My neighborhood had a garage sale this past Saturday so I decided to participate instead of donating my items like I usually do. Was it worth my time and effort? Absolutely not. It was my first and LAST garage sale. I’ve always felt that it’s just not worth the time you have to spend sorting and pricing the items and still have to deal with the items you don’t sell. I spent about 3 hours on Friday putting the items out and pricing them and then had to be up early on Saturday because the garage sale started at 7am. At noon on Saturday I decided to call it quits and packed up the many remaining items that didn’t sell to donate to charity. I know that some people make a lot of money on garage sales but the little I made was just not worth my time. I was better off donating everything to charity and taking the tax deduction. What’s your opinion on garage sales?
GARAGE SALES – WORTH YOUR TIME?
December 5th, 2011
“I DON’T HAVE TIME” SYNDROME
October 16th, 2011How many times have you said or heard someone say “I don’t have the time”? I’m guilty of saying the same thing. The thing is, if you don’t take or carve out the time to do a task that needs to be done, it will probably never get done. Put the task on your calendar and/or write it down on your “To Do” list. I tell my clients all the time that we only have so many hours in a day to do the things that we need or want to do so we have to prioritize. Are you putting too much on your plate? Are your kids involved in too many activities? Ask yourself what’s really important to you & your family. Look for ways to simplify your life.
The holidays are around the corner along with the stress and hustle & bustle that comes with it. Start planning from now instead of waiting until the last minute. If you have family coming to visit for the holidays & your guest bedroom is a disaster, dedicate at least a couple of hours once a week (more hours if time allows) starting now to get the bedroom guest ready.
So the next time you say “I don’t have the time”, ask yourself “Why don’t I have the time?” & “How can I find the time?” and then dedicate the time to accomplish whatever it is that you want to do.
BACK TO SCHOOL
August 21st, 2011Lots of kids are heading back to school this week or shortly after & some are back to school already. Have you made any changes to your routine so that you’re starting off the new school year more organized or is it MOTS (more of the same)? You have to ask yourself “what can I do to make things easier & less stressful”. I say this all the time, get everyone in the household involved to help. Even younger kids can do age appropriate chores. Prepare and do as much as possible the night before like pack lunches & choose clothing to wear the next day which will save time in the morning. Place backpacks at designated area before bedtime so that time is not wasted in the morning looking for it and that homework and other papers are already in it. A family calendar is a must so that everyone knows what’s going on with other family members. Communication is vital especially when everyone is running in different directions. Everyone’s household is different so you have to decide what works best for you and your family’s lifestyle.
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
January 8th, 2011A new year has arrived and I’m still trying to figure out what happened to 2010. Where did the time go? We all have the same amount of hours in each day but why is it that sometimes it seems like 24 hours in a day still is not enough time? Is it because we try to do too much or maybe we don’t use our time wisely and/or efficiently? Whatever the reason let 2011 be the year that you start to make new positive changes in your life.
Some of the popular resolutions that people make every year are to lose weight, start exercising, quit smoking, pay off bills, and last but not least is to get organized. I want to focus on getting organized because January 2011 is the 7th year that we’re celebrating National Get Organized (GO) Month. GO Month was started by NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) seven years ago to spread the word about the benefits of organizing and hiring a professional organizer. A professional organizer will guide you through the process, help you to make decisions, & teach you the skills to maintain your newly organized space. I think that one of the biggest benefits of getting organized is how much stress is relieved when you can walk into a calm & serene space without having to swim through a sea of clutter. You can find what you need when you need it.
Let’s face it, organizing can be very frustrating and overwhelming. It is not a quick process and requires time and patience. Clutter does not appear overnight and will not go away overnight. The task of organizing needs to be broken down into small manageable pieces, organizing one room or area at a time. The first step in the organizing process is the de-cluttering step which means going through your stuff to decide what to keep, donate or toss followed by setting up a system that’s easy to follow and maintain. Simple systems work best. De-cluttering, organizing & streamlining will help your household run more smoothly.
Getting & staying organized requires us to change the way we think and do things. In other words, getting rid of old habits and learning new positive habits and routines. For example, if you take something out put it away when finished; if you bring something into the house like groceries or shopping put them away immediately or as soon as possible; pick up and put away stray items as much as possible on a daily basis; wash, dry, fold & put away each load of laundry. These are simple things that will make a big difference if everyone in the household does their part.
So, is 2011 going to be a year of change for you or MOTS (More of the Same)?
GIFT GIVING
December 6th, 2010I think most of us can agree that gift giving is not only expensive but also contributes to an already cluttered space. Kids receive too many toys, most of which they’ll probably never play with. Dad may receive that tie he’ll never wear or mom may receive another kitchen gadget she’ll never use. Try & stay focused when shopping. Don’t let sales distract & trick you into buying something you don’t need or want. When shopping for others buy things that the person would appreciate & use.
Some suggestions for gifts that will not add to the clutter or take up valuable space are:
- Movie passes
- Amusement park tickets
- Cleaning service
- Savings bond towards a college fund
- Gift card to a favorite store
- Floral or fruit arrangement
- Donation to a charity
- Restaurant gift certificate
- Health club membership
- Concert tickets
Why not rethink this gift giving thing. Save the money you were going to spend on gifts and put it towards the family skiing trip or cruise you’ve always wanted to take.
Instead of Christmas being a time when we receive a lot of presents, let’s get back to its true meaning, which is about appreciating what we have and helping others. As a family, donate some of your time to volunteer at a shelter, soup kitchen, or other organization that’s in desperate need of volunteers. Ask your kids to donate some of their gently used unwanted toys to a local charity or organization so that a less fortunate child can enjoy them.
We have so much to be grateful for in this great country of ours. Blessings, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, & Happy Organizing.
PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
November 26th, 2010The holidays are fast approaching. The wonderful aroma of pies, cakes, turkey, ham and other dishes start to fill the air of your home. School plays, family gatherings, and holiday parties are non stop. You have family and friends visiting throughout the holidays. The stores are filled with holiday decorations, shoppers are frantically running around looking for the perfect gift, and yes, the stress starts to build. You realize that there’s clutter everywhere and you can’t find anything; there’s no place for your guests to sleep; the holiday decorations you want to put up are as disorganized as ever. Why not reduce the stress and get a head start on preparing for the holidays?
Finding precious time to clean, de-clutter or organize is almost impossible between work, family, shopping and other commitments, but maybe it’s time to reassess your constant long list of “TO DOs”. Focus on what you want to accomplish during the holidays.
Holiday Decorations
Now is the time to donate or toss any unwanted holiday decorations. Donation organizations usually have an area devoted to holiday decorations and would love to take them off your hands. As you go through your decorations, sort them by putting like items together and then decide which ones you want to keep or donate/toss. Then based on the ones you decide to keep, designate containers for them. Clear plastic containers work best but if you already have other containers use them first before purchasing new ones (you do have to watch the budget). The important thing to remember is to label the containers (lights, ornaments, wreaths, pumpkins, table decorations, etc.). When it comes time to take your decorations down and put them away you’ll already have labeled containers to put them into.
Helpful Hints
- Schedule your cleaning over a period of 3-4 weekends instead of waiting until the last minute to do everything. Focus on one room or area at a time. Pick up clutter and give the space a good cleaning. If you don’t have time to clean, hire a cleaning service to do it for you if your budget allows.
- Pick up stray clutter every night. Put items where they belong. Get the whole family involved. It’s never too early to start teaching kids to be responsible and to pick up after themselves. It’s easier to keep up than it is to catch up.
- Set a realistic shopping budget and stick to it. Save money by drawing names in large families so that you only have one gift to buy.
- Shop early, especially for those gifts that have to be mailed, to avoid paying overnight shipping charges.
- Wrap gifts as you bring them home.
FALL INTO ORGANIZATION
November 10th, 2010The energetic cooler winds of fall provide a great opportunity to tackle those outside jobs you’ve put off because of the summer heat. It’s also a time to take stock of those things on the inside that you’ve put off as well. Open up those windows, let the fresh air in, and jump right in. Make it fun. Get the whole family involved.
On the Outside:
- Declutter, clean, & organize your garage.
- Do maintenance on your lawn & garden equipment. Give them a good cleaning and sprucing up.
- Clean out the flower beds of debris & dead shrubbery to give the outside of the home a fresh look.
On the Inside:
- Go through your closets when transitioning from summer to fall/winter clothing. Only keep clothes that fit, are in good condition, and that you wear on a regular basis.
- Organize the pantry or food cupboards to make room for holiday food shopping. You may be surprised to find out that you already have some items on hand.
- Start preparing your guest room for holiday guests. Go through dresser drawers and the closet so that your guests have room to store their things.
Technology & Time Management, Friend or Foe?
July 23rd, 2010Is technology stealing your time instead of helping you manage it? Are you sabotaging yourself by letting interruptions get in the way of accomplishing tasks? Are distractions putting you and others at risk? We have so much going on in our lives like social media (Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, MySpace), iPhones, texting, email, apps to remind us to do this and that. You name it it’s out there. We’re multi-tasking trying to do so many things at the same time, running to different activities, attending meetings, running a household and/or a business. So much to do in a certain amount of time yet we waste a lot of time with distractions that can be avoided.
Maura Thomas of RegainYourTime.com gave her presentation “The Future of Communication & Attention in the Age of Social Media” at my monthly NAPO-Austin chapter meeting this past Monday. Some of the things she said that made an impact on me are: “It’s difficult to control our brain if we sabotage ourselves all the time”; “If you’re doing two things at the same time physically you’re only doing one of them mentally”; and “We voluntarily give away our attention”. Boy did she hit close to home and gave me a lot to think about. I let too many distractions consume my time which makes me less productive. So instead of keeping the TV on in my office when I’m working at my desk I now turn it off. The only thing I have going on is soothing music playing in the living room. I spent half the time watching TV instead of concentrating on the task at hand. I even kept the TV on while listening to a teleclass by phone. Who says we have to constantly check our email or answer every phone call? If you’re working on a project at your job or a task around the house let phone calls go to voice mail and check email when you’re done unless you’re expecting an email or call that relates to the project or task you’re working on. Turn off alerts that may be distracting.
Here’s another question. Are you stealing your employer’s time by constantly checking personal email, tweeting on Twitter or posting on Facebook while on the job? Are you texting all day long on your employer’s time? There was a story on one of the TV networks (I don’t remember which one) a couple of weeks ago about moms who ignored their kids because they were constantly texting. How sad is that? Are you texting while driving? Is it worth risking yours, your passengers and other lives because you’re distracted while driving? Gosh, even social etiquette is being ignored. People talking on their cell phone or texting during meetings, at the dinner table, or even worse, at church. It also seems like we’re forgetting how to interact with other people face to face. For example, texting someone who’s in another room in the same house instead of going to that person and talking to them. This absolutely blows my mind.
Don’t get me wrong. I think technology is wonderful. We have information at our fingertips which makes life easier and it can also make us more productive. But we have to know when to draw the line. We need to be more in control of how to effectively use technology to our advantage and not let it control us.
Severe Weather Safety
July 7th, 2010A couple weeks ago we experienced severe weather in my area. After all it’s a part of summer that we’ve come to accept. There was the usual thunder, lightning and extremely high winds. When severe weather is approaching I make sure I’m prepared just in case. You might think I’m nuts but one of the first things I do is to make sure that I’m wearing proper footwear. This means that if I’m wearing slippers I put on my sneakers. Why? Because heaven forbid my home is damaged I don’t want to cut my feet walking through debris. The safe room in my home is my master closet so I always keep a flashlight & extra batteries in there. My four legged family members (the cat & the dog) of course have to go into the closet with me, as well as the cat’s carrier and dog’s harness & leash. I also take my purse and cell & a cordless phone.
My question to you is, do you and/or your family have a plan? Do you have a safe room or rooms in your home? Do you have emergency supplies on hand that you or family members can quickly grab? This link http://www.weather.com/ready/severeweatherprep.html from The Weather Channel will give you tips on what to do if a disaster strikes. There are links to emergency plans, supply kits, tornadoes, and much more. Don’t wait until something happens before you take action. Take action NOW!
ROLL OUT SHELVES
January 7th, 2010Have you ever been frustrated by the fact that every time you had to get something (pot, pan, or storage container, etc.) out of a kitchen cabinet that you had to move things around or take them out just to get to the item you wanted? Well I was frustrated for the past 1-1/2 years because of this. It’s also a killer on the knees. I didn’t want to spend a fortune on my kitchen but knew that I had to do something. I discovered a product called My Rollouts by Shelf Improvement. The great thing about these rollout shelves is that they are installed on top of the existing cabinet shelves and they are easily installed with four screws. I had them installed about 6 months ago and they have made my life so much easier. No more frustration. The shelves pull out and I can get what I need without killing my knees. See what these shelves look like at www.myrollouts.com. I absolutely LOVE them.