Real Life Solutions

Have you found yourself getting frustrated at your seeming lack of ability to get organized? Are you wondering if there might be a better way to go about getting your home organized? Fear not! We have a few tips for you that can help you avoid, or minimize, some of the pitfalls.

1. DON’T try to do it all in one day!

It is very easy to think we need to get it all done in one day. The reality is that our homes don’t get cluttered in one day and it takes more than one day to get it decluttered and organized. So do yourself a favor and don’t try to do everything in one day.

DO look realistically at your existing commitments and schedule.

Once you know what you’ve already got on your schedule, do schedule time each day, or as many days in a week as you can to begin the decluttering and organizing process.

2. DON’T try to organize clutter!

If you try organizing clutter, you’ll only get discouraged and give up. You end up moving stuff from one place in your home to another. Or, you end up with a room or a closet or more stuffed to the rafters with ‘stuff.’ The rest of your house may look great, but the reality is a bit different.

DO spend the time decluttering first.

You can donate items to charity, or have a garage sale and sell the excess. Keep only those things that you love and use, and that add value to your life. Let the rest go to benefit someone else.

3. DON’T work randomly.

Working randomly means you start and stop. It means you get sidetracked. It means you’re less likely to be able to actually complete what you start out to do. This way of working; rather than being conducive to successful organizing is more likely to get discouraging because it takes twice as long to reach your goals.

DO work with a plan.

There are three main tools you need to work successfully–a plan, 3 boxes and scheduled time. Your plan consists of your overall strategy, including your list of what you want to accomplish. The three boxes should be labeled as follows: one box for donations, one box for keep and one box for trash. Work for the amount of time you have available on your schedule and follow your plan. Don’t leave the room to put things elsewhere until you are finished for that day’s allotment of time.

4. DON’T get discouraged if it looks worse before it looks better.

For a while it will. Remember, you’re making separate `piles’. The keep pile, the donate/sell pile and the trash pile. Don’t let the extra mess discourage you. It’s progress!

DO take encouragement from the way your different boxes are filling up.

To help keep the piles a bit smaller, at the end of the day, or even at the end of the week, take your donation items to your charity of choice. Also, take your trash out to the trash can. It will help keep the mess down a bit and also help you to see progress as you work your way around the room.

Stop by Get Organized Now – and check out the amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, getting rid of clutter, organizing your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!

5. DON’T try to work the whole room at once.

Just like trying to schedule a marathon session for your whole house can be overwhelming. Trying to do an entire room at once can be overwhelming too. But it doesn’t have to be.

DO divide the room up into quadrants and work in one quadrant at a time.

When you finish it move on to the next quadrant. This make the decluttering and follow-on organizing much more manageable.

6. DON’T rush out to buy any containers first.

That’s usually our first temptation–to run out and buy containers to organize with. But, to do that before you finish decluttering just adds more clutter to your home!

DO complete your decluttering before you buy any containers.

Once you have finished decluttering, then you know exactly what kind of storage, if any, that you really need.

7. DON’T go it alone.

Do you ever feel like you’re fighting the organizing battle alone? You shouldn’t take on the entire project alone. Chances are, there are things your family can do to aid in the decluttering and organizing.

DO enlist the family.

Children are often eager to help, especially with incentive: more time with Mom; keeping the money their clutter sells for at a garage sale, etc. Hold a family meeting and explain what you would like to accomplish and how they can help.

8. DON’T declutter your spouse’s stuff for them.

Sometimes it can take time for our spouses to agree that their stuff needs to be decluttered too. The less you try to force them into decluttering, the better.

DO concentrate on your own stuff first.

It almost always happens that our spouses see how much easier it is for us to find things of ours and they want the same thing for themselves. If you declutter your stuff first without trying to get them to do the same, they often come around.

9. DON’T add any clutter back once you begin to declutter.

If you continue to add clutter while you are trying to declutter, you’re setting yourself up to try to climb and re-climb a mountain of clutter. Instead of adding to the clutter!

DO declare a war on new clutter.

This means simply that you add nothing more than consumables (food, drink, toiletries, etc) until you have your clutter under control. Be sure to check your consumable supplies first before going out to buy more. You don’t want to duplicate what you already have.

10. DON’T let it get away from you again.

So many times we work hard to get rid of clutter, then let it build back up again. This can happen so easily and quickly! Sometimes we don’t even realize that we are building clutter again. So how do we maintain our decluttered state?

DO organize in a way that works for you.

If it doesn’t work for you, you won’t use it. Then, to maintain your decluttered and organized home, make a rule for you and your family. The rule is: One in – One out. Simple, but it goes a long way towards minimizing a return of clutter. How does it work? For every one item you bring into the house, at least one item goes out to charity or trash or a sale box in your garage. Follow through and you will stay organized and clutter free.

Stop by Get Organized Now – and check out the amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, getting rid of clutter, organizing your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!

Here are a few suggestions on how to organize grocery lists and shopping so that you can get in and out of the store quickly and effeciently!

1. Get it on paper – When you think about how to organize grocery lists why not start with paper and pen. As you use up the last of any item, write it down on a designated list under the name of the store where you would purchase the item. This will help you find what you need right away. Have this list handy so your family can add to it as the need presents itself.

2. Be prepared- When it is time to shop for your groceries, try and limit it to one day a week. Gather up the lists and any coupons you can use. Have a designated plastic folder or envelope to hold them all, and have it with you at all times. If you should unexpectedly stop at that particular store, you can use the coupon for the items you need.

3. Get help from the kids – Enlist the help of children when you start to organize grocery lists and head out shopping. When you are shopping with older children, divide up the list and have them pick up items from the other aisles. If at all possible, leave the little ones at home. They almost always add to impulse shopping. Plus your focus then needs to be divided between the grocery shopping and making sure the kids aren’t pulling things off the shelves, or putting items you don’t wish to purchase in your cart.

4. Instruct the Baggers – Request that the Bagger pack all perishables together in the bags so you can grab them first when you return home. This also gives you the option of leaving the non-perishables to unpack at your leisure.

5. Carry the recipes with you – Carry your family’s favorite recipes with you on little index cards that have the ingredients listed. You can see what is needed on the recipe card and get the items you don’t already have. Saves unnecessary stops at the grocery store during the week for that one forgotten item!

6. Do a bit of prep work – When you get home and unpack your groceries, do some preliminary meal preparation. Cook meat and then package it into meal sized dinners. Wash all your fruit and veggies. Cut the veggies so you can just put them into the dishes you plan on making. This can be a real time saver for your meal preparation.

7. Create a meal plan. By having a meal plan for the week, along with the items needed list, you should have a quick and easy shopping adventure each and every week.

8. Think outside the box – There is also another solution for grocery shopping. There are various agencies and many supermarkets that can do it for you. If there is just not enough time in your busy schedule, using that service once in awhile, or all the time if you budget permits, might help you get caught up with your To Do list.

With the use of the tips above, you will learn how to organize grocery lists and shopping so that it is quick and painless.

In this day and age, just about everyone is looking for tips for budgeting and saving money. Many people aren’t aware of all the ways money slips through their fingers, and they’re not sure why they never seem to have enough. Paying attention to your spending habits and making some changes where necessary is a great tips for budgeting and saving money every month.

Follow these tips for budgeting and saving money and you will be able to get your finances in order:

1) Brown Bag it. – The amount of money you can save by making your own lunches and taking them to work each day is staggering. When you take in your own lunches every day–made from leftovers or sandwich fixings, you will be spending much less than you would at even the least expensive restaurants and diners. Healthy eating is easier as well when you make your own lunches since most take out has extra calories and lots of fat and salt. Eating out also takes up a lot of time which can be a problem for those with tight schedules. Making lunch for yourself is an easy way to to start budgeting and saving money.

2) Plan your shopping – Learn to shop methodically and not on a whim. The absolute worst time to buy holiday gifts, for example, is just before the holidays. You should wait for the holidays to be over when you wait for things to go on sale.

Not only is this a great budgeting and saving money tip but it’s a lot less stressful to shop like this because you’ll avoid all of the crowds and that feeling that you have to buy something right away. Similarly, winter and summer clothing is most expensive right before those seasons have started. Plan ahead and buy things both as gifts and for yourself when they are the cheapest. Stores typically charge more for products when everybody wants to buy them so if you do some advance planning, you’ll get the same items for much less.

3) Buy more now, to save more now and later. – The price of food is always going up, even faster than most peoples’ incomes. If you want to respect your budget, you need to figure out how to save money at the store.

Most of the time people shop for groceries when they need them and that means that they end up paying money depending on what the store wants to charge. Buying lots of groceries when they go on sale is a great way to save money at the store. You obviously can’t do this with items that perish like dairy, meat and fresh produce but you can do it with everything else like canned goods, frozen foods, etc. Look for clearance sales and similar specials to help you stock your pantry and you will quickly see that you are spending much less on groceries than you used to.

When you start to think creatively, you will see lots of ways that you can start budgeting and saving money. For the most part, people spend a lot more than they absolutely have to on things like food, entertainment and shopping because they don’t take the time to search out more reasonably priced alternatives. In addition to helping you save money, the tips in this article will help you train your brain to be more frugal as well.

Follow any or all of the above tips for budgeting and saving money and watch your savings slowly increase.

Additional Resources

With many experts telling us that family dinners are more important than ever, what’s a busy family to do? One thing that may help is having an arsenal of easy and fast dinner ideas at your disposal. There are other things you can do, too – here are some ideas.

1. Double it

When you make dinner, double the portion. It doesn’t take any more time to boil three cups of pasta as it does six, for example. This allows you to freeze the extra and have a healthy dinner available for busy nights.

2. Slow cookers and pressure cookers

Many people over look using the Crock Pot when they want easy and fast dinner ideas.  These special pieces of kitchen equipment can be invaluable for the hurried cook. Ironically, the slow cooker can help those who need dinner to be ready quickly. You throw the ingredients in, and the food cooks itself during the day or overnight.

Pressure cookers can also be a life-saver. If you get held up and can’t get home in time to start a roast or assemble a soup or stew, a pressure cooker can cook even frozen foods in less than half the time of conventional cooking. Even beef or chicken stock can be made in less than 45 minutes. Pressure cookers are also helpful for those who want to incorporate whole grains and beans into their diets. These foods take a long time on the stovetop, but are ready quickly in a pressure cooker.

3. Plan ahead

Take some time each week to plan your meals. Check your grocery store’s flyer for specials or look online, and make up a shopping list and meal plan for the week. This can help prevent you getting caught off guard.

4. Frozen meats
 
Keeping a bag of fish fillets in the freezer can be a life-saver on busy nights. Fish dishes are easy and fast dinner ideas because fish cooks quickly whether it’s been thawed or not, and it’s a versatile food that goes well with many flavors. Frozen chicken tenders are helpful, too – they cook up a lot faster than full chicken breasts.

5. Eat raw and cold foods

One way to cut down on cooking time is not to cook! Break out the dips (which you can keep on hand) like hummus, salsa, or even just ranch dressing, and put out a plate of raw vegetables, cheeses, pita wedges, corn tortillas, and fruits. Roll up deli meats with cheese and apples, or make hors d’oeuvres with crackers, cream cheese, and sliced veggies. 

By using many of the easy and fast dinner ideas above you will be sure to get a healthy dinner on the table quickly.

Summer is here aand one of the great things about summer vacation is the trip in the family car. Are you ready for a road trip? Here are some tips to help you to organize your road trip preparation and make your you trip memorable.

Road trips can be fun for adults and kids. Most think about the drawbacks of being cooped up in the car for long periods of time. But, there is an upside to this scenario. The trip can be fun and hazard free.

With that said, here are some tips for good road trip preparation:

* Get the car serviced – No one wants to end up sweating in the heat in a car that has a flat tire or an engine that has run out of anti-freeze. Have your car checked out to be sure that all parts and pieces are working properly.

* Carry a car care kit – Just in case something untoward happens, be ready. Stock your trunk with jumper cables, a gallon of water, flags, flares, a jack and a flashlight. Don’t forget to renew your AAA membership to handle any roadside emergency.

* Keep the kids entertained – Many people forget about keeping the kids occupied when they start their road trip preparation.  For the road trip, try to think outside the box. If you bring the same toys and games that kids play in the house, they will get bored really quickly. Try something that will peak their interest and provide hours of fun.

Don’t forget the music CDs and DVDs that they haven’t watched before. Create a survival pack for smaller kids. Display it in a hanging pocket that can be suspended from the front seats so they can grab what they want without you having to constantly turn around.

* Bring supplies – When people eat in the car, it can get messy. Don’t forget plastic trash bags, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, paper towels, tissues and toilet paper. You never know when you might need it. For drinks, have sippy cups for toddlers. Plastic cups and straws can get messy for someone learning to drink from a cup.

* Extra sleeping gear – Sleeping in a car can get uncomfortable.  Another great road trip preparation tips is to prepare to make the care more pleasant with travel pillows, neck pillows for kids in car seats, blankets and comfortable shoes when you want to take your hard shoes off.

* Odds and ends – Thee are the essentials that we often don’t think of until we need them. This includes cell phone and DVD chargers, video camera and extra batteries, navigation system, first aid kit, sunglasses, cooler with ice and snacks, bags for dirty clothing and window shades to keep out the sun.

By using many of the road trip preparation tips above, you will be prepared to have a joyful time in the car.

Do you wonder if it is ever possible to get organized and stay organized? Believe it or not, it is possible. It really is as simple as forming and keeping good habits. Once these simple habits are part of your daily routine, it will be much easier to get organized and stay organized. It only takes 21 days to form a new habit. Join along as we being forming habits that can make a big difference.

1. Get rid of the evidence. The easiest habit to form is one that will make a very big difference: getting rid of the evidence. For example, let’s say you’ve just made yourself a sandwich. Simply put everything away that you used to make your sandwich. Get the bread back to the breadbox, perishables back to the fridge, flatware to the dishwasher, and so on. When you have finished eating your sandwich, bring your plate to dishwasher and napkin to the trash (or washer if you use cloth). No evidence remains that you had a sandwich. This practice will help eliminate a lot of messes around the house!

2. Pick it up and put it away. Don’t sit something down to deal with later. Later usually doesn’t show up very soon. When you have something in your hands, go ahead and deal with it then and there. Put it where it belongs. In truth, it may be simpler at the moment to set something down and deal with it later. Get in the habit now of picking it up (whatever it may be) and putting it away the second you’re done with it.

3. Nightly pickup. Let’s face it. After working a full day, coming home and cleaning the whole house just isn’t the most attractive option we can come up with. However, we can do something that will make a big difference. Get in the habit of spending 15 minutes before bed each night picking up and straightening up. It will make a huge difference in your outlook in the morning when you don’t have a mess staring you in the face. If you do this every night, even your weekly cleaning activities will be less demanding, because you haven’t left a week’s worth of messes to deal with on the weekend.

4. Involve the family. The reality is that every member of the family plays an important role in maintaining an organized home. Hold a family meeting to decide as a family which chores will be done by each family member. If the members of your family have a say in chore division, they are much more likely to take ownership and do a good job, especially if they know going in that the division of chores can be re-negotiated at future family meetings. Make it a habit to hold a weekly family meeting. They’re a great habit to get into, ensure communication, and can make a big difference.

5. One In-One Out. Have you finally gotten to the point of being decluttered and having what you love and use organized? The easiest way to keep the level of stuff you have to maintain minimal is to make sure that for every one thing you bring into your home, one thing goes out–either to donations, trash or recycle. By getting into this habit, and faithfully following through on it, you are much less likely to be overwhelmed by the level of stuff in the future.

6. Medications and supplement inventory: Keep a list of all medications and supplements that each member of your family is taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. Keeping track of these in a spreadsheet on the computer is an easy way to keep it updated. Once you have this list compiled, make sure that your doctor and pharmacist each get a copy of the list. Keep it updated so that they always have the most current listing. This will help your doctor and your pharmacist be aware of any possible drug interactions, keeping you safer.

7. First aid kits. Do you have easily accessible first aid kits, or do you scramble to find even a simple band aid? First aid kits are inexpensive, well-stocked and available at drug stores, warehouse stores, and department stores. Buy one for your home, one for each of your vehicles and keep a purse-sized one in your purse or briefcase for easy access. You will be prepared for almost any emergency.

8. Accurate record keeping. We’ve all faced different times when we’ve scrambled to find all of the paperwork we might need for something, whether it’s disputing a refused claim with our health insurance, providing insurance copies, and even the dreaded tax audit. By keeping accurate and detailed records you will confidently be able to provide what is needed, no matter the situation. For your own peace of mind it pays to get into the habit of keeping accurate and detailed records.

9. Regular family fire drills. Does your family have an escape plan that everyone knows in case of an emergency? It could be the one thing that makes the biggest difference to your family’s safety. Make an escape plan that everyone in your family can understand–even the youngest member of your family who can understand pictures. But don’t stop with just having a plan. Hold regular fire drills to make certain that everyone knows exactly what to do in case of a real emergency.

10. Keep a tool box handy: Keep a toolbox in a place where everyone knows not only where to go to get a tool, but where to go to put it back when they are finished with it. By keeping a toolbox handy, you’ll have the correct tool for the job. After all, it’s much easier to pound a nail with a hammer than a shoe, or screw in a screw with a screwdriver rather than a butter knife. Just get into the habit of putting the tools back in the tool box as soon as you finish with them.

This is the time of year when the weather gets warm and sunny and more of your time is spent outside. Keeping all of the things you use outdoors organized will leave you with more time to enjoy the season so you can spend it participating in fun summertime activities. Here are a few tips to get you on your way.

1) Grilling is a regular outdoor event for many people. To organize your grill, the key is making sure that everything has a place. If your grill doesn’t have adequate shelving or storage, look for a small stand or table to put next to your grill. The top of the stand can be used for food prep and the bottom can be used for storing utensils and supplies. Hooks or magnetic clips are alternative options for storing grill utensils.

2) When storing anything outside or in the garage, make sure the container is durable and water resistant. There are a number of products available for outdoor storage. For example, an outdoor storage bench can disguise stored items and double as a seating area. Outdoor storage racks can be used to store such things as firewood and other large items.

3) A clean grill is a happy and safe grill. Keep cleaning supplies, such as towels, brushes and cleaners, on hand in case of mishaps. A waterproof bag or container can store those cleaning supplies right next to your grill for handy use.

4) Maximize the storage in your garage or shed by using the walls to hang shovels and other tools from hooks. Pegboard systems are available for hanging a variety of things. If you want to keep your belongings out of view, shelving units to maximize the wall space in your garage will add a multitude of storage space. Items can also be suspended from the ceiling. If your garage has exposed ceiling joists, this space can be used to store seasonal items.

5) Do you have a lot of outdoor toys? A good way to store these toys is by using large plastic bins that can be found in many discount stores. Make sure to keep the container in a cool, dry place and out of the sun so the toys don’t fade. If you have pool toys, get a second bin and drill holes in the bottom for drainage.

6) Create an outdoor ‘station’ near an exit for all your outdoor activities. Keep items like towels, swim suits, flip flops, etc. in one designated area for easy grab-and-go.

7) Organize your deck or patio when entertaining. Make sure all the things you use are placed near the spaces where you want to use them and are easy to access. A basket, plastic container or storage bench could be used to store the items you bring in and out of the house. These items include shatter resistant dishes and utensils, paper plates and napkins. If you have a problem with bugs, look into citronella candles to put around the seating area. Give new life to an old shelving unit by bringing it out on the deck or patio and using it to store such things as sunscreen, matches and sunglasses.

8 ) A good way to organize your garage when space is tight is to install a table that folds down. When not in use, it lays flush with the wall. When you need a surface to make home repairs, repot plants, etc., it folds out into a locked horizontal position.

9) If you are a gardener, stackable storage drawers are a great way to store gardening supplies. Clear plastic allows you to see what is inside while keeping the contents dry and safe. Frequently used items can be stored in a garden ‘toolbox’ for easy transport to and from the garden.

10) Yard and garden equipment needs to be stored properly so it remains in good working order. This equipment also needs to be out of reach of children. Lawnmowers should be placed out of the traffic area. If the mower has a folding handle, fold it up. Lawnmower accessories, such as grass catcher bags, should be hung up. Weed and hedge trimmers should be hung up as well. Long-handled tools, such as rakes and hoes, can be stored in a standing tool rack or in a hanging rack with clips or slide-in holders. Hanging is also a great way to store small gardening tools.

11) Sports equipment can be stored in the garage or shed. Use garbage cans or tall baskets to store equipment such as hockey sticks, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, etc. Racks can be made or purchased to store skis, fishing poles, golf bags, etc. Mesh bags or wire baskets can be hung from walls or the ceiling to store balls and other smaller items. Bicycles can be stored up and out of the way on sturdy racks or by clips which are available in hardware stores. A bench for putting on and removing gear is an option. Some benches can also be used as storage if they have open space underneath. Make sure the equipment storage area is dry and well ventilated to prevent mold.

Going green is about taking a more environmentally friendly approach to the way we do things. That includes organizing. Going green is all about reusing, reducing and recycling. If you have not already started going green, here are a few ways to begin.

1. Be creative and look for things that would normally go unnoticed and find a new use for them. Glass jars and cans can be reused to hold pens, pencils, craft supplies, etc. Use an empty tuna or salmon can to hold scrubbing pads next to the sink. Store and display magazines in cut off cereal boxes. The ideas are endless. Creativity also comes into play because a little embellishment can make many reused items look new and decorative.

2. Limit the amount of unwanted items going to landfills by donating or selling your belongings. Clothing, furniture, books and other items can be reused by others who need them. There are websites available, such as Freecycle, that will help you share your stuff with other people in your own community.

3. Reduce your use of plastic items, especially plastic bags. Plastics are a major pollutant and have a negative impact on the Earth. Plastic breaks down into smaller pieces but does not biodegrade. Fish and other animals are eating this broken down plastic that gets into the system after being disposed and it passes down to humans for consumption. If, at all possible, avoid using plastic bags. If you must use plastic bags, try to reuse them. Here are a few ideas:

* Pooper scoopers for pets
* Cookbook protector
* Filler for plants
* Shoe protectors

There are many more ways to reuse plastic bags that can be found on the Internet. Also, keep in mind that many supermarkets and other stores recycle bags. Check for a bin at the entrance of the store.

4. Pay bills online. This practice reduces clutter and also eliminates the need for postage and envelopes. Your bills will stay in order and will not get lost. Getting your statements online, instead of mailed every month, reduces the amount of paper clutter as well.

5. A great way to reduce the use and storage of paper is by scanning paper documents onto your computer. Current hard drives provide more than enough storage space to hold all of your archives. This can also be applied to your CD, photo and other media collections.

6. Composting is a great way to fertilize and condition your yard by using some of the things that normally go in the landfill. Grass clippings, coffee grinds and vegetable peels are just a few of the things that go into compost. Compost containers can be found at local hardware stores or nurseries. Even if you do not wish to compost, save your grass clippings and leaves. Many local municipalities recycle yard waste.

7. Most households have some kind of hazardous waste, such as old paint cans, used motor oil, weed killers, etc. The disposal of toxic items needs to be done in a safe manner. Do not dump hazardous items down the drain as it pollutes the water supply. For example:

* Motor oil, anti-freeze, car battery: Many auto parts stores and service stations that sell these items will take your old ones for recycling.

* Computers: give to a school or charity or check your local listings for places that recycle computers.

Be sure to read the label on the product for proper handling information. If you are unsure, contact your city or local government for proper disposal of items in your area.

8. Household batteries contain hazardous materials which leak into landfills when they are thrown away. There are a couple of ways you can avoid throwing away batteries. One is by using rechargeable batteries. You can also find out if there are companies in your area that recycle batteries. If you must throw away batteries, do so at a hazardous waste collection site if there is one available in your area. Some stores, such as Wal-Mart, now have receptacles at the entrance of the store where you can deposit used batteries for recycling.

9. You may not think it is a big deal to go green when you clean. However, many commercially available chemicals persist in the environment without breaking down. Use recycled and biodegradable products whenever possible. Products like white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work for safely cleaning most surfaces in your home.

10. Consider purchasing organizing products from companies that adhere to environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices.

11. Consider buying products that are good for the Earth, such as clothing with natural fibers, like cotton and wool. Look into paper and other items that have been made of recycled materials.

Adapting a ‘Go Green’ lifestyle is about being conscious of the environment and taking care of it in all that we do to organize our lives.

Spring is here and now is the time everyone starts talking about spring cleaning. Instead of cleaning for spring, we are going to show you some ways for `Spring Organizing’. Spring is the time when we all look forward to a fresh clean slate–in our homes, and in us.

Here are some great Tips for Spring Organizing

1. Clear the Cobwebs: We all have mental cobwebs after a long winter. The first thing to do is to clear them out. You can do this by taking a personal day for re-creation. This can be as simple as a hot bath and reading a special book, or as elaborate as a day at the spa. The choice is up to you. There are many ‘at-home’ spa kits available to give yourself a day of pampering. Arrange with a friend to spend a spa day together. We all lead such busy lives that a day with a friend is a rare treat. However you choose to do it, take the time to clear out the mental cobwebs and get a fresh outlook for spring.

2. One Two Switcheroo: Do you still have winter accessories out and about? Do you have winter accessories that you didn’t put out? Before you trade and bring out the warm weather accessories, take time to pack up the items you didn’t use for winter and set them aside for donation. You have a good idea of what you actually use, so donating the excess is the perfect thing to do. As you put your spring/summer accessories out, be aware of what you don’t put out as it may be something you are ready to donate right away–or at season change again.  This is a great way to get your spring organizing off to a clutter free start.

3. Lighten Up to Brighten Up: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again and again–clutter can’t be organized, so declutter, declutter, declutter. When our spaces are filled with things, our perception is that rooms are closing in on us. When we lighten up our spaces, they definitely feel brighter. So, pick a room to work on and lighten up to brighten up. The items that you choose to declutter can be donated to a charity or sold at a yard sale.

4. Spring Forward: With the daylight lasting later into the evening, now is a good time to re-organize our work-out routines. It’s likely that through the winter you, like many of us, have had your workouts restricted to indoors. With the arrival of longer days, it’s possible also to shift the time of day you exercise. If mornings are hard for you to fit in a workout, an after-work or after-dinner walk is now a real possibility. Now is the time to change things up a bit and schedule in a change of scenery, and introduce a fresh state of mind for your workouts.  Spring organizing isn’t just about “stuff”, it is also about organizing your mind and health.

5. Cooking Up Confusion: Are your recipes and cookbooks in a state of disarray? Now is a good time to breathe new life into your cooking. The first thing to do is to go through your cookbooks and loose recipes and eliminate those you haven’t used and don’t plan on using. Be realistic about what you will actually try to make. Once you have culled out those you don’t want, make a plan to try a new recipe each week. To keep the confusion to a minimum, if you try a recipe and no one likes it–toss it! Look through your cookbooks with a critical eye to which ones you actually use. There are so many recipes available on the Internet now, that it almost makes it unnecessary to own the cookbooks.

6. Trash The Tattered Towels: Have your towels seen better days? Take time now to do a bit of spring organizing and sorting of your towels. Those that are showing their age but are still serviceable can be donated to a local animal shelter. They will appreciate your donation. Inventory what remains. Two to three sets of towels per bathroom should be sufficient. If you have only one bathroom, stock two sets of towels per family member. Replace worn ones with fluffy white towels. These will give your bathroom a fresh spa-like look and feel. 

7. Gardening Goals: With warmer weather many of us are turning our thoughts to the outside of our homes. Spring is a perfect time to plan your garden and yard care tasks.  When you think about spring organizing for your yard, its also a great time to take a look at the curb appeal of your home. Organize your gardening tasks, and cleanup tasks. Add at least one item to your calendar for each day that you have free time. Now is also a great time to order your seeds and plants for the garden you have planned. That should give you plenty of time to get your seeds started and ready to plant once all danger of frost is past.

8. Organize Your Refrigerator: Before the farmers’ markets open for business, why not organize your refrigerator for more room and greater efficiency. You can use small dollar store baskets or bins to group like items together. For instance, put salad dressings in one basket, condiments in another, jams and jellies in another and so on. You can also put in a basket for fruit and another for vegetables. Not only does this free up space in your fridge, but you will also have things organized in such a way that makes it easier to find everything. Being able to find what we need in the refrigerator will be a welcome change for all of us!

By using any or all of the spring organizing ideas above, you are sure to have a more organized season.

Get Organized Now – An amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, getting rid of clutter, organizing your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!

When we stop to think about it, we all have clutter to one degree or another. No matter where we are with the level of clutter, we’d all be better off without it. Here are some great tips for clearing clutter.

1. Schedule a charity pick-up. Some of us work better with a deadline, so schedule one. Call your local or favorite charity and schedule a pick-up for a week or two out. Now that you have that deadline, make the rounds gathering up unneeded items. You’ll be amazed at the difference.

2. One room at a time. One of the best tips for clearing clutter is to start in one room and work in there until you’ve cleared the clutter. Your most visible room will have the most impact, so start there. For most people, that is the living room. Seeing what a big improvement it is, just removing the clutter makes, will motivate you to keep going. And remember, you don’t have to spend the day at it. Start with 15 minutes.

3. Go for the trash first. Start with a trash bag and go around the room from right to left, or left to right depending on your preference. Pick up any old newspapers, magazines, junk mail or what have you, that are lying around. Remove every bit. If you have recycling in your community, be sure to recycle paper, newspaper and magazines. Some of your magazines would be appreciated by senior centers or nursing homes if they are relatively current. Whatever else you pick up as trash, throw it in the garbage. Just removing the trash will be an improvement.

4. Remove everything that doesn’t belong.Pick up everything that doesn’t belong in the room, and put it in a basket. Remember, you’re just in gathering mode right now. You don’t have to run around putting things away yet. Sort through the basket when you get everything picked up. If you have a place for the item, put it in its place. Handle each item only once. If you don’t know where it goes, put it into a box for donations. Don’t agonize over what to do with an item. If it has a place, just put it there. If it doesn’t, make it easy on yourself and donate it. Clutter gone.

5. Rethink how much you need. Many of us have duplicates, triplicates or even more of items. Truth be told, most of the time we need just one. So, go through your supplies and donate the excess. Not only will you free up space in your home–you’ll also benefit others with your donations.

6. Make a bit of money. My favorite tip for clearing clutter will actually bring you some extra cash. They are a bit of work but having a yard sale can result in cash in your pocket and clutter out the door. As you set aside items for the yard sale, go ahead and price them. Keep in mind that we go to yard sales looking for a bargain as you price each item. Before your yard sale, arrange to have a charity pick-up anything that is left over right after closing. Clutter totally gone!

7. Freecycle It. Another way to show clutter the door is to list items on Freecycle. Almost every city has a freecycle organization. No cash changes hands, but the end result is that clutter is out of your home and into the hands of someone who needs it. Arrangements can be made to meet somewhere neutral so that you don’t have safety concerns to deal with. Just take precautions to be safe when meeting someone to hand off items.

8. Sell online. There are several auction and ‘yard sale’ sites online where you can sell items like books, DVDs, clothing, craft supplies and the like. You’ll need to take a digital picture of the item and upload them to your site of choice. To get a good idea of how to price your items, search for similar items. This will give you a fair idea of how to price, and it will also let you know if there is a market for your items.

9. Pack It Up. Do you have more artwork, knick knacks, whatever, than you have space to display it? Do you love it and can’t see your way to donating or selling? You can still reduce clutter and keep your favorite things. Simply pack up three fourths of your items. Periodically, switch out what you have displayed. You’ll have a fresh new look and less clutter, and still be surrounded by your favorite things. Just be sure not to turn your home into a storage warehouse!

10. Donate, with a twist. It’s pretty easy to donate items to any one of dozens of charities. For a different twist, do a bit of research and find a local organization that offers free clothing to women trying to get back into the workplace. For women trying to reenter the work force after being homeless, or other issues, the chance to look professional when going out on interviews is priceless. So, if you have professional clothing you no longer use, consider donating it to this kind of organization. You’ll make a huge difference in another woman’s life.

By using any of the tips for clearing clutter listed above, you will be on your way to a less cluttered space.

Get Organized Now – An amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, getting rid of clutter, organizing your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!