Organizing – Where to Begin

Tip: If you’re not sure where to start when de-cluttering, tackle horizontal surfaces first, such as table tops, counter tops, desk tops, beds, dressers, and floors.

Calendars

Tip:  Use only one personal calendar.  It makes no difference whether it’s paper or electronic so long as it’s practical and portable.  Establish a habit of relying on your calendar to keep track of scheduled appointments, important dates, and payments.  Also use it to jog your memory of significant items.

Organizing Daily

Tip:  Organization requires practice and maintenance.  So, give yourself time to organize daily, 15 minutes in the kitchen and 5 minutes per room for the rest of the rooms in your home.  Delegate and get the whole family involved.  The teamwork approach works best and allows every family member to practice the skill of organizing.

Organizing Ongoing Projects

Tip:  Have a designated area to hold ongoing projects.  Use a project box, shelf or container to hold the tools, materials, instructions, and notes necessary to complete your project.  You may need more than one area to house different ongoing projects.

Memory Boxes

Tip: Keep a child memory box for each child in an easily accessible place.  A child memory box is a container that is used to store memory items that you wish to preserve.  Some items that may be worth preserving are report cards, mementos, special greeting cards, and meaningful school papers.