| |
| |
|
Organizing Information |
|
|
|
10 Simple Steps to a More Organized Household
1. Divide big jobs into smaller jobs. Make a list of all the places in your house that you would like to see become more organized. Now you may seem overwhelmed by some of the jobs so break those jobs down into smaller jobs. Now each task is more manageable. Take each job one at a time and before you know it you'll be done. 2. Store items in clear plastic boxes and bags. This one just hit me one day when I was looking for something and having to un-stack all my boxes and open each one to find the item I was looking for. I thought what a waste of my time and energy, now I use clear boxes and bags everywhere I store things. 3. Make a list of what's in the boxes or on the shelves in your basement and attic. This again is a time saver and the way a truly organized person goes about things. 4. Before you buy anything know where the item is going to go in your home. This is a really great habit to get into. It makes you stop and think before you buy and may even save you the hassle of taking the item back or worst storing it in your basement or attic. 5. Think item in, item out. If your home is already cluttered or filled to capacity then when you make a purchase you've really got to get rid of something. Even if your home is comfortable this is a good practice to get into to prevent clutter from building up. 6. Prevent junk mail pile up. Paper clutter is one of the biggest problems people face today. We get bombarded with junk mail and other paper daily. The solution is to have a plan. So here it is, its really quite simple. A trashcan! Go through you mail daily and throw away any unwanted mail as you open it. Then have a to do files or folders. You're to do files or folders may have heading such as to do, to mail, to fax, to pay, to sign, to return, to call, to redeem. 7. Store out of season clothing in empty suitcases either under your bed or on the shelf in your closet. If you use bed risers you can use the space under your bed more efficiently. Clear plastic under the bed containers, especially on wheels work well for this task. 8. Avoid hunting through your closet each day hang like items together. This means hang all your shirts together, pants together, skirts together and so on. It makes your closet look more organized and it's easier to pick out an outfit quickly. I also recommend using hanging weekly organizers in each child's bedroom closet this way their clothes are laid out a week in advance and you're not scrambling in the morning to find them an outfit. 9. Group like things together. For you it may be keeping all your sewing stuff together or your scrap-booking stuff together or your tools together in one place. But last night when I was organizing my basement (yes, I am also working on becoming more organized) I decided to break it down into categories, my went like this: outdoor gear, Christmas decorations, arts and crafts, laundry, exercise equipment, keepsakes, I will probably find that I will need one or two more but I will add them as I see the need. You can even break it down further by making groups inside your groups. Christmas is a good example. Once you have all your Christmas stuff together divide it into smaller groups such as ornaments, Christmas lights and outdoor decorations. 10. Don't hang on to things because you might use them. So many times we hang onto things because we might use them but the items actually sit around collect dust and take up valuable space. Unless you just have a huge home with plenty of closet space the rule is if you haven't worn it or used it in over a year you should probably get rid of it. I can't tell you how many times I knew I had something but couldn't find it because I had so much clutter. So it wasn't worth keeping, I wore myself out looking for it and then ended up buying it again. That's what clutter does to us, drains us of our energy. Tina Seay is the webmaster and author of a great home resource website http://LearnSomethingToday.com where you can get more tips and advice on organizing. She is also the webmaster of http://ForTheCatLover.com and http://YourWeddingStory.net
MORE RESOURCES:
Organizing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Psychology of Being Organized Individuals who are organized in their personal lives most generally constitute efficient and organized employees in their work environments, succeed in their personal endeavors and are, more often than not, financially secure.Once an organizational state of mind is established, your status of efficiency in all areas of your life will ultimately benefit. Organization Tips - How to Set Up Your Database What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the contacts you make in your organisation? Do you:Collect business cards and throw them in the bottom of your desk drawer hoping one day one of these people will ring and do business with you? Have any system for keeping information on your clients and prospects? Do you enter all their details into your database so that you can communicate with them in the future?Do you enter all your clients into the database with information about what they've bought from you and conversations you've had with them? I'm astounded that so many business people keep no comprehensive records of their clients, general contacts and prospects. After the Clutter: 5 Steps to a New Daily Routine I've noticed that in the two years since the major de-cluttering of my apartment, clutter has been creeping back in.So what DO you do after you've cleared the clutter? If your day-to-day routines are continuing to create clutter, then you'll always be one step behind it. Spring Makeovers: Organizing Tips for the Home and a Virtual Makeover for You Winter is starting to retreat, and hints of Spring are everywhere. Time to clear away the clutter and get you and your house in order. Clutters Side Effects: How the State of Your Home Affects Your Life Each area of your home has a symbolic meaning with which you resonate on a subconscious level. Clutter and untidiness within each of these areas causes constriction and inertia in the corresponding aspects of your life. Memorabilia -- Use It or Lose It! What do you do with those special items that have been passed down to you? Put them in the hall closet and hope the door will shut? Probably not a good choice for several reasons. First, you are unnecessarily creating clutter; second, if the item is very old and unstable, you will further the aging process; finally, and most importantly, what's the point of keeping these special items if the only time you enjoy them is when you move or get the bug to clean out a closet! This summer my grandmother passed away and I was the recipient of many beautiful things, especially table linens. 10 Common Roadblocks to Getting Organized 1. All or nothing thinking/taking on too much. Saving Memories Without Losing Your Mind The summer is flying by for Cindy and her family. It seems like just last week when they visited Disneyland. Feng Shui Guidlines for Storage Spaces Professional organizers and helpful-hint sources often recommend storage solutions such as shelves above doors and in corners, hooks on the backs of doors, and peg-board or tools and small appliances. They are masters at maximizing every square inch of a closet with bins, baskets, shelf dividers, and multiple hanging rods. Declutter for Sucess Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Overwhelmed? Try the Red Zone Tactic Some people seem to be born organized. You probably remember them from school: the ones who always had well-organized pencil cases equipped with erasers, sharpeners, pens, scissors and glue-sticks (probably in duplicate). Introducing the Power Hour Concept to Plough Through Mountainous Tasks Have you ever been totally overwhelmed by a massive task confronting you? Ever felt daunted by the thought of even making a start on such a massive quest? I thought so. Read on. Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards to Organize Your Life Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards to Organize Your LifeAre you still looking for the perfect organizing tool? Is your Filofax too bulky and heavy to fit in your purse and carry with you? Tried a Palm or other Handheld and found it awkward to use when you're on the run?Ta Da!! - Try simple 3x5 index cards, you know the litle ones you use for kitchen recipes.Why? They are affordable, easy to find and they fit in your pocket or purse. Clutter Campaign - Maintain Your Success To want in one's heart to do a thing for its own sake; to enjoy doing it; to concentrate all one's energies upon it-that's not only the surest guarantee of success. It is also being true to oneself. Organizing Lessons from a Bookstore The store reminded me of a well-worn slipper - tattered and dusty, but obviously used and loved. I toured the aisles and backrooms with storeowner and publisher Britton Trice. 5 Easy Tips on Light that You Can Use to Improve Your Day Light, Work, and YouWinter is here-and with it, short days, long nights, and Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is scientifically proven that the quantity and quality of light plays a significant role in mood and work performance. Quick Organizing Tips From Assistance For You Keeping on task and getting organized starts with a basic plan that can be implemented into everyone's daily life. Just by following these simple steps you can be on your way to a more productive and friendly work environment. 10 Tips to Get Organized and Clutter-Free- Now! 1. THE LOVE IT OR LOSE IT PRINCIPLE: Every item around you represents a choice you made. The Clutter Factor: From Packrativity to Productivity ? Are you embarrassed when you walk into your home or office? ? Do you frequently run out of space? ? Is your desk piled high with UPO's (unidentified piled objects)? ? Are you frustrated by the amount of time you spend looking for things?If so, you're not alone! Research shows the average person spends 150 hours per year looking for misplaced information, while eight out of ten people have at least one area of their home or office they would prefer that no one ever see!The word "clutter" comes from the same root word as "clot". Webster's Dictionary defines it as "to run in disorder, to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness. 10 Simple Steps to a More Organized Household 1. Divide big jobs into smaller jobs.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
