I really love "Getting Things Done," written by productivity guru David Allen. Although I do think he gets a little carried away with some of his suggestions, on the whole, you can take away some great organizing ideas.
What's helped me the most is his use of the in-box. He suggests we should put all our stuff -- mail, ideas written on note cards, appointment reminders, notes to our self to do something -- in the in-box. And for the last year, that's what I've done. It gives me a totally relaxed feeling because I know everything is in that box (actually basket for me). No more piles everywhere.
But here's the catch. You have to go through the in-box on a regular basis. Otherwise, it will do you no good,. The stuff will just sit there, and you'll take no actions. I try to do it once a week; sometimes it's every two weeks. It's a habit you have to make happen. But once you start doing this, you'll feel a lot more relaxed.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Home Projects
I hate -- absolutely hate -- that the downstairs of our home is so unorganized right now. We are refinishing our hardwood floors, and we just have to live in a mess while we do it.
It's difficult to stay organized during home projects. These are the times when you just have to let go of some preconceived notions of renovation projects. They always take longer and cost more than you expect. And the temptation is to let other parts of your home go to pieces at the same time. Don't give in. Keep up your organizational efforts in the rest of your home. Then it won't take forever, once the project is finished, to get back to normal.
It's difficult to stay organized during home projects. These are the times when you just have to let go of some preconceived notions of renovation projects. They always take longer and cost more than you expect. And the temptation is to let other parts of your home go to pieces at the same time. Don't give in. Keep up your organizational efforts in the rest of your home. Then it won't take forever, once the project is finished, to get back to normal.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Organized for Fun
Next time you entertain a large group, skip the chaos that often happens with parties. Get organized for fun!
If your guests will have coats, designate a bedroom to handle them all. And have a friend stationed by the door to greet guests, and tell them where to take their wraps.
Don’t create bottlenecks. Instead, create food and drink sections around your house. Have the drinks in one room, the main course in another and desserts in a third room.
When you roam around during the party picking up dirty glasses and silverware, don’t dump it all in your sink where it just looks messy. Have a designated dumping spot out of sight, such as a large dishpan in your laundry room.
Have music, by all means, but don’t turn it so loud your guests can’t hear each other talk. And as the evening progresses, change it from fast to slow to signal that your party isn’t going to last all night.
If your guests will have coats, designate a bedroom to handle them all. And have a friend stationed by the door to greet guests, and tell them where to take their wraps.
Don’t create bottlenecks. Instead, create food and drink sections around your house. Have the drinks in one room, the main course in another and desserts in a third room.
When you roam around during the party picking up dirty glasses and silverware, don’t dump it all in your sink where it just looks messy. Have a designated dumping spot out of sight, such as a large dishpan in your laundry room.
Have music, by all means, but don’t turn it so loud your guests can’t hear each other talk. And as the evening progresses, change it from fast to slow to signal that your party isn’t going to last all night.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Books
We have mountains of books at our house. I love to read, fiction and non-fiction, and I always have a book going. Plus, I will re-read my favorite books over and over.
My husband has all those psychology books he uses in his practice. Shelves of them, stacks of them -- they're everywhere.
So a few weeks ago, I decided I had to take control. We have a study with lots of shelves, and then we have a couple of bookcases scattered around the house. I'm slowly trying to categorize them all, which will make finding the one you want a lot easier.
Maybe I should alphabetize. My mother always did that.
Or is that over the top?
My husband has all those psychology books he uses in his practice. Shelves of them, stacks of them -- they're everywhere.
So a few weeks ago, I decided I had to take control. We have a study with lots of shelves, and then we have a couple of bookcases scattered around the house. I'm slowly trying to categorize them all, which will make finding the one you want a lot easier.
Maybe I should alphabetize. My mother always did that.
Or is that over the top?
Friday, September 5, 2008
Kitchen Tips
Keeping on top of your kitchen can be time consuming. Here are some tips to help you keep it all in order!
Keep a slice of bread in your brown sugar to keep it from hardening.
Wrap clean lettuce in paper towels and place in a gallon-size freezer bag. It will stay fresh for days.
You can decrease the amount of vegetable oil in a recipe by substituting applesauce for at least half the amount of oil.
When browning hamburger for tacos or spaghetti sauce, use a pastry blender to break it up into small pieces.
Get more juice out of fresh lemons by rolling them on your countertop.
When you drain canned fruit, save the juice and use it in place of water or milk in muffin recipes.
Keep a “running list” on your frig door. Every time you see you need an item, note it on the list.
And speaking of grocery lists, save time at the supermarket by listing your needed items in the order they come in the store.
Chop all your onions and peppers at one time. Then keep them in sandwich bags for use all week.
Make your menus for each week. You’ll save time and money.
Keep a slice of bread in your brown sugar to keep it from hardening.
Wrap clean lettuce in paper towels and place in a gallon-size freezer bag. It will stay fresh for days.
You can decrease the amount of vegetable oil in a recipe by substituting applesauce for at least half the amount of oil.
When browning hamburger for tacos or spaghetti sauce, use a pastry blender to break it up into small pieces.
Get more juice out of fresh lemons by rolling them on your countertop.
When you drain canned fruit, save the juice and use it in place of water or milk in muffin recipes.
Keep a “running list” on your frig door. Every time you see you need an item, note it on the list.
And speaking of grocery lists, save time at the supermarket by listing your needed items in the order they come in the store.
Chop all your onions and peppers at one time. Then keep them in sandwich bags for use all week.
Make your menus for each week. You’ll save time and money.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Delegate It!
Did you know there’s a word called “delegate?” I don’t think I knew it existed for years. Apparently, I believed I was the only one who could do anything!
It really is okay to delegate. There are always people looking for ways to make extra money. Maybe a high school student can run errands for you in the afternoons. There might be a stay-at-home mom who would be glad to get your groceries at the same time she shops for hers. If your children are old enough, there are many things they can do around the house, and earn a little pocket money at the same time.
You may be saying,”I don’t have the money.” But think about what your time is worth, too. Getting some of the other stuff of life off your plate will free you up to be more creative, happier and a lot more likely to increase your own earning potential. Don’t be careless with your money, but don’t spend a dollar to save a dime.
Personal chefs can be quite reasonable. Those places where you pick up frozen meals are increasingly more popular. If you really can’t spare the cash, find another Mom you can trade off days with; you watch her kids and yours one afternoon, and she watches them all another. Look into online banking. Online shopping is a great time-saver. You shop at midnight in your pj’s. What could be better?
Think creatively, and delegate!
It really is okay to delegate. There are always people looking for ways to make extra money. Maybe a high school student can run errands for you in the afternoons. There might be a stay-at-home mom who would be glad to get your groceries at the same time she shops for hers. If your children are old enough, there are many things they can do around the house, and earn a little pocket money at the same time.
You may be saying,”I don’t have the money.” But think about what your time is worth, too. Getting some of the other stuff of life off your plate will free you up to be more creative, happier and a lot more likely to increase your own earning potential. Don’t be careless with your money, but don’t spend a dollar to save a dime.
Personal chefs can be quite reasonable. Those places where you pick up frozen meals are increasingly more popular. If you really can’t spare the cash, find another Mom you can trade off days with; you watch her kids and yours one afternoon, and she watches them all another. Look into online banking. Online shopping is a great time-saver. You shop at midnight in your pj’s. What could be better?
Think creatively, and delegate!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Get Control of Spending
You’d like to pay your bills – if you could find them. Or maybe you just need to find the money. This post isn’t about getting organized to pay bills on time. It’s about having the money to pay them.
Somebody famous once said, “I’ve been poor, and I’ve been rich. Richer is better.” There’s no doubt we need money to make it on our own. But it seems as if many Americans have gotten used to spending more than they have. It’s way to easy to charge everything and just pay the minimum amount due each month. There’s a day of reckoning, however, and it’s nothing new. Simply, the interest charges on credit cards are exorbitant. Don’t charge what you can’t pay off every month.
There are many ways to get control of your spending. You may need to close those credit card accounts, hard as it may be. Keep a list of every single penny you spend. Talk to your spouse about both of your spending habits. Money is the number one thing couples fight about. Check out online resources. Debtors Anonymous has a website that can help. Take a look at Dave Ramsey’s debt site. It’s controversial, but many people swear by it. Your church may have a financial planning class. The point is, there are plenty of resources out there to help you. Don’t stick your head in the sand about your finances.
Somebody famous once said, “I’ve been poor, and I’ve been rich. Richer is better.” There’s no doubt we need money to make it on our own. But it seems as if many Americans have gotten used to spending more than they have. It’s way to easy to charge everything and just pay the minimum amount due each month. There’s a day of reckoning, however, and it’s nothing new. Simply, the interest charges on credit cards are exorbitant. Don’t charge what you can’t pay off every month.
There are many ways to get control of your spending. You may need to close those credit card accounts, hard as it may be. Keep a list of every single penny you spend. Talk to your spouse about both of your spending habits. Money is the number one thing couples fight about. Check out online resources. Debtors Anonymous has a website that can help. Take a look at Dave Ramsey’s debt site. It’s controversial, but many people swear by it. Your church may have a financial planning class. The point is, there are plenty of resources out there to help you. Don’t stick your head in the sand about your finances.
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