Tag Archive for: Organizing habits

action clapboard

Out of sight, out of mind

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The phrase out of sight, out of mind is very common. We fear that if we put things away we’ll forget about them. So, we leave tools on the counter to remind us to fix a cabinet. Borrowed things pile up on the chair so we don’t forget to return them. Paper litters our desk as reminders to take some action.

Leaving it all out won’t lead to fixing, processing, or taking action. It leads to piles, mess, and disorder. We have to prompt ourselves to take action and then act. This can be done by following 3 steps.

  1. Decide to act by considering alternatives. Question if the action is worth taking. Is the cupboard worth fixing ourselves? If it is not worth it, hire a handyman. However if it is worth it, we need to commit to completing all the required action steps.
  2. Make a choice of when to take action and schedule it.
  3. Do it! Complete the action.

Sort mail immediately

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The best way to stay on top of the incoming mail is to sort it immediately. Sort it into the 4 categories listed below and have a specific spot for each category.

  1. Junk – recycle or toss it
  2. Shred – shred or put in box to be shredded later
  3. Action required – take action or write down what action needs to happen on a sticky note (and attach)
  4. Delegate to another family member to open and process

 

Use containers as your guide

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Allow the container to determine the limit of how many you can keep. You maintain control of what you keep and the container serves as a guide for the quantity of what you keep. For example: use your shoe rack to help you determine how many shoes to keep. By only keeping the amount that will comfortably fit on the shoe rack you’ll be able to organize your shoes quickly and easily.

donate don't dump sign

Donating is easy

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Donating is a simple and effective way to declutter. Select a worthy charity, non-profit or organization that motivates you to let go. Haul away your items and smile. You’ve reduced your belongings to a more manageable amount that’s easier to organize and maintain. You’ve also helped the environment.

Staying organized when life is busy

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Why does summer seem to fly by? School gets out in June. We celebrate July 4th, then bam! It’s time for a new school year to begin. The pace of life seems to go faster at the end of August into September. Does this happen to you? How can we stay organized when life seems to speed up? Here are 3 tips.

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