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Tuesday, April 20 2010
As a busy mom, you are responsible for running the household, caring for your children, being a chauffeur, and perhaps having a full-time career among other responsibilities. Part of those responsibilities includes meal planning.
As a mom, it is our responsibility to make sure that the family is fed and fed well. Providing good nourishing meals is important to us. However, chances are, your schedule is so chaotic that you hardly have any time to prepare dinner let alone find good nourishing meals that everyone will enjoy.
If you run home after a full day to get something on the table before everyone has to run out the door again for evening activities, you probably don’t have time to figure out what to serve. So, what is a busy mom to do? The answer is "planning".
Once a week, you should sit down with your favorite recipes, recipe books or go on line to find recipes. Plan out a variety of quick and nutritious meals you can make and have ready for those times when dinner is squeezed into a tight schedule. Include chicken, turkey, pork, ground meat, beans, pasta and casseroles into your plan.
Take those recipes and create a list of items you will need to buy at the store to prepare them. When preparing these meals, consider making a double batch and freezing one, so you will have a home made meal that is quick and easy to heat up but still provides good nutrition.
Ask your family what their favorite dishes are and include one of them into your plan each week for a pleasant surprise.
To save time, use a crock pot. Prepare the ingredients in the morning and let it cook all day. The meal will be ready to serve when you come home at the end of the day. The low setting is recommended!
Look for recipes and recipe books that have meals you can prepare in under 30 minutes. Schedule enough meals for five or six nights of the week and give yourself one night off. You deserve it!
Then, prepare your menu for the following week. With this system in place, you will be able to put a meal on the table almost every night of the week and not have to think "What should I make for dinner tonight?"
If you need assistance in pulling together your grocery list when planning your meals, why not purchase the "U Can Do It Grocery Shopping Checklist". It's a comprehensive and compact list which will reduce the amount of time it takes to prepare for and go shopping because you just simply check off the items you want to purchase from the already prepared list.
Visit the "ABS Store" right on this website and make it a regular part of your meal planning each week.
In the meantime, have a great week!
Monday, April 12 2010
Sometimes, instead of organizing tips, I find items of interest that I just want to share for the benefit of all. This is one of those times. I found this information very informative and hopefully I can help spread the word so lives can be saved. Please do the same. Pass this onto others...
In case we have an earthquake or you are somewhere else when one hits here are some tips to remember!!
THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE 'TRIANGLE OF LIFE'
My name is Doug Copp.. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.
I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries.
I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world sinc e 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.
The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time know that the children were told to hide under something. I am amazed that even today schools are still using the "Duck and Cover" instructions- telling the children to squat under their desks with their heads bowed and covered with their hands. This was the technique used in the Mexico City school.
Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'. The larger the object, the stronger, the less i t will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.
TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
1) Almost everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' when buildings collapse ARE CRUSHED TO DEATH. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. That position helps you survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexib le and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs. Concrete slab buildings are the most dangerous during an earthquake.
4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.
6) Almost everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse i s kill ed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of frequency (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads ? horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people.. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
8) Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.
9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and lying in the fetal position next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offi ces wi th a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.
In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul , University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did 'duck and cover,' and ten mannequins I used in my 'triangle of life' survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results.
The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions, relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover.
There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the 'triangle of life.' This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA , Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV.
Spread the word and save someone's life... The entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!
Hope you find this information helpful.
In the meantime, if you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, please feel free to contact me at A BETTER SPACE. I will be glad to help.
Enjoy your week and stay safe.
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Wednesday, April 07 2010
April 22nd is Earth Day. Will you participate in any way? If not, perhaps you aren't sure what you can do. It's actually very easy to make a positive impact on the environment for yourself and future generations.
Here are a few Quick Tips For A Better Space that you can start today so you can GO GREEN too!
1. Stop buying bottled water. Did you know that some bottled water is actually bottled municipal tap water? Few people can tell the difference, anyway. Bottled water is more expensive than gasoline and 250 to 10,000 times more than tap water. If you do buy some bottles, then be sure to recycle them or refill then at home for your next trip or outing.
2. Check those faucets. Office workers alone use enough water every day to fill 17,500 olympic-sized pools! Much of it comes from leaky faucets. Here's a statistic - a leaky faucet that fills a coffee cup in 10 minutes will waste approximately 3,000 gallons of water a year! While you're at it, check the outside faucets as well, especially since they were exposed over the winter months.
3. Use cold water. When doing your laundry, try to wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible. Heating water is the #1 energy consumer in many homes. And while you're at it, use an outdoor or even indoor clothesline to dry your clothes whenever possible. I always use an indoor drying rack for my delicates and special fabrics. You can dry them on the line and then just pop them into the dryer on a low setting for a few minutes just to get rid of wrinkles and make them softer. This will keep the clothes from wearing out and fading so quickly as well, saving you money!
4. BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag. Instead of using the plastic or paper grocery bags the next time you go shopping, bring canvas bags. You can purchase them inexpensively at most grocery stores these days. Remember, it takes one 15-20 year old tree to make enough paper for only 700 grocery bags! And, although plastic is convenient, they are not biodegradable. They can only be recycled so many times!
5. Turn off your screen saver; unplug your tv. The EPA has estimated that using a computer "sleep mode" reduces its energy consumption by 60% to 70%! So, please turn off your monitor when you are not using it. At the same time, consider unplugging your tv or using a power strip with a manual on/off switch. Most tvs, dvd players, game systems and stereo receivers use electricity because they are placed in "standby" mode when you shut them off. They are not really "off". However, keep your vcr,dvr or cable box on the regular outlet so it will not lose its programming.
6. Use a ceiling fan. Some manufacturers have suggested that a ceiling fan can save up to 40% on summer cooling costs and up to 10% on winter heating costs. Sometimes, all you need is a light breeze to cool the room in the Spring and Summer and by reversing the fans in the Fall and Winter, you are drawing the heat down to the floor, thereby saving energy.
You should find these tips easy to implement. Just by doing these simple things, you to can start to go green! You don't have to wait until April 22nd. Do it now!
Until next time, if you have any organizing questions or problems you would like me to address, please send me an email at info@4abetterspace.com and I will be glad to help.
Sunday, April 04 2010
Happy Easter everyone! Spring has sprung and my flowers are in bloom. The season is changing and I think it's a good time to make some changes within ourselves, especially if those New Year's resolutions are quite working out for you. Here's some more motivation.
I found this information on a site called Freestyle Mind and thought I would share...
Developing good habits is the basic of personal development and growth. Everything we do is the result of a habit that was previously taught to us. Unfortunately, not all the habits that we have are good, that’s why we are constantly trying to improve.
The following is a list of 30 practical habits that can make a huge difference in your life.
You should treat this list as a reference, and implement just one habit per month. This way you will have the time to fully absorb each of them, while still seeing significant improvements each month.
Health habits
- Exercise 30 minutes every day. Especially if you don’t do much movement while working, it’s essential that you get some daily exercise. 30 minutes every day are the minimum recommended for optimal health.
- Eat breakfast every day. Breakfast is the more important meal of the day, yet so many people skip it. Personally, I like to eat a couple of toasts in the morning along with a fruit beverage.
- Sleep 8 hours. Sleep deprivation is never a good idea. You may think that you are gaining time by sleeping less, when in reality you are only gaining stress and tiredness. 8 hours are a good number of hours for most people, along with an optional 20 minutes nap after lunch.
- Avoid snacking between meals. Snacking between meals is the best way to gain weight. If you are hungry, eat something concrete. Otherwise don’t. Update: for clarification, I mean don’t eat junk food between meals, but eating real food it’s ok.
- Eat five portions of fruits and vegetables every day. Our body and brain loves getting vegetables and fruit, so I highly recommend eating as much of them as possible. Five portions is the dose that’s usually recommended by many health associations.
- Eat fish. Fish is rich of omega 3 and other healthy elements. At least one meal per week of fish should be enough for getting all these nutrients.
- Drink one glass of water when you wake up. When you wake up, your body is dehydrated and needs liquid. Make the habit of drinking one glass of water after you wake up in the morning. Also, drink more during the day.
- Avoid soda. Soda is often one of the most unhealthy beverage you can find. Limit your consumption of soda as much as possible and you’re body will be grateful for that.
- Keep your body clean. I don’t advise spending your day in front of the mirror, but a minimum of personal care does never hurt.
- If you smoke, stop it. There’s no reason to smoke anymore, and quitting is easy.
- If you drink, stop it. Same as above. Don’t think that alcohol will solve your problems. It never does. The only exception is one glass of wine per day during meals.
- Take the stairs. This is just a hack that forces you to do a minimum of exercise. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs.
Productivity habits
- Use an inbox system. Make the habit of keeping track of all the ideas and things that comes to mind. You can use a notebook to do this, and then sync everything on your computer.
- Prioritize. If you have a list of things to do, where do you start? One way is to prioritize your list. If you are in doubt, ask yourself: “If I could only accomplish one thing today, what would it be?”
- Plan, but not too much. Planning is important, and you should decide in advance what you are going to do today or this week. However, planning for more than a few weeks is usually inefficient, so I would not worry too much about that.
- Wake up early. Waking up early in the morning is a great way to gain extra time. I personally like to wake up at 5 am, so that by 9 am I have already accomplished what otherwise would have taken me many days..
- Check your email only twice per day. Email can easily become an addiction, but it’s usually unnecessary to check it every 10 minutes. Make an effort and check your email only once or twice per day, see if the world will still rotate as before after you try this.
- Eliminate unimportant tasks. Being busy all day does not mean you are doing important stuff. Eliminate every activity that’s not important, and focus on what really matters.
- Clean off your desk and room. Having a clear room and desk is important to maintain focus and creativity.
- Automate. There are a lot of tasks that you need to perform every day or every week. Try to automate them as much as possible.
- Set strict deadlines. When you do something, decide in advance when you’re going to stop. There’s a rule that states that you will fulfill all the time you have available for completing a task, so make an habit of setting strict deadlines for maximizing your productivity.
- Take one day off per week. Instead of working every day, take one day off per week (for example sunday) where you are not going to turn on your computer. Use that time for doing recreational activities like going for a walk.
Personal Development habits
- Read 1 book per week. Reading is a good way to keep your brain active. With just 30 minutes per day you should be able to read one book per week, or more than 50 books per year.
- Solve puzzles. Quizzes, word games, etc. are all good ways to exercise your brain.
- Think positively. You are what you think, all the time.
- Make fast decisions. Instead of thinking for one hour wherever you are going to do something, make your decisions as fast as possible (usually less than 1 minute).
- Wait before buying. Waiting 48 hours before buying anything is a tremendous money saver, try it.
- Meditate 30 minutes per day. A great way to gain clearness and peace is through meditation. 30 minutes are not a lot, but enough to get you started with meditation.
Career habits
- Start a blog. Blogging is one of the best way to put your word out. It doesn’t have to be around a specific topic, even a personal blog will do.
- Build a portfolio. If your job is creating stuff, building a portfolio is a great way to show what you are capable of. You can also contribute stuff for free if that applies to your work.
What do you think? What are the habits that changed your life?
If you want to change your disorganization into organization and change your life, contact A BETTER SPACE. I will be glad to help.
In the meantime, have a great week!
Thursday, March 25 2010
You've put it off and put it off and now, you are ready to get organized once and for all. What is it worth to you?
This past week, I have been contacted by several people who thought they were ready to get organized. However, when it came right down to it, they weren't really committed to the task. They wanted a quick, cheap fix. That is not the way to approach it. You can always find cheap; but you need to find "qualified".
Would you hire someone who can add and subtract numbers to do your taxes or would you hire a certified public accountant?
So when it comes to getting organized, can you put a price on the benefits of eliminating the clutter from your home and your head?
What is it worth to you to get your home office and your paperwork organized so you can put your hands on anything in moments?
What is it worth to you to be able to enter a room and not trip over everything laying in the middle of the floor with no place to put it? (Imagine finding a home for everything in your home!)
What is it worth to you to find more time in your day and be more productive? (Imagine no longer running from one activity to another and being able to get everything done you set out to do that day!)
When you are looking to solve your clutter and organizational issues, can you really put a price on organization? Not really.
What's important when deciding to take on this goal is to find a qualified, experienced professional organizer who will listen and create a system just for you.
Whomever you choose, do yourself a favor and make sure that person fits your needs and you can work with them. If not, you will not get what it is you were looking to achieve. You will end up in the same state of disorganization once again.
When choosing a professional organizer, you should feel confident in the fact that they know what they are doing because you are paying them more for their expertise than anything else.
Anyone can spend four or five hours with you and clean up the mess, but will it stay that way or revert back after a short period of time? A qualified professional organizer will provide the tools you need to keep it organized well after they are gone.
So, if you are looking for "cheap", that is what you will get. When you are looking for "expertise", that is what you will find.
Keep this in mind when taking that step forward. It's better to put on two coats of paint than one. It's better to paint all four walls, instead of just one. Get the job done and get it done right.
I guarantee that those people who contacted me this past week and decided to go with "cheap" will not get what they were looking for.
Contact A BETTER SPACE if you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized. I am more than happy to help.
In the meantime, have a great week!
Friday, March 12 2010
Unless you are living under a rock or in a cave, you know and are well aware that we are still in the midst of an economic "crisis". This scares many people. The fear of losing your job, your home and/or your investments can be overwhelming.
However, the one thing I have observed recently is that this "crisis" is forcing people to stop and think about their particular financial situation and have a desire to become more aware of where their money comes from and where it is going.
The number of people per month who are still applying for unemployment compensation in the United States is staggering. Of the nearly 52 million U.S. homeowners with a mortgage, about 13.8 million, or nearly 27 percent owe more on their mortgage than their house is now worth, according to Moody’s Economy.com. Most people have seen their investments and retirement funds decrease by approximately forty percent. The average American has approximately $10,000 of credit card debt. No wonder everyone is scared.
Many have attempted to cut back on spending in order to make ends meet and attempt to get out of debt. However, without a plan in place, you cannot be successful. If you do some research, you will find that many financial advisors and other "experts" have put together systems for creating a solution to your budgeting woes. I have found them to be very complex and time consuming, discouraging most people from utilizing them.
In order to successfully create a plan for financial success, you need to create a budget. A budget will provide you with a way to not only analyze your income (by way of a pay check, investment rental properties, alimony, child support, governmental benefits, etc.) but will provide a visual aide to see where the income is going. You cannot budget your money if you don’t know where it is going.
So, how do you begin to even create a budget, you ask? You will need to determine your income, determine your expenses and then create your budget based upon that information. This can sometimes be a complicated and time consuming process.
You will need to determine whether your monthly expenses exceed your monthly income. Does your current problems involve the inability to save month each month? Do you wonder where all your money is going each month? Do you feel that your life is getting out of control because of your finances?
If so, you need to develop a personalized budget so you can better manage your finances. Ask yourself - "How can I possibly manage my money if I don’t have any idea where it all goes each month?" The answer - you need to become more disciplined with your money.
Many people make the mistake of cutting back so drastically that there is nothing left to enjoy. Many get caught up in the "this minor expense won’t matter" syndrome. Before you know it, "these minor expenses" are added over and over throughout a month and before you know it, they really add up. This is sometimes where overspending occurs. And, don’t forget that budgeting needs to include saving money. Planning for those things you enjoy makes it much easier to stick to your budget in the long run.
You may ask why it’s so important to record all of your expenses. It’s important because, if you don’t track your expenses, eventually they get out of control. You need to have a system and it needs to be documented.
Now, more than ever, everyone is looking for that simple way to manage and budget their money. No one wants to take time to work with a complicated system.
No one has the time!
Take the first step now. Acknowledge that you need to get on a budget and commit to finding the support and tools necessary to get it done!
If you need some assistance, I have developed the "U Can Do It Budgeting System" based upon the budgeting system I have used for myself for over 25 years as well as my years of experience setting up personalized budgeting systems for my clients. Visit the ABS Store right on this site learn more.
In the meantime, have a great week!
Thursday, March 04 2010
Do you find it difficult to get organized? It often is more difficult when it comes to the limitations of a small space.
The good news is that just because your space is challenging, it's still possible to be organized. Keep in mind, however, that you are smart and efficient and use every inch of available space. Many of these ideas can be utilized in any space:
1. The 'ONE IN--ONE OUT' rule.
This is one of the golden rules of organization. It helps to set limits, which is often difficult for people to follow. It works very well, however, with items such as shoes, clothing, toys and books, among others. In small spaces especially, the number of items you keep is generally pre-determined by the amount of space you have. For any new item brought into the space, one item needs to be removed. This creates the balance required for a small space.
2. Find solutions that are both functional and attractive.
When it comes to your living room, for example, you need a solution for extra blankets and board games. Consider using a storage ottoman that looks nice and also serves as a great storage solution. Consider using hidden storage such as drawers or baskets in your coffee table or end tables. Closed shelving solutions that allow you plenty of storage space but are visually appealing work well too.
3. Be realistic with your space.
A small 10' x 10' room will feel much larger when it is filled with less stuff than if it’s cluttered. Keep in mind that the scale of your furniture will also affect the visual space in a room. The reality is that a 10' x 10' room is only so big. You cannot change the size of a room; just what is contained within it.
4. Purge excessive items often (both to be donated and trash).
Keep small containers or boxes on the floor of your closet which can be used to temporarily store items that need to be donated until you have enough to call a charity for a pickup pr ,ale a delivery. This works especially well with children’s clothing as they seem to grow out of a size in between wash loads. And be realistic! Do you really need 20 nick-knacks for that one shelf in your family room or can you reduce them back to a collection of 10? Why not rotate small collections from time to give your room a whole new look? Be sure to limit and purge your collections often so that they only include your best and favorite items.
5. Set realistic limits:
If you only have room for 15 hangers in your closet, do not buy extra hangers. Instead limit yourself to only those 15 hanging pieces of clothing. The flocked hangers will allow you to hand more items in a small space, but don’t squash your clothes just to make them fit.
6. Find the hidden space potential in your room.
Plastic containers under the bed can store linens, shoes, out of season clothing or extra bedding. Do you have space not being utilized behind a staircase? Hanging shoe holders can be used on the back of doors to organize much more than just shoes. Be creative. Use them for such things as kitchen utensils, spices, or food. They can be used in the office to organize extra supplies or in the bathroom to organize toiletries and hair accessories. Use cork boards and pegs on the back of doors to organize jewelry such as necklaces.
7. Look Up - Make use of wall and ceiling space.
In the kitchen, you might use an overhead pot rack for pots and pans. Use magnetic spice racks that hang on the walls in a craft room. In living and office spaces, use floor to ceiling shelving. In the garage, use a hanging rack for storage of seasonal items to provide extra space on the floor.
If you embrace the pluses of living in a small space and use it to its fullest potential, you will feel like you are living in a much larger space!
Need some more ideas? Have some of your own? Contact A BETTER SPACE if you are overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, whether it's in a large or small space. I am glad to help.
Have a great week!
Friday, February 26 2010
I watched "The Oprah Show" today after a friend of mine called me to let me know she was talking about eliminating the clutter in her own clothes closet.
If any of you follow Oprah (I occasionally get a chance to watch her show and I do get her monthly magazine), you know that she recently decluttered her clothes closet and eliminated 150 items that she intends to put up for auction on E-bay this coming Monday to raise funds for her school is South Africa.
What fascinated me the most, besides the beautiful clothing she is letting go of, including shoes, purses and blouses, (unfortunately I would never be able to wear a size 10 shoe!), was the fact that she openly admitted that she felt a lot of anxiety when she was getting rid of the items in her closet.
Oprah talked about the fact that she does not like to waste things and, therefore, tends to hold onto things longer than she probably should. However, like most people, she was able to reduce the amount of items in her wardrobe once she got help to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of and knew that the items she was eliminating would be used to raise money for a good cause. They were not just getting thrown away; someone who wanted them would be getting them. Bottom line, if someone else is getting them, it feels so much better.
I mention this because this is very common issue that I come across when working with my clients. I am very sensitive to the fact that they don't just want to throw everything away. (A good professional organizer would never do that.) I make sure that we determine what charity or person they would like to donate the items to (assuming they are still in good condition).
I want you to know that if you feel anxiety when getting rid of things, it's a normal response and it's okay. With the gentle guidance of someone you trust, you too will be able to eliminate that clutter in that closet much easier.
Remember, in the end, the clothes in your closet should bring you joy, make you feel beautiful and be usefulness.
If you need assistance in purging items from your closet - not sure what to keep and what to toss or donate - contact me at A BETTER SPACE. I will be more than happy to help.
In the meantime, have a great week!
Tuesday, February 23 2010
Since we are well into tax season, many people tend to refocus their attention on their workspace where they pay bills, run a home-based business or correspond with friends and family.
For this reason, I thought it appropriate to provide some tips you can use to create an organized and inviting workspace. After all, who wants to work in a space that is cluttered and, therefore, uninviting?
Whether you're sitting at the kitchen table writing out bills, working at your desk in the home office, or writing a note to a friend on the computer, a pleasant, organized environment will allow for both productivity and creativity. Focus on the following suggestions and you will find that the productivity and creativity will become established.
1. Eliminate the chaos. If you have a disorganized work area, it will reduce the physical space needed for productivity, block your creativity, and increase the chances that you'll lose something which will dramatically increase your stress level. (No one needs more stress.) So, clear the clutter. Provide yourself with plenty of empty space. Keep a wastepaper basket near your workspace to encourage daily decluttering and clean-up. Don't overload the space with nicknacks and picture frames. Only keep those few inspirational pieces that you enjoy seeing in view, but out of the way.
2. Stock your workspace for its main functions. Determine what you need to use in the space and plan around that purpose. If you use a desk at home to write out bills, make sure you have a few pens, a calculator, some postage stamps, envelopes, address labels and other necessary supplies right in, or near, that work area. This will help make the task much quicker and easier. Your filing system should be close by as well.
3. Use those organizing tools. Using appropriate sized baskets, stackable trays, letter trays, pencil holders, paper clip containers, file folders and other organizing tools can help you get your workspace organized. Before buying any of these tools though, be sure to take the time to think about why you need that tool and if the tool you're thinking about is the best one for the job. For example, a decorative container on your shelf might hold all of your office supplies, but a drawer organizer can allow you to put more like items together for easier access.
4. Think ergonomics. If you feel physically uncomfortable in your workspace, you will not be able to focus and will therefore be less productive and creative. Do you suffer from eye strain? Do your muscles ache from constantly stretching to reach something? Do your wrists hurt from them being on a wrong angle for too long? Does your back hurt because your chair is not comfortable? Then, it's time for you to re-think and rearrange your physical workspace for health and comfort. Make sure there is sufficient lighting conditions. If not, you should consider adding some overhead track lighting or additional lamps that provide good task lighting. If your chair is not right for you, perhaps the seat should be raised or lowered. If your wrist hurts from using the computer mouse, get yourself a mouse pad with cushioning. Lastly, make sure your computer monitor is positioned correctly, either at or below, eye level, at a comfortable distance.
5. Put stuff away at the end of the day. This is very important! When you're done using your workspace for the day, put everything back in its place. Don't leave this area in chaos. This way, the next time you return, you'll have an inviting space that will allow you to get down to work without delay. Who wants to start working in a chaotic and cluttered environment?
If you follow these simple tips, you will find that you will have an organized and inviting workspace in which to work.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, however, don't hesitate to contact me. I will be glad to get you on the road to life long organization.
In the meantime, have a great week!
Sunday, February 14 2010
Many of us get jewelry on Valentine’s Day from our sweetheart. Did you?How many pieces do you have now? Are they organized? If not, there are various ways you can sort it all out to make it easier to find what you want, when you want it.
You can sort your jewelry by putting all types together. You can keep all your rings in one place, all your necklaces in another place, bracelets somewhere else. You can use various jewelry boxes or decorative containers for this purpose.
You can sort your jewelry by putting them together in sets. For example, your onyx necklace, ring and bracelet can all be stored together in one box.
You can store your jewelry by color groups. You can keep all silver together (avoids tarnishing), your gold jewelry together, or even reds, blues or greens, depending on your collection.
When you are trying to decide which is the best option for you, you need to determine how you would look for your jewelry: by type, sets or color. Then, empty all your current containers and re-organize it by the category you have selected.
Where do you want to keep your jewelry? There are various options available.
You can use your dresser top. Select either beautiful boxes, necklace trees, earring screens or a jewelry box. Just don’t clutter up the surface with too many options. When selecting a jewelry box, look closely at it’s features. If you have lots of necklaces, you want to make sure it has a hanging system. If you have rings, you want to make sure there is a section for the rings to fit into. If you want to separate out your earrings by silver and gold, etc., you want to make sure it has drawers to hold the amount of pieces you have. Then, select a wooden jewelry box that complements your furniture.
You can use your dresser drawers. If you are using dresser drawers, select fabric or velvet covered dividers to keep it all organized and easily accessible. The stackable velvet trays provide many options, depending on your needs and can take up much less room.
You can use your closet. The other option to consider is your closet. You can use a door mounted clear shoe divider to divide up your larger pieces, such as costume jewelry. You can use a wall mounted jewelry organizer. If you have room, you can put a jewelry armoire either in the closet or in the main bedroom area to store your various pieces.
The options are endless but organization is key to keeping everything in good condition and easily accessible.
If this task is too overwhelming, I can help. If you are overwhelmed with any other aspect of organization, let me know. Simply contact A BETTER SPACE.
Happy Valentine's Day!
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