7 Days of Organizational Tips (Day 6)

Day 6

Tip: Make a cleaning calendar

No one and I repeat no one is superwoman or superman. We all try to multitask everyday and sometimes we need some guidance and that is OKAY!

A cleaning calendars or chore charts are so important! It keeps you on task and organized throughout the week!

Here is the one I made and use on a weekly basis! I hang mine on my wall calendar in my kitchen! I use a dry erase marker to check off what I have done or what I need to do. And sometimes I don't get to one of the items because life gets in the way...but if I have learned one thing it is if you fall down you pick yourself right back up! If your on a diet and eat a cookie for lunch that doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want for the rest of the day. You made one mistake that doesn't mean your day is completely ruined it just means you need to get back on the wagon!

So get organized! Start today!! No day is too late!

Click, print, laminate and it is yours! 

Homework:

1. Print out cleaning calendar and follow it.

2. If you don't like this one that is OKAY! But find or make one that works for YOU!

It is as simple as 1-2-3!

7 Days of Organizational Tips (Day 5)

Day 5: Tip: DE-STRESS with less car stress

Driving can be stressful to begin with. I used to have a commute of almost an hour and a half to work everyday. Dealing with traffic along with road rage is just purely stressful! Adding clutter and disorganization in your car can increase this stress. Who wants to drive in a messy car?? I promise you...by cleaning out your car and organizing it you will not only feel better but be less stressed.

Car= ZONE!

So lets take a looksie at my car:

As you can tell I am a coffee-holic with my Dunkin Donuts cup and Starbucks cup. Gum, sticky notes and glasses are right in front with my purse and water jug on the passenger seat.

 

Backseat:

Clothes from when I change at the gym. Bags of items I bought from the store....

My work bag, a box of tissues, a plastic bowl from a work party. Problem is this..my car doesn't always look like this but day after day after day the pile up of items can really add up. And if you don't stay on top of it..if you don't take that bowl out or remove those shopping bags it will just continue to pile up!

And the list goes on!

So this is what you need to do! Clean everything out and ORGANIZE!

Console:

I sprayed down the inside so it still was a little damp!

 I organized two containers one with my electronic cords and one with my personal items: gum, aspirin, cream etc.

 I cleaned out the entire backseat!

 In the back of the passenger seat I just have my umbrella and my one jar of lysol wipes! (yes I have a jar of them in my car haha)

My front seat is now all cleaned and everything was put away and wiped down!

I even organized my trunk.

My gym bag, yoga mat and grocery hot/cold bag. THATS IT!

Homework: 

1. Clean out your car.
2. Dispose of items you DON'T need or use in your car.
3. Put functional items in your console.

It is as simple as 1-2-3!

7 Days of Organizational Tips (Day 4)

 Day 4: Grab & Go

On day one we discussed "zones" well the refrigerator is a "zone" in my kitchen. I believe in 'the GRAB & GO' method. What is that you ask? Well some days we are in such a rush and we need something quick to eat and we grab a granola bar or a bag of chips. But in reality neither will fill you or satisfy your hunger. I have also found that I might buy items that are for a party or get together and when I go into the fridge to get that item it either magically disappeared or is half eaten because 'they didn't know' it wasn't for them to eat.

SOOOOO an intervention was needed on my fridge!


This is what it looked like:

Bad. I know!

Everything is jammed inside with no rhyme or reason! DRIVES ME CRAZY!

So lets begin! Clean out your entire fridge...I mean EVERYTHING!

I lay paper towel sheets down on each shelf. I find that this helps if there are any spills or messes. All I have to do is throw away the paper towel and place a new clean piece down. You can also use cling wrap or cabinet liner, depends all on what YOU want and what works for YOU!

Start to place items back in. My top shelf are all items that need to be the coldest. (Milk, creamer etc.) On the 2nd shelf is my yogurt and eggs.  First mini draw is where I keep shredded cheese and cans of rolls etc. Third shelf "snacks". Fourth shelf grated cheese, jarred garlic. First draw is fruit and 2nd draw is veggies. On the door: First shelf is wine, second is soda, third and fourth are condiments.

Lets go back to the "Grab & Go" method. This is a tip that I think is extremely valuable especially if you are like me and are always looking to stay in shape and eat healthy!

In my snack box is prepackaged snacks. After going grocery shopping I chop up all veggies and fruit and place them in the mini Ziploc bags. I also place string cheese and nuts *walnuts, almonds etc.* in the snack box as well. I love this tip because EVERYONE needs a quick "grab and go" snack and most of the time it is a bag of chips or cookies. So why not help yourself out and take an hour to prepackage items for you and your family?? Smart right?

Broccoli:

Peppers:

And of course LABEL the box. This will help you, the kids and the hubs know what they can touch and what not to take.

I was even thinking about labeling each shelf!


So now everyone knows where certain items go! Remember if you make it functional for yourself it will be easier to stick to being organized!

Homework:

1. Think about what would help you on an everyday basis. What do you continually repeat to your husband, wife or kids?
2. Once you figured that out set your timer for 30 minutes (Day 3) and conquer the problem. You need to make baby steps before mastering the key of organization. So start with everyday obstacles. Discuss with your family what changes you will be making and how this will help everyone be less stressed and more organized!!


That being said I wanted to give you an update on my bathroom cabinets. As I said on day 1 we discussed zones, check it out here: (Day 1). Well I decided to not only do my side of the bathroom but I also did our guest bathroom as well as my husbands side.  What do you think?

Guest Bathroom:

Before:

Useless space!

After:

My husbands side:

I forgot to take a before picture but I bet you could only guess how 'unorganized' it was!

After:

Stay tuned to tomorrow for tip 5!

It is as simple as 1-2-3!

7 Days of Organizational Tips (Day 3)

30 Minutes:

 This tip is one of the most important ones! Taking the time at some point during the day to do a clean sweep is so important ! Whether it is in the morning before work or at night before bed DO IT!

First step...set a timer: Phone timer, microwave timer, portable time whatever it is SET IT and DON'T stop until you are done! This is the time to tackle the areas you normally don't have time to do! Clean that medicine cabinet out or under the sink! How about that messy tupperware cabinet or the refrigerator? Maybe it is just picking up around the house after the kids? This is the time to do it! If you start now it will help with your anxiety and make you feel accomplished throughout the day or before you go to bed!

10 Minute list:

My mom always tells me to make a 10 minute list!  Sometimes we get so overwhelmed by the long and exhausted list of household projects before us, that we become immobile. 

It works like this: 

Make a list of all of the chores that you could do in ten minutes or less.  This might mean cleaning out your ‘junk’ drawer, shining up your appliances, folding a load of wash, cleaning a shelf in a closest, scrubbing the sink.  You must keep at least five things on the list at all times.  When you have ten free minutes during your day, you take care of one of those things on the list.  It could be a task you tackle while talking on the phone; waiting for your spouse to get ready; before you go to work, before bed…well, you get the idea.  In no time, you will start having trouble finding things to add to your list!  More importantly, you will feel accomplished and less stressed.  Give it a try!

Here is an example of one of my 10 minute items:

JUNK DRAW!

YIKES!

 Empty it! Sort what you need in the draw... again here is another 'ZONE' area! FUNCTION FUNCTION FUNCTION! (Reminds me of that song.. conjunction junction what's your function..anyone remember this from grade school?? Classic!)

 Wa-la! I have a clear container  that holds ONE pair of scissors, pens, pencils, highlighters, permanent marker and erasable marker. My coupon book,  my address book and our menus from the restaurants that we order from for takeout are in the draw. One flashlight in case of emergency! I also placed the candle lighter(s) in the draw as well.

 Haaa yes much better and it only took 10 minutes!!

Homework: 

1. Invest in a timer!

2. Make a list of what you need to do during the 10 minute moments that you might have throughout the day!

It is as simple as 1-2-3!

7 Days of Organizational Tips (Day 2)

Day 2:

Linen Closet Makeover

Tip: LABEL

Labeling is SO important! YOU might know where things go but I guarantee your husband or significant other (as well as kids) might not know where it goes. If you label there will be no excuses!

My linen closet needed a HUGE makeover!

I forgot to take a before picture with how everything was in my closet! But just know it was a MESS!

My cat wanted to take a little stroll before I put everything back in...

 As you can see everything is thrown out on to the floor!

 I got 5 baskets from the dollar store! Another budget friendly project!
As you can see I placed different things in each basket. Fitted sheets, Flat sheets, Pillow cases, Cloth Napkins, and Table Cloths

 I LABELED each basket!

 Finished product:
 

 Here is a template for yourself:

Homework:

1. Lets go back to "zone" talk...go back to one of the areas you cleaned out...now look and see is there place or anything you need to label? Make it easier  for not only you but the other people in the house!
2. The more you organize the better off you are...if you don't organize properly the less organized you will stay. Everything should have a place!


Check out an earlier blog posting: Relax and ENJOY your bedroom  it gives some more simple and quick organizational tips!

Enjoy!

It is as simple as 1-2-3!