Running an Efficient Home - The Periodic Table of Storing Produce

         
In order to run an efficient home, it pays to store produce appropriately. Your produce lasts longer, is fresher, and it saves additional trips to the grocery store. I stole this periodic table from Dennis Craven who stole it from Simple  Life.  

It's a little fuzzy but very helpful! 
       


More on produce:

Getting the Most Bang Out of Your Produce Buck

Spring Cleaning Your Food

My Ongoing Quest: Not to Go to the Grocery Store

Recycle Those Fall Pumpkins into Good Eats!

 

If Your Child Has ADHD, You Have a 1 in 4 Chance of Having It, Too

     

The following iVillage article, "Coud You Have ADHD?" by Jeannette Moninger published Mar 8, 2012 describes how parents are discovering that they, too, have ADHD when their children are diagnosed with it.  

"Life was chaotic for Alyson English. 'My mind constantly raced from one thing to the next. I assumed that’s how it was for everyone,' says the 33-year-old mom from Huntsville, Ala. Indeed, that’s how it was for English’s son, too, when he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age 6. 'While researching his diagnosis, I realized I had the same symptoms when I was a child, and I still had them,' says English, who was finally diagnosed with ADHD when she was 31.

An estimated 9 million adults have ADHD, and that number is expected to grow thanks to better diagnostic tools and a heightened awareness about the disorder in both kids and adults. 'We weren’t as aware of ADHD decades ago, which means many adults were never properly diagnosed when they were children,' says Zinia Thomas, M.D., a psychiatrist in St. Louis. While kids with the disorder are thought of as fidgety, hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive, ADHD looks different in adults.

Signs of Adult ADHD
Distractibility
 
'The lives of adults with untreated ADHD are littered with half-finished tasks,' says Dr. Thomas. That’s because they procrastinate, underestimate a project’s scope or get easily sidetracked. 

Poor Organization
Adults with ADHD have rooms and work spaces that are strewn with papers; their keys and important documents “vanish;” and bills and appointments often get overlooked.  

Rudeness
Poor impulse controls manifest as interruptions, excessive talking and inappropriate, sometimes volatile, reactions. 

Accidents
Adults with ADHD are four times more likely to be in a car crash because they’re easily distracted. 

Relationship Woes
Adults with untreated ADHD are twice as likely to be divorced or separated. 

Work Struggles
Frequent job changes and poor performance reviews are common because it’s difficult to manage tasks and stay organized. 

Family History
One-fourth of kids diagnosed with ADHD have a parent with the disorder.

Getting Help
If these symptoms sound familiar, talk to your primary doctor who can refer you to a mental health specialist such as a psychologist or psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment. Medication is a treatment option -- for some it can be a life-changer -- but it isn't always necessary. 

Therapists, life coaches and professional organizers can help adults with ADHD develop better time management and organizational skills with or without meds. The result? 'What I thought was anxiety was actually ADHD,' says English. 'Once I had the right diagnosis and treatment, my life got a complete organizational makeover, which made everyone in my family happier.'"

 More on ADHD:

Foods That Help ADHD Focus

Experts Give Advice for ADHD Adults

ADHD Organization - Decision-Making

 

 

Organizing Pros Weigh In on Baby Crib Organization

 

In a recent chat about baby cribs amongst professional organizers, several great ideas surfaced. Since we are expecting our first grandchild soon, this certainly caught my eye. Maybe this is helpful to you, too.

- A convertible crib is extremely efficient. It starts out as a crib, then it converts to a toddler bed when needed, and eventually transforms into a full size bed as the child grows older. We bought one for grandbaby at Walmart. Just remember to buy a mattress, too! We didn't realize it didn't come with one! Haha! These are also sold at JCPenney and Babies R Us and other stores that carry baby products.

- Another organizer mentioned the Ultimate Crib Sheet. Here are her thoughts: "This crib sheet snaps onto the crib, which is easy for removal & washing...but is also safe, as it fits snugly to the mattress.  In addition, we are night-time potty training our toddler daughter & this crib sheet has come in quite handy in her "big girl bed" to just lay underneath where she might potentially have an accident...saves us from having to strip the sheets (in a crib or a big bed!).  I would also suggest that parents purchase more than one Ultimate Crib Sheet so that if one is in the wash & it's nap time, you have another one clean & ready to go."

 These are the product details:

• Four products in one
• Easily changed without removing bumper or lifting mattress
• Holds up to 4 cups of liquid
• Measures 28" x 52"
• Attaches to the crib by ten elastic straps to ensure a safe night's sleep for baby

- To reduce the risk of SIDS, it is recommended that babies are put to sleep in a crib with nothing but a firm mattress in it (no crib bumpers, toys or blankets). 

- According to Parents as Teachers, mobiles and crib gyms should be removed from the crib as soon as the child can sit up. 

- Put two layers of sheets/waterproof pads on their crib mattresses. If baby has a middle of the night mess you can just pull off the first layer. 

- Store baby clothes in the next sizes in an underbed plastic container. One organizer wrote: "It is especially handy to have them close in the first year when they change sizes several times. (I also always wash them before putting them away so that I can use them immediately when needed.)"

- Another organizer wote: "Found this idea recently via Pinterest about upcycling a crib.  When your child is done using it, turn it into a kids desk, adult desk or bench!"

Clever and efficient ideas! For more information on crib safety click here.

More on organizing for baby:

Preserving and Organizing Your Child's Memorable Moments

Green Baby Gifts

Getting Organized for Baby

Containing the Power Cord Labyrinth

     
Do you have a maze of power cords for your entertainment and technological equipment? So unsightly, isn't it?

One of my clients agrees! I researched cord concealers for her, and I thought you might be interested in the various kinds I found.

So ... I have listed several on my Pinterest board. Simply click on the cord concealer that is appealing to you. Click it again, and it will take you to Amazon's description of the product.

I love Pinterest! When you find something you like, you can pin it there and keep track of your favorites. So easy!

More on electronics:

Recycling Electronics and Appliances

Get Organized Month 2009 - Decluttering Your Electronics

Beware - Stores Increase Clutter to Promote Impulse Buying

  

Getting Organized for Baby - Newborn Necessities

     
As our new granddaughter's due date is less than three weeks away, it's nice to have a checklist just to make sure we're all ready. I found this checklist from Today's Parent, which I thought was very helpful. A little overwhelming, too!

Clothing

• 8 undershirts or onesies (mix of short-sleeve and long-sleeve)
• 5 nightgowns (for use until the cord falls off)
• 8 one-piece stretchy sleepers (go for ones with zippers; new moms swear by them!)
• 5 pairs of pants
• 2 newborn hats
• 8 pairs of socks or booties, to wear with nightgowns and outfits
• 2 pairs of scratch mittens, to keep baby from scratching his face
• 2 cardigans or jackets, more in winter
• Bunting bag or snowsuit for winter baby
• Laundry detergent for infants
• 4 outfits for dressing up (optional)

Blankets

• 3 large cotton blankets
• 8 receiving blankets (they also make handy burp cloths)

Feeding

If you’re breastfeeding, you don’t really need any equipment.

Some nursing mothers like to have these items:

• Lots of bibs
• Burp cloths
• Breast pump
• Milk storage containers
• Nursing pillow
• Nursing bras (if buying before baby is born, buy one cup size larger than your pregnant bra size)
• Breast pads (disposable or washable)
• Lotion for sore nipples

If you are formula feeding:

• Lots of bibs
• Burp cloths
• 8 four-ounce bottles with nipples
• 6 eight-ounce bottles with nipples
• Bottle and nipple brush
• Formula (be sure to check expiry date and note the lot number in case of recalls)
• Thermal bottle carrier

Diapering

If you are using re-usable cloth diapers:

• Several dozen (4 or 5) cloth or re-usable diapers
• 8 waterproof covers
• 1 diaper pail
• Changing pad
• Baby ointment or other barrier cream to prevent rash
• Snaps, Velcro or safety pins to secure re-usable diapers
• Disposable wipes or a couple dozen washcloths for cleaning baby’s bottom

If you are using disposable diapers:

• Two boxes of newborn-size diapers (it’s better not to buy too many in advance in case your baby is large or grows quickly)
• 1 diaper pail
• Changing pad
• Baby ointment or barrier cream to prevent rash
• Disposable wipes or a couple dozen washcloths for cleaning baby’s bottom

Bathtime

• 1 plastic infant tub (or use a large dishpan in the sink, or take baby in the bath with you)
• 12 washcloths, not used on baby’s bottom
• Baby soap or cleanser
• Baby shampoo
• Baby soft-bristled hair brush
• 3 soft-hooded towels

Bedtime

If you are using a crib:

• Approved crib and crib mattress
• 3 waterproof mattress covers
• 4 fitted cribsheets
• 4 light blankets that fit in the crib
• Sleep sack

If you are co-sleeping:

• Firm mattress (not a waterbed)
• 3 waterproof pads to place under baby
• Light comforter (keep away from baby's head)
• Sleep sack

Other necessities

• Approved infant safety seat for car
• Stroller that reclines so newborn can lie flat
• Nail clippers or scissors (or just bite off baby’s nails as needed)
• Bulb syringe for suctioning mucous
• Baby thermometer
• Eye dropper or medicine spoon
• Medication in case of fever

Nice-to-have items

• Change table (or just use change pad on top of dresser or bed)
• Rocking chair for feeding and swaddling
• Playpen
• Sling or baby carrier
• Diaper bag
• 1 or 2 change pads
• Plastic hangers for closet
• Sun shade for car windows
• 2 or 4 pacifiers (if you choose to use these)
• Rattles and other baby toys
• Mobiles
• Night light

Isn't it amazing what one little tiny baby needs!? We can't wait!


More on organizing for baby:

Getting Organized for Baby

Green Baby Gifts

Preserving and Organizing Your Child's Memorable Moments

One day freebie - My new Three Steps to Organizing Your Closet on Kindle tomorrow, March 11!

     
One day freebie - My new Three Steps to Organizing Your Closet on Kindle tomorrow, March 11!

Getting Organized for Gardening - Sorting Your Seed Packets

       
I have a gorgeous sun room on the front of my house. The thought of starting my herbs from seeds in this room, was one of the many enticing reasons to choose this house! I can hardly wait to plant some herbs!

Here in Montana, we'll probably get a later start than the rest of you, but I'm eager to get going! 

I thought this article that appeared in last week's The Oregonian by Kim Pokorney on how to get ready for planting your garden was quite helpful, especially for beginner gardeners.

"Start by separating all your packets of seed into two piles: those that will be 'direct-sown' (planted right in the garden) and those that will be started indoors. Put a rubber band around whatever seeds you'll be planting outdoors and set them aside. 

Now spread out your 'sow indoors' pile and start reading the back of the seed packets. On the back you should find something like, 'For earliest bloom or fruit production, start six to eight weeks before last frost date.' 

Sort your packets into piles according to these recommendations, making separate piles for five, seven, nine weeks and so on. Some packets, especially those for perennials, may only tell you how long it takes the seeds to germinate. If that's all you have to go on, take that figure (which is usually a range) and add six weeks. Then put the packet into the appropriate pile."

More on gardening:

Tools to Make Gardening More Efficient

Organizing Your Spring Garden

Organizing My Herb Garden 2010

      

Teachers: 5 Tips to Help the Disorganized Student

The following article by Janelle Cox, is written for new teachers. However, home schooling parents would also benefit from the insights contained in the article.

"A student with a lack of organizational skills can easily be fixed by providing a routine and clearly stating directions and expectations. These students often forget homework, have messy desks, cannot keep track of their materials and do not have time management skills. Teachers can help these students by having them follow a structured routine and provide them with strategies that will keep them organized. Use the following tips to help your disorganized student manage their responsibilities.

1. Set Up a Routine 

A student with a lack of organizational skills can easily be fixed by providing a routine and clearly stating directions and expectations. These students often forget homework, have messy desks, cannot keep track of their materials and do not have time management skills. Teachers can help these students by having them follow a structured routine and provide them with strategies that will keep them organized. Use the following tips to help your disorganized student manage their responsibilities.

By providing structure in the classroom the disorganized student will have no choice but to stay organized. Establishing a classroom schedule will allow students to be less frustrated and confused, and will provide them with a sense of where they are going and what materials they will need. To lessen their confusion, place a schedule in their folder or tape one to their desk. This way the student can use it as a reference throughout the day. 

2. Use a Checklist 

A checklist is a great tool for a disorganized student, because it visually shows them the expectations that they need to accomplish for the day. For younger students have the list already prepared for them and go over it with the student each morning. For older students, show them how to prioritize their list and to check mark the items after they have been completed. 

3. Monitor Homework 

Encourage parenteral support by writing a letter to parents describing your homework policy. Require that each night after the homework is completed it is signed by a parent and returned to school the following day. This process will ensure the student stays on task and encourages parents to be involved. 

4. Organize Classroom Desks 

A disorganized student will not take the time to clean out their desk. Each week set aside time in your class schedule so students can complete this task. Brainstorm organizational ideas with the students on specific ways they can keep their desks tidy. Make the list visible in the classroom so each week they can have access to it. Suggest that they label materials for easy access and throw away items they no longer use. 

5. Use Memory Aids 

Memory aids are a helpful way to remember tasks and materials. Have the student use tangible items such as: sticky notes, rubber bands, index cards, alarm clock, a watch or a timer. These items will help remind the student of their task. Another memory aid is to use an acronym to remind them of what they need to do. An example would be the word CATS. (C=Carry, A=Assignment, T=To, S=School)

Teaching these new strategies will help students complete their tasks efficiently and effectively. These tips give students the tools that they need to manage their obligations and be successful in school. With a little help and encouragement a disorganized student can learn how to lead an organized life.

Additional Tips to Keep Students Organized

• Use the buddy system and assign a classmate to assist the student with their organizational skills.

• Use different color paper for different subjects so it is easier to locate papers.

• Require papers be put into binders.
• Have student put important materials in their take home folder or backpack as soon as they receive them.
  
• Use different color folders for different subjects so the students can locate them easily.
  
• Provide containers for small items so they will not be lost.
  
• Provide a monthly calendar and label when assignments are due.
  
• Have the student show you their completed checklist each day before they go home."

 More on student organization:

myHomework iPhone App Helps Students Get Organized

Back-to-School Organizing Tips from 10-Year Olds

Organizing a Classroom for ADD and ADHD Students

 

Three Steps to Organizing Your Closet - My New Book!

    
I'm happy to announce that I've written another small book for the organizationally overwhelmed: Three Steps to Organizing Your Closet - a step-by-step guide to a functional and efficient closet.  Included are hints for your linen closets and resources for maximizing closet storage.

It is available exclusively through Amazon's Kindle. If you're a member of Amazon Prime, you can read it for free. Otherwise it's $2.99. But ... on March 11, 18, 25 and April 1 and 22 non-Prime Kindle readers can get it for free as part of a Kindle promotion. 

As you may know, most of my other books in the 1-2-3 ... Get Organized series are available on Kindle as well. If you prefer print books, they are available at my website.

Spring is coming! Time to get organized. J 
       

Closet Space-Savers and Organizers

    
Looking to get more mileage out of your closet? I've compiled a collection of space-savers and organizers on my Pinterest board so such resources are in one place for you and my clients. I've chosen those with the highest reviews in an effort to provide the best quality. 

Click here to take a look. Hope you enjoy them. :) I have boards on shoe storage and closet organizing systems, too, if you're interested.

More on closets:

Don't Make the #1 Organizing Mistake

Closet Mapping

Get Oranized Month 2009 - Organizing Your Clothes Closet

     

Wunderkit - An iPhone app for Collaborative Projects

      
According to Steve Werning at AppPicker,  "Wunderkit is a collaborative productivity app that allows users to jointly set to do lists, organize projects, and work on them remotely via shared workspaces accesible on mobile devices as well as desktop computers and laptops. 

Wunderkit’s interface and functionality are both straightforward, smooth and easy to get used to and operate. These factors are sometimes cast aside by productivity apps in favor of more complex in-depth features but this thankfully isn’t the case with Wunderkit.

Wunderkit allows users to set up multiple ‘workspaces’ where one can set up to do lists, tasks to be done, and track the progress of various projects. Users can also log in to the Wunderkit website to keep track of their assorted projects, add new projects, edit existing projects, and sync up all of this with other users. All of this things can be done via the mobile app as well, but being able to use either platform and sync them together is particularly useful."


Read more of Werning's review. 


More on apps:

Time Management App for iPhone - Lucid Lists Free

Declutter Your Key Ring with a Free Smart Phone App

myHomework iPhone App Helps Students Get Organized

 

The Washington Post: Organizing a Homework Space for Special Needs Children

         

The Washington Post ran two articles yesterday on creating functional and attractive spaces for special needs children. The following August 2011 article about creating homework spaces for special needs kids by Delece Smith-Barrow was referenced. The other two articles are linked below. All three are great reads on a topic rarely addressed.

"For children with special needs or mild learning disabilities, homework often becomes a responsibility shared with their parents. Mom or Dad may spend an hour or two helping them complete math problems, and all the teacher sees is the A paper turned in the next day.

'Oftentimes [these students] kind of fly under the radar screen because parents help them so much at home,' says Ann Dolin, a former Fairfax special-education teacher and founder of the local tutoring service Educational Connections. 'Lots of times kids come back to school with a beautiful paper. Everything’s done. The teacher has no idea what it took to get that child to do it.'

Dolin, with her army of 163 tutors, helps children of all learning capabilities complete class assignments in a timely manner and figures out the best way for them to focus at home.

'They don’t have to sit down at the desk the whole time,' she says. 'They could have a lap desk or sit down on the floor. Some kids may pace around the house and read their notes . . . That type of movement during homework is important to many kids.'

We spoke with Dolin by phone about creating a homework space for young children with special needs, which school supplies work best for these students and how to make a homework area fun. Here are edited excerpts.
 
Q. Where is the best place to set up a homework station?
A. It really needs to be in earshot of the parent. Many kids with learning disabilities can’t really be left on their own and be expected to get their homework done independently. For example, the kitchen might be too distracting for some children, so a good alternative would be the dining room because it’s not right in the middle of a really busy location, but the parent can walk around the corner and check up on the child.

Generally the bedroom is not a good place for elementary-schoolers to do homework unless they are really motivated. It is far too distracting.

You kind of have to identify the needs of your child. Some kids like the hum of a busy area, like the kitchen. Some kids can’t stand the noise and the other goings-on, and they really need a quiet place. But in general you don’t want a place where the TV is on and there is a lot of stimulation from other distractions.
 
Q. How should you set it up?
A. The main thing is that you want to have everything together. For example, you could have an old shoe box lying around and put everything the student needs in that shoe box: pencils, markers, ruler, calculator.

For a lot of kids with learning disabilities, an electronic spell-checker is fabulous. I usually order them from Amazon because they are a lot cheaper. It helps them be more independent. Instead of saying, 'Mom, how do you spell this or how do you spell that?' Mom can say, 'I will spell this one for you, but you can look up the next one on your Spelling Ace.' Many kids with special needs are really frustrated with using a dictionary. Kids with learning problems often spell phonetically. So for example, they might spell phone f-o-n-e, and they’re never going to find it in a dictionary. A Spelling Ace picks up phonetic variations of words.

I like to keep things in a box rather than in a place. This way the supplies are portable.

 
Q. Besides a desk, what else works well for doing homework?
A. Many kids have a hard time sitting still at a desk. One of my favorite things is a lap desk. You’ve probably seen it at Office Depot or Barnes & Noble where it’s a cushion on the underside and the top is a hard, flat surface. I like them because the child can really sit anywhere comfortably. And oftentimes, if you let children pick it out, they are more likely to use it.

There is a Web site called Room It Up that has really colorful lap desks and Pottery Barn Kids has really cool lap desks.

Q. What’s something fun parents can add to a homework space that’s not too distracting?
A. There is this really neat product called Tangle Jr. It’s a fidget toy. For kids who are hyperactive, they are always grabbing at things or flicking their hair and they’re craving sensory input. They are doing that to help sustain their attention. And so as parents, often when we see our kids doing that, fidgeting with a pencil or flicking a paper clip, it’s our first inclination to say, 'Stop doing that. Focus on your homework.' Instead of something dangerous like a paper clip, you can give them Tangle Jr.

The other thing I always suggest to parents is to have a timer. I really love timers for kids, especially those with ADHD. I call them Super Bowl kids. The Super Bowl is on for hours, but the amount of playing time is probably 40 minutes. Sometimes kids are like that when they do their homework. They might sit there for two hours, but the amount of time they actually do homework is a half-hour.

What we know is that when you say to a child, 'Okay, you have spelling, math and reading assignments, so start your homework,' and it seems like this really big task to them, they’re likely to procrastinate and drag it on. But if you say, 'I’m setting the timer for 15 minutes, and I want you to work as hard as you can for 15 minutes and then when the timer goes off you can daydream or you can take a break,' what parents will find is children are far more productive in that 15 minutes than they would be alone for that half hour. And it doesn’t have to be 15 minutes. It depends on the age of the child. For a little kid, it can be seven minutes; for an older kid, it can be 20 minutes.

Q. Are there certain school supplies you recommend for students with special needs?
A. Some kids like raised line paper so that kids with a writing disability can feel the lines on the paper, and it helps them write neater. Many kids with a disorder called dysgraphia use it. Their writing can be illegible, and the paper helps them stay on the line.

Also, the E.Z.C. Reader. They are really cool, colored reading guides. Not only does color help with attention, using the guides helps them read more fluidly because their eyes are able to track the lines better. Color has been proved with research to help with attention, and the tracking helps kids’ eyes move more fluidly from left to right.

Q. Are chalkboards or dry-erase boards helpful for certain tasks?

A. Kids are much more likely to write on a dry-erase board than a piece of paper. But you can’t turn in a dry-erase board. But if a parent is practicing math problems or helping with spelling, then a white board is the way to go.

I’m not sure what it is about a pencil, but for kids with sensory issues, the feeling of a pencil on paper is uncomfortable for them. When you write with a pencil, there’s friction between the pencil and paper. And that pulling or tugging is not as appealing as white boards because the marker just glides across the board.

Kids also like erasing, so it’s not set in stone. When it’s wrong, you can erase it so much faster with a white board. 

Q. How should parents set up the area if there are multiple kids doing homework?
A. They should purchase study carrels. Those are just inexpensive cardboard dividers that can fold up and be put away at the end of homework. And they really prohibit kids from making faces at each other or poking each other. They’re really good at allowing a child to focus on his work and not worry about what another child is doing across the table. We get our study carrels from Calloway House.

Further reading:
If you would like to read more on this topic, Dolin suggests the following books: “The Organized Student,” (Fireside, 2005) by Donna Goldberg, “Organizing the Disorganized Child,” (HarperCollins, 2009) by Martin L. Kutscher and Marcella Moran and “Homework Without Tears,” (Canter & Associates) by Lee Canter and Lee Hausner."

More on special needs:
Decorating for a Child with Special Needs 
Designing Rooms for Children with Special Needs 
Help for Parents of Disorganized, Inattentive and Forgetful Kids

Warning: Organizing Your Interests on Pinterest Could Be Harmful to Your Productivity!

      
If you haven't gotten hooked on Pinterest yet, watch out! It's a wonderful site where you can organize your various interests on the web in one place. No longer do you need to keep a list of places you want to remember. Or create massive folders with ideas you want to use.

You can create various boards (like bulletin boards), and pin different web pages on each one. For example, some of my boards include:

Recipes I Want to Try
Kitchen
Organization
Books Worth Reading
For the Home

When you find a page on the web you like, click on your bookmarks icon, and there should be included in your list "Pin it." Just click it and it will bring up pictures that are included on that page. Click the one you want on your board.

Next you will choose a category for that pin or create a new one. When you save your pin, it goes on your board. You can move pins from board to board, and you can rearrange the pins on each board. 

When you want to go back to a page listed on your board, simply click the picture and it will take you back to the original page you wanted to save.

You can peruse the boards of other people, repin their pins, and more. And you can also add comments to your pin.  

Just be careful - it can be addictive! 

Overcoming Procrastination - Starting Small

                 
When life seems overwhelming and you're procrastinating, start small! 

- Think of three or four items you need to tackle today, including that dreaded chore about which you are procrastinating.

- Plan your day, starting with the most pleasant task.

- Choose time limits for each activity. 

- Start with short amounts of time, especially on those dreaded, procrastinated items. For example, if you are putting off a major project, schedule 30 minutes on it, just to get started.

- Alternate pleasant and unpleasant tasks, if possible. This will act as a reward system for completing unpleasant tasks. If you can make it through 30 minutes of that dreaded project, you'll have something to look forward to.

- Once you have broken through the barrier of starting your dreaded task, it may not seem so daunting. If it still is, schedule short bursts of work on it, several times over the next week, rather than prolonged work times. A small dose is much easier to swallow than a large one.

- Give yourself short-term and long-term rewards upon completion of sections of your project. 

- Before long, your dreaded project will be behind you and you will have the satisfaction of a job well done. 

Bite-sized chunks of work on an overwhelming project helps conquer procrastination!


More on procrastination:

Overcoming Procrastination - Schedule those Appointments!

Five Ways to Prevent Procrastination from Zapping Your Energy and Productivity

A Simple Way to Stay Focused on Decluttering/Cleaning

 

Deadly Clutter

        
It has begun. News stories about people dying in house fires because they couldn't be found amidst their clutter.

I've already seen several such articles this year. One firefighter in the recent Portland, Oregon blaze says that one in four of the fires he works is due to uncontrolled clutter.

In the winter we have fireplaces and heaters going. If there's abundant clutter, this combination can be literally deadly.

If you know someone who is struggling with dangerous clutter, at least help him or her remove clutter from around heat sources. Cleaning up the clutter is a monumental job, but this would be a beginning. Clutter is not worth a life!

More on decluttering:
Three Steps to Decluttering (print)
Three Steps to Decluttering (kindle) 
Don't Let Clutter Create a Fire Hazard