deadly, avoid it as much as you can. Usually with tornadoes, you have a few minutes to get ready before it hits, unlike an earthquake. If any big storm with high winds is expected, secure anything around the house that might be swept away. 

Young and healthy people should have a plan for checking in with disabled or older family members if a big storm rolls through. Don’t forget your neighbors who might need help. If you live alone, I’m sure you know someone else who lives alone – you can check on each other. Some people even have a list of people to call just to make sure everything is okay.

Not only should you have a checklist for people, there are some supplies you should always keep on hand in case of an emergency. Often times the power goes out during these situations, so you need to be ready beforehand. Unfortunately, many of us got a taste of that recently when storms ripped through the area. About half of the Baltimore metro area lost power, some people for several days.

Supplies:

• Always have flashlights with spare batteries. Headlamps, used for camping and spelunking, are great for allowing hands-free lighting. Keep a stock of D batteries on hand because most of the lanterns only take Ds.
• A battery operated NOAA Weather Radio (or any radio) will allow you to get updates on storm watches and warnings.
• Some paper and pens or pencils will come in handy in case you hear about something important on the radio. You could jot down emergency numbers or where cooling centers, ice distribution centers or shelters are located.
• A first aid kit for any injuries is very important. Don’t forget to check the kit at least once a year to make sure nothing is expired.
• Your medications might be vital to your survival. You should never completely run out of your medications. Always keep at least a week’s worth on hand, if possible.
• Hand sanitizer comes in handy when water is in short supply.
• Toilet paper and other personal hygiene products are a must.
• If you have kids, it is really important to store away some things to amuse them. Without computers, sketchy or no cell service or no electricity, your kids will get antsy! Keep them occupied with coloring or activity books, books to read, crossword puzzles, anything that doesn’t require power. Don’t forget classic board games. A deck of cards doesn’t take up much space and people of just about any age can amuse themselves playing alone or as a group.

Food and Drink:

• It is recommended to keep 1-3 gallons of water on hand for each person in the house. Three gallons are appropriate for a multi-day disaster. Having Gatorade, Ensure or other nutrient-filled beverage would be a bonus to have on hand.
• Foods that do not have to be refrigerated usually have a long shelf life. If you have a lot of canned food, make sure you have a manual can opener. Here’s your chance to get your fill of beef jerky! 
• Try to always have a week’s worth of pet food on supply. You don’t want to share that beef jerky with the family dog.

It might sound silly, but businesses and families should practice fire safety. Fire drills were always a chore in school, but when there is a fire, it is extremely important to know what to do. Figure out how you and your pets can evacuate quickly. Small children should learn what to do in order to stay safe. If someone is disabled or elderly, knowing how to deal with them during an emergency may be the difference between life and death for that person.

Have a great, safe time and try to always be prepared. You never know when bad weather or other emergencies are going to happen.

Got TOOLS?

Have you ever needed a hand or power tool unexpectedly and it’s not where you thought you put it? It can be frustrating when you have to stop right in the middle of a project and start a search for something. If only your tools were organized…  

For some people, it may be as easy as putting a hammer, pliers and two screwdrivers in a drawer. DIY (do it yourself) fans and most homeowners, have a large collection of hand tools, power tools, nails, screws, nuts and bolts, saws, a variety of pliers, the list goes on and on. So, is there a good strategy for organizing everything? Of course there is! 

A lot of people like using a pegboard to organize hand tools. In the end, they are all hanging, with enough space between them to easily remove one tool without knocking a bunch of other tools off the wall. The best part of this system is that you can see everything. In a matter of seconds, you can grab a hand saw, hammer and whatever else you might need for a project.

Power tools come in their own carrying cases and can be organized on shelves or under the workbench. If it doesn’t have a carrying case and doesn’t fit easily on the pegboard, you can get a plastic container for it. Most power tools have attachments, bits, blades or other things that should be kept with the item, which is why the cases are so nice. If it is hard to tell at a glance what case holds which tool, mark the containers with a Sharpie (they come in metallic colors that can write on dark containers) or put a piece of masking tape on the container and write on the tape.

Screws, nuts, bolts and other hardware should be organized into plastic containers or specially made cabinets that have tiny drawers to hold whatever you have. The little cabinets are great, but can be expensive. Sometimes they are sold with the hardware already inside. You can end up buying a lot of little tiny screws that you may never need.

A more reasonable solution is a plastic 3-drawer container for about $15-20or craft storage bins. You can keep the hardware either in the containers they came in or in disposable Gladware containers. Gladware or Rubbermaid conveniently make containers in a variety of sizes. Get clear containers so you can see what is inside. If you are a recycler, some deli meats come in plastic containers that can be reused for storing little items. Baby food jars are another favorite for organizing small hardware. Place whatever containers you use by type and/or size in the drawers, and later they can be found when needed.

A toolbox is another matter entirely. 

Things tend to get thrown in a toolbox as a project progresses and left in there for all eternity. After a project is completely finished, the hardware and project specific items should go back in the drawers or on the pegboard.  Yes, the toolbox should be organized at the end of every project. Only keep basic items like a hammer, a few screwdrivers, pliers, a tape measure, pencil, flashlight and other things you use regularly in the toolbox. If you put too much in there, it will either be so heavy you can barely lift it or you won’t be able to close it. 

OK — now for THE TALK — I would be remiss if I didn’t make mention of those of you with more tools than you potentially will ever need or use. If you have every hammer that your father, grandfather and dear uncle used, along with all the ones you’ve gotten at flea markets and hardware stores along the years... it might be time to downsize your hammers. Be gentle, but be honest with yourself. I am guessing that you likely use 20% of your tools, 80% of the time. See if you can possibly part with at least the rusty/broken/need-to-repair tools first. Then you can look at selecting your top 2-3 favorite screwdrivers (or top 5-8 maybe?) and continue with the process for all of your duplicate tools. When you downsize tools, you have a much better chance of fitting them in whatever containers you have waiting patiently to be filled.

Enjoy the DIY craze of fixing or building things on your own. You will be amazed at the added enjoyment you will have if you can keep that basement, garage, shed or wherever you keep your tools organized so you know what you have and where it is. I promise, with everything where you can find it, the DIY experience will be better.