Monday, July 14, 2008
Organizing Your Print Photographs
Liz Seymour, Home Deputy Editor of The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com), has been running a series about organizing her attic. The eighth in her installment deals with her photographs. I thought you might enjoy her very helpful suggestions and insights as she goes through this process. Just click the title above to be directed to her article. I've enjoyed reading the other articles in her series as well.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Organizing Your Digital Photographs
What to do with all those digital pictures you've been taking? David Hutto has been working with digital media for 30 years and has written a very helpful article on how to organize your digital pictures. He shows you how to get them off your camera, get them onto your computer and what to do with them after that. He walks you through every step, so you don't have to be a techno-wiz to understand his directions. Just click the title to go to his article.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Getting Organized for School: Get Organized Sale
Just thought you'd like to know that Get Organized, a company that sells organizing products, is offering 15% off during the month of July. If you're needing some quality and innovative organizing products, click on the link in the left side bar. The under-the-bed shoe organizer looks very efficient! And check out the mini-fridge!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Can Clutter Cause You to Lose Your Job?
The answer to the above question should be "no." However, having a cluttered workspace influences how others view you. Even if you know where everything is, it does not give the impression that you are managing your work well.
During our present economic climate, you don't want to risk your job longevity by having a messy desk. You don't want people to hesitate giving you work or documents for fear you'll lose them or forget about them.
At the end of the day, try to set aside 15 minutes to organize yourself for tomorrow. Get rid of the clutter. File. Make a prioritized list of items that need to be done tomorrow. Paperwork associated with that list can be placed in a file. Tomorrow you can take those items out of the file as you work on them. Not only will you have an uncluttered desk, but your mind will be uncluttered without all the visual distractions.
During our present economic climate, you don't want to risk your job longevity by having a messy desk. You don't want people to hesitate giving you work or documents for fear you'll lose them or forget about them.
At the end of the day, try to set aside 15 minutes to organize yourself for tomorrow. Get rid of the clutter. File. Make a prioritized list of items that need to be done tomorrow. Paperwork associated with that list can be placed in a file. Tomorrow you can take those items out of the file as you work on them. Not only will you have an uncluttered desk, but your mind will be uncluttered without all the visual distractions.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate
"It's just easier to do it myself!" I think at times. In the short run, yes. But in the long run, no. It does take time to teach someone else to do the task at hand. But when I do take the time, I am multiplying myself.
For example, if I'm the only one in my organization - whether it be my business, volunteer work, or at home - who knows how to do a certain task, I may be interrupted from something much more important and urgent when someone else needs this task done. To them it might be urgent and important, but to me it may not be.
For several years, I organized the annual women's retreat for our church. At some point, I realized I needed to make this job transferrable. I asked our retreat committee to write up job descriptions for their various functions. Even though I could have written the job descriptions myself, I chose to delegate it, lightening my load considerably.
After writing my job description, I put all the information in a three ring binder. As it turned out, we moved rather suddenly and I was able to pass on this notebook to someone else, so no one had to re-invent the wheel.
Some people feel they must be indispensable in order to keep their jobs. The thinking is, "If no one else knows how to do this, I can't lose my job." Not true.
Sometimes we become possessive of our areas of expertise. Or we want to guarantee that the job is done in a certain way and we think that no one else can do it as well.
This line of thinking, however, leads to being overworked or being inefficient. And if it would benefit others in the organization to know how to do this task, I would be doing a disservice not to teach them this skill. Building in check points insures quality control.
At home I am often tempted to put away the jam myself or wash someone's dish and put it in the dishwasher. There are times when I do these things, but if I do it on a consistent basis, I'm training my family to leave all the work to me. And then I feel taken for granted and angry. Not a nice way to live! I've learned to give gentle reminders and occasionally reiterate what level of cleanliness I expect.
I've also made the time to teach a skill or a segment of a skill, so our girls will be prepared to be on their own some day. If one of our foster daughters has no experience in cooking, for example, I work with her - making sure she reads the entire recipe and measures correctly. I take a deep breath if she spills sugar on the floor and remind myself what is really important. :-)
Something may not be done exactly the way I would have done it, but that leaves the possibility for it to be done better or in a more creative way. As I learned in cross-cultural training, different isn't bad!
What are you struggling to delegate?
For example, if I'm the only one in my organization - whether it be my business, volunteer work, or at home - who knows how to do a certain task, I may be interrupted from something much more important and urgent when someone else needs this task done. To them it might be urgent and important, but to me it may not be.
For several years, I organized the annual women's retreat for our church. At some point, I realized I needed to make this job transferrable. I asked our retreat committee to write up job descriptions for their various functions. Even though I could have written the job descriptions myself, I chose to delegate it, lightening my load considerably.
After writing my job description, I put all the information in a three ring binder. As it turned out, we moved rather suddenly and I was able to pass on this notebook to someone else, so no one had to re-invent the wheel.
Some people feel they must be indispensable in order to keep their jobs. The thinking is, "If no one else knows how to do this, I can't lose my job." Not true.
Sometimes we become possessive of our areas of expertise. Or we want to guarantee that the job is done in a certain way and we think that no one else can do it as well.
This line of thinking, however, leads to being overworked or being inefficient. And if it would benefit others in the organization to know how to do this task, I would be doing a disservice not to teach them this skill. Building in check points insures quality control.
At home I am often tempted to put away the jam myself or wash someone's dish and put it in the dishwasher. There are times when I do these things, but if I do it on a consistent basis, I'm training my family to leave all the work to me. And then I feel taken for granted and angry. Not a nice way to live! I've learned to give gentle reminders and occasionally reiterate what level of cleanliness I expect.
I've also made the time to teach a skill or a segment of a skill, so our girls will be prepared to be on their own some day. If one of our foster daughters has no experience in cooking, for example, I work with her - making sure she reads the entire recipe and measures correctly. I take a deep breath if she spills sugar on the floor and remind myself what is really important. :-)
Something may not be done exactly the way I would have done it, but that leaves the possibility for it to be done better or in a more creative way. As I learned in cross-cultural training, different isn't bad!
What are you struggling to delegate?
Monday, July 7, 2008
Family Cookbook
Are your family's favorite recipes scattered all over the place? When my older daughter moved into an apartment in college, I decided to computerize our family favorites, so she could have a copy of the recipes she loved eating at home. And I was happy to have the recipes I used most often in one place!
I organized the recipes in different categories, just like in real cookbooks. At the top of each recipe, I wrote where and when I got the recipe and from whom. I was also careful to write in little tips she might not know from lack of experience cooking.
I printed up the pages and slipped two pages back-to-back into each page protector and placed them in a 3-ring binder. I even made a cover sheet and slipped it into the front cover.
I gave one to my future son-in-law at the time when he moved into his apartment, and later to my younger daughter. The beauty of having your recipes computerized is that you can update them, add to them, and copy them for friends who want your recipes!
If you want to create a more involved family cookbook complete with stories and pictures, check out Cooking Up A Family Cookbook by Ann Champeau (http://1-2-3getorganized.com./funstuff.html).
I organized the recipes in different categories, just like in real cookbooks. At the top of each recipe, I wrote where and when I got the recipe and from whom. I was also careful to write in little tips she might not know from lack of experience cooking.
I printed up the pages and slipped two pages back-to-back into each page protector and placed them in a 3-ring binder. I even made a cover sheet and slipped it into the front cover.
I gave one to my future son-in-law at the time when he moved into his apartment, and later to my younger daughter. The beauty of having your recipes computerized is that you can update them, add to them, and copy them for friends who want your recipes!
If you want to create a more involved family cookbook complete with stories and pictures, check out Cooking Up A Family Cookbook by Ann Champeau (http://1-2-3getorganized.com./funstuff.html).
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Mommy Meryl's Contest Extending Another Day
If you haven't yet entered Mommy Meryl's contest for my Three Steps to Decluttering, she has extended it for another day. Just click the title above to enter!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Dinner in 15 - A Grilling Twist
Happy 4th of July! Hope you've had a wonderful day!
As this is a big grilling weekend, I thought I'd share a recipe that is fun to do on a grill: quesadillas. Everyone can choose ingredients they like, and if they chose both red and green ingredients, each quesadilla can contain a full pallet of nutrition.
Collect your ingredients together: tortillas, cheese, peppers, cooked meat of your choice, tomatoes, onions, baby spinach, avocados, salsa, mushrooms, zucchini, or squash - whatever sounds good to you.
On plates or cookie sheets with no sides, let everyone assemble quesadillas using cheese as the first and last ingredient to act as glue to hold the quesadillas together. Slide the quesadillas onto your olive-oil-brushed grill, heated to medium high.
Grill 2 minutes on each side, turning carefully. Allow quesadillas to rest for a couple of minutes before cutting with a pizza cutter. Serve with fruit.
If you'd like some more ideas for quick, nutritional, and tasty meals, look into my Hassle Free Dinners, a year's worth of weekly dinner menus, instructions and weekly shopping lists. It's a marriage of professional organization and dinnertime. Click the title to go my 1-2-3...Get Organized website.
As this is a big grilling weekend, I thought I'd share a recipe that is fun to do on a grill: quesadillas. Everyone can choose ingredients they like, and if they chose both red and green ingredients, each quesadilla can contain a full pallet of nutrition.
Collect your ingredients together: tortillas, cheese, peppers, cooked meat of your choice, tomatoes, onions, baby spinach, avocados, salsa, mushrooms, zucchini, or squash - whatever sounds good to you.
On plates or cookie sheets with no sides, let everyone assemble quesadillas using cheese as the first and last ingredient to act as glue to hold the quesadillas together. Slide the quesadillas onto your olive-oil-brushed grill, heated to medium high.
Grill 2 minutes on each side, turning carefully. Allow quesadillas to rest for a couple of minutes before cutting with a pizza cutter. Serve with fruit.
If you'd like some more ideas for quick, nutritional, and tasty meals, look into my Hassle Free Dinners, a year's worth of weekly dinner menus, instructions and weekly shopping lists. It's a marriage of professional organization and dinnertime. Click the title to go my 1-2-3...Get Organized website.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Contest at Mommy Meryl
Mommy Meryl is hosting a contest at her site with my Three Steps to Decluttering (either ebook or printed book) as the prize. Hurry over to her site, as you only have a couple of days to enter. While you're there, wander around her site - she has lots of fun ideas for you! Just click the title above.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Christmas in July
You thought I was planning early yesterday - today it's Christmas!
We are on vacation in Branson, Missouri with my parents, my sibilings and their families. Yesterday we went outlet shopping - usually a tradition when we have these vacations.
Even though Bob and I didn't need much, we took the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping. So we picked up some gifts for our foster daughters and our own daughters. My sister-in-law Debbie was the Christmas shopping queen, blasting through her Christmas list.
To ease your Christmas stress, sit down soon and make a list of all the people to whom you want to give Christmas gifts. If you have gift ideas for people on your list, jot that down, too. Put your list in your wallet or purse and refer to it before you head out on a shopping trip.
Then, as you shop on vacation, do school shopping or other shopping, you may run across gifts for those on your list. How nice to get your Christmas shopping done while you go about life, rather than having to take out extra time to do your Christmas shopping! You will not have to "settle" for gifts because you've waited until the last minute and the selection is sparse and expensive.
What are your Chistmas shopping secrets?
We are on vacation in Branson, Missouri with my parents, my sibilings and their families. Yesterday we went outlet shopping - usually a tradition when we have these vacations.
Even though Bob and I didn't need much, we took the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping. So we picked up some gifts for our foster daughters and our own daughters. My sister-in-law Debbie was the Christmas shopping queen, blasting through her Christmas list.
To ease your Christmas stress, sit down soon and make a list of all the people to whom you want to give Christmas gifts. If you have gift ideas for people on your list, jot that down, too. Put your list in your wallet or purse and refer to it before you head out on a shopping trip.
Then, as you shop on vacation, do school shopping or other shopping, you may run across gifts for those on your list. How nice to get your Christmas shopping done while you go about life, rather than having to take out extra time to do your Christmas shopping! You will not have to "settle" for gifts because you've waited until the last minute and the selection is sparse and expensive.
What are your Chistmas shopping secrets?
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Get Organized for School - Clothing Inventory
Get organized for school? It's only July 1! I know ... I know. But by doing a little here and there, it won't be such a rush in August.
One thing I always felt was helpful with each of my girls was to go through her closet and do an inventory. We would get rid of items she no longer wore - either donate them or turn them into rags.
Then we'd make a list of each category - short sleeve tops, long sleeve tops, shorts, pants, skirts, shoes, etc.
Next, we'd put together a list of possible outfits. She kept this list throughout the year. It made it simple to choose an outfit rather than standing in front of her closet waiting for inspiration to hit! And she wasn't as likely to get bored with her clothes if she didn't get in a rut of wearing the same combinations together.
By making these lists, it became very obvious where the gaps were - what article of clothing had no match, for example. We made a shopping list and started watching out for those things on the list. This way, we could spread out the shopping over the summer, rather than cram it in right before school.
While we were looking through clothes, we took inventory on underwear, socks, and athletic clothes. Our girls played school sports, so we'd check to see if they needed new cleats, sweats, athletic socks, etc.
I realize with guys you don't have to go into so much work. But it's good to do an inventory to know what he needs. Then, when you're on vacation and hit those outlet malls, you can stock up!
If doing a clothing inventory sounds too overwhelming, break it up into small segments:
- get rid of unwanted clothing
- make a list of each category of clothing
- make a list of possible outfits
- make a shopping list
- shop!
Have you discovered ways to reduce the stress of getting organized for school?
One thing I always felt was helpful with each of my girls was to go through her closet and do an inventory. We would get rid of items she no longer wore - either donate them or turn them into rags.
Then we'd make a list of each category - short sleeve tops, long sleeve tops, shorts, pants, skirts, shoes, etc.
Next, we'd put together a list of possible outfits. She kept this list throughout the year. It made it simple to choose an outfit rather than standing in front of her closet waiting for inspiration to hit! And she wasn't as likely to get bored with her clothes if she didn't get in a rut of wearing the same combinations together.
By making these lists, it became very obvious where the gaps were - what article of clothing had no match, for example. We made a shopping list and started watching out for those things on the list. This way, we could spread out the shopping over the summer, rather than cram it in right before school.
While we were looking through clothes, we took inventory on underwear, socks, and athletic clothes. Our girls played school sports, so we'd check to see if they needed new cleats, sweats, athletic socks, etc.
I realize with guys you don't have to go into so much work. But it's good to do an inventory to know what he needs. Then, when you're on vacation and hit those outlet malls, you can stock up!
If doing a clothing inventory sounds too overwhelming, break it up into small segments:
- get rid of unwanted clothing
- make a list of each category of clothing
- make a list of possible outfits
- make a shopping list
- shop!
Have you discovered ways to reduce the stress of getting organized for school?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Toy Storage
For a great variety of toy storage, go to I'm An Organizing Junkie's fabulous blog detailing all sorts of cute kid's storage - complete with pictures! Just click the title above.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Need a Family Checklist for Your Summer Travel?
Are you planning to travel this summer? Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie has created a Family Checklist to streamline packing for the whole family. Take a look at it by clicking the title above. While you're there, take a look around her site for some great ideas and bargains!
I have put a list on my computer for myself when I travel, but Laura has made a chart with spaces for several family members. It's in PDF form so you can save it onto your computer.
What do you do that makes travelling easier for you and you family?
I have put a list on my computer for myself when I travel, but Laura has made a chart with spaces for several family members. It's in PDF form so you can save it onto your computer.
What do you do that makes travelling easier for you and you family?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Clutter in Your House or Office Means Clutter in Your Mind
We have been getting torrential rains here in northeast Ohio lately - heavy downpours that dump a lot of water in a short amount of time.
Remember our neighbor's prolific maple tree producing millions of little helicopters? Not only does it mean that I'm constantly pulling little maple trees out of my garden, but they filled our gutters.
Combine that with the rain and we had a waterfall in one location which leaked into our basement. Ugh!
So what does all this have to do with clutter?
The water leaked into our office, which is in the basement. We had to pull the carpet up and run fans to dry it out, cut the padding and dry it out, and move furniture around to accomodate this area. So, we had an entertainment center in the middle of the room, one chair stacked on another, and other items out of place.
My husband, who can usually put up with a fair amount of clutter said he couldn't even function in that room because of all the clutter! I realize my example might be extreme, but the general principle is true - when our surroundings are in chaos, it's hard for our minds not to be chaotic as well. When we have too much visual stimuli we don't know where to focus.
Do you have a room like that - too much visual stimuli? Be kind to yourself - start in one corner or start with one surface and declutter. Save the drawers and closets till later - when you have clean surfaces, you will be motivated to tackle the hidden places.
Notice the satisfaction, peace and calm that comes from having uncluttered, nonchaotic surroundings. It makes you smile! And your productivity increases because you can focus on the task at hand without being distracted by the clutter.
Our office is now back in order other than having someone come back to reconnect the carpet. But it is functional for the moment. What a difference in our mindsets from a few days ago! If you are overwhelmed and don't know where to begin, get a kickstart from our Three Steps to Decluttering. Just click the title above.
Our hearts go out to those who are having to put their lives back together after the floods in the midwest. Our litle problem is insignificant in comparison!!
Remember our neighbor's prolific maple tree producing millions of little helicopters? Not only does it mean that I'm constantly pulling little maple trees out of my garden, but they filled our gutters.
Combine that with the rain and we had a waterfall in one location which leaked into our basement. Ugh!
So what does all this have to do with clutter?
The water leaked into our office, which is in the basement. We had to pull the carpet up and run fans to dry it out, cut the padding and dry it out, and move furniture around to accomodate this area. So, we had an entertainment center in the middle of the room, one chair stacked on another, and other items out of place.
My husband, who can usually put up with a fair amount of clutter said he couldn't even function in that room because of all the clutter! I realize my example might be extreme, but the general principle is true - when our surroundings are in chaos, it's hard for our minds not to be chaotic as well. When we have too much visual stimuli we don't know where to focus.
Do you have a room like that - too much visual stimuli? Be kind to yourself - start in one corner or start with one surface and declutter. Save the drawers and closets till later - when you have clean surfaces, you will be motivated to tackle the hidden places.
Notice the satisfaction, peace and calm that comes from having uncluttered, nonchaotic surroundings. It makes you smile! And your productivity increases because you can focus on the task at hand without being distracted by the clutter.
Our office is now back in order other than having someone come back to reconnect the carpet. But it is functional for the moment. What a difference in our mindsets from a few days ago! If you are overwhelmed and don't know where to begin, get a kickstart from our Three Steps to Decluttering. Just click the title above.
Our hearts go out to those who are having to put their lives back together after the floods in the midwest. Our litle problem is insignificant in comparison!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Organizing Your Ribbon
Are you a crafter? Have lots of ribbon? You must check out a blog called Stamp with Shelly (click the title above). The title of the post is "Confessions of a Ribbon Addict."
Shelly has taken drawers of ribbon and organized them on one device that spins. Not only does she hang her ribbon on it, but embroidery thread, stickers, and other items. She has them available and accessible at a glance! And what a space saver!
You have to see it to appreciate it - she has pictures showing the process and the final product.
Shelly has taken drawers of ribbon and organized them on one device that spins. Not only does she hang her ribbon on it, but embroidery thread, stickers, and other items. She has them available and accessible at a glance! And what a space saver!
You have to see it to appreciate it - she has pictures showing the process and the final product.
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