SEASONAL/MONTHLY TIPS
January/February
Resolutions
Did you make any New Year's Resolutions for 2009? How are you coming along in your progress thus far? Are you staying consistent? Or, perhaps you're having a bit of trouble with following through? Can't even remember what your resolutions were? Whatever your situation, read on for some tips.
Many of us have excellent intentions at the onset of each new year to lose weight, begin an exercise program, stop smoking, or get organized. Many of us have also been part of those folks who seem to struggle with keeping resolutions. I've also seen many articles written in the past few years that indicate that resolutions are a waste of time.
Not so fast! While I do agree that making a resolution out of desperation is a bit unrealistic, I do think that resolutions for a new year are ways we can look forward to a fresh start. Making new goals for ourselves helps us to create goals for growth and helps us to avoid becoming stagnant as individuals.
What do do? My recommendation is to look at your current situation. Did you make a resolution? Have you been consistently working towards this goal?
Reevaluate your resolution. Prioritize. Decide if it is truly something for which you want to affect change. Be sure your resolution is reasonable and measurable. Check your progress regularly by sharing the goal with a friend and asking them to keep you accountable. Or, consider keeping a journal to track your progress.
If you truly want to change a behavior, it is just within your reach! Remember, as Henry Ford said, "those who think they can and those who think they cannot, they are both right."
______________________________________________________________________
April
Clutter Tip
Did you know that April is “Stress Awareness Month?” Clutter is often the cause of much stress, whether you realize it or not. To cut clutter, spend at least 15 minutes a day to clean & organize your home. You can start by going through one pile of mail, or one dresser drawer. Make this a habit, and before you know it, you can lower your stress!
Home Office Tip
April means “tax time,” and what better time to organize your home office? How do you start? First off, be sure to deal with all loose pieces of paper. Purge what you don’t need, then sort into categories. Then file accordingly. You’re on your way to a more organized home office space!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
May
Moving Month
May is “Moving Month.” Even if your plans don’t include moving any time soon, it’s a great time of year to pare down on items you don’t need anymore, thereby cutting back on clutter. Start with one room, and determine whether each item is still special, valued, and useful. Before you know it, you’ll cut your clutter, move or no move!
______________________________________________________________________________________
January/February
Resolutions
Did you make any New Year's Resolutions for 2009? How are you coming along in your progress thus far? Are you staying consistent? Or, perhaps you're having a bit of trouble with following through? Can't even remember what your resolutions were? Whatever your situation, read on for some tips.
Many of us have excellent intentions at the onset of each new year to lose weight, begin an exercise program, stop smoking, or get organized. Many of us have also been part of those folks who seem to struggle with keeping resolutions. I've also seen many articles written in the past few years that indicate that resolutions are a waste of time.
Not so fast! While I do agree that making a resolution out of desperation is a bit unrealistic, I do think that resolutions for a new year are ways we can look forward to a fresh start. Making new goals for ourselves helps us to create goals for growth and helps us to avoid becoming stagnant as individuals.
What do do? My recommendation is to look at your current situation. Did you make a resolution? Have you been consistently working towards this goal?
Reevaluate your resolution. Prioritize. Decide if it is truly something for which you want to affect change. Be sure your resolution is reasonable and measurable. Check your progress regularly by sharing the goal with a friend and asking them to keep you accountable. Or, consider keeping a journal to track your progress.
If you truly want to change a behavior, it is just within your reach! Remember, as Henry Ford said, "those who think they can and those who think they cannot, they are both right."
March
Home Office Tip
Did you know that "Organize your Home Office Day" is the second Tuesday of March? Now is the perfect time to sort those piles, and determine what stays, and what goes!
Spring Cleaning Tip
Thinking of spring cleaning? Take it one room at a time. Think of the purpose of the room. Sort, purge, and find homes for your belongings one shelf at a time, one corner at at time, and before you know it, you’ll be thrilled with the results!
Home Office Tip
Did you know that "Organize your Home Office Day" is the second Tuesday of March? Now is the perfect time to sort those piles, and determine what stays, and what goes!
Spring Cleaning Tip
Thinking of spring cleaning? Take it one room at a time. Think of the purpose of the room. Sort, purge, and find homes for your belongings one shelf at a time, one corner at at time, and before you know it, you’ll be thrilled with the results!
______________________________________________________________________
April
Clutter Tip
Did you know that April is “Stress Awareness Month?” Clutter is often the cause of much stress, whether you realize it or not. To cut clutter, spend at least 15 minutes a day to clean & organize your home. You can start by going through one pile of mail, or one dresser drawer. Make this a habit, and before you know it, you can lower your stress!
Home Office Tip
April means “tax time,” and what better time to organize your home office? How do you start? First off, be sure to deal with all loose pieces of paper. Purge what you don’t need, then sort into categories. Then file accordingly. You’re on your way to a more organized home office space!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
May
Filing Sytem Tip
Now
that tax time is over, it may be an ideal time to look at how well your
current filing system is working. Do you have a system? Are your
files well-ordered? Do you have clear labels? Taking the time to
determine these things will help you toward a greater sense of order! Moving Month
May is “Moving Month.” Even if your plans don’t include moving any time soon, it’s a great time of year to pare down on items you don’t need anymore, thereby cutting back on clutter. Start with one room, and determine whether each item is still special, valued, and useful. Before you know it, you’ll cut your clutter, move or no move!
______________________________________________________________________________________
TIPS
General
Laundry Tip
Need a quick fix for keeping your laundry from becoming clutter? Keep a timer handy. When you put a load in the washer, turn it on for a normal cycle time (usually about 30 minutes). When it goes off, you'll be prompted to take care of laundry right away! Do the same for your dryer. This way, you'll take care of your loads of laundry quickly and efficiently! No more piles!
Organizing Your Magazines
Here’s an easy tip for keeping your magazines from piling up: keep a maximum of 3 months of a magazine subscription. If you haven’t read any of them, consider cancelling the subscription. Only subscribe to those magazines that you love--that you read from cover to cover or that have pertinent articles in each and every issue. This will help you save money in the long run, too!
Schedule Tip
Have a busy week ahead? Make a weekly "To Do" list, but list tasks in order of importance. Mark "A" for "essential tasks," "B" for "should finish" tasks, and "C" for "when possible" tasks.
Laundry Tip
Need a quick fix for keeping your laundry from becoming clutter? Keep a timer handy. When you put a load in the washer, turn it on for a normal cycle time (usually about 30 minutes). When it goes off, you'll be prompted to take care of laundry right away! Do the same for your dryer. This way, you'll take care of your loads of laundry quickly and efficiently! No more piles!
Organizing Your Magazines
Here’s an easy tip for keeping your magazines from piling up: keep a maximum of 3 months of a magazine subscription. If you haven’t read any of them, consider cancelling the subscription. Only subscribe to those magazines that you love--that you read from cover to cover or that have pertinent articles in each and every issue. This will help you save money in the long run, too!
Schedule Tip
Have a busy week ahead? Make a weekly "To Do" list, but list tasks in order of importance. Mark "A" for "essential tasks," "B" for "should finish" tasks, and "C" for "when possible" tasks.
Personalized Organizing Solutions for a More Inspired Life!
Serving the Columbus, Ohio area
and surrounding communities
and surrounding communities
Garage Organizing
Cleaning and organizing a garage can be a rough job, but not if you take it one step at a time. Truly categorize each item, from lawn furniture to chemicals, deciding if each item is something you either enjoy, can use, and is not expired. Taking time to do this with each item will ensure that clutter will not be an issue in this space!
Cleaning and organizing a garage can be a rough job, but not if you take it one step at a time. Truly categorize each item, from lawn furniture to chemicals, deciding if each item is something you either enjoy, can use, and is not expired. Taking time to do this with each item will ensure that clutter will not be an issue in this space!
Back-to-School
Five “Absolutes” for Organizing Success
For the Elementary Student
What does it take to be sure your child is truly prepared for the new school year? What steps should be in place in order for organization to be the norm through the year? Children often start off well, with loads of fresh, new supplies on the first day of school. Folders are well labeled, and binders are crisp and clean. But as the school year progresses, things tend to get busy, and organization tends to take a back seat. Read on to discover proactive ways you can help ensure that your child is organized from start to end!
As an educator for over 15 years, and now as a professional organizer, I’ve come to realize that there are several things that are “must do” steps in helping students become and stay truly organized for the long haul. I call these steps “absolutes.” The first one, I believe, is often the most overlooked. Students need to know WHY they need to be organized. They need to truly understand the benefits of keeping supplies in order, of taking care of their materials, and also why it will help them actually perform better in school. How do we accomplish this task? Start by talking with children openly and calmly about what it means to be organized. Share a (brief) example of a time in your life when you either were (or weren’t) organized, and how it impacted you. Be honest and share openly. Sometimes, hearing personal examples of such topics helps ease the tension, and erase the thought that “it’s just another lecture” coming on! Take the time to let your child know that you will help guide them toward being prepared and organized throughout the school year. Helping your child to learn the benefits of becoming more organized (especially if they are not naturally an organized individual), and teaching them that it’s not just about “getting good grades,” can help your child in many ways. These organizing skills can then be transferred into other aspects of life, through the years.
A second “absolute” for preparing students for “Back to School” is to set up systems at home that will enable your child to be able to follow through with becoming and staying more organized. The first thing I recommend is some “down time” before homework. Some students may enjoy starting their homework right away to get it done for the night, but most of us need a break after a long day, and it’s no different with children. A snack and a quick mental break are great first steps to ensuring that study time is a more smooth experience. Having an excellent study space is essential. Many times, we may not think through the process of helping our child find an appropriate spot for them to study. Keep in mind their preferences and personality characteristics. Are they easily distracted? If so, then a kitchen table would actually not be ideal, since the kitchen is the “hub” of activity in most households, and distraction often becomes a major problem. Be sure your child has a quiet space to do homework. There should be plenty of room to spread out. The study space itself should pose minimal distractions. Although there are varying opinions on this, I believe it’s generally a good idea not to allow radio, television, or phone calls during dedicated study/homework times. Of course, some students truly do perform better with some quiet background noise while they study or do homework. You know your child best in this area. In addition, I recommend that your child’s study area be in the same place each day, if at all possible. If you’ve taken steps to provide this place as an area that is calm, spacious, and relatively free from distractions, your child will come to appreciate this space as a positive area to complete their work. No one place is the “ideal” for each child. Sometimes, a bedroom can be a good place, but it can backfire if your child is easily distracted by the computer, the phone, or background music. If your house has a den or study, or perhaps a small corner away from activity, this could be a great “nook” for study. Try out a few areas and see what works.
Having and using a planner is one of the most essential tools for your child. Most schools require the use of a planner, and many teachers have dedicated times for your child to fill out the planner at a given time of the day. Take time every day to go over your child’s planner with them. Try to stay away from the typical, “Do you have any homework?” statement. Look carefully at your child’s planner each night, or at least several times per week. Is your child filling it out regularly? Do they have everything accounted for? One of the most important steps you can take is to do a quick check of your child’s planner. Ultimately, you want your child to take responsibility for filling out his/her planner, and for doing the homework. Certainly, our goal is for them to be independently learning how to manage his/her time, and how to complete the planner. But right now, as an elementary student, they need your support and follow up. If your child is missing assignments, or if their planner is not complete, then you can talk with them, along with your child’s teacher, about ways to help your child manage his/her planner more effectively.
Having the appropriate materials is an essential part of being organized. Most schools require a lengthy list of materials and supplies at the beginning of the year. Most materials work fine, but study them carefully with your child. Pay special attention to the type of binder or folder system your child uses. Some systems work better than others. If you and/or your child find that he/she is not able to stay organized, consider a different binder system. In my own classroom, I encourage exploration of a few different systems with students who struggle with organization. It’s key to help them find the one way that guides them towards becoming more and more independent with the skill of organizing.
Consistency is the fifth “absolute” in helping students stay organized. With organizing, it’s not a “one shot deal.” Like most things in life, organizing takes sustained, consistent effort. Students, parents, and teachers should work together to keep communication open, and to ensure the best possible environment for each child to do their very best. Organizing should be a top priority from day one. When all parties are aware of this, and believe in it on a daily basis, it should go far to guiding students to learn organizational habits for life.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention patience. Patience also plays a very important part in the overall process of guiding students toward becoming their most organized. Sometimes trial and error over time is simply the best way to determine the solutions that are a good fit for each individual student. With time, patience, and a solid effort, your elementary student will be prepared and organized for the new school year!
Copyright 2008 by Melanie Unger
Five “Absolutes” for Organizing Success
For the Elementary Student
What does it take to be sure your child is truly prepared for the new school year? What steps should be in place in order for organization to be the norm through the year? Children often start off well, with loads of fresh, new supplies on the first day of school. Folders are well labeled, and binders are crisp and clean. But as the school year progresses, things tend to get busy, and organization tends to take a back seat. Read on to discover proactive ways you can help ensure that your child is organized from start to end!
As an educator for over 15 years, and now as a professional organizer, I’ve come to realize that there are several things that are “must do” steps in helping students become and stay truly organized for the long haul. I call these steps “absolutes.” The first one, I believe, is often the most overlooked. Students need to know WHY they need to be organized. They need to truly understand the benefits of keeping supplies in order, of taking care of their materials, and also why it will help them actually perform better in school. How do we accomplish this task? Start by talking with children openly and calmly about what it means to be organized. Share a (brief) example of a time in your life when you either were (or weren’t) organized, and how it impacted you. Be honest and share openly. Sometimes, hearing personal examples of such topics helps ease the tension, and erase the thought that “it’s just another lecture” coming on! Take the time to let your child know that you will help guide them toward being prepared and organized throughout the school year. Helping your child to learn the benefits of becoming more organized (especially if they are not naturally an organized individual), and teaching them that it’s not just about “getting good grades,” can help your child in many ways. These organizing skills can then be transferred into other aspects of life, through the years.
A second “absolute” for preparing students for “Back to School” is to set up systems at home that will enable your child to be able to follow through with becoming and staying more organized. The first thing I recommend is some “down time” before homework. Some students may enjoy starting their homework right away to get it done for the night, but most of us need a break after a long day, and it’s no different with children. A snack and a quick mental break are great first steps to ensuring that study time is a more smooth experience. Having an excellent study space is essential. Many times, we may not think through the process of helping our child find an appropriate spot for them to study. Keep in mind their preferences and personality characteristics. Are they easily distracted? If so, then a kitchen table would actually not be ideal, since the kitchen is the “hub” of activity in most households, and distraction often becomes a major problem. Be sure your child has a quiet space to do homework. There should be plenty of room to spread out. The study space itself should pose minimal distractions. Although there are varying opinions on this, I believe it’s generally a good idea not to allow radio, television, or phone calls during dedicated study/homework times. Of course, some students truly do perform better with some quiet background noise while they study or do homework. You know your child best in this area. In addition, I recommend that your child’s study area be in the same place each day, if at all possible. If you’ve taken steps to provide this place as an area that is calm, spacious, and relatively free from distractions, your child will come to appreciate this space as a positive area to complete their work. No one place is the “ideal” for each child. Sometimes, a bedroom can be a good place, but it can backfire if your child is easily distracted by the computer, the phone, or background music. If your house has a den or study, or perhaps a small corner away from activity, this could be a great “nook” for study. Try out a few areas and see what works.
Having and using a planner is one of the most essential tools for your child. Most schools require the use of a planner, and many teachers have dedicated times for your child to fill out the planner at a given time of the day. Take time every day to go over your child’s planner with them. Try to stay away from the typical, “Do you have any homework?” statement. Look carefully at your child’s planner each night, or at least several times per week. Is your child filling it out regularly? Do they have everything accounted for? One of the most important steps you can take is to do a quick check of your child’s planner. Ultimately, you want your child to take responsibility for filling out his/her planner, and for doing the homework. Certainly, our goal is for them to be independently learning how to manage his/her time, and how to complete the planner. But right now, as an elementary student, they need your support and follow up. If your child is missing assignments, or if their planner is not complete, then you can talk with them, along with your child’s teacher, about ways to help your child manage his/her planner more effectively.
Having the appropriate materials is an essential part of being organized. Most schools require a lengthy list of materials and supplies at the beginning of the year. Most materials work fine, but study them carefully with your child. Pay special attention to the type of binder or folder system your child uses. Some systems work better than others. If you and/or your child find that he/she is not able to stay organized, consider a different binder system. In my own classroom, I encourage exploration of a few different systems with students who struggle with organization. It’s key to help them find the one way that guides them towards becoming more and more independent with the skill of organizing.
Consistency is the fifth “absolute” in helping students stay organized. With organizing, it’s not a “one shot deal.” Like most things in life, organizing takes sustained, consistent effort. Students, parents, and teachers should work together to keep communication open, and to ensure the best possible environment for each child to do their very best. Organizing should be a top priority from day one. When all parties are aware of this, and believe in it on a daily basis, it should go far to guiding students to learn organizational habits for life.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention patience. Patience also plays a very important part in the overall process of guiding students toward becoming their most organized. Sometimes trial and error over time is simply the best way to determine the solutions that are a good fit for each individual student. With time, patience, and a solid effort, your elementary student will be prepared and organized for the new school year!
Copyright 2008 by Melanie Unger
ARTICLES
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Time Management
Families are so busy during the week, and it's hard to find time for family conversation. Here's a quick tip for communicating your busy schedules so that everyone is aware of each other's comings and goings: Plan a 15-minute meeting with your spouse and/or family members. Compare schedules, jotting down important appointments, activities, or engagements. Now, you can feel more connected and aware of each other's important activities throughout the week!
Families are so busy during the week, and it's hard to find time for family conversation. Here's a quick tip for communicating your busy schedules so that everyone is aware of each other's comings and goings: Plan a 15-minute meeting with your spouse and/or family members. Compare schedules, jotting down important appointments, activities, or engagements. Now, you can feel more connected and aware of each other's important activities throughout the week!
Tips for Time Management
Do you find that no matter how much you try, time gets away from you? Do your "To Do" tasks seem to continue to go undone? Time management struggles are no stranger to most people today. People are strapped for time, whether they are running kids from place to place, sporting activity to dance class, or just plain old errands, errands, errands!
So, what do you do? Many people submit to the stress and frustration, claiming that "it's just my life." While we will always deal with trying to manage time, we have more control over different aspects of it than we might think!
You've heard many times, no doubt, that we all have the same 24 hours. While true, we all spend it in a miriad of ways. But to capitalize on our time to the best of our ability, and in order to use our God-given talents effectively and efficiently, we must follow some basic tenets for managing time.
Here are some helpful tips to really make time management more manageable!
1. Prioritize. Decide what truly must be accomplished today in order to know you've made a difference at work, home or in the community. I highly (did I mention highly?) recommend some form of a "To Do" list. I know that there are some people who simply detest "To Do" Lists, and have many reasons for not using them, but in my experience, "To Do" Lists are indespensable for managing time effectively in today's busy world. Put the day's most important tasks near the front (how detailed you get is up to you, whether you like to label them "A1" or color code in some way). Put more generalized tasks near the bottom of the "To Do" List. These tasks are ones you wouldn't mind having to move to the next day's list, should you become too busy to get to them.
2. Build in some "you" time. We all need a break, and even though many people "swear" they have no time for one, it's critical to build one in, even if for only 15 minutes. Take time to read a book, take a short walk, call a friend, or even get a mini "power" nap.
3. Speaking of sleep, get enough of it! I'm wondering if this should be at the top of this list! We tend to ignore our need for sleep, but what we don't realize is the effects of a lack of rest. Truly think about ways to ensure you are getting your rest. Everyone varies in terms of how many hours they need to feel revitalized, but a good rule of thumb is still 7-8 hours.
4. Forgive yourself. If your efforts at time management fail, try again. It is a process. No one is an expert at time management. Why? Our lives are continually changing, so what we do changes too. We have to adjust constantly, and this can be hard sometimes. Forgiving yourself and adjusting to new situations is key.
5. Connect socially and spiritually with friends, family members, and/or your church community. When we feel truly connected with others, our lives, no matter how incredibly busy, can become more manageable. We refresh ourselves by sharing and receiving the gift of friendship and companionship from others.
One last tip: Whatever you can't get done today will still be waiting for you tomorrow! You don't have to do it all in one day!
Copyright 2008 by Melanie Unger
Do you find that no matter how much you try, time gets away from you? Do your "To Do" tasks seem to continue to go undone? Time management struggles are no stranger to most people today. People are strapped for time, whether they are running kids from place to place, sporting activity to dance class, or just plain old errands, errands, errands!
So, what do you do? Many people submit to the stress and frustration, claiming that "it's just my life." While we will always deal with trying to manage time, we have more control over different aspects of it than we might think!
You've heard many times, no doubt, that we all have the same 24 hours. While true, we all spend it in a miriad of ways. But to capitalize on our time to the best of our ability, and in order to use our God-given talents effectively and efficiently, we must follow some basic tenets for managing time.
Here are some helpful tips to really make time management more manageable!
1. Prioritize. Decide what truly must be accomplished today in order to know you've made a difference at work, home or in the community. I highly (did I mention highly?) recommend some form of a "To Do" list. I know that there are some people who simply detest "To Do" Lists, and have many reasons for not using them, but in my experience, "To Do" Lists are indespensable for managing time effectively in today's busy world. Put the day's most important tasks near the front (how detailed you get is up to you, whether you like to label them "A1" or color code in some way). Put more generalized tasks near the bottom of the "To Do" List. These tasks are ones you wouldn't mind having to move to the next day's list, should you become too busy to get to them.
2. Build in some "you" time. We all need a break, and even though many people "swear" they have no time for one, it's critical to build one in, even if for only 15 minutes. Take time to read a book, take a short walk, call a friend, or even get a mini "power" nap.
3. Speaking of sleep, get enough of it! I'm wondering if this should be at the top of this list! We tend to ignore our need for sleep, but what we don't realize is the effects of a lack of rest. Truly think about ways to ensure you are getting your rest. Everyone varies in terms of how many hours they need to feel revitalized, but a good rule of thumb is still 7-8 hours.
4. Forgive yourself. If your efforts at time management fail, try again. It is a process. No one is an expert at time management. Why? Our lives are continually changing, so what we do changes too. We have to adjust constantly, and this can be hard sometimes. Forgiving yourself and adjusting to new situations is key.
5. Connect socially and spiritually with friends, family members, and/or your church community. When we feel truly connected with others, our lives, no matter how incredibly busy, can become more manageable. We refresh ourselves by sharing and receiving the gift of friendship and companionship from others.
One last tip: Whatever you can't get done today will still be waiting for you tomorrow! You don't have to do it all in one day!
Copyright 2008 by Melanie Unger
Work Smarter, Not Harder!
Delegate: Whether we work in a corporate environment, or whether we are "CEO's" of our homes, we need to consider when it's time to delegate certain responsibilities to others. In an office setting, take time to evaluate exactly what kinds of tasks seem to logically fit into each person's role. Think about what areas you or your employees might be able to handle, especially if other tasks are similar in nature to what they are already doing. Then make appropriate changes, and explain the meaning and purpose behind those changes. At home, if you have children, set aside time to list out very specific tasks around the house. Even very young children can perform many small tasks, such as picking up small toys, and putting things on a shelf, which not only helps you in tidying the house, but it also teaches them a strong sense of responsibility at a young age!
Use a List: As cliche as this sounds, I recommend a "to do" list for the busy areas of our lives. Recently, I've been thinking of my "to do's" in three categories: work, home, and play. What this allows me to do is take "stock" of all of the things that run across my mind each day, and categorize them so that I can become more realistic about when I can accomplish things. In addition, having a running list of things to do means that even if I don't get to it today, I can certainly put it on my list for tomorrow! Without a list, however, tasks get lost in the shuffle of my busy head, and I think I'd be much less productive. If you don't use a "to do" list, try it today! Whether on paper or computer or PDA, it can be a great tool for you in working truly smarter, not harder!
Relax: Although the very word is foreign to some, I believe that taking time out to relax, even in short "spurts" in a day, or for an hour or so or more, can be one of the best tips for promoting smart thinking about how we run our daily lives. Our speed of life is so rapid that we seem to be functioning "full speed ahead," but we must realize that we will someday "run out of gas," so to speak. Relaxing, in whatever form you choose, can truly make your life more successful. Read, take a walk, call a friend, pet your dog (or cat, etc.), laugh with your child, draw or doodle, soak in your tub, or just sit down and do nothing!
Taking the time to think about our lives and ways we can make sense of what working "smarter" means can go a long way in helping us to realize our dreams and become happier for the long term.
Copyright 2009 by Melanie Unger
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
