Tips for Organized Holiday Clean-Up

I know, we're just in the throws of the holidays, and no one wants to think about cleaning up...but it will all be over before we know it. So I wanted to share some tips for making set-up next year even easier.

Take your time with packing up. It can be tempting to throw everything into the nearest bin or box and toss it in the garage, but careful packing can protect your sentimental decorations and fragile ornaments and make it easier to find what you want next year.

• Put "like with like" as you pack up. All of the ornaments together, lights together, tabletop decorations together, etc. Label your containers, or use clear storage bins.
  
• Avoid a tangled mess (and frustration) with your lights next year with these handy cord wraps available at The Container Store.
• Pack holiday gift wrap and accessories together and take the opportunity to do an inventory of what you have; make a list for yourself for next year, or take advantage of post-holiday sales now to stock up, and you won't overbuy next winter.
  
• Spend time entering address updates from holiday cards into your database or address book and then toss the envelopes that you received this year. It may seem like a daunting task, but if you tackle it now, next year's holiday cards will be so much easier.

Happy Holidays!

Pre-Holiday Purge

There's no better time than now to do a purge of your stuff to make room for the influx of holiday gifts - especially your children's toys. By setting - and sticking to - a "one in, one out" rule, you can maintain a comfortable volume of belongings and help control clutter. Your kids can be involved in the process, especially if you intend to donate unwanted items to charity. Letting them make the choices and understand that they'll be helping families in need can teach some valuable lessons and instill the true spirit of the holiday season.

If your kids are too young, you can make some decisions for them. If you're concerned about discarding a toy that they'll ask for later, try an "out box" system. Pack up the items and leave them out of sight for a period of time. If they don't ask within a few weeks, it's probably safe to let the items go.

And don't forget to go through your stuff, too. Charities are in need of warm clothing, food pantry donations, and basic household items throughout the year, but especially during the holidays.

Organized Gift-Giving

If you're anything like most people, your head is swimming with holiday to-do items and a mental shopping list. Don't let the spirit of the holiday escape you by getting stressed out and overspending this season. Leave time to enjoy time with your friends and family, doing the things that mean the most to you.

One surefire way to get in front of it all is to follow Santa's advice and create a list. I like to pick up a ziploc bag or pencil case and a notepad (small enough to fit in my purse) and use this as my shopping list for the season. All receipts go into the ziploc or pencil case together, so that it's easy to track what you've spent, and also easy to find the receipts for any returns or exchanges that might be needed.

I like to make a few columns in my list: Recipient Name, Target Budget, Gift Ideas, and Items Bought. This makes it easy to see what your target spending is, and what you have purchased at a glance. Also, as budgets are tight, you can prioritize shopping week by week to avoid one massive hit on the credit card.

The great news is that if you do save your shopping until the last minute, then you won't be as easily tempted by the impulse buy at the register for that Chia Pet or foot massager that no one really wants anyway.

Happy Holidays!

How to Choose a Planner

As December rolls in and we switch over to the final month of the year, now is a great time to begin thinking about your planner for 2009. Personal planners can also make great holiday gifts, as long as you can outline some specifications so that you receive one that works for you. Here are some considerations as you research and select the right planner for you. Planners come in all types of styles, sizes, and layouts - and it's important to find one that works with your style, rather than trying to force yourself to use one that isn't appropriate for your needs.

• Are you an electronically inclined person? Do you prefer to track appointments in Outlook and manage your tasks on the computer? In that case, a Palm or Treo device is probably more appropriate than a paper planner. But you may find you need to supplement with a paper-based system, even one that is fairly basic, to coordinate with other family appointments or on the go.
  
• How compact/mobile does your planner need to be? Will you be carrying it in a purse or briefcase, or only using it at home? This will impact what sizes you should consider.
  
• What types of appointments/commitments do you need to track? Do you have many meetings in a given day? The volume of appointments will dictate whether you need to view a page at a time, a week, or a month. For those who like to track tasks via written to-do lists, I often advocate a style that features a two-page layout for each day, with a monthly calendar behind. This way, you can add detail to your day while maintaining visibility on your monthly schedule at the same time. Travel to office supply stores and look at sample pages to see what appeals to you.
  
• Are you a visual or hands-on learner? If so, choose an attractive planner that appeals to your senses. You'll be more likely to enjoy using it (and therefore more consistent with your entries.)
• What is your budget to spend? Planners can range from very expensive to very inexpensive. In fact, you can even create your own by printing out calendars (monthly, daily, or weekly) and keeping them in a binder.
• Do you need space for business cards or frequently called numbers? Many planners offer accessory pages with various compartments and add-ons that may or may not be helpful to you.
  

For great online resources for planners, visit:
www.daytimer.com
www.levenger.com
www.franklincovey.com

A Creative Solution for Cords & Wires

Anyone who has computer equipment, electronics, or cameras knows all too well that managing cables and cords is a real production. For most people, a simple solution of cable ties and labels can make taming the cords behind your TV or computer a breeze. Once again, I'll reference The Container Store as a source, though you can get cable ties and labels just about anywhere.

But I love the Cable ID product from The Container Store. Color-coded flexible ties wrap around your cords and can be labeled with any marker or pen.




I have one client who is a technophile and has her own publishing business. She has a number of gadgets including still cameras, video cameras, computer peripherals, GPS systems, etc. She wanted to get all of her extra cables organized and hung up somewhere, so that they'd be off the floor.

We obtained a wall-mount kitchen pantry grid system and grouped her cables by type before hanging them with hooks and caribiners. We were able to hang this in a closet area, so though it doesn't look pretty, it's out of main sight and gives her highly functional access to the cables that she needs - when she needs them. And the cables are hung safely so that they don't get damaged or tangled up with each other.






We also used clear shoeboxes and stored all of her extra equipment together by category, and labeled everything. Now, when she's ready to access her equipment, it's accessible and easy to find.

Time Management for Students

I recently spoke at a local elementary school PTA meeting on the topic of time management for children and students. While there's no silver bullet or magic answer, and while creating good habits takes a lifetime of effort, there are some tips and ideas you can try to work with your kids. Here's a summary of takeaways from the talk:

1. Watch for patterns in your child’s dawdling/procrastination. It may signal hunger, fatigue, a need for downtime, or a feeling of being overwhelmed about a particular issue or task.
2. Establish routines (as best you can) and consistent times for homework, bedtime, chores, etc.
3. Help your child learn how to estimate time required for tasks. Set timers and work with him/her to set achievable goals.
4. If your child is a perfectionist and needs approval/fears criticism, find out what teacher expectations are and help him/her work within realistic guidelines. Let your child know that perfection isn’t expected – only that the best effort is put forward.
5. If your child feels overwhelmed and doesn’t know where to start, break down large projects into manageable tasks and work side-by-side to offer structure and praise along the way.
6. A fear of failure or success can best be battled with open communication. Start conversations with “I bet kids who are really smart worry what their friends will think,” or “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
7. If dawdling or procrastination is a result of anger, find out what the real issue is behind the behavior and focus on that first.
8. If your child is using procrastination to establish control, let them make some choices about how/when tasks get done. But set consequences and guidelines, and stick to them.
9. Keep track of your child’s homework and tasks yourself so that you can monitor progress and avoid surprises. But let them take ownership and responsibility as appropriate.
10. Set consequences and follow-through. Offer rewards, too. Reinforce positive behavior rather than negative behavior.
11. Use gentle reminders to keep them on task. Give them a heads-up 15 minutes before bedtime. Try using other descriptions of time, like “after this level on your game…” Put up job/chore lists and homework lists as visual reminders.
12. Resist the urge to “rescue” them. Don’t do tasks for them because it’s easier than chasing them. Ultimately, this only prolongs the procrastination problem.
13. Organize your physical space. A cluttered environment can lead to a cluttered mind.
14. Minimize morning mayhem by doing as much as you can the night before. Pick out outfits, pack lunches and backpacks, etc.
15. Establish good family communications to coordinate schedules and activities. A weekly family meeting is a great start. Also post a family calendar where everyone can see it.
16. Have patience. Establishing good habits takes lots of time and effort and won’t happen overnight.
17. Teach by example. If you exhibit issues with time management and procrastination, your child will pick up on those habits, too.

Refrigerator Makeover

For a quick, meaningful organizing project to make you feel accomplished, why not do a de-cluttering and cleanout of your fridge? Pre-holiday is a great time to clean out and make some room, and also to take stock of the staples that you have in your supply.

Start by pulling everything out and cleaning all of the shelves and drawers.

Store the least perishable items in the door; this space is most exposed to heat and isn't ideal for eggs, butter, etc. It's best for condiments and jellies. Review what you have and toss what's expired. Make a list of needed items, and also of items that you have that can inspire some recipes, so that you can use up food and avoid waste. Coordinate items on different shelves - sauces together, salad dressings, etc.

Next, toss out any mysterious/unrecognizable leftovers. Invest in clear containers for storing leftovers, and make use of masking tape and a sharpie to label (and date) items when they go into the fridge. Designate a shelf for these items. Square containers in various sizes will stack nicely.

The most perishable items - meats, seafoods, etc. - should be stored in the meat drawer, typically located low in the refrigerator where the temperature is the coldest.

Vegetables should be stored in the appropriate crisper with higher humidity.

Use the top shelf for items that shouldn't be stored in the door - eggs, dairy, butter, etc.

Some space-saving items in your refrigerator can help maximize your storage space. My favorite items from The Container Store include:

Egg Stay Fresh Container - $8.99
Beverage Can Dispenser - $4.99
Fridge Refresh: $8.99
Slimline Fridge Jugs: $7.99 - $9.99
DaysAgo Digital Counters: $7.99 - $9.99

Last but not least, don't forget to clear off the front of the fridge. Pictures, magnets, and artwork - while fun and personal - can create a cluttered look in the kitchen if they take up too much space. Leaving the doors of the refrigerator clean will make your kitchen feel cleaner.