To-Do List Got You Down?

You are not the only one who struggles with a To-Do list that's too long. 

Most people write To-Do lists - but most of the people I work with either have very LONG To-Do lists OR they have dozens of slips of paper with To-Do lists from days, weeks, months and sometimes years ago. Let's look at how you can tweak your current To-Do list to make it more functional.

Here are a few ideas to help you gain more confidence and control of your To-Do list.

• Make your giant to do list (sometimes called a 'brain dump') on 1 big piece of paper or on a spread sheet - don't over think it - just start writing.
• Assign a 1, 2 or 3 to each project. Jobs that take under 5 minutes get a 1, any task that takes an hour or two gets a 2 and long term projects get a 3.
• Now go through your list and put your projects into these 3 categories.
• Highlight the most important items on your list so they 'grab' your attention.
• Look at your list and see what you can pass on to someone else. If you have the mindset that you are the only one that can do it, you may be doing yourself a disservice. Think outside the box.
• Start each day by doing several of your '1' projects. You'l feel a sense of accomplishment which will motivate you to want to do more. 
• Take a look at your highlighted items and make those your priority for the day.
• If there is a task that you are absolutely dreading, work on it for 10 minutes each day. Once you get started, you may find that you can finish it. We tend to 'awfulize' certain things and they aren't nearly as scary once we 'just do it.'
• Set reasonable expectations of yourself - most people do not complete their entire To-Do list in a day - set aside a realistic amount of time to get items knocked off your list. If you set minimum standards for each day, you can feel some satisfaction which will motivate you to keep the momentum going. Unrealistic expectations will only cause frustration and overwhelm which is not a good strategy (been there, done that!).
• I have a fun little treat for those of you who want to improve your To-Do list strategies.  Email me and I will send it to you by mail. If I don't already have your mailing address, you may need to send it to me.

 To learn more about improving your productivity, sign up for a free webinar on June 12th at http://www.thebizknows.com/web.html.  See details below under June Webinar.

$99 Phone Consult Special

In just one hour, we will identify three pressing issues for you to handle this summer and create a personalized Plan of Attack tailored to your needs and work style. Email cindy@aim4order.com to reserve your spot.

June Webinar!

Tackling Time Management 

featuring Cindy Bernstein

sponsored by 

The Biz Knows LLC Wednesday, June 12, 2013 

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Go to 

The Biz Knows

to register. 

Organizing your entryway

Does this scenario ever play out in your home? You walk in the door after a hard day at work, a long school day or a fun night on the town. You toss your keys, throw your coat and kick off your shoes. The entrance of your home can quickly pile up with all sorts of items. That is the first part of your home that a person sees when they come through your door.

Whether you live in a house or apartment, the entryway seems to be a dumping ground for shoes, gloves, scarves, keys, mail, baseball mitts, umbrellas, dog leashes and anything else you might have when you walk in the door. Keeping that area organized can be a challenge, especially if you have a lot of people living in your home. However, this is a challenge you can meet and conquer.

By setting aside an hour or two for this task, it can be completed. Go through the entryway closet. There are probably coats, jackets and sweaters that are not needed this time of year. If you have somewhere else to put things for the summer, you can move them and make more space for items needed during the warmer months. Sports equipment, especially if there are kids in the home, can make for a treacherous entryway. Finding a nice place in the closet can help reduce the clutter.

There are things you can buy to help organize your foyer or entryway. A set of hooks for your keys can save time and frustration. Once you get in the habit of automatically hanging your keys on the hook immediately upon entering your home, you will always know where the keys are without the need for a keychain GPS unit.

A basket for incoming and/or outgoing mail is another idea. Only mail that needs immediate attention should stay here. This can end up as a trouble spot if it is not regularly attended.

Some entryways have enough room for a piece of furniture to help organize the sports equipment. A bench with storage inside or cabinet will ensure all of the scarves and accessories have a nice place to stay. Even an umbrella stand or hat rack that can hold hats, scarves and light jackets can make a big difference in minimizing clutter. If there is no room for a piece of furniture, a small chest of drawers can be put on one side of the closet as most jackets, hoodies and sweaters only use half of the vertical space. The long winter coats and full-length raincoats can go on the other side.

An eye-level mirror will give you the opportunity to check your face before you leave the house. If it is a large mirror, it can help make the area look larger. Instead of seeing the entrance as a combat zone, you can turn it into an organized place that gives a great first impression.

Declutter countertops

It seems like every kitchen needs more counter space, no matter how many square feet are available. The toaster, can opener, blender, microwave oven, bread maker, fruit bowl, coffee maker, knife block, cookie jar, canisters, juicer – so many items – make the countertops prime real estate.  

There are some appliances made to fit under cabinets including can openers, coffee makers, microwaves and even televisions. Keeping most appliances tucked away in cabinets or a pantry can help reduce clutter. Some appliances are used daily, like coffee makers, and need to be handy. But those appliances that are used occasionally, should not be grabbing precious counter space.

Sometimes you or a family member will place something down on the counter and it suddenly becomes the permanent home for that item. The more often this happens, the less space is available for cooking. The counters are meant for preparing food and not storage. 

So, how can you deal with cluttered counters? First, you must tell yourself the hard truth – some things in the kitchen are going to have to go. Start by clearing off the counters completely and go on from there. Everything should have a home. If there is nowhere to put the item, maybe it is not something you really need. If the item is necessary, find it a permanent spot in cabinets, on shelves or in drawers. 

Plenty of metal shelving and plastic bins are perfect for kitchen storage. If the item in question is old, broken, rusted or never used, it should be purged.

Some people keep cookbooks in the kitchen, but rarely use them. If you use them often, find a place where they can be stored. Add a little cookbook shelf that is within easy reach. However, if you seldom use recipes, keep them where your other books live and retrieve them when you need them. 

Bottles of wine, spices, magazines, newspapers and plants do not belong in the kitchen. Even hanging plants can get in the way. Do you like to read the morning paper while having your coffee? Get a magazine rack, which does not take up a lot of space, and put it in the kitchen. Use that for magazines and the newspaper to keep them off your valuable countertops. Lazy Susans or a wall-mounted spice rack can free up space. Remove duplicate spices or expired containers. Some storage racks can go on the inside of pantry or cabinet doors. Think vertically. Make use of walls whenever you can. A magnetic strip can go on the wall for your spatula, favorite chopping knife or other metal utensils you want to keep handy.

Once you get your counter space back the way it should be, you will discover that food preparation is easier. Knowing where all of your cooking supplies are will help as well. Sometimes this is easier said than done, but try to keep everyone in the family in the habit of putting things away. Your kitchen will look cleaner, and in fact be easier to clean, once everything is put in its place. 

Finish the job or find someone who will

Do you start several things and rarely finish them? You are not alone. We all have an ambitious moment that somehow dissolves away into procrastination. One terrific side effect of reducing your clutter, is getting things accomplished.

People who like to save things that might be used later, can add a lot of clutter to basements, closets, garages, under the bed, really anywhere they can stash things. Those accumulated objects take up a lot of space: plastic containers, yarn, nuts and bolts, fabric, broken pieces of jewelry that could be remade into something new – you get the idea.

Avoid feelings of guilt that come from throwing things away if you do not need them. Our grandparents taught us to never throw anything away if there is the tiniest possibility that the item can be repurposed or used at a later date. It is actually okay to recycle a plastic soup container that came with your Chinese carry out. It is not a sin to give away yards of fabric that you will probably never use.

Take a look at all of the projects that are partially finished. Maybe a friend who likes to sew could take that half-made skirt and do something fantastic with it. She would surely be thrilled to have it while you may never pick it up again.

There are times when you start a project, get part of the way through it and realize it is not really what you want. Maybe you cannot afford to finish it. Other times you have good intentions, but the task never really gets off the ground.

Schedule time to work on the unfinished projects. Simply scheduling time to do your project will help you accomplish it. Do not start a new endeavor if you have not finished the last one.

When you do finish what you start, there is a wonderful sense of accomplishment. It feels great to finally get that job done. Next time, try to pick a project that can be finished in a short amount of time. Pick something that really excites you and will help propel you to the finish line. Once you see how good it feels to complete a job, you may be more likely to finish the next one.

People can have terrible feelings of guilt over the unfinished project. There is no reason to feel so guilty. We are all busy. We have work, kids, lessons, spouses, sports – it is never-ending. There are things that are a lot less important than your job and family. If you do not have the time to finish this task, hobby, repair job, home improvement, etc., find someone who is willing or scrap the project entirely. Even if you pass along the task to someone else, you are now finished with it. Considered that a completed job because it is no longer on your plate.

Win/win by donating your excess to Hurricane Sandy

There are many, many opportunities to support those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

In addition to donating money, I urge you to look through your closets and drawers (especially your children's closets and drawers) to see what you can give.

Here's a sampling of what we gave to the cause:

• excess winter coats that we had just in case 'a friend' needed it
   
• pants that my kids said they didn't like (translation - I'm never wearing them) 
   
• long sleeved shirts that my son refuses to wear due to hot classrooms
   
• hand me downs that in my heart of hearts knew we wouldn't use
   
• pajamas that I really didn't wear that often (it didn't hurt that my husband noticed/commented that I had 2 drawers of pjs!)
   
• sweat jackets that were piled on the closet door hooks that we really could live without.

• one of the 8 packs of toilet paper that came in my Sam's Club Value Pack of toilet paper. 

Now is a perfect time to let it go.  We were able to drop off items at our local synagogue and I saw numerous mentions on Facebook about other drop off locations. 

Go for it - you will be glad you did!
 

"My Shopping Addiction"

April Benson has a website called ShopaholicNoMore.com and I follow her regularly. I see over-shopping as an issue for many of my clients and I like to learn all I can about the struggles that affect the clients I serve.

Just the other day, April announced a new show coming to reality TV - "My Shopping Addiction" on Oxygen beginning on October 15th.  According to the show's website:

          "From an heiress who spends an average of $30,000 per month to a woman who packs her      home full of products from the 99 cent store, this series will capture an intimate look into the lives of young people facing a crisis brought on by a dangerous addiction to shopping. Viewers will witness what happens when their obsession causes their finances and lives to spiral out of control."

I don't often see the extremes of shopping that will likely be featured on the show, but I look forward to some attention in the area of compulsive buying/addictive shopping.  One of the common causes of clutter is definitely over-shopping and if a person can learn strategies to step away from the temptation of shopping, their homes and their budgets will dramatically improve.

The show airs at 11 pm EST and I invite you to watch the show and let me know what you think. Pop me an email at cindy@aim4order.com.

Warm woolen mittens.....

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

I just came in from walking the dog and realized that it’s already time to pull out the winter wear and get everything organized. There’s nothing more guilt-producing than your child asking for gloves because they’re freezing during recess! Just follow these simple guidelines and YOUR child will be the envy of the playground (or possibly share one of their gloves with a friend).

1.  Gather/find all the scarves, hats, gloves, mittens and boots in the house.
Invite (or order) each family member to try on their boots hats and gloves to make sure they still fit.
2.  Toss all the unwanted items in a donation bag (and either place in your car for a drop off or contact a charity to pick them up or check out a consignment store). Just heard about a great on line store Dashing Bee.
3.  If your children are ‘particular’ and not into sharing their items, then take a giant zip lock bag or lidded box or even a plastic case that your new blanket came in, and label it and put that child’s mittens, gloves, hats and scarves in there. Another option is to have 1 bag for scarves, 1 bag for gloves, 1 bag for hats and 1 bag for gloves and mittens. Main thing is that when they are sorted by sex or size or type, it’s a lot faster and easier to get them.
4.  Store boots in a large clear box or large clear zipper bag, but be brutal in limiting how many pairs per person. The more options you have, the more stress you get. Less is more in all matters relating to winter wear, toys, clothes (catch my drift here?).
5.  Find a place to store the winter stuff - a place that’s near the morning departure location (mud room, laundry room, hall closet) and if you don’t have a place, think about finding a piece of furniture that may house the items.
6.  Enjoy the peace and serenity that will come on the next chilly morning when you can direct your children to their bag or box of stuff while you sip happily on your hot tea.

Getting a step ahead of your SHOES!

Shoes are really hard for some people to organize, especially if they own a lot of them. But, if your shoes are not organized, you can waste a lot of time trying to find the right pair for the occasion. Tripping over piles of shoes by the front door or having a mountain of footwear in the closet can be a danger and an eyesore. Part of getting your home organized has to include shoes.

The most difficult part is probably the beginning. Get all of the shoes in one place. You might be shocked at just how many shoes you have accumulated over the years. Collect shoes from everywhere around the house: by the door, in the gym bag, under the bed or other furniture. Don’t forget the car, some people keep a change of shoes there.

Discard any shoes without mates (you would be surprised at how often this happens). (And yes, I’m guessing you hesitate to do this because the second you throw the shoe away, you will find its partner. If this is your great fear, then at least put all the singleton shoes in a giant bag or box and mark down on your calendar to get rid of them if you haven’t found the partner in a designated time... months... not years!). Any shoes that are worn out, in a state of disrepair or damaged from being stored improperly have got to go. If you have multiple pairs that are alike or similar, pick your favorite and donate the others if they are usable. Get rid of shoes that hurt your feet, don’t fit right or pairs you never wear. Nice ones can be donated or taken to a consignment shop if it’s the right time of year for such shoes.

You should end up with your favorite shoes, those you love to wear and/or need to wear, like work shoes. Now you are ready to organize them. Most people like to put the shoes they wear most often in the most convenient place. You can organize shoes by season, style (boots together, athletic shoes together, etc.) or color.

Decide on the type of storage for your footwear. The more shoes you keep, the more important the storage is. Unless you have an entire closet devoted to shoes, you should invest in some kind of storage equipment. There are under the bed shoe racks, although it is better when you can see them and choose the right pair for your outfit while you get dressed. There is the rack that fits on the back of the door, shoe shelving or boxes. Beware of any shoe racks that wobble – wobbling racks mean that your shoes will continually fall off and annoy you.  If you use boxes that are not clear, take a photo and attach it to the shoebox so you know what is inside. If there are only a few pairs, you can line them across the bottom of your clothing closet. If you can spare the closet space, hanging shoe organizers are also great, but most people can’t afford to dedicate that much space to shoes. My favorite type of shoe storage are the cubbies that sit on the bottom of your closet so you can slide each pair of shoes in, still see them and protect them from dust.

Being able to find the shoes you need at the time you need them is the most important thing. Once you have a storage plan in place, work to maintain it. If shoes start piling up by the front door again, then you can repeat this process periodically.

5 Tips for Effectively Organizing your Networking Contacts

Last week I attended a networking event. I must admit, I’m not a big fan of these networking things but EVERY time I go, I’m glad I did. Similar to the motherly advice of “you’ve got to kiss a few frogs..." so the saying goes about putting oneself out there for networking opportunities.

So, after a morning of meeting and greeting and exchanging business cards, what do you do?  Here’s a simple formula that can help you to organize and make the most of the new friends you have met.

Take the business cards that you have shoved in your pocket, purse, jacket and/or anywhere else on your person and place them in one pile.
Hopefully you have scrawled little notes directly on the cards so you can remember something about each person you met. If not, try to remember something about them and write it on the card.
Write a personal email, one by one, to each person whose card you have. Here’s a sample:

Hi Linda,

It was so nice meeting you at the Deborah Gallant talk on Tuesday. I'm happy to have a Professional Photographer as a resource for my clients who may be in need. Special thanks for telling Holli and I about the Apple group!

I would love to add you to my monthly "Tips and Tricks" if you are ok with that. Please let me know otherwise I won't do the cardinal sin of adding you without permission.

Take care and hope to see you at a future networking event.
Best wishes,
Cindy

As you hear back from each person, add their email to your contacts list.
Take the card and store it in a business card organizer. My favorite is a regular binder with the plastic pages that are fitted for business cards (or baseball cards). You can organize them by industries but I prefer to put them in chronological order of when I met the people. That’s what works for me. Others may prefer a more sophisticated system but truthfully, just having them in one place is a great first step.

I have had people friend me on LinkedIn after a networking meeting and that’s fine... I’m feeling like a personal email is a tad warmer and leaves a more lasting impression. Any attempt at follow up – whether it be Facebook, linkedin – is great!

Another tip – if anyone mentioned new groups or future meetings, take some time to research them on the web. There are so many free ways to get your name and company out there... might as well expand your horizons a little more.

And there you have it — quick, easy — all you need is a few minutes to do it. And you can.

Tips for Timeliness

These days time can be even more valuable than money. Time is finite. There are only so many hours in a day and some of those should be allocated for sleeping. The ability to prioritize is so important, yet many of us struggle with deciding what has to be done verses what we wish we could do. It helps if we can think in terms of the here and now. What is most important for you to do today? What can you put off or simply not do today? 

Using your time wisely is something that can make your day go better. If you get overwhelmed, you might have to say no to some activities. Turning down fun things is not ideal. Saying no to people who you’d like to please is very difficult. If you learn how to prioritize and budget time more effectively, you can learn to make time for the things that are most important to you.

Multitasking is a wonderful thing, however, there are people who try to do too much at once and end up doing a poor job at everything. Tackling one job at a time can often be a better use of time. There was a time when I was proud to be a great multi-tasker. These days it feels more serene to focus on one activity at a time.

Another issue is overbooking and/or overpromising. Even with all the wonderful technological advances, it’s still difficult to be two places at the same time. When we over-commit, someone usually ends up disappointed or angry. Instead, teach yourself (or ask for help in learning how) to better estimate realistic, achievable daily goals. Make sure you assign enough time for each task on your list and remember to add time for travel and any necessary stops along the way.

Waiting in line is something that we have no control over and can eat up a substantial chunk of time. Try to do things like grocery shopping, buying gas, going to the bank and other chores when the businesses are not as crowded. Early mornings can be a good time for grocery shopping. Parking is easier. Lines are shorter. You might not feel like getting up early just to run errands, but you have to think about the reward. You’ll have more free time later in the day!

This might sound simple, but plan ahead. The bank might be on the way to the baseball field where you have to drop your son. Driving somewhere and back home repeatedly instead of doing everything in one trip, can waste time, gas and money. 

Think about what you need to do each day next week. Plan it out. You might say, “Wait a minute, planning out my week is going to take time!” But after you have it planned, you will use your time more efficiently and the planning will get easier week by week.

Most bills can be paid online. Several banks have both direct deposit and online banking. Going to the bank may soon become obsolete. You can digitally set up monthly payments to automatically come out of your account on a certain date. Using online banking features can save time writing out checks every month. Just make sure you keep track of what is going in and out of your account. Most banks have mobile versions of their websites too, making banking very convenient no matter where you are.

Time to get real… Admit that you waste time – everyone does it. Figure out what wastes your time and make an effort to do something constructive instead. Maybe instead of getting lost in Facebook, you can take 5 minutes and unsubscribe from a few junk e-mail lists.  While you are waiting for your daughter at the doctor’s office, you can read over some documents that came in the mail that you haven’t had time to read at home. 

Around the house, tackle the little jobs before they grow into a monster-sized job that will overwhelm you. Doing a load of laundry a couple nights a week instead of waiting until you run out of underwear makes the task seem less daunting. Cleaning the kitchen and bathroom more often will take less time than waiting until the crud has built up everywhere.

Make at least a small effort to improve your time management. If you feel like a big change is too much, remember that each journey starts with a single step. Start with one problem area like excess t.v. viewing, internet surfing, unnecessary phone chatting, wherever you want to start. Try to cut down on that one thing and you will see how much more time you have available to do the pleasurable things in life.

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.

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.

User Friendly Fridge and Freezer Tips

You never want to play Jenga with your food. Some refrigerators are stacked up so high, if you try to pull something from the bottom the whole pile comes crashing down on you. This can be dangerous if this happens in front of the freezer! Nobody wants to come home and find you knocked out cold by a frozen leg of lamb.

 

All kidding aside, refrigerators should be organized on a regular basis for several reasons. The first is that you want to be able to open the door and see just about everything that is inside without digging around. The second is your health. Old foods can make you sick, even if they look and smell okay. They might even taste fine, and still if they are too old, you may be exposing yourself to dangerous bacteria. When in doubt – toss it out! Lastly, when you hold the refrigerator door open and start rooting around, you are wasting energy (which equals wasting money). No one wants to do that!

If you shop at a warehouse store, keep in mind that you have a finite amount of space in the refrigerator and freezer. Try not to buy so much food that you are forced to stack things. The food doesn’t last forever and it hurts to throw away food that has spoiled.

Start with the fridge door. Condiments and items in glass jars are generally located on the door for easy access. Check their expiration dates and toss anything too old. Avoid putting milk on the door as it might spill when the door swings open. Some refrigerators have built-in egg holders where you can take the eggs out of the carton and put them individually into a holder. Eggs stay fresher in their original carton, but many people use the egg holders anyway. Your fridge, your choice.

Now it’s time to tackle the rest of the inside of the refrigerator. Drinks take up a lot of space, sodas especially. Ideally, keep a few of each type of drink in the fridge and the rest can be nearby in storage. No need to fill the fridge with boxes and cans that may take weeks to use. If the excess is in storage, you can quickly see when you’re running low.

You can purchase stackable shelves if you feel like you need more surface area. They can be used in the freezer as well. Some people use Lazy Susans to have easier access to foods. When buying containers for leftovers, try to purchase clear containers. You will be able to see what is inside without having to take the container out and open it. Shelf liners can keep items from rolling around or falling out. 

Put taller items in the back so they do not block the view. Milk or juice may be the tallest items. Check the milk’s expiration date. The old smell test works well on milk! If it stinks or is lumpy, well, you know what to do.

Vegetables go in the crisper. Deli meats (last about 3-5 days after opened) and cheeses go in the deli drawer. You can buy “grocery green bags” that will keep produce fresh longer than the clear plastic bags or leaving vegetables loose. Check the cheese for mold. Harder cheeses tend to last longer. Wrapping cheese in tin foil is magical – it delays mold from forming. Raw meat, like a package of hamburger, should go on the bottom shelf. Generally speaking, the lowest shelf stays cooler than the upper shelves. The more perishable the food, the lower it should be. Speaking of temperatures, the refrigerator should be set for about 33-38° F. If food is above 40° for two hours or longer, it should be tossed.

Leftovers are a wonderful thing. Sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking, and having a meal of leftovers works fine. Most leftovers will be okay for 3-4 days. It is recommended that you reheat them at 325° F or higher to kill any bacteria. Maybe you can’t remember if the food is from Monday or Tuesday. Put dates on leftovers to help you. If there is no place to write the date, just write it on masking tape and stick the tape on the container.

After you finish with the refrigerator, it is on to the freezer. The temperature of the freezer should be no higher than 0° F to keep food as fresh as possible.

If you have a chest freezer, they are a bit of a pain to organize. You are forced to stack things on top of each other, and can end up digging around. Try to rotate the food and put the oldest things on top so you use everything before it goes bad.

Always freeze foods before the “sell by” date to ensure it will be okay to eat later. Raw meat will last 3-4 months, cooked meat 2-3 months. Raw chicken is good for about 9 months, cooked chicken about 4 months. Mark these items with dates too, this is especially important if you repackage the meat. Sometimes chicken will be on sale and you want to buy a big package of it. When you freeze it, you can divide it into amounts you will need for one meal. Put the chicken or meat in a freezer bag and mark the date on it. Soups and casseroles can be frozen and will last 2-3 months. They can be placed in clear containers or freezer bags. Frozen dinners can stay in the freezer 3-4 months. When putting anything in freezer bags, try to squeeze out as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn. Containers stack a lot better than freezer bags, but there will be more air in them. If freezer bags are made as flat as possible before they are frozen, they can be stacked too.

Frozen cakes, cookies, brownies, and other desserts can be frozen. It is much easier to individually wrap one portion of each and store them in labeled gallon freezer bags. They will thaw quicker that way. And, you are only thawing what you need.

Organizing the refrigerator regularly is ideal. Clearing out food that is past its prime is best done the night before trash day so it doesn’t sit outside in the garbage inviting wildlife to come for a snack.

How much is too much?

Any time is a good time to go through your closets and figure out what you can donate, give away or toss in the trash. But, how do you know how many shoes are too many? How many suits do you need? Purses? Belts? Hats? 

It is great to have color-coordinated outfits with matching purses, belts, shoes, scarves, etc. But there comes a point when you run out of closet space and/or your significant other has a tiny corner of the closet and the rest of the stuff is yours. Where do you draw the line? 

There is no right answer. The solution is as individual as your own style. But, the size of your home and closets is a good starting point.  

Can you put everything away? If not, it is time to weed out some things. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn something in two years, you probably don’t need it any more. Yes, some styles go away and come back into fashion, but you really don’t need to save a skirt you had in college because there is a chance it might come back in style. Sure, you got that big office job wearing it. And absolutely, you looked great in it. But, be honest.... when is the last time you wore it and even if it did fit, is it still something you’d wear today? 

This problem is not restricted to women. A friend of mine’s father had a closet that was so full of suits, you could barely stuff your hand in between them to pull one out. And, he had several closets around the house like that. Pair after pair of shoes lined the top shelves and floor of each closet. And ties – there was a gigantic tie holder that was at least five deep in neckties, where each slot was meant to hold a single tie. There were thick ones, thin ones, whimsical hula dancer ties – no bolo ties, but just about everything else.  

Having too much clothing can be a source of contention between spouses/partners/roommates. Eliminating some of the excess can go a long way toward family peace and tranquility. That alone is worth purging some unnecessary items.

There are lots of people who have clothing in a variety of sizes. Someone who has gained weight may not want to donate a favorite item that may someday fit again. That is understandable, but how about keeping ONE item rather than dozens of wrong-sized clothing from yesteryear.

While it is nice to have something for any and all occasions, it does not always work in an already stuffed-to-the-brim home. You don’t have to get rid of everything at once... I always suggest that you pick even one item a day to place in a “donation” bag and when it’s full, take it to a donation site.  Put your very favorite items that you want to keep aside and be brutal with the questionable ones, especially those covered in dust or stuck so far back in the closet that you forgot you had them. You’ll get a nice tax deduction for donating the usable items to charity and get that cathartic clean feeling at the same time.

Downsize your book collection

Books accumulate in every household. Some have sentimental or actual value, but most are useless once they are read. Unless the book is a classic, most people only read a book one time, if they make it that far.

Many options are available for trimming down your book collection. First, you have to sort through them. Figure out which books are most important. Encyclopedias that many of us relied on for homework assignments as kids, are completely useless to most of today’s internet savvy children. No charity has any interest in old and ridiculously outdated encyclopedias from when the flag only had 48 stars! Other reference books may fall into the same category, although some nonprofits may take those.

Keeping a favorite book of poetry is understandable. Holding a book in your hands may soon be a thing of the past, but you can hang on to some of your most treasured tomes. It is fine to keep some books pertaining to a hobby or pastime, but you can certainly weed out at least a few of them.

If you are an avid reader, getting rid of countless novels may be where you will see the biggest area of downsizing. Once read, either pass them along to a friend or get rid of them!

Many places still love book donations. Probably the most popular in Baltimore is The Book Thing.This wonderful place takes books and then gives them away to anyone who wants them free of charge. The Book Thing is only open on weekends, but there is a 24-hour drop off container. This should go without saying, do not go there and take home more books than you drop off! That is not going to help you one bit.

Donating books to other charities can work as well. Make sure to ask if they accept books before you donate them. Some nonprofits do not take books and will have to pay someone to haul them away.

While some people consider throwing away books a sin, recycling or trashing them might be the best thing. A history textbook from the Eisenhower administration is not going to help any child do their homework. There have been so many advances in science, most old texts are not worth anything. The most someone might get out of them is a good laugh.

A friend of mine unsuccessfully tried to donate some old encyclopedias, but didn’t want the books to end up in the landfill. She carefully used a mat knife and cut the pages out of the all of the books. She recycled the pages and threw away the hard covers! The process helped her avoid the bad feeling of throwing the books in the trash.

According to popular belief, some old books are worth a lot of money. Usually, that is untrue with few exceptions. First editions can be valuable, depending upon the book. Extremely old books can have some value. If you have books that you think are worth some money, you might want to sell them on Amazon, Ebay or Craigslist. Whole collections, like the works of Shakespeare for example, might be worth selling.

At Aim4Order, our mission is to help you reduce clutter and free your space. If you are overwhelmed by your enormous book collection and need help, please email or give us a call at 410-484-8328.

Senior Downsizing Made Simple

While it is never too early to get rid of the clutter, there comes a time when getting organized is a necessity. If you or your parent are suddenly living alone, they sometimes need to move to a smaller place. Whether it is because of finances, health or other reasons, the move can be a stressful one.

This is a very tough time. Frustration and sadness can add to an already tense situation. Try taking photos of some of the items that will not be going to the new home. Having pictures can make things easier for the person. Know that emotions are running high and try not to argue, get angry or make things more difficult. This can be the hardest part of the move.

The first step in senior downsizing is to figure out a plan of attack. Set some realistic goals. How much time can you spend on this each day or each week? Who else will pitch in to make this happen? Do you need to hire a professional organizer to help you get started or formulate a plan? Who will pack and move everything?

Find a relatively clear, staging area where sorting can be done. Sort items into four categories: keep, sell, give away (or donate) and trash. If there is no good staging space, an alternative is to use brightly colored stickers for each of the four categories. You will simply walk around the house and apply the appropriately colored sticker to each item.

Be smart about what stays and what goes. Where is the person moving? Will they still have a use for cooking utensils or dishes? Maybe they only need a few dishes, mugs and glasses for snack items and drinks, and will take their meals in a common room.

How much furniture will fit? Look into the size of the new home. Think about what items will physically fit in the new location and which will not. Paying a mover to relocate belongings is expensive. You don’t want to pay for things that won’t fit in the new place.

Plan for family members to get together and see what they might want from the sell or give away items. Selling a treasured family object could cause hurt feelings among relatives. It would be much nicer to have a loved one keep certain items that have special meaning to the family or individual.

Once the family has gone through the items, think about selling or giving away what is not going to the new home. There are times when donating items can be easier and even more lucrative than selling them. There is a tax write off for donations, while selling can take precious time and may not bring in the amount of money expected. That being said, any suspected valuable antiques, jewelry or other items may be worth a lot of money. Having some things appraised might prove to be a good idea.

When the time comes to move yourself or your senior family member into a smaller home, keep these tips in mind. It could be to your advantage to get rid of the clutter sooner rather than later. We recommend that everyone declutter regularly, at least once every three to five years, to keep things organized and under control.