Crowded Closets are not Fun

Sometimes my closets remind me of the "Shoemaker's children" because my poor closets are often neglected. Thankfully, I was able to spend about an hour on my bedroom closet this past weekend. 

Here are my "takeaway" tips for you:

• Pretend you are working on someone else's closet. It's so easy to get overwhelmedwhen dealing with your own stuff.  Take everything off of your shelves first - when the space is empty,you can be more objective about what should go where. Out of season clothing can be placed in the hard to reach spots.  
• Sort like things together. Put your winter stuff together (and hopefully place in a far away place) and sort the current season's clothing in categories (sleeveless, short sleeve, dressy tops, jackets, sweaters, shorts, slacks). 
• Have a bag nearby for items to donate and put them in as you go through everything.
• Put your current season's clothes in your bedroom closet and move the out of season hanging clothes to another location.
• Get rid of all but one spare pairs of sneakers - one spare pair is enough.
• Use the easy-to-reach places for the items you use the most. My bottom shelf has my dog walking clothes and other things I use daily.

Beware of these common roadblocks:

Overwhelm   Where do I begin?

Solution  Begin with a 5 minute decluttering session – grab a bag and put some giveaways in there. Don't over  deliberate about whether to  consign or donate - just decide  what needs to go.

  

Fear What if I don't have time to finish and make an even bigger mess?

Solution Start slow – do one section at a  time and start with the easiest  stuff first – belts? scarves?  clothes that don't fit?

Indecision What if I end up needing this?

Solution If you are really afraid to get rid  of something, place it in a  "marinade" box. Go to your  calendar and pick a date (a few  months out). If you haven't  gone to your marinade box by  that date, then you can  give yourself permission to let  it go.

    

Stamina I can't physically do it.

Solution Ask for help - if you have a non-judgmental person in your life, see if you can barter with them..  you can do a more sedentary favor for them and they can help you climb, lift and carry clothes.

   

And a few parting words for your enjoyment...

• Let go of perfectionism - if your piles don't look perfect, it doesn't matter. Your goal is to DOWNSIZE.  
• Easy does it – but do it. Spend 5 minutes... but do it a few times a week and you WILL see a difference.
• Schedule regular donation pick ups or drop offs - this will give you a needed excuse to gather unwanted items.

Set a goal of when you want to have this completed. If you do not meet your goal and feel discouraged and overwhelmed, then please contact me. I would love to help you. 

Clever organizing uses for smart phones

Millions of people use their smart phones to remind them of something. Whether it is an appointment, a birthday, bill due dates, changing your furnace filter or getting an oil change – these smart phone uses are quite common. With so many helpful apps available, there are some fantastic ways to make your phone work to assist in organizing your life.

Dropbox is an app that is gaining in popularity. It is a cloud application where any files can be stored in cyberspace. Photos, notes, word files, PDF files, anything that can be saved on the computer, can be saved into Dropbox. It is free up to 2GB and then paid subscriptions are available for additional space.

https://www.dropbox.com/mobile

Most drug stores now offer prescription apps to help with renewals and pickups. Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid have apps to remind you when you need to refill your medications. Take it one step further, and by using your calendar app, you can be reminded when to take the medications too.

There are apps for writing down thoughts or even recording them on all smart phone platforms. Sometimes an important idea comes to you when you are away from a pencil and paper. These apps allow you to make a note anywhere.

There are “to do” list apps and shopping list apps to help with your regular chores. You no longer need to write out a list and then promptly realize you left the list at home when you get to the store. Some of the shopping apps even allow you to cross things off the list as the tasks are completed.

Banking apps are extremely useful. You will never have to guess at how much money is in the account. Know your balance before you use your debit card. See if a check or charge has cleared.

Everyone loves to save money while shopping. Barcode apps let you comparison shop while you visit just one store. Scan the barcode into your phone and see how much the item is at other local stores or even online.

Another new use of smart phones is online coupons. Some stores offer coupons that are stored right on your phone. When you go to the checkout, simply go to the message or website with the coupon and show it to the cashier. The cashier can scan the coupon directly from your phone. There is no fuss. You do not have to gather and store coupons, just use your phone.

Pageonce is a financial app that helps organize bills and payments for you. Keep track of when bills are due and when you paid them last with this personal assistant in your phone. Avoid buying envelopes and stamps, you can even pay bills through this app.

If these apps are not enough, you can also track someone’s incoming flight, find your way when you are lost, check the weather, take photos and videos, check your stock prices, keep up with social media and so much more with your smart phone. Instead of just using it for fun, try downloading some apps that will help you organize your life. That phone might be smarter than you realize.

Organizing Grandma’s Recipes

Many people have recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Typically, they come to us on index cards, worn pieces of paper, backs of envelopes and/or other creative formats of yesteryear. Knowing how to organize these recipes will make a huge difference in making these treasured recipes user-friendly.  If you are looking for clutter solutions in the kitchen, organizing recipe cards is a good way to start.

Traditional recipe boxes are not accommodating. If the recipe does not fit on a tiny card, folding the paper and stuffing it into the box is not a good solution. Old, hand-written recipes that are on paper can be easily torn, edges frayed or have food spilled on them. The old file box does not cut the mustard anymore. 

There are several solutions to the recipe problem. A photo album is one method. Photo albums come in a variety of sizes, and can meet the needs of nearly any paper size. If most of your recipes are on file cards, a small album will do. Photo albums have a plastic film to cover the recipe to help protect the paper. 

A three-ring binder is another good choice. You can get plastic page protectors to keep the pages safe. The recipe simply slides down into the protector.

By using either of these two methods, you can add either old, hand-written recipes or printed-out pages from the computer. If you only use 1-2 recipes from a cookbook, think about copying those recipes and donating the cookbook to make additional room in your kitchen. The recipes in the page protectors can be easily removed to make notes, corrections or additions.

While creating organizing solutions for your best recipes, you can make this chore into a family activity. Everyone can sit around the table and talk about which dishes are their favorites, which ones they do not like or new meals they would like to try. Printing out or writing the recipes on colored paper, even with different colored or metallic inks can add flair to your recipe collection. By adding tabs, you can divide the recipes into sections either by the type of food, country of origin or whatever method makes the most sense to you.

Of course, in the digital age, people like to store all of their records on the computer. There are a few ways to do that. You can scan or take photos of all of your handwritten or typed recipes. Even favorites from books can be scanned. They can be saved into a folder named “Recipes” on your computer. Use the name of the dish as the name of the file so you can sort them alphabetically.  

It is easy to take a screen shot of a web page with your recipe on a website. You can then save it as a .jpg file and store it on the computer with your other recipes. If you decide to make the item, print out the page if you need it or just refer to the page on the screen to avoid wasting paper.

Simply bookmarking the page where you got a recipe does not always work. Sometimes you cannot remember where you saved the page, or what page had which recipe. You have to go through each bookmarked site to find the page you want. A solution to this problem is to save the bookmark with a name you choose. Then make a bookmark folder called “Recipes” and store them in that folder.

Whether you like the old-school book or the new-fangled computer folder, organizing and saving your recipes will be sure to keep the family’s favorites right where you need them. Check back with us for more professional organizer tips.

Where Does Clutter Come From?

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."
Dumb Little Man Tips for Life

Where Does Clutter Come From?

According to Patty Kreamer, owner of OrganizedAtoZ.com, clutter comes from overbuying, inefficient filing systems, papers that never stop coming in, moving, overstuffed rooms in your home and changes in your life that affect your space and stuff.

Wow – that about sums it up and I couldn't have said it better myself! Let's look at the first item she mentions, overbuying. I would have to say that in my travels, that seems to be very high up on the list of causes of clutter. Many of my clients LOVE to shop, they get great joy from shopping, they especially find it hard to resist a bargain/sale/deal. May I also add that they love to purchase items that they think/hope will help them get organized – books, containers, binders, label makers, bins... I'm guessing you know what I'm talking about . Those particular items cause lots of clutter, too.

So how do we combat overbuying? One option is to just say 'no.' That reminds me of when people used to tell me to 'just eat less' in order to lose weight. Well, for someone like me, that wasn't a helpful response because on my own, I couldn't say no. If you can't say no to overbuying, then it might be time to get some outside help. Here are some resources that may help you:

• Stopping Over Shopping  
• Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland 
• Enlist an accountability partner who will support you in your quest to  limit shopping.
• Spend 15 minutes a day making decisions about what can be donated  or given away and then actually remove the items from the house that  day or at least put them in your car to be taken somewhere the next  day.

In future issues, I will talk about the other reasons we have clutter and how to combat this ever-growing problem for so many of us. In  the meantime, easy does it wins the race — 10-15 minutes a day making decisions about ANYTHING will greater reduce your stress. Try it, you might like it!

Have you heard about these?
(I don't have personal experience with these  but they sounded fun to me!)

1. Tradesy.com - Upload a picture of an unwanted piece of clothing to Tradesy and determine the value using the site's pricing algorithm. When the item sells, Tradesy sends you a pre-paid package addressed to the buyer; as soon as you ship it, the money is deposited into your PayPal account.(from Parade, Jan 13, 2013)

2. ChesapeakeReStore.org - They accept appliances, building materials, cabinets, furniture, housewares, lighting, plumbing, tools and more. They say they offer free, easy pick up!

3. Packing Pro – a $2.99 app that helps you pack by providing customized lists ranging from Pre-trip tasks to essentials. The app syncs with iCloud, allowing users and family members to share lists on multiple iOS devices.

Got Valentine's Day Cards?

I don't want to be accused of being heartless, especially on Valentine's Day, but this would be a great time to practice letting go of greeting cards that are no longer useful. This is very scary to a lot of people and here are some gentle tips for lessening the card piles that may be lurking in your home.

1. Dispose of any card that just has a signature but no personal handwritten note.
2. Get rid of any card that a teacher 'helped' your child make - only keep the ones that were made with their precious little hands but if there are too many, keep a few that speak to you the loudest.
3. Consider scanning some cards and saving them on a flash drive or on your computer.
4. Find a big box and put all the cards in that one box. When you run out of room in your box, then you must start getting rid of the less special ones.
5. Let go of the envelopes to dramatically reduce volume -- if you save the envelopes because you're afraid you don't have the addresses, rip off the return addresses and keep them in a "Contacts to Enter" file in a file drawer.

I know you can make a dent in your piles of cards – even one card a day is progress and remember - we are aiming for progress not perfection.

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.

"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.

Controlling Crafts!

Crafts can take on a life of their own, especially when you are an artsy/creative type person.  Every scrap, swatch or button has limitless potential and for many people, it seems wise to hold on to it all because “You never know when it will come in handy.’  The consequence of this way of thinking is CLUTTER. 

There are a few things you can do to tame the crafts. Most importantly, beware of impulse buying. Before you step foot into a crafts store or department, plan ahead what you are going to buy. Resist great sales of the things you already have plenty of. So many people have unopened scrapbooking items, yarn, fabrics, kits and more....and due to space limitations, end up having to get rid of the excess in order to make a room functional again.  Try this on your next shopping trip – if there is a "too great to resist" product that you see, ask them to hold it for you for 24 hours. If you still want it in 24 hours, then you can return to the store. If you lose your craving to have it, then you can celebrate the extra gift of space you have given yourself.

Next, gather all of your crafts from all over your home and spread them out on the floor. Group like things together. For example, find all of your yarns and group them by color or texture. Get rid of the yarns that are either old, smelly or have insufficient quantities. Then, find a container to hold the yarns. Containers don’t have to be fancy. Ziploc flexible totes are a great new product in two sizes that works well for yarn.  If you have many knitting needles, take inventory of what you have. Write the sized needles you have on an index card and you can even carry it with you to help you not buy the same sized needles again for your next project.

If drawing or painting is your thing, gather everything together and put all of your brushes together, all of your paints together, all of your paper together and all of your miscellaneous painting tools together. If you have 8 of the same exact brush type, perhaps you can let a few go. If you have paper that is faded, crumpled or not something you use anymore, recycle it! If you have spiral pads with very old sketches, perhaps you’re willing to rip out the ones you love most and let the rest go or scan them.  

Plastic bins can be useful for various supplies. Bins of all sizes are available at local stores and if there are lids, you can stack 2-3 on top of each other to allow you to easily access them. Make sure you evaluate what you have before you purchase containers. You want to make sure your containers are the right size for the quantities you have.

There are lots of little supplies like beads, buttons, bangles and more that go along with crafting. Some toolboxes or fishing lure cases can be used to organize the smaller items. If all of your beads and buttons are in one spot, you will not waste precious time searching for them when you need them.

For people who craft, there may be project bags all over with projects in various stages of completion. Ideally, you should finish old projects before you start new ones, but that’s a real challenge for many people. You might want to assign a space for “unfinished projects” so they are at least tucked away and not taking up valuable floor or shelf space. If you have a project that has sat unfinished for more years than you can remember, it might be time to say farewell. Just close your eyes and let it go. Sometimes new space is more important than holding on to unfinished business.

If you have some knit or crochet projects that are halfway finished, either finish them or frog them. Frogging is a term used for when you un-knit or un-crochet a project because you… rrrrrrippp it, rrrrripppp it! If you know you will never finish it, or if it not turning out the way you had hoped, better to frog it and put the yarn away for another project later.

Paints, glue, glitter, markers and other artistic products can dry out, spill or otherwise make a mess if they tip over. Take inventory of what you have and if it is unfit for use, get rid of it.  You’ll also be able to see how many of each type of item you have which will help you in your quest to not overbuy the same items.

Location is another important thing to pay attention to when organizing. The rule of thumb here is to place the crafts that you use the most in the most convenient, easy to reach spaces. Items that are used periodically should be in farther away spots. You will be amazed at the time you will save in placing the more frequently used items in nearby spaces.

Crafting is a wonderful way to spend your spare time. Giving a personalized or homemade gift can be much more appreciated than something purchased from a store. But the supplies for your crafts should not overrun your home.  Keep them at bay in their own area, either in a room, closet or cabinet, depending on how much space you have for the items. It will be easier to find what you need when you know where everything is kept.

Successful Strategies for Starting the School Year

It is already August and the new school year looms overhead. There is no way avoid it. Just take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds and let it out slowly. Ready? 

It’s time to tackle jumping into the back to school madness. Many people put it off until the last minute. I don’t recommended it, because it will add stress to you and your whole family. The kids already have enough anxiety about starting the new school year. You do not want to add any more drama.

Setting up a plan of attack is critical. The school might send a list of suggested supplies, and that is a good starting point. You will undoubtedly have to add things to it and cross off items you already have. What can you salvage from last year? Pens, pencils, paper… And then there is the big money question – are there enough computers in your house? Will everyone be able to do their schoolwork with the number of computers available? 

You will need a notebook or folder for each child. Keeping the kids’ school assignments, class trip release forms and all other school-related papers should be in one location. You should also have a big calendar for everyone to use, coordinating all events. Kids can mark when they have tests, field trips and half days. You can add teacher conference appointments or anything else pertaining to the school year.

Some school supplies can be purchased online. It might save you time to do it that way. There are less distractions for the kids. However, if you are a “hands on” person, you probably want to go to the store, and you will save money on shipping.

One of the biggest chores is dealing with clothing. As kids are growing, last year’s clothes probably do not fit as well as they once did. And, your kids want to wear what all of the other kids are wearing. You should probably have the child try on some things, but go through the clothing and figure out what you have and what you need. Don’t forget shoes. Add everything to your list. Maybe a younger child can use some of the other child’s clothing. If no one can use the items and they are still in good shape, get together a donation for Goodwill, AmVets or another worthwhile charity.

The next chore is the backpack. Some backpacks look bigger than the kids toting them. Try to find an appropriately sized backpack that is big enough to accommodate everything your child will need. You can assign a certain section of the backpack for important papers and go through it each night to make sure you see all papers that are sent home. 

If you have little athletes, you will probably need a doctor’s visit. Medical forms need to be completed before they can play sports. You may need to update sports gear and clothing.

When there are less bathrooms than people – and that is usually the case – a shower schedule might need to be put into play. Some kids like to take a shower the night before, especially those who have a hard time getting up in the morning. 

One of the most difficult things to schedule is the morning exit strategy. If any of the children changed schools this year, it might throw off the last year’s morning routine. Who has to be at school at what time? Do they walk or take the bus? Does a parent drive them? Can you coordinate everyone’s schedule with your own work schedule? What about a carpool? 

After a week or so, this should get easier. You could even attempt a practice run before school starts. Try it during the normal school time so that you get an accurate view of the traffic.

Take the pressure off the whole family and try to complete the back to school chores as early as possible. You will feel like a giant weight has been lifted once you are finished. 

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.

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.

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.