Get Those Toys Organized in 5 Steps

For more Work for Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Toys! Toys! And more toys! Many of my clients, readers and friends frequently ask me about organizing toys. Don't worry it can be done. I've used my five-step STUFF System™ to break it down into doable steps.

Sort
Gather all the toys and start making piles by sorting like items together. This step may take awhile, especially if you have lots of smaller pieces. This is a great time to get the kids involved as sorting is the first basic skill you can teach your child about organizing.

Take Out
Now it's time to make some decisions. What toys can go? Have a box or space for those toys which you can donate, sell or give away. Don't forget to have the garbage and recycling containers near by.

You may or may not want your children involved in this step. It is a perfect time to teach them that it is OK not to keep everything. On the other hand, it might be a battle of tears, pleading and stress for all. Use your judgment; you know the personalities, tendencies and age of your children the best.

Utilize the Space and Systems
Where will everything live? Consider the space from your child's point of view. Keep their favorite toys in easy-to-reach and convenient places. You'll thank yourself later, as this makes clean-up time less challenging.

Think about zones. Keep toys together that go together. For example, a building zone, a reading zone, an arts and crafts zone, etc. This is also the time to determine if shelves, hooks, or other space-utilizing hardware should be added. Perhaps there are such items elsewhere in your home that are not fully utilized.

Fill Containers
At this point you have identified the keepers and have a good idea of how you want to use your space. You can now think about containers. Containers can be boxes, bins, bags, baskets, etc.

Not sure how many and what sizes you'll need? No problem! Just take a look at those piles from sorting and you'll get a good idea of what you'll need. Try to keep like items together and don't forget to take your space and any shelves into consideration. Take some measurements and make notes to aid you if need to make a trip to the store.

Open containers work really well for most children, however if you need to stack them to make the most of the space, go with the lid. Avoid big toy boxes that hold many different items because EVERYTHING tends to get pulled out during play.

Labels are essential! I like to use pictures and words for younger children. You could even label the spots on shelves. Labels make retrieving and returning items easier for children and adults.

Follow-up
Keeping those toys organized is almost always an on-going process for parents and kids. Try to maintain the space on a continuous basis with regular clean-up times and frequent purging (before birthdays and Christmas is a great time). Your family can start a new habit of sharing and trading toys with other families. Put the focus on making room for new toys rather than eliminating their stuff.

On a final note, children typically play with 20% of their toys 80% of the time. Too many toys can make play time difficult and clean-up time overwhelming. You may want to try rotating toys and books; store one-third to one-half of the toys and books and switch them about every three to four months. This helps to keep kids interested and your living space less congested. Remember, the more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to take care of! Play time should be enjoyable not a stressful experience for child and parent.

Back-to-School: 8 Tips to Help You Plan Ahead and Reduce the Morning Stress

I know this post is a bit of repeat but it's back just in time for Back-to-School! For more Work for Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Think for a moment how your family starts off the day. How would you describe the mornings in your household once school starts? Do they tend to be calm and peaceful or rushed and stressful -or, somewhere in the middle?

I found that planning ahead really helps to curb the morning madness. This month, I'm sharing 8 quick ideas to help make your mornings less of production for you and your family.

1. Give yourself time to get up and ready to go before the children need to be up, even if it's just 15-30 minutes before the kids. I find that when I do this, I am more relaxed and able to focus on helping my children. The day is more likely to start off with conversation rather than prodding and nagging. I also feel better about myself. When I feel good about myself, it has such a positive impact on my day and those around me.

2. Make sure the kids have adequate time to get ready for school without being rushed.

3. Empty the backpacks after school, not in the morning to avoid any last minute surprises.

The Night Before
4. Have your children pick out their clothes for the next day. Make this part of their bedtime routine.

5. Make sure the backpacks and school supplies are ready to go near the door. Maybe even the shoes and jackets, too. In the winter I get all the snow gear get out and ready to go as well. What about the lunches? Can they be made ahead of time? Does money need to go to school to pay for hot lunch?

6. Determine the breakfast menu and set the bowls and cereal out after dinner. A healthy breakfast really adds a positive start to your child's day.

7. Develop a bedtime routine that works for your family and stick to it the best you can.

8. Double check your calendar, including the car pool schedule and after school activities. Think about what tasks or errands you want to accomplish the next day. I'm not talking about a major to-do list but maybe 2-4 items, or maybe just one part of a major project.

Don't Forget!
Another part of planning ahead is getting the school activities on your calendar or planner. This includes the school calendar for the year, any sports, activities, scouting schedules, etc. You can use a wall calendar, a personal planner or computer, but try to limit it to one.

I like to use Outlook on my computer. At the start of each week I print the 7-day view and post it on my refrigerator so everyone in the family knows what's going on. I tend to color-code activities by type of event (personal or child-related). You might want to color-code by member of the household.

Do you want ideas for organizing, displaying and maintaining your child's school papers and artwork? When you order my Tickler File System , I'll also send you my popular e-book, Maintaining Childhood Treasures: A Mom's Guide to Organizing School Papers and Artwork!

Organize School and Papers in 4 Easy Steps

For more Works for Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Understandably, many parents want to treasure and capture their children's journey. However, good intentions can quickly create a great area of stress for many moms and dads. The key is to be selective in what we save and organize it so it can be enjoyed and treasured. Having a system in place with limits will help you and your child make decisions as the numerous papers and artwork enter your home.

The Simple Steps


Collect it.
Have a basket or spot for each child to put the finish school papers, permission slips, communications from school that you need to look at. Be sure to put it in a spot that they can reach. Make this part of their coming home routine.

Limit it.
If you kept everything, your home would quickly become a storage site. This is a good opportunity to teach your children that it is OK not to keep everything. Get your children involved in the process to help them to learn the skills they need to help themselves as they get older.

Depending on the age of your child, work together to figure out what papers and projects will be kept and/or displayed. Maybe the keepers go on display and the rest is recycled. Typically, younger kids will want to save everything. As always, use your discretion.

If you find it hard for you and your child to make a decision right away - that's okay! Some families may prefer to keep all the items from a school year and then go back to pick out the best representatives of the whole year. Others may want to limit the collection to whatever can fit inside a designated container.


I recommend, if at all possible, making decisions as you go and use my 3 T's to help you.



-Take Out: Toss, recycle, or give away the items that are not keepers.


-Take Action: Display it for a set time period.


-Take Back: If you are keeping it, take it to the designate storage container in a reasonable timeframe, perhaps weekly, every other week or monthly.

Share it.
Be sure to spend time letting your child tell you about their work. That's why they bring it home to you!

Store it.
However you decide to store the memorabilia, take time to label the containers with the child's name, the contents, and the age or school year of the child. That way when you do want to pull something out, you can locate the items without having to search and dig through one big container.

Do you already have years of school papers and artwork piled or stuffed in large totes? Don't worry! Start from this point forward and then go back later to thin out and organize past memorabilia small steps at a time. Set an appointment with yourself (write it on your calendar now). Get your system in shape before summer starts!

Do you want more ideas for organizing, displaying and maintaining your child's school papers and artwork?

When you order the Tickler File System by June 30, 2010, I'll also send you my popular e-book,
Maintaining Childhood Treasures: A Mom's Guide to Organizing School Papers and Artwork!

Focused and Balanced: 4 Great Ideas for the New Year!

Are you looking to make some changes this year? Hoping to feel more balanced? Wishing you could be less busy? Do you want more time for those things that are most important to you? Don't spend your time hoping and wishing; take action!

Look back. Take time, even if it's just 10 minutes, to look back to 2009. Write down your excitements, accomplishments, your frustrations and your letdowns. Now make a list of everything you would like to do or improve upon in 2010. There is no wrong answer here; allow your thoughts to spill out onto the paper (or computer screen). Pick one or two of the most important areas you would like to work on in the coming year.

Think ahead. In other words, plan ahead as much as you can. I believe this is one of a mom's most useful strategies. For example, plan your meals out for the week and then make your shopping list. Take time to plan your next day the night before. Planning also includes grouping like activities and tasks together to make the most of your time. For example, it makes sense to do all your errands on the same day.

How you spend your time will be determined by your priorities not your availability. Too often we forget to look at what is truly important to us and our families before we add another thing to our already busy calendars. Take the time to reflect on what matters most to you and your family. Ask, "Do these requests of my/our time fit with my/our priorities? If the answer is no, it probably doesn't belong on your calendar.

Don't overload your calendar. When we over-commit ourselves and our time, the results can be counter-productive. Busyness leads to stress, frustration, and fatigue (mentally, physically and emotionally!). Be sure to include down time on your calendar. Actually write it down like you are setting an appointment with yourself. If a request of your time comes up during that "free" time, simply say, "I'm sorry, that's not going to work for me."

You can feel more balanced and focus on the important stuff. Now is the time to make those changes. It starts with a commitment from you.

If you are determined to be focused and balanced in 2010, check out my Making Time for What's Important Home Study Program.

Organize Your Recipes and Cookbooks in Five Steps.....(October Newsletter Article)

Have your recipes and cookbooks gotten out of control? Do you have good intentions to get them organized but get overwhelmed when you think about it?

Imagine if you could put your hands on the exact recipe you are looking for in seconds!
To help you achieve that goal, I've laid out the 5 steps to get your recipes and cookbooks organized using my STUFF System™.

Sort
Gather all your cookbooks, loose recipes and cooking magazines. Next, start sorting into piles - cookbooks, cooking magazines and loose recipes. Then, sort your loose recipes into piles by the type of dish (desserts, poultry, fish, meat, vegetables, appetizers, etc). Look at a cookbook to get ideas of possible categories ideas.

Take Out
Go through each pile and decide what you will keep and what you will let go. If you are limited on space you'll have to be more selective. If you use just one or a few recipes from each cookbook, consider making a copy of those favorite ones and pass the cookbook on or donate the books to your library.

If you have a collection of cooking magazines taking up lots of space, tear out the recipes you use or would like to try. Recycle the rest of the magazine.

What about all those loose recipes that you've printed from the internet and clipped from magazines? Do you have more than you'll every try? Toss any incomplete or duplicate recipes.

Utilize Your Space and a System
Look at your available space. Where will your cookbooks and recipes live? In the kitchen? On a bookshelf? In a cupboard? In the pantry? Avoid storing them on your countertops.

~Ideas for Your Loose Recipes~
Create your own recipe binder to store your loose recipes. You just need a 3-ring binder, clear page protectors and divider tabs. Lay out your binder just like a cookbook. You've already sorted your recipes into piles - use those categories to label your divider tabs. Then slip the recipes into the clear page protectors. The page protectors also protect the recipes from spills and are easy to wipe clean. Perhaps you can have a section devoted to your family's favorites or a section of new recipes you want to try.

Another idea is to use a portable file box to store your loose recipes. Label each hanging file folder with the categories and slip the recipes behind the appropriate tab.

You may prefer transferring recipes to index cards to store in a recipe box or small plastic photo albums. Here is an example of how I use small photo albums for my favorite recipes. I love using this system because they are always handy.

Fill Containers
Containers keep like items together. Your recipe binder is a container. A recipe box is a container. See how this step and the previous step can go together? Be sure to label your containers.

Follow-Up
Once you have your cookbooks and recipes organized, you'll want to stay on top of them to keep it that way. Be picky about what you keep. If you try a new recipe and it just doesn't work for you family, there's no need to hold onto it anymore. Think before you print and clip! How easy would it be to get those recipes again when you are ready to make them? When you do come across a new recipe on the internet or in a magazine that you want to keep, put it in your binder and on your menu right away.

If you get a new cookbook, is there another one you can part with? Consider utilizing your local library when you're in the mood to try out a new cookbook.

Make it Happen!
Now that you have all the steps, pick a date to start working on your recipes and cookbook organizing project. Do one step at a time. Depending on how much you have, you may have to schedule multiple sessions.

*Holiday Tip* If you will be hosting or attending Holiday gatherings this season, start making your menus now. If you come across a recipe you'd like to try, make a note of it and where it is located.

*Gift Idea* Compile your and your families' favorite recipes, print them so they look nice and compile them into a small photo book. Present them as a gift by itself or in a kitchen theme basket. My Mom did this for my brother and me about 6 years ago. We both cherish that gift of her favorite recipes that she used to make. Every time I make something from that book I think of her and the memories.

9 Quick Tips for Reducing the Morning Stress! .....September Newsletter Article

Think for a moment how your family starts off the day. How would you describe the mornings in your household? Do they tend to be calm and peaceful or rushed and stressful -or, somewhere in the middle? I found that planning ahead really helps to curb the morning madness. Here are nine quick ideas to help make your mornings less of production for you and your family.

Tip #1: Get up 15-30 minutes before the kids. Give yourself time to get up and ready to go before the children need to be up. I find that when I do this I am more relaxed and able to focus on helping my children. The day is more likely to start off with conversation rather than prodding and nagging. I also feel better about myself. When I feel good about myself, it has such a positive impact on my day!

Tip #2: Make sure the kids have adequate time to get ready for school without being rushed. Note how much time it takes them to complete all their necessary morning tasks and chores. Ideally, I like to have a 15 minute cushion of downtime before they walk out the door.

Tip #3: Have the kids empty their backpacks after school, not the next morning, to avoid any last minute surprises. Designate a drop-off spot for school papers, notes or permission slips that you need to see.

The Night Before
Tip #4: Have your children layout their clothes they want to wear the next day. Make this simple step a part of their bedtime routine.

Tip #5: Make sure the backpacks and school supplies are ready to go near the door. Maybe even the shoes and jackets, too. During the winter month, I get all the snow gear out and ready to go.

Tip #6: What about the lunches? Can they be made ahead of time? Does money need to go to school to pay for hot lunch?

Tip #7: Determine the breakfast menu and set the bowls and cereal out after dinner.

Tip #8: Develop a bedtime routine that works for your family and stick to it the best you can. A rested child is able to focus and learn better than a tired one. Tip #9: Double check your calendar, including the car pool schedule. What tasks do you want to accomplish the next day?

Top 5 Organizing Tips to Ease the Stress from Your Family Vacation...July Newsletter Article

Family vacations are a great time to have fun, take a break from the everyday routine, see new sites and recharge. It can also be a time of stress - preparing and planning, traveling and returning home are all high stress points for many. I'm sharing my top five organizing tips to help ease some of the stress that comes along with taking a family vacation.

Tip #1: Make Lists

Lists will definitely help you reduce your stress while you are planning your family vacation. Rather than trying to remember it all, I suggest creating master lists on your computer that you can print and use each time you take a trip. You will be able to greatly reduce your planning time and stress for the next vacation and lessen the chance of forgetting any details.

Start with the list of the things you need to do to get ready to leave on your vacation. Do you have to make arrangement for the mail and paper? What about pets and plant watering? Will you be using a house sitter?

Next, make lists for the items you need to pack. Give children their own lists to be responsible for. Help create lists for younger children by using pictures, numbers, and words of the items they can gather.Keep your printed lists with you so you can easily jot down ideas whenever they come to you. Take time to update the master lists as needed.

Tip #2: Clean and Organize that Vehicle
If you will be taking to the road, be sure to take the time to clean out that messy van or car. Pick a day, preferably the week before you will depart, to get your vehicle fresh and ready to go. Most people tend to feel more relaxed in a clean and organized space. There are some neat car organizers that make it easy for the kids to have items, such as coloring books, crayons and games close at hand.

Tip #3: Set a Budget and Stick to it!

Take time to create a budget for your vacation. How much will you spend on lodging, fuel, travel expenses, food and souvenirs? It's so easy to say yes to unplanned purchases when you are in the joyful moments of your vacation, but can that expense be justified when you get back home or get your credit card statement? Keep in mind that kids will remember the experiences, not the stuff.

Tip #4: Copy the Contents of Your Purse and Wallet

Photocopy the credit cards, driver license and other documents that you are carrying with you while on vacation. Keep this information in another location. If your purse or wallet were lost or stolen, you would have that information at your finger tips. I also try to limit the items in my purse I take with me on vacation.

Tip #5: Schedule Returning Home and Downtime

I think this is an area that many families overlook. I would suggest allowing at least one full day of recovery time before you get back to your normal schedules. Just think about the tasks there are to do when you return home. How long will it take you to complete those? There's laundry to wash, the car to unpack, mail and email to go through and you barely have the energy.

Remember to focus on one task at a time. If you look at the big picture, you'll get overwhelmed and that's when that stress level rises. Don't schedule appointments or play dates in the first few days after your return. Give your family time to adjust and get caught up.

If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter PLUS my special guides, 5 Must-Know Organizing Tips for Moms and the Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide, just sign up on the right sidebar or click here.

5 Organizing Tips to Beat the Mail Monster: June Newsletter

It's another Works-For-Me Wednesday! Stop over at We Are THAT Family for more tips and ideas.

The daily mail - Do you dread it? Do you pile it? Do you avoid it? It must be dealt with or it will take over your counters, suck up your important papers and drain your energy every time you look at the piles.

Here are 5 tips that will help you beat that mail monster.

Tip # 1: Develop a Routine. Pick a time of the day that you can devote to sorting through the mail. This should take you about 5 minutes. Is there a time that you are not distracted? What about getting up 15 minutes earlier than the kids? Or, are you a night person that gets stuff done after everyone else is asleep?

Tip #2: Designate a Spot. Do you have one spot that the mail goes to when it comes into your house? Or, do you just set it down anywhere? Picking a home for the mail keeps you from searching and saying, "I know I just saw that somewhere." Of course my favorite and effective system is a Household Action Center. Have a recycling bin close by!

Tip # 3: Make Decisions. Barbara Hemphill, Author of Taming the Paper Tiger, says "clutter is postponed decisions." Most likely, those piles of paper and mail are sitting there because you haven't made decisions on those items yet. During my Paper Organizing for Busy Moms workshop, I teach my 3-T Plan™ and you can use this to sort your mail daily and to get through those old piles on your kitchen counters, table, and mudroom.

1. Take Out -Get rid of (recycle, shred, throw) the stuff right away that you don't need! That includes junk mail, flyers, the envelopes the stuff comes in, expired coupons and anything else that you don't need in your home sucking up your energy.


2. Take Action - If something requires action from you, pick a time and/or a date that you can do it. Put it on your calendar like you are scheduling an appointment with yourself.
   
3. Take Back or To File - Got stuff that you have to file or take to another part of the house? Take it there once you are done sorting through the pile.

Tip #4: Follow-Up. Yes, you have to continue dealing with mail on a regular basis. If you deal with your incoming mail and papers on a daily basis, it's much easier and less time consuming.

Tip #5: Eliminate What You Can. Think of ways you can keep that paper from ever entering your home. Are you taking advantage of paperless statements through email? What about online bill paying? Are you finding that you just don't have time to read all the magazines and newspapers you get? Should you eliminate some of those subscriptions? Visit the Federal Trade Commission website for more information on opting out of receiving unwanted solicitations.

If you are ready to take control of the mail, start from this point going forward. Then, go back through the old piles bit by bit. Set and reach mini goals. Set a timer for 15 or 30 minutes chunks. Focus on one pile or area at a time. You'll be amazed at how much you can get through in a short amount of time. You can make the decision to beat the mail monster!

If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter PLUS my special guides, 5 Must-Know Organizing Tips for Moms and the Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide, just sign up on the right sidebar or click here.

Daily Household Clutter: 4 Secrets to Take Control (May Newsletter)

It's a familiar story. Our days are often filled with busyness. There are appointments to get to, places to take the kids, phone calls and emails to return, volunteer responsibilities to fulfill, job duties to stay on top of, shopping to do, and the list goes on. Many Moms ask me, "How am I supposed to find time to tackle the everyday clutter that seems takes over my home in just a blink of an eye?" You can do it.

Here are my four secrets to taking control of the clutter in your home. For more Works for Me Wednesday tips and ideas visit We Are THAT Family.

1. Stop and breathe. You can only do one thing at a time. Remember, your job is never done. There will always be something you have to do. However, you can prioritize. Ask yourself, "What needs to be done now?" and focus on that one task.
2. Be aware of the to-do list trap. To-do lists don't make us productive. What they are great for is to help us remember what it is we want to do. But, you also have to consider when you're going to do a task and how long it will take. If you are just adding items to your list in hopes that everything will find a way to get done, you might be setting yourself up for failure.
3. Do a quick sweep. Go through each room, one at a time, with a basket or box. Collect those items that do not belong in that room. Deliver the items back to their homes. Get the family involved by having each member put their own belongings away.
4. Work in follow-up time into your daily routine. Follow-up is the fifth step of my organizing process, the STUFF System™ (Sort, Take Out, Utilize a System, Fill Containers and Follow Up). When you get a space organized, it will always require follow-up. The more you use a space, the more maintenance it will demand. The time that you invest daily in your follow-up is nothing compared to the time you will regain.

You might also have to consider cutting one or two items out of your calendar. If you are feeling overwhelmed and supper busy, that's a clue that something has to go. Remember, one thing at a time. Clutter is something that takes its claim on a space quickly, but you can take back control and stay on top of it.

P.S. The kitchen counter is often the biggest clutter spot in most homes. If you are ready to get rid of those piles of paper once and for all, I can help. I have developed my successful Virtual Paper Organizing Workshop for Busy Moms and have set the date for the next class. Can't wait until September? I will do private classes for you and 5 of your friends. Just contact me for more information.

Organizing Your Photos So You Can Enjoy Them!....April Newsletter Article

Tackling photo organization can be overwhelming but it doesn't have to be. It probably took years to accumulate all those photos, right? Getting them in order may take some time and that's OK! The key is to work on it in small steps. Chip away at it.

How you organize your photos will depend on what your goals are. Maybe you hope to get your photos into albums so you can display them. Or, do you want to start a scrapbook project?

Now that you are ready to start, gather all your photos. Start with the latest pictures. Try not to worry about all the past photos right now; start your new system from this point forward. You can then go back and start working on past photos. Make a habit of labeling the pictures and envelopes right after they are developed or printed.

There are many ways to organize your photos and you need to decide what is most logical for you. Do you want to sort them chronologically? Or, does it make more sense to you to sort them by events, or people? If you have many years to go through, you could start by sorting the pictures by decades or periods (college, wedding, children, etc.) in your life.

Use photo boxes with dividers to mark your categories. Toss the blurry, bad, and duplicate photos that you will never use. Consider labeling individual photos with the date and subject, using a photo-safe pen or pencil. An adjustable date stamp is a useful tool that can help save time. Remember to use an acid-free ink pad.

Once all your photos are sorted, think about permanent storage. How accessible do you want your photos? Do you want to display your photos in albums? Will some of your pictures go into scrapbooks? Maybe you want to display only your favorites in frames. If they won't be viewed on a regular basis, keep them in the photo boxes to save room.

Getting and keeping your photos organized and easily accessible enables you and your family to enjoy them. Here's the quick breakdown:

1. Determine your goals.
2. Gather all your photos into one spot.
3. Start with your most current photos and work backwards.
4. Sort photos into your categories.
5. Label photos if needed.
6. Decide how your photos will be stored.
7. Pick a date and get started. Do a little at a time.

Organizing Your Closets: Tackle Any Closet in 5 Steps (March Newsletter Article)

Closets tend to be overlooked until.........nothing else can fit! Sometimes stuff gets shoved into closets because you're just not sure where else to go with it. You can have closets that are easy to access and contain seemingly more room than before.

Once again, I've taken the basic organizing principles and applied my STUFF System™ to show you how to get any closet (bedroom, linen, cleaning, home office, storage, entry way, etc) organized.

Sort

Take Out

Utilize Your Space

Fill Containers

Follow-UP

First, clear everything out of the closet that you are working on. As you are pulling stuff out, Sort everything into piles and put like items together. When you sort, you are able to see how much you have of everything.

As you are sorting, Take Out the stuff you just don't need, use or want. Get rid of broken items, donated the unneeded, make a pile of the items that belong elsewhere in the house. Do you really need 12 sets of bed sheets? When was the last time you used that hand-held vacuum cleaner that doesn't really work that well anyway?

After you have sorted and taken out the stuff that doesn't belong in that closet, you are left with.....a big mess! OK, trust me, it gets easier after this point. You are left with the stuff that needs to go back into the closet in a way that will be easy for you to get what you need when you need it and easy to return items when you are finished with them. You want to Utilize Your Space; in other words, make the most of what you have. Can shelving, hooks, or other closet components be added? How can the space be divided for your needs? I like to break my closets down into sections or zones. For example:

• One shelf for sweaters
• This end is for wrapping supplies
• This shelf if for all the master bedroom linens
• This shelf is for extra office supplies

The regularly accessed items should be kept at a convenient height for the users. For example, it makes sense to keep hooks for the kids' coats down low so they can hang up their own stuff after school.

It also helps to use Containers that are labeled to keep like items together, too. Some common items that work well stored in containers (baskets, boxes, bins, bags) are:

• Hats, mittens, and scarves
• Extra toiletry supplies
• First aid items
• Hair accessories
• Belts
• Seasoning packets

Stacking containers can help make the space in your closet more usable. By doing this, you are using every bit of your space. I also use containers or baskets inside drawers because it keeps like items together.

Once you space is organized, be sure to expect Follow-Up time. Maintaining your organized space is a necessity if you want it to continue to work for you. The more a space is used, the more maintenance it will need. Remove unused stuff on a regular basis put items back after you are done using them.

Check out some closet before and after photos .

For more great Works-For-Me-Ideas visit We Are THAT Family.

Organizing Closets: Before and After Photos

Here's a teaser for my March Newletter article, Organizing Your Closets: Tackle Any Closet in 5 Steps, coming out this week. Not a subscriber? Just sign up on the side bar or here.

Supply Closet Before

Supply Closet After

Office Closet Before

Office Closet After

Before

After

Linen Closet Before

Linen Closet After

Busy Moms Don’t Need Resolutions, They Need Action Steps!

As you know, declaring a New Year's resolution doesn't automatically make it so, but many times we seem to act that way.
Picture this --

I am so ready for a fresh start. This year is going to be different, I can feel it. I want to set and reach new goals in my career and I want to make sure I have more quality family time. So, I work extra hard on a new project and institute a family fun day. After about the first week or two, reality sets in, distractions occur here and there. I start to feel out of control again and frustrated. I know I want things to change but I don't know what else to do. I've already tried setting goals and that doesn't seem to work.

So why does this happen? There can be many reasons, but I firmly believe one key reason is that we usually fail to break our goals down into actions steps. We fail to develop a plan that we can follow step-by-step until we reach our goal. Actions steps work for me at home and in my business. For more For more Works-For-Me Wednesday Ideas, stop by Rocks In My Dryer.

Here are the steps you can take to transform your goals into actions steps and commitments so you can achieve excellent results!

Step 1: Designate a notebook that you can use. It doesn't have to be anything fancy but it does help to choose one that you can easily carry with you. You never know when an idea will strike you. Yes, it's OK to use a computer for this or even a voice recorder.

Step 2: Take some time to look back to 2008 even if it's just for 15 minutes. Write down your excitements, accomplishments, your frustrations and your letdowns.

Step 3: Now make a list of everything you would like to do or improve upon in 2009. There is no wrong answer here; allow your thoughts to spill out onto your paper (or computer screen).

Step 4: Pick two or three of the most important areas you would like to work on in the coming year. These will be your main goals.

Step 5: Choose one main goal at a time and write it on the top of a fresh page. Be specific and very clear on what you want to accomplish and when it will happen. You can even describe how you will feel-this really helps paint a picture and make it more real for you.

Example: I will have a system in place by March 1 to keep my papers, bills and mail organized so I can find what I need when I need it and eliminate the piles on the kitchen counter. I will feel less stressed and great in my space!

Step 6: Now break the main goal into small projects or tasks. Write down the action steps you have to take to accomplish your projects. These actions steps help you climb closer to your goal. It might take a bit of practice to get your mind to look at things in a new way, but the more you do it, the easier it will get.

Example Project: I will seek out the help of professional organizer so I can learn how to set up and maintain a system for my papers that will work for me.

1. Search for possible organizers or classes via the Internet and get referrals from friends.



2. Contact at least 3 organizers by January 10 and decide who I will work with by January 15.
   


3. etc......

Step 7: Now grab your calendar and start setting appointments with yourself to get it done.

Step 8: Repeat steps 4-6 with your remaining goals. You most likely will not get through every step in one sitting. It may work best for you to focus on one goal at a time or you might prefer to work your goals simultaneously.

When you hit a tough spot or you get thrown off your path, look back through your notebook, make changes if necessary and keep going.

Now picture this --

It's the start of New Year. You are so inspired by what you have accomplished in the last 12 months. There were some trying times but you definitely are not were you started! What's next?

If getting your papers finally organized is on the top of your list, join me on Saturday, January 31, 2009 for the Paper Organizing for Busy Moms Virtual Workshop. I've got the steps all laid out for you!

4 Important Steps to Make the Most of Your Time (November Newsletter Article)

"I just don't have the time to do the things I want to be doing."

"If I just had more time....."

"Once I get caught up, I'll have more time."

Sound familiar? These are the types of statements I hear quite often from clients, friends, other moms and business owners. Many people struggle with how to go about making sure the important stuff gets done and gets the attention they desire it to have. Here are some tips for you to help you make the most of your time.

How you spend your time will be determined by your priorities not your availability. Too often we forget to look at what is truly important to us and our families before we add another thing to our already busy calendars. Take the time to reflect on what matters most to you and your family and write them down. Ask, "Do these requests of my/our time fit with my/our priorities?

Try to be proactive instead of reactive. In other words, plan ahead as much as you can. Plan your meals out for the week and then make your shopping list. Take time to plan your next day the night before. Planning also includes grouping like activities and tasks together to make the most of your time. For example, it makes sense to do all your errands on the same day.

Don't overload your calendar. When we over-commit ourselves and our time, the results can be counter-productive. Busyness leads to stress, frustration, and fatigue (mentally, physically and emotionally!). Be sure to include down time on your calendar. I mean physically write it down like you are setting an appointment with yourself. If a request of your time comes up during that "free" time, simply say, "I'm sorry, that's not going to work for me."

Look at time as a gift. We know that we can't make more time or borrow time or buy time, but we can cherish our time. Our time is limited. God willing, we are given 24 hours a day - that's about 730 hours a month, and almost 8766 hours a year. Subtract the time needed for sleep, work, everyday household tasks, commuting, etc and you are now left with a very limited amount of time.

How do you really want to make the most of your time?

Your Success to Organization Assignment

1. Write down the activities you want more time for.
2. Set an appointment with yourself to do one of these activities (actually write it on your calendar).
3. Do it!

P.S. Are you determined to make the most of your time? Then you will want to join me on November 13 for my teleclass, Making Time for What's Important.

October Newsletter Article.....3 Valuable Things You Lose When You're Unorganized

I truly believe that organization is a tool that can bring many great benefits to people's lives. It's not about being perfect, it's not about your house looking a certain way, and it's not about cramming as much as you can into your life. It's about making your daily life easier and less stressful. Is the thief of disorganization stealing these three valuable things from you and your family?

Time
Organization is about making time for the things you want to be doing. What if you could start from scratch and empty your busy calendar and only allow those activities which were most important to your and your family? What would that look like for you? To start with, you might slash all the wasted time spent looking for stuff. Did you know the average American spends about 55 minutes a day looking for misplaced items? What would you do with an extra hour every day?

Peace of Mind
Organization is about making your daily life less stressful. The environment your put yourself into everyday affects how you feel emotionally and physically. If you long for your home, papers, and stuff to be organized and they aren't, the result is stress. That conflict has a negative impact on your energy and mood. When you love the space you are in, you feel good; that carries over to how you treat those around you.

Money
Being organized saves you money. If you can locate the items you need when you need them, you eliminate unnecessary duplicate purchases. When you have a system in place to keep track of your income, spending, and bills, you can avoid late fees and additional stress. The simple act of making a shopping list before you go to the store saves you from buying things you don't need and forgetting the things you do need. When you forget something, that means another unplanned trip to the store, which results in more money spent on gas. Don't forget about tax season. When you have a organized system in place for your tax-related paper work, you can avoid penalties and it might also mean more deductions for you.

Are you ready to save money, make the most of your time, and give yourself piece of mind? Why not take the steps now to make it happen? Yes, it does take effort and work to get organized, but the benefits are so worth it! Start small and take small steps. Look at what can be done, not what you haven't done. You can do it!

Don't want to do it on your own? Make the decision to join me on October 23, 2008 for my teleclass: 5 Organizing Tips to Help Make Your Daily Life Easier and Less Stressful. Remember, this is my gift to you. You just have to register. After the call, make the decision to put the 5 organizing tips you will learn into action right away!

Kitchen Organization: Getting Started and Breaking it Down

This article is from my Fall 2007/Winter 2008 Newsletter editions. I thought it would be a good fit for my upcoming posts on menu planning and shopping. Stay tuned!

The kitchen is typically the most used space in the home and is often referred to as the hub of the home. Just think of how many times you are in your kitchen. If disorganization in the kitchen is a problem, it is probably disturbing you throughout the day. An unorganized kitchen can certainly create problems. Here are some ways and steps to get your kitchen organized and under control to help reduce your daily stress.


Take a Look Around
First, take some time to ask yourself some questions. What’s not working well in your kitchen? What areas create stress? What activities are taking place when you feel disorganized? What areas seem to be working fine? Your answers will help you identify your problem areas.

Zones
Think about the activities that take place in your kitchen. These activities can be organized into zones. These are the different areas in your kitchen in which you perform certain tasks or store items. Each zone should contain the tools, products, and space necessary to complete the activities. Some examples of zones in the kitchen are:
· Cutting and Prep
· Cooking
· Seasonings
· Baking Needs
· Serving
· Home Informational Center

Performing certain tasks is easier if complementary zones are close by. For example, it makes sense to have your cutting and prep zone close to the cooking area. The fewer steps you have to take between complementary zones, the better.

Break It Down
Organizing a kitchen is a large project. Break it down into sections and tackle one area at a time. This helps keep you from becoming overwhelmed and burnt out before the project is complete. Organizing a kitchen is a large undertaking. Make sure you have lots of room to sort and adequate time.

Counter Tops
Think of your counter tops as a workspace, not a storage space. Only keep there what you use on a daily basis. If you are short on counter space, store rarely used appliances in either a lower cabinet, a low shelf in your pantry, or other appropriate storage space.

The kitchen is such a central part of our home and so things that don’t belong there can easily take over. Remove the things that just don’t belong there, such as papers, bills, projects to do, junk mail, and school papers. If you can, designate a desk area or counter space for your home information center or zone.

Make use of under cabinet space by mounting clocks, radios and coffee makers. Keep papers out of the kitchen if you can. If you have a desk area in your kitchen, confine the papers to that zone.

Cabinets, Cupboards, Drawers
Take everything out of your cabinets, cupboard and drawers and take time to wipe down the shelves and drawers. Sort like items together. Get rid of the unwanted, broken, duplicate, never or barely used items. Keep only what you use and need. Ask yourself questions like, “when was the last time I used this?” or “how many mugs does our family really need?” Do you have more stuff than can fit comfortably into your space?

Don’t forget to weed through your plastic containers and keep only the ones that you really need. Get rid of the odd-size ones that don’t “nest” nicely. If possible, I like to store plastic containers in a cupboard and the lids organized in a drawer directly below. This allows for maximum storage. Some people prefer to store the lids on the containers to eliminate searching for the match.

After you have sorted everything and eliminated the unwanted, you need to decide were to store everything. Most used items should be stored between the knee and neck height: the bottom shelves of the cupboards, the counter top and top shelves of the cabinets. Less frequently used items will go on top shelf of the cupboards or the bottom of the cabinets.

Utilize a system by determining your kitchen zones (cooking, prep area, serving, etc). Items that go into drawers should be near where you will be using them. Knives next to the prep area, potholders next to the stove, dish clothes and towels near the sink.

Pantry
Take everything out of your pantry area. Wipe down the shelves. Toss the expired items and donate any unwanted and usable goods to your local food pantry. Now, sort like items together into categories. Think of your pantry like a store. Create zones just like the aisle of a grocery store. For example, canned goods, baking needs, pastas and rice, seasoning, cereals, etc are typical zones.

Use containers to keep smaller like items together. Use canisters that are air tight and are stackable. Products like Tupperware are excellent choices. Don’t forget to label! Label containers or the front edge of shelves. This will help make retrieving and returning items a lot easier for all members of your household.

Cookbooks
If you are limited on space in your kitchen, keep your cookbooks on a bookshelf in another area of your home. Keep only the books or recipes you actually use. If you keep a book because of one or two recipes, make a copy of those favorites and donate the book. A simple 3-ring binder with clear page protectors is a great way to store your favorite recipes. Add tabbed dividers to break the recipes down into categories. If you prefer to use index cards, keep them organized in a small inexpensive plastic photo album.

Follow-Up
As always, every organizing project requires maintenance to be successful. On a daily basis load and unload the dishwasher and remove personal items and papers from the kitchen. Tune up your cabinets, cupboards and drawers every few months or as needed. Keeping your kitchen organized on a regular basis will help you to function smoothly and efficiently.

September Newsletter Article.....Organizing Your Craft Space: Part Two

In last month's article, Organizing Your Craft Space: Part One, I taught you how to get started when organizing your craft space/area and supplies. I took you through the first two steps (Sort and Take Out) of my STUFF System™.

For Part Two, I will continue on to give you the final three steps (Utilize Your Space, Fill Containers, and Follow Up) to help transform your crafting area into an organized space that you will love to spend time in.

Remember, my easy-to-use 5 step STUFF System™ enables you to break down any overwhelming organizing project into small and achievable chunks.

Sort
Take Out
Utilize Your Space
Fill Containers
Follow UP

Utilize Your Space
Now that you have the sorting completed and you've eliminated the unwanted, I want you to take a good look at your space. How can you divide the space into zones? Each zone will serve a function. For example, if you sew you might have a supply and storage area, a preparation area, and a sewing area. The tools that you use for each area should be close by or portable so that you can easily move them along with you as your progress on your project.

Here are some questions to help you examine your space:
-Can you add shelves to gain more storage?
-Is there valuable vertical space that is unused?
-Can you take advantage of unused space behind doors?
-Are your work spaces adequate?

Fill Containers
When you have determined how you would like to utilize your space, you will then use containers to keep like items together. Containers can be bins, baskets, boxes, folders, file drawers, racks, shelves, cups, drawers, etc. Containers make it easy for you to retrieve items and to return items to their homes. As a result, you will be able to find what you need when you need it. You can use containers within containers. For example, drawer dividers or small baskets keep tools organized within a drawer. Don't forget to label the containers.

Follow Up
Any time you organize a space, it will require effort from you to keep it organized. The more you use a space, the more maintenance required. I usually prefer to get stuff back in place after I am finished working on a project. Sometimes I have to stop while I am working and do a quick tune-up, other times I just keep on going.

Crafters most often have projects that are on-going for a period of time and so it doesn't make sense to put everything away each time your work on it. It's nice to leave the project out so you can pick up on it in small windows of time. However, if you find that unfinished projects often get buried under new project or clutter, I would suggest creating an area to store projects that need to be completed so you work does not get destroyed.

Your Success to Organization Assignment
If you have made it through the first two steps (Sort and Take Out)- congratulations! Most of the hard work is behind you and you can start on what I call "the fun part"! Don't rush through Step 3, Utilize your Space. If you have a hard time with this step, ask for help! Ask a friend or contact me to see how I can help (I offer my services virtually via email and phone, as well as in-person).

Still need to get started? Read Part One of Organizing Your Craft Space and Procrastination: What's Holding Your Back?. Remember to make sure to set an appointment with yourself. Start with a one or two hour block of time and see what you can accomplish.

Send me an email to let me know about your success!

August Newsletter Article.....Organizing Your Craft Space: Part One

Paula, What organizing tips can you share with me to keep my crafts and craft area under control? Though I enjoy working on my craft projects, the moment I walk into the room, I loose all my ambition when I see the mess. Where do I start?

Craft rooms and spaces can come in all shapes and sizes and they often create challenges for many crafters. Sewing, scrapbooking, quilting, painting, kids crafts, beading - no matter what your choice craft is, the key is to keep the tools and supplies accessible and your workspace functional.

For this and next month's article, I will use my STUFF System™ to give you step-by-step tips to help transform your crafting area into a space that you will love to spend time in. My easy-to-use 5 step STUFF System™ enables you to break down any overwhelming organizing project into small and achievable chunks.

Sort
Take Out
Utilize Your Space
Fill Containers
Follow Up

The size of your space, how much stuff you have, and your ability to make decisions will determine how long it will take you to accomplish your goal. If you find it hard to stay focus, ask a friend with the knack of organization to lend a hand, or contact me to see how I can help you get the job done!

Be Prepared
Before you begin, grab a few boxes or bins for sorting, a recycling bin, and garbage bag. I also like to keep cleaning supplies close by; a clean space stays organized longer! Don't worry about what cute containers you will store your supplies in just yet (that's the forth step!). What about grabbing a radio or your favorite tunes to keep it fun?

Sort
The first step is to sort like items together. This step is usually the longest and messiest, but it is a very important step and essential for successful organization. The act of sorting allows you to see what you have of everything and to get those like or related items together. Be sure to gather any loose or remote items that may have wondered to other areas of your home away from your main workspace.

Give yourself lots of room and work surfaces for this process. I like to work on the floor, but using temporary tables can help reduce bending which can lead to fatigue. Remember, this may take a while if you have lots of stuff so be sure to break down your sorting sessions into smaller chunks of time if needed. For example, maybe you will need two to three one-hour sessions if you find it hard to set aside large chunks of time. This is quite common for those with busy schedules and small children.

You will continue to sort until you have gone through everything. If you have a large space and many items, you might have to break the sorting down by sections. Take time to wipe down empty selves, vacuum those dirty corners, and dust. Think of it as starting with a clean slate.

Take Out
During and after sorting, think about what items you are going to get rid of. Damaged items and stuff you just don't need or use should be tossed, recycled, donated, or shared with friends. Quite often crafters have a tendency to hang onto lots of stuff "just in case". But, if you have items that just don't appeal to your current styles, consider parting with it; it's taking up valuable space.

Is it hard for you to let go? Ask yourself these three questions when you get stuck:
-"Do I use it?"
-"Do I love it?"
-"Do I need it?"

These first two steps will give you a clear picture of the craft items what you have. They will also prepare you and your space for the final three steps of organization, Utilizing Your Space, Filling Containers, and Following Up. Next month in Part Two of Organizing Your Craft Space, I will help you through these final steps to get you into an organized space that you will feel great about and love to be in!

Your Success to Organization Assignment
Do you find it hard to get started? Make sure to set an appointment with yourself. Start with a one or two hour block of time and see what you can accomplish. Each person is different so the length of time will vary. The total time spent on a given craft room can range from 2-16 hours in its entirety, but first focus on that initial session to get started.

Send me an email to let me know about your craft area challenges and success!

July Newsletter Article.........Tips for an Organized Family Vacation

Do you have a vacation coming up that you have been looking forward to? As it gets closer, are you starting to feel a little stressed? Are you thinking of all the planning, packing and travel and feel overwhelmed? Do you think to yourself, "Why is this called a vacation again?"

There are some steps that you can take to help you get the most fun out of your family vacation, while also minimizing the stress. After all, we take vacations for enjoyment and relaxation, right?

Planning
Assuming you have already chosen your destination and travel dates, it's onto planning what you will be doing on your vacation and what you need to do to get ready for it. Consider creating an itinerary for your travels but be flexible. Keep alternative activities in mind to allow for unexpected changes. The main goal is to have fun, even if things don't go as planned.

Get the whole family involved in the planning. You may want to hold a couple of family meetings to let everyone know what is going on and what part they need to do in order to get ready for the trip. What major activities does the family want to do and what are some of the smaller activities? Get everyone's input.

Finalize and confirm your reservations. Always be sure to ask, "Am I getting the best rate?" Or, "Do you have any specials right now that I can take advantage of?" You'd be surprised by what you can get just by asking. Take advantage of any discounts through your AAA membership if you have one.

Make Lists
Lists will definitely help you reduce your stress while you are planning your family vacation. Rather than trying to remember it all, I suggest creating master lists on your computer that you can print and use each time you take a trip. You will be able to greatly reduce your planning time for the next vacation and lessen the chance of forgetting any details.

Start with the list of the things you need to do to get ready to leave on your vacation. Do you have to make arrangement for the mail and paper? What about pets and plant watering? Will you be using a house sitter?

Next, make lists for the items you need to pack. Give children their own lists to be responsible for. Help create lists for younger children by using pictures, numbers, and words of the items they can gather.

Keep your printed lists with you so you can easily jot down ideas whenever they come to you. Take time to update the master lists as needed.


Start Packing
Have a designated packing area and let the kids help pack their things. Many times I have to go back and redo some of my kids' efforts, but they love to feel helpful and they are learning life skills. One tip is to pack the kids' clothes together by outfits. Roll each outfit together or use gallon-sized plastic bags and label them.

Limited on space? Plan to stop at a laundry mat during your trip. This is a good way to cut the amount of clothing you will need to pack by at least half. Remember to allow space for souvenirs. Have the suitcases ready to go one day prior to departure.

Don't forget the books, crayons, and games to help keep children entertained in the car or on the airplane. Create a vacation scavenger list that children can either draw, take pictures, or buy postcards of the items on a list throughout the trip. They can add journaling and then they will end up with their own vacation scrapbook. I also like to bring a few surprises along. I remember when my parents did this for me and my brother; it added to the fun and excitement of our family vacations.

Relax!
It's vacation after all! Remember your objective of taking the trip. If things don't go as planned, be determined to have fun regardless. Traveling with children can be a trying event at times. Allow for some time that you might be able to get a few quiet moments. For example, when we go camping, I try to get my morning walk in before everyone is awake. I love this routine at home and on vacation because it gives me time to think, pray, and reflect. I find this helps me ready my heart and perspective for the day (I am not the best morning person!).

Returning Home
Allow at least one day for everyone to readjust before returning to their normal schedules. Start unpacking and get clothes washed. Or, leave the dirty clothes in the suitcases and plan a trip to the laundry mat to tackle several loads of wash at once. While you wait, you could even get those developed vacation pictures labeled and into an album. As you are unpacking, gather all the memorabilia in one place. That way, if you plan to put together a scrapbook, it's all together - just add pictures.

Make arrangements to keep your first few days home after a vacation low-key. Avoid making appointments and other commitments if you can help it. You'll be busy with laundry, putting items away, grocery shopping, and probably a little bit of recovery. Allowing this extra time in your schedule will help you get those post-vacation tasks done in a reduced-stress environment.

Enjoy your summer, vacations, and family!

Procrastination: What's Holding You Back?

(This article is from my March 2008 Newsletter)

When I first started in the field of professional organizing, I read It's About Time: The 6 Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them by Dr. Linda Sapadin with Jack Maguire. Dr. Sapadin reminds us that everyone procrastinates occasionally. We do it when we face challenging situations. For some, it's a chronic behavior. Once we can identify how and why we procrastinate, then we can work on breaking the patterns and replacing them with productive behaviors.

These are the six styles of procrastination. Here's a quick overview:

Perfectionist-"BUT I want it to be perfect!"

• Reluctant to start, or finish, a task because it has to be perfect.
• Quite often spending far more energy on a task than is required.

Dreamer-"BUT I hate all those bothersome details!"

• Difficult challenges can provoke resistance.
• "Hard to do" gets translated into "I can't do it."
• A challenge to turn big ideas into reality.

Worrier-"BUT I'm afraid to change!"

• Have an excessive need for security, which causes a fear of risk.
• Focus too much on the "what ifs" and may avoid finishing projects all together so that they don't have to leave the "comfort zone" of the familiar and move to new territory.

Defier-"BUT why should I do it?"

• A rebel.
• Some are openly proud of setting their own schedules that nobody else can predict or control.
• They are establishing their individuality.
• Some are more subtle (maybe less consciously aware) and is called "passive-aggressive" behavior.

Crisis-Maker-"BUT I only get motivated at the last minute!"

• Need to live on the edge.
• Procrastination is a form of adventure which includes intense emotion, constant challenge and emergency action.

Over-Doer- "BUT I have so much to do!"

• Says "yes" to too much because they are unable or unwilling to make choices and establish priorities.
• Try to do too much at once and so some things may get done very well, but other things never get done.

Dr. Sapadin adds that each person displays their own distinct mix of these styles. We might have our major styles along with some that are displayed less often. Very rarely does one display only one of these styles.

What are your procrastination styles? Which one(s) do you find yourself doing when it comes to organizing? Take note of when you find yourself procrastinating. What specific challenges are you facing at those moments? What is the first step you can take to curb procrastination?