5 Minute Challenge

Feeling overwhelmed by a messy home? Don't know where to start? Try the 5 Minute Challenge. Set a timer for 5 minutes and stay in ONE room. (That is KEY.) You'll be amazed at what you can straighten and pick up. If you find items for another room, put those items near the door but do NOT leave the room. When the timer goes off, put those other items away. Then decide if you want to do this again in another room. You'll find that a focused, but quick run through of the main living areas, will perk up the home in very little time, and perhaps even motivate you to do more thorough projects!

Organizing a Cabinet

We're nearly "finished" with our book on organizing, and I think I'm getting the bug for straightening things out in my home. Once you get started, it's easier to stay motivated.

Over Thanksgiving, I decided to organize a large cabinet in my home office. I had intended to do two, but only got to one. But that’s okay!

Basically, the cabinets had become collection spots for lots of "stuff." So I removed everything from one shelf or section at time, putting it on a table set up in the room. (See the photo of all the stuff to sort through!)

Then I wiped down the shelves, and returned items little by little, discarding or putting in a "give away" bag things I didn't think I'd need. I did NOT do detailed sorting. For example, a have a number of CD-Roms and DVDs that I probably could have discarded. Since they did not take up a lot of space once arranged neatly in a CD holder, I decided to avoid the mental energy it would take to decide what to do about each one. I also kept one bin of miscellaneous technology items such as cords and SD cards. You see, my personality handles details to a certain degree, and then I get tired and overwhelmed to pursue deep details. So I am content with having things reasonably contained. Then if I get the urge, I can take one container at a time and really sort through it. That wasn't my purpose in this project, particularly since it was also time to do some Christmas decorating.

Several days later, the cabinet was much better. I had freed up space, grouped things more logically, and even found items I could repurpose for better use elsewhere. For example, the miscellaneous technology items mentioned above had been in a three drawer plastic organizer, which would have better use on my craft table. Thus, I transferred those items into one bin and moved the drawers to the craft table. For the win!

Organizing doesn't have to be overwhelming, if done in small parts, if 1) you start with an empty cabinet/section, and 2) you only sort and make decisions in a way that matches your natural bent.

Some organizing ideas...

Here are a few cool organizing ideas from my Pinterest board:

Source: Uploaded by user via Beth on Pinterest

Source: mrsrojasteaches.blogspot.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: chicaandjo.com via Beth on Pinterest

Mini Vac

I recently purchased a mini vacuum cleaner. Of many household chores, vacuuming is one I dislike the most, but yet like the effects of, too. Part of the problem is that we have a bulky canister vac that is hard to drag around the house.

So, I purchased an inexpensive hand/stick vac that is lightweight and easy to use. This won't replace the power of a good vacuum, but it will be easier to grab to clean up dust, cat hair, and various particles quickly and perhaps inspire dragging out the larger vacuum more often.

Sometimes it takes a simple tool to help you feel more equipped for keeping things picked up. What are some tools that you use?

The Next Day Prep Checklist

Flylady.net calls it the before bed routine. Others think of it as planning for tomorrow. Whatever you call it, the routine you go through to prepare for the next day is critical to staying organized and stress free. Here are some tips to make it effective for you.

Pick the time of day that works best for you. A before bed routine is great IF you are at least somewhat of a night person and have the energy to do the thinking and prepping. But what about if you are more of a morning person like me? Then a dinner hour routine may be better. While dinner cooks, do the prep work for the next day.

Include on your list the things that stress you out the most. Do you get most frustrated in the morning because

your technology isn't charged (i.e. phone, iPod, iPad or laptop, etc.) or because your outfit isn't picked out

Maybe you can't stand to leave the kitchen a mess. Whatever most stresses you, make sure this item is on

your "next day prep" checklist.

Prepare for more than one day in advance. If you are making sandwiches, for example, why not make a

couple more if it's the type that can remain fresh? For example, you can freeze peanut butter and jelly or

peanut butter and honey sandwiches for use the rest of the week.  When picking out one outfit, why not pick

out two or three?

    

Everyone's "next day prep" checklist will be different. Make it unique to you. When you wake up the next

morning, you'll be glad you did it! 

Five Ways to Simplify Your Communication Life

We are inundated with all kinds of communication everyday, to the point where it can become overwhelming. Here are five tips to cut down on the noise.

Purge your email. Periodically consider whether you really need that weekly email newsletter. For example, not long ago I tried jumping into the couponing pool. I've come pretty much right back out (that's another topic.) In the process of trying it, I ended up subscribing to several sites and then hardly looking at the deals. Time to unsubscribe from a lot of them.

But Beth, what if you miss out on a deal? I miss out on deals all the time. I can always find the sites later, or bookmark them into a "saving money" folder so if I get the urge to do something like eat out or some other fun activity, or have something specific I need to buy, I can research sales and coupons then.

Turn off notifications. If you are active on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, adjust your settings so you are only getting notifications for things that really interest you. These days, it's easy for people to add you to groups, and if you don't have settings adjusted to your preference, you could have long lists of notifications or emails of when someone posted in that group. I've recently done this myself for Facebook groups that I want to remain part of, without being reminded every time someone posts there.

Also consider adjusting notifications on your cell phone. If you use a phone that lets you see email, it may be best you may not need to have a sound or icon come up every time a new email comes in. You can check it when you want once or twice a day.

Be cautious about your cell phone. Many of you may be using a cell phone exclusively rather than a land line. In that case, you really don't have much choice about  giving out your number. But if you still have a home phone and a cell phone, be cautious about giving out your cell phone number too widely. We already deal with lots of interruptions in life and extra calls may not be necessary in the middle of your days.

Use voice mail. Many messages can be handled by a simple voice mail--both leaving one and receiving one. You don't have to answer every call right away (same goes for email.) Let the phone go to VM if you are in the middle of something that needs focus such as driving or meeting with a friend.

Use “do not mail” and “do not call” lists. From time to time, check www.directmail.com and www.donotcall.gov and get your name off of junk mail and telemarketing lists. Now, if you enjoy getting coupons, catalogs, samples, or other pieces of mail, so be it. But if you want to simplify--these services can help you out.

These are just a few ways to reduce communication noise. What works for you?

Fear and Time Management

I mentioned in other articles that one of my biggest time management challenges is allowing enough time for each errand or task of the day. I am not strong at estimating how long something will take, or allowing for the inevitable interruptions or setbacks (i.e. from technology) that come my way. Sometimes I think there is a deeper reason for this than simply underestimating. It can become a heart issue, based in some fears, such as the following:

Fear of boredom. I am the kind of person that really enjoys being reasonably busy--meaning that I have plenty to do but like to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think I fear being bored, so I enjoy having valuable tasks ahead for the day. But I can easily reach the tipping point of having too many tasks on the list and then get stressed trying to meet all the self-imposed expectations.

Fear of insignificance. I like to do things that cause people to think, to change, to grow in their walk with God and others. In a strengths finder assessment, one of my strengths is significance--the desire to be important to people and do important things. But I can allow my personal drive to prove myself significant to cause me stress and pressure.

Fear of failure. I get a rush out of accomplishing a lot in a day. So I keep going because I don't like the feeling of things being left undone. I was valedictorian in high school and have always been at least somewhat driven by achievement. I don't like to fail at something and want to do a lot of things naturally well.

Fear of work. this may sound counterintuitive since I have workaholic tendencies. But, sometimes, hidden in that, is a laziness. For example, I can be on Facebook for an unreasonable amount of time each day. I can get a lot done because I'm fast, but that doesn't mean I always do things well or give them enough thought in the process.

I could apply some time management principles to this, but the bottom line is that my fear interrupts me from receiving the love and grace God has for me, and finding my value simply in being His daughter, not in what I accomplish.

Does any of this resonate with you?

Fasting from a To Do List

If you are used to using a checklist to organize your life, try a day of "fasting" from making a list. Go through the day relying on the Holy Spirit to guide your steps and tasks. In some ways, you may feel less pressure because although checklists are a good tool, they can become our masters. Trying a fast from time to time can refocus your perspective and you may be surprised at what you still get done!

Too Many Mugs!

How many ceramic and thermal coffee mugs do you have in your house? I hate to admit that for three people, we probably have at least 20 of these things throughout the kitchen, and I'm the only one who drinks coffee or tea! These types of cups can pile up because it's easy to buy a mug from a place you want to remember, or you receive a travel mug as a gift at some conference or event, or someone gives you one as a gift, or you have a collection for certain holidays.

Here are a few tips for managing your mugs:

Find all travel or ceramic mugs and put them on the table. (Don't do coffee mugs at the same time, just one or the other.)

Pick out three of your favorites. They could be your favorite because they fit well in your car or you like the design. For whatever reason pick three.

Pick out two or three that you don't care about. Put them in a giveaway container.

If you entertain with mugs regularly, now pull out a fair number to keep for entertaining purposes (i.e. the small group of four women that come to your house each week for Bible study.) Only save what you reasonably need for entertaining.

Count how many you have left. Are any that are part of the "leftover" mugs ones that you can't bear to part with? If so, consider an alternative use for those. Can one go on your desk to hold coins? Can they be used as seed starter planters? A pen cup? Come up with an actual use for any you want to keep.

Hide the remaining. If you can bring yourself to put the rest in the giveaway pile, put them in a box and hide them in the back of a closet. Make a note on your calendar to retrieve the box six months from now. If you haven't looked for them in six months, give away the entire box to a place like Goodwill without opening the box.

Now, take the three you want to keep and find a suitable place for them. Why are you keeping three? On any given day, if you are a regular hot-drink person, you will be using one mug, and the other may need cleaning. The extra one is there for those inevitable times that you forgot to bring the mug in from the car or forgot to wash the other two. You should be able to rotate with three and always have one available in the cabinet.

Now, repeat the process with the other type of mug.

One additional suggestion. If any of the mugs are holiday related, consider storing them with the appropriate holiday box and putting them on display during that season.

Confession: My Time Management Challenges

Time management is a constant challenge for me. You'd like that because I wrote a book, TimeManagement, Jesus' Way, I would have a handle on it by now, but it's one of those things that I never quite have victory over. So from one busy person to another, here are a few things I'm learning about my time management challenges, and some solutions I’m applying.

I fail to give myself enough cushion. I like the adrenaline rush of getting that "one last task" done before I head out the door. But I "forget" that it takes me 35 or 40 minutes to get to some destinations, not 30. If I would plan for a 45 minute commute, I could arrive in more peace.

Solution: I am taking more time in estimating how long something should take, and then cushioning it a bit more.

I let my personality get the best of me. I am a fast paced person who tends to juggle a few things at once. That's okay, IF I don't juggle TOO many plates at one time. Since I'm also a task-oriented person, I love getting a lot of things done. However that can make me too driven.

Solution: I am slowly learning to discipline my attention span and focus on tasks for a bit longer time before switching to something else. I am also reminding myself that what I finish is not the measure of my value. 

I expect far too much of myself. For years I have been a juggler and responder. My jobs have naturally programmed me to respond to several messages quickly or get lots of little things done. Because I therefore can mark a lot off my to-do list (many of my tasks are small) I tend to expect I should get them ALL done. I create lists that are too large and then hurry to finish them, getting that adrenaline rush to fill the need I've created within myself.

Solution: apply the Gospel to my life...the fact that Jesus is enough. I don't need to prove to Him or others what I can accomplish. I tend to enjoy having a reputation for quick responses, but must keep my motive pure. Am I doing that to serve others, or so they will think well of me?

How about you? What time management challenges do you have? What have you learned about yourself? 

A Three Piece Way to Organize Your Desktop

Keep the surface of your desktop clear of clutter with this simple arrangement for sorting and storing work to be done, using three pieces of common office equipment.

Piece 1: Have an "in" tray for items that need quick attention or to be sorted. Train your co-workers to know that is the place to put mail or new items.

Piece 2: Have an "out" tray for items that need to be delivered to other parts of the office. Pick these up on your way out the door.

Piece 3: Get a stand and upright folders to hold items needed for regular tasks, such as data entry, filing, shredding, posting, a project in process, etc. Choose attractive folders as you will be looking at them a lot. You may want to color code them if colors match particular tasks or urgencies.

By keeping these items separate but visible, you can quickly grab something to do next without it becoming too overwhelming, and can batch tasks together.

I already have this plan in place at my part time job.  (See the photo.) Now I may need to implement it at my home office! (I'm missing the upright folders part, but truthfully, work through my in-box pretty quickly so may not need the folders at home.)

How do you keep your desktop organized?

Use that Computer!

Take advantage of your computer's capabilities to avoid piles of paper on your desk. Use task lists such as what are provided in Outlook, or set up an Excel sheet so you can sort by due dates. Some phone apps have to-do list features. You can also use Google calendar to sync all views of your calendar which is awesome! I have a copy of my calendar on my HOPE office desktop, my desktop at part time job, my phone and my iPad, all staying in sync with each other. Plus, it is always "in the cloud" through Google. Google has a task feature too that syncs with an app called TaskOS.

Due to the above, I generally avoid having written to-do lists, but if you prefer the organic paper method, I suggest you have one journal/spiral notebook (or maybe two--one for work and one for home) and keep all your to-do's in one place.  For more on to-do lists, visit the organizing hope blog today here.

Task Clusters

You've probably heard it said that you should have a morning and evening routine...a set list of tasks you do each morning and evening to keep your life organized, your home clean, etc. (For those familiar with www.flylady.net you know she advocates this.) This is a good idea, but let me suggest taking it a bit further to something I call "task clusters."

There are probably tasks that you do routinely that have similarities to them, like this picture of seashells. They are different, but similar. If you cluster similar tasks together, you get the additional benefit of reducing your "mental clutter." (I have a friend who has great thoughts about keeping your mind free of clutter and I'm stealing this concept from her. :) Keeping your mind from becoming scattered can go a long way toward more effective time management.

Perhaps the best way to explain a "task cluster" is to give an example from my own life. Each morning, I need to feed the cat, feed myself, possibly pack a lunch, and if I'm doing well, think about lunch and/or dinner plans for the family. I have somewhat of a routine in that most of those things take place in the kitchen and I can do them one after the other or even concurrently.  While I drink my morning breakfast shake, I can empty the dishwasher (also related to eating) and then I can finish up by packing lunch if necessary for the day. Do you see what has happened? All the tasks of the 5-15 minutes this can take are related to feeding/eating. By clustering tasks together that have a common theme, I'm more focused and can knock these off my to-do list quickly.

We lose time and mental peace when we bounce from one thing to another. (I'm great at that.) But when we cluster similar tasks together, we can be more effective and less scattered. So, now it's your turn. Share a cluster of tasks with a related theme that you could put together to keep yourself more focused. Let me hear from you!

It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect

You may have heard it said, 'If it can't be done with excellence, don't do it." Well, Jesus never said that! The truth is, almost everything we do is done poorly when we first start doing it--that's how we learn. It doesn't have to be perfect for God to use and bless it." -Rick Warren, the Purpose Driven Life

Keep Napkins Around!

Keep a set of napkins near anyplace that you regularly have food. A desk drawer, a side table in a den or living room, on a kitchen table, in the car. Make it easy to wipe and clean things up by having supplies handy. You can apply this tip with paper towels, too.

This is a great way to use the extra napkins you receive from restaurants.

Your Organizing Style

Discover whether you are primarily visual, auditory, or tactile, and organize your life accordingly. If visual, use a variety of colors on calendars and notes. If auditory, carry a small tape recorder to verbally "jot" reminders to yourself. If tactile, use a variety of surfaces--i.e. index cards to move around, a mix of styles of pens, etc. Most people are a combination of earning styles, but use your primary style to your advantage.

15 Ways to be Ready for Company

Here are 15 ways you can keep your home--and yourself--ready for company!

Keep non-perishable snacks on hand (such as cheese sticks, 100-calorie cookies, etc.) and put them out in an attractive bowl or basket

Always have some type of commonly liked beverage on hand such as soda or coffee.

Have at least one package of brownie mix or some other dessert mix in case you want to provide a

a quick dessert. Particularly quick are the refrigerator cookies or cinnamon rolls that are easy to pull out and

bake.

Keep easy meals available, especially if kids or teens tend to come over

regularly. These include frozen pizza, mac & cheese, sandwich meat and 

fresh bread.

Keep popcorn available to make up a big batch for a spontaneous movie

night.

Keep the "guest triangle" areas of your home clean. This usually includes the bathroom most likely to be used

by guests and the kitchen.

Keep your main entry area picked up as it is the first thing you and guests will see.

Keep doors closed on rooms that are not as likely to be "company presentable." This usually includes

bedrooms and perhaps bonus rooms. Unless you are giving a tour, you don't need to open these rooms.

Keep sanitary wipes available for quick wipe downs of counters and sinks just before guests come over.

Even small children can help with this.

Purchase a "quick vac" tool to do quick vacuuming of high traffic areas without pulling out a major vacuum

cleaner.

Keep candles and/or fresh scent products on hand to have lit or going when a guest is coming by.

Keep board games accessible and possibly visible so that you can encourage guests to enjoy a game with

you.

Consider purchasing battery operated candles with timers. This can assure that a "candle" is safely lit at a

certain time every evening. Bonus: they turn off automatically. (Tip: purchase rechargeable batteries as daily

use of these candles will use up batteries ever 4-6 weeks.)

If you have a guest room, always wash sheets and re-make bed soon after a guest has left. That way the

room is ready for the next guest.

Keep a basket of travel size items in the guest room if you have frequent overnight guests.Also, treat yourself

like a guest. You and your family are the ones who live in the house. At least on occasion, bake something

just for your spouse and kids, not only when company is coming. Keep the house picked up so YOU can

enjoy it, not just to "perform" for company.

Wastebasket Strategy

Two wastebaskets in one room? Why not?

That was a novel concept I picked up in a class I took with Stephanie Baker, who is co-authoring a book with Karina Whisnant and I regarding Getting Organized at Home. We were challenged to think of "trouble" areas in our homes and possible fixes.

One of my (many!) trouble areas at home was our master bathroom. It's larger than a typical bathroom, though not huge. I often find need for a wastebasket on both sides of the room, so I decided, "Why not?" I now have a wastebasket under my sink and counter, and one between the toilet and my husband's sink and counter.

It's a small change, but helpful. It doesn't take much extra effort to empty two wastebasket instead of one, and it's simply more convenient.

The same can go for other spots in our home--or yours. This week, think about where you most likely would create trash, and be sure a wastebasket is available. For example, if your family snacks in the den, have a wastebasket handy for used napkins, snack bags, etc.

You can go a step further and steward God's creation a bit by creating recycling centers in your home. In our kitchen, for example, we have a regular trash basket. But we also have a rolling bin (which is actually a large laundry basket with wheels and a handle--see photo) for cardboard, and hanging bags in the pantry for plastic shopping bags and cans/plastic. From time to time, I grab the basket, put it in my truck, and stop at a recycling center.

In my home office, I have a separate bin for recyclable paper and for trash. Keeping bins separate but available helps me develop better habits about handling trash, and do a little "creation stewardship," too.

Question: How many wastebaskets are in your home?

Paraphanalia

Have you ever noticed how much paraphernalia we collect to “do” everyday life? Some time ago I cleaned out the console storage area in our truck. I put a lot of the items on the dashboard and goodness, what a pile of “stuff” it was at the time. There were three different phone charger cords because we each had a different style cell phone. There was a portable GPS, cord, batteries, and holder. A case for sunglasses (that I first found under the back seat.) Pens, tire pressure gage, plastic utensils in plastic wrap from some trip to some restaurant at some point. A converter so an MP3 player can be listened to through our radio. A birthday card from nine months ago.

In other spots in the truck, I had a cord for my plug-in-able coffee cup and an extra, “regular” charger for my cell phone if I needed to use an indoor plug, and a charger cord for my PDA! I put the things away in some sense of order, and could give you reasons for keeping all of them. (Well, most of them.) But I have to confess that it brings one pause to see what it takes to keep our everyday life going—and this was just what was in the vehicle! If these items were put in a time capsule, and sent backwards, how amazed our forefathers and foremothers would be at the complications of life in the modern age.

I’ve written a book, Time Management, Jesus’ Way – Did Jesus Use a Psalm Pilot? It would be interesting to see what, if any, paraphernalia Jesus would carry if He had come to earth in this century. Somehow I don’t think He would bother carrying most of this stuff around. Yet I know I still will, because each of these items does serve a useful purpose. And therein is a bit of a rub…

Question: How do you handle all the stuff you need to carry?

Three P's and Keys

This is a re-post from some time ago, but the principles still apply!

Yesterday, I forgot my wallet. I arrived at one of my favorite coffee spots and realized I had left it at home. Don't you hate that? I feel like I am moving almost everyday with carrying various things from place to place. Guess I didn't run through the checklist very well as I left.

The coffee shop was so kind and let me put my order on a tab. I'm a weekly regular and they felt they could trust me. But I still had to make arrangements about another meeting that was at another location where I was not so well known. Fortunately, a plan B formed and all went well.

Why do we forget something as routine as having our purse or wallet? I think that our minds easily get cluttered with lots of other things, and we get out of the habit of running through a mental checklist of having what we need. For a long time, I had a little reminder to myself of "Three P's and Keys" when walking out the door. The P's stood for things like my pedometer and phone and the keys are self-explanatory. Guess I need to go back to that!

The challenge is I carry a briefcase-type tote bag and my wallet is actually a mini purse that I can grab to run into stores, etc. And, most of the small cases of things I carry are all black. So I just grabbed the tote bag rather than doing a quick check that I actually had the various items IN the bag that I needed. You can be sure that "purse" is going to become one of the P's on my list from now on!

How about you? What do you do to make sure you have everything you need with you each day?

Organizing as Worship

But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. I Corinthians 14:40

When Paul exhorted the Corinthians to do everything in a decent and orderly fashion, he was referring specifically to chaotic church services where people could not understand one another and spoke out of turn. This is a picture of what it is like when things are out of order and unsettled.

The principle behind Paul's exhortation can be applicable to how we order our lives. When we are scurrying around, breathless, we are not in a position to listen well to the Holy Spirit. When we don't respond in a timely way, we take a risk of damaging relationships. When we can't find things and run late, we may miss making a connection with someone or hearing a word of encouragement with a prepared heart.

So, as you organize your life little by little, perhaps by reading this blog weekly and taking steps to make changes one small step at a time, you are actually reflecting a God of order and beauty. When you de-junk that clothes closet, you are worshipping. When you reorganize that desk drawer, you are reflecting God. When you create a clean, uncluttered environment, you are putting aside weight that drags you down.

Cleaning and organizing are an act of worship. Do it with your heart, knowing you are showing God how much you love Him by taking care of what He has given you.

Organizing Food

Keeping up with food can be a big challenge. How often do you find food that has rotted before you used it up? Have you spent big bucks at the grocery store when you could have made several meals out of items you already have on hand? Here are some tips to help you get more organized with your food items.

Take inventory. On a regular basis (maybe once a week) take a quick inventory of what you have in the fridge, pantry, and freezer. If you have an additional freezer, keep a dry erase board on it to list items you have frozen. Take the inventory before you make your next grocery list.

Create at least one meal a week out of what you already have on hand. If you plan a menu each week (which is a great idea) try to think of at least one, preferably two, meals you could create with items you already have. Do you have spaghetti and sauce on hand? Has a casserole been sitting in the freezer for awhile? You may be surprised at how many meals you could come up with without shopping! A friend of mine uses the month of February to challenge herself to only buy the basics in groceries that month and use up whatever she can from her stock.

Use up items with short shelf life. Fresh fruits and vegetables, for example, only last a few days in the fridge. Watch how it is going and if they aren't being used up, incorporate them into an upcoming meal, prepare smoothies for the freezer, fold them into pancake mix and make pancakes one night, add a salad as a side dish, stir fry them into scrambled eggs.

Freeze what you can. Bananas can be frozen (unpeeled) for later use in smoothies. I've even heard you can freeze whole tomatoes! Do some research and freeze items that you tend to have to throw away. Freeze in small packets so you only use what you need.

Cull your grocery list. Instead of buying three types of berries for a week, buy the one the family will most use and mix it up other weeks. It's better to eat up the fruit you have than to throw it away simply because you overplanned for variety.

Use adequate storage. Experiement with bags and containers to see what works best for your family. Try to keep certain types of foods on certain shelves (i.e. left overs are always on the secon shelf.)

Communicate. Use a white board to jot down ideas for what family members can eat if they are hungry (i.e. to suggest using up leftovers.)

With a little thought, you can save some money by making sure you use what you have and stop buying what you don't need.

Question: How do you organize food at home?

You Aren't Home Until You've Unpacked

It's a busy travel season and many of you will be coming home from vacations and trips with all sorts of stuff. You actually do this everyday. If you are like me, you feel like you are moving everytime you leave the house! I group trips together so it's not unusual for me to have a gym bag, professional items and a purse with me, plus possibly store bought items to come home with.

I'm not perfect at this suggestion, but I'm working on it. I find that if I fully unpack all items right after I get home, it goes a long way to staying orderly and knowing where things are. So here are some tips:

Gather it all up. Collect whatever bags, purchases, cups, trash etc you can carry and clear out that car. This will help you keep it picked up.

Use a staging area. Clear a spot near the door you most use (this may be a mudroom, garage or back porch) and keep it clear as a staging area. Deposit all the stuff (purse, tote bag, groceries, trash etc) on that table or counter as soon as you come in the door.

Get briefly settled. Take off your coat and shoes, hug your spouse...whatever you typically do when you first get home. But don't let it distract you.

Unpack one bag at a time. Starting with any perishable items, take one item at a time and put it where it needs to go. Food into the fridge. Mail you've picked up onto the desk. Receipts into a tray. Coins into a "cash in later" container.  Keys onto a hook. Dirty or wet workout clothes into the laundry area. You get the idea.

Restock. Refill any items you've depleted. For example, do you carry checks and have no more in your purse? Get another check. Drink from a water bottle all day? Rinse, refill and stick in the fridge. Out of cash, draw from your cash envelopes to replenish if you use that system.

Relax and reflect. How long did this take you? Probably no more than ten minutes on average, more if you are unpacking from a vacation. But you'll be delighted that everything is put away and when you are in a rush tomorrow morning, that your water bottle is already full and cold, ready to grab. Trust me.

Losing Things (But Not Our Minds)

I'm adding to my list of things I have misplaced at home. A few months ago I lost a Bluetooth headset. Never have found that and had to accept the wasted money.

Now, I can't find my iPod, which I typically use regularly for podcasts, etc. I remember (I think!) syncing it just a few days ago and carrying it out of my home office. From there, I don't know where I set it down.

Does this ever happen to you? It is frustrating to know something is somewhere in the house but you can't remember where you laid it. So here are some tips that I need to apply and will hopefully help you, too.

Fight distraction. I'm a multi-tasker by nature, but the older I get the more I think I get absent minded partly because there is too much in my head. It may seem silly to concentrate on where you lay something down, but it will help you later when you are looking for it!

Limit locations. Re-train yourself to only lay certain types of items (i.e. keys, technology, etc.) in certain locations at home. For example, have one key hook and never put your keys down anywhere else. Have only 2-3 "acceptable" places for cell phones, iPods, laptops, etc and always return them to one of those three places.

Store logically. Though it's tempting to throw things on the bed or the kitchen table to deal with later, instead think of logical spots for things. Can you hang a hook by the door for keys? Have a charging station for cell phones? Think it through and put things in their home.

Fully unpack when you come in the house. This makes a BIG difference. My tendency is to lay down my bag on the kitchen table, etc and move on to any of a number of other needs. But I am revamping my thinking to not consider my errands finished until I unpack the collections of the day. More on this in next week's post!

Update: my husband found my iPod on the floor (dark tile) under a chair where it must have fallen but the ideas above still apply.

By the way, organizing hope typically changes posts on Fridays, but starting next week, the new posts will be available on Thursdays. I also invite you to check out our latest blog, HOPE Hints, for nearly DAILY tips about all sorts of ways to stay close to God and do life well.

Veggies and Fruits

Just a short post today to give you an idea about organizing one part of your refrigerator. If you are trying to eat more fruits and veggies, make it easy to do so. Get two divided trays. Once a week (maybe on the weekend?) cut up veggies and prepare fruits, filling the tray (i.e. slice tomatoes, cut up strawberries, cucumbers, pineapple, etc.) Keep this tray in the fridge to easily pull out for adding fruit to cereal or grabbing veggies for a wrap.

Start a new tray the next weekend, moving only the fresh remains to the new tray. Wash/sanitize the other one. This way you'll be rotating clean trays and getting rid of pieces of fruit/veggies that are no longer fresh.

 

This makes it easier on your family to make healthy choices. (You too!)

Where's that Receipt?

Okay, I admit it. Paper filing is one of my weakest organizational points. It seems overwhelming to know what to keep, what to toss, and realize how long it may take to go through all those papers! Most stay safely tucked away in a file cabinet that stays closed all the time!

But I do feel I have a pretty good system for monthly receipts and so forth so here it is:

• Obtain four sets of three drawer plastic cubes.
• Label each drawer for each month of the year.
• Keep the current month's drawer handy on your desk.
• Stick all receipts, policy renewals, even cards and letters in the box.
• At the beginning of the new month, put this drawer away. Pull out the next drawer.
• Go through the new drawer, removing any receipts you no longer have to keep (i.e. Walmart, etc.) Shred those.
• Keep important papers or things you are unsure of in that drawer. Consider scanning them and saving them to a service like Evernote, so you can discard them. (If tax, legal, medical, move them to special files of those categories.)

Enjoy reviewing nice notes and cards you received this time last year. Then, decide whether you still want to keep greeting cards, etc. Consider finding another sentimentality container for those now, maybe for review on New Year's day. Better yet, scan them to Evernote or scrapbook them.

Continue this rotation every month. This keeps the job manageable, and items immediately accessible for a year. It doesn't take long to rifle through one bin to find that missing Kohl's receipt to return that item, particularly if you have an idea of what month or season you bought it.

What are your ideas for managing files?

Ten More Travel Tips

Last week I shared several "travel tips" to help you be more organized when you leave town. Here are a few more:

If you have access to refrigeration at your hotel, cabin, etc. you'll be able to save leftovers, purchase inexpensive items such as cheese or milk and save leftovers (i.e. from KFC) that can stretch to another meal.

Bring something small but comfy and familiar, such as a favorite pillow, stuffed animal, etc.

Keep tote bags prepared for local getaways, stocked with non-perishable items you will need for a day at the park, the beach, the community pool or the Y, etc. You may want to get several of the same size totes but in different colors or designs corresponding to their use. Then you can grab and go!

Mark on your calendar six to nine months before your passport expires so you have time to renew it.

If you have a smart phone such as an iPhone or Blackberry, there are several ways to consolidate things you will need in one place. i.e. a Bible app can help you keep up with daily reading. Fitness tracking apps that sync with websites (such as My Fitness Pal)  can help you keep tracking goals even while you are away. Kindle app can allow you to bring several books on your phone. There are even apps to suggest games to play on long car rides!

Always expect to wait or be delayed in travel. You'll be less stressed if you expect it, and if you have a book or other project ready to work on, you can consider it an enforced rest period!

Pray for open eyes and ears. Often, God has a plan for us that may differ a bit from our plans for vacation. Is there a person He wants you to encourage? Does He want you to notice something special? Do you have opportunity to work through something challenging (i.e. a delay, breakdown, extra expense) with those you love and later can look back on it as a  bonding experience?

Realize that extended time together with friends or family may end up feeling different than you may expect. Most of us see our family or friends in pockets of time, rarely spending entire days together. Be aware of needed space for everyone to have some personal time, and be sure your friendship is solid enough to share the same living quarters for extended days! Families especially are often running in different directions, and too much "together time" at once can lead to frustration or some tension.

Journal and take pictures, but not at the expense of being "fully present." I spent the day at Disney alone one time, and the first ride I went on was a safari in Animal Kingdom. I took a couple of pictures, but was amazed at the people behind me that were working so hard to capture every shot they could that I wondered if they were really enjoying the experience itself. You'll never capture (with a camera) every image from a vacation. Just try to get a highlight or two, and enjoy what you are doing and who you are with.

Be careful about social media updates. We have a policy in our home not to give specific info about travels until after we return home. Much as I would love to post updates while I am experiencing the trip, I don't because 1) I don't think it is wise to give one's specific location out to a large network often, and 2) it puts me in a mind frame of "how can I write about this" rather than fully experiencing it and 3) it can cause me to be a little too self important, as if people need to know my experiences as they occur. Maybe not. It can be a challenge to fully unplug but it can be very healthy to do so.

What tips would you add to this list? 

Travel Tips: Part 1

I recently had a great opportunity to go to Orlando with a friend. It was the first...perhaps only time...I had traveled away from my immediate family for several days. I enjoy getting out of town from time to time and, since it is a popular travel time right now, I thought I’d share several travel tips over the next two or three posts. Here is the first set, in random order.

• Bring a garbage bag to hold dirty clothes. When packing up to leave, put the dirty clothes in the bottom of the suitcase, lay the garbage bag on top, and put unused clean clothes on top of that.
• Consider getting an audio book from the library to listen to on long trips.
• If traveling alone and you have smart phone, consider using the Google "Latitude" app so that a family member or friend can track your trip. At one point my husband called to check why we had gone on a particular route. The GPS had "told us" to go on that road to get around a city, but he would have been able to re-direct us if we'd gone the wrong way.
• Have a variety of activities for kids so they can switch between games, "screen time" activities, and car friendly crafts.
• When you stop at a rest area, make everyone use the facilities even if they "don't have to go right now."
• If you travel frequently, keep a separate bag of toiletries "on the ready" at all times. This way you can just grab it instead of thinking about all the miscellaneous items you'll need. If flying, make sure to follow TSA guidelines for such items.
• Along with number 6, you might pack a suitcase with underthings, bathing suit, etc that go right back in the suitcase when you return from your trip.
• Have a little recreation bag with puzzle book, coloring (even for adults) card game, etc to while away the time in a car or on a plane.
• Be aware of how certain drinks or snacks affect you and plan accordingly, especially if there is a long distance between "pit stops." I think you can figure this out!
• Your digestive system can be affected by non-familiar water. You may want to pick up some bottled water to use en route and at your destination.

What are some of your best travel tips?

Getting Organized at Home: 12 Steps to Peace, Part 2

In last week's post, we introduced the first six of twelve concepts about getting organized at home. Here are the next six:

Getting organized requires workable systems. You have to develop routines that work for YOUR family. For example, look at the traffic patterns in your home. Does everyone drop their coats on the floor by the garage door? You may need to put up some coat hooks there.

Getting organized invites flexibility. Once you have systems set up, you need to allow for adaptation. You could have a week that is slammed full and thus you won't be able to go to the recycle bin that Friday. That's okay! You'll just have a little more to recycle next Friday!

Getting organized is helped by strategic teamwork. Find fun and rewarding ways to get the others in your household involved in getting organized and more will get done, faster.

Getting organized requires pruning and purging. Yes, you will have to get rid of some things, but you'll breathe easier when your clothes aren't stuffed together.

Getting organized means we will have to be aware of obstacles. We each need to develop a unique strategy to handle setbacks. For example, if you receive a phone call every morning from a particular person, and morning is your best time to clean up, get an earpiece or let the call go to voice mail. Call back when you are finished.

Getting organized demands maintenance. Once a system is in place, you will have to maintain it reasonably well, or you will fall back into traps. You’ll need simple plans to keep things going smoothly. Example: have a practice requiring yourself to get rid of two pieces of clothing for every one you buy. This allows you to maintain adequate space and continue purging.

There is no perfect way to maintain order and be organized all the time. Sometimes, the most organized people are the most tense and stressed out because of their fear of falling behind. You have to find what works within the unique created “you” that God created. It's a journey you'll be on for a lifetime, but it's worth taking the trip.

Getting Organized at Home: 12 Steps to Peace, Part 1

“Where ARE those keys?” 

“Argggh…I forgot my lunch again!”

“You need me to bring you your homework?”

Sound familiar?

Do you wish you were more organized at home? I sure do. Even though I am considered to be an organized person, you might be surprised if you came to my house. You’d see a lived-in--not pristine--home. There are spots where it appears we've gotten a handle on organization, but there are just as many that need de-cluttering and order. So why am I writing a book, with my friends Stephanie Baker and Karina Whisnant, on getting organized at home, if my home is not a shining example?

We're writing this book because we know that a majority of families, and women in particular, struggle with juggling all their responsibilities. Many are interested in finding ways to streamline their homes, reduce stress, and be able to find their keys! As writers, we are on the same journey as many of these women, and we each have our strengths and challenges when it comes to being organized. We write from shared experiences, not from the dust free ivory tower commanding, "Do what we do." In the process, we’re discovering that:

Getting organized at home is an act of worship. Our first priority is our relationship with God. We honor Him when we bring our lives and homes into order and balance. Have you considered doing a prayer walk in your own home?

Getting organized allows us to serve others more easily. When we are organized and our home is generally presentable, we are in a much better position to spontaneously reach out to someone in need (i.e. provide a place to stay or a meal), create a refuge for our families where they can safely recharge, or even take a last minute trip!

Getting organized is a matter of progress, not perfection. We set a goal to be "finally done," but even if we reach it, it is short lived because there’s always something else to do. So instead, why not enjoy journey of making improvements, rather than a destination of perfection?

Getting organized relates to our personality and body rhythms. You do your best organizing when your energy level is up, and it’s okay to match your personality to your organization skills. For example, if you are a creative personality, you don't have to try to have everything in a specific place like a more detailed individual may want.

Getting organized reflects on our emotions and history. We carry memories, and yes, even baggage from our past, that affects how we keep our homes. This can include modeling after other relatives, positive or negative comments we've received from others (i.e. "I never taught you that way,") or expectations such as how a holiday "always goes."

Getting organized corresponds to our relationships. If more than one person lives in the home, the relationship will have an impact on how the home is maintained. We have to learn to adjust to the personalities of our spouses, roommates, and children. One student was delighted to take a guest room for her own creative space, freeing up the home office entirely for her "everything in its place" husband. It was positive for them individually AND for their marriage!

We'll look at the remaining six next week!

Giving Each Other Space

My student was delighted. Her husband was an orderly, neat guy. She was a creative, easy going gal. They shared space in the home that sometimes caused tension because of the different ways they maintained their space.

One of the decisions she was inspired to make as a result of our "Getting Organized at Home" class was to move out of a shared home office area, giving herself the guest room and "deeding over" the home office completely to her husband. It was a great decision. Each of them could keep "their" rooms as they wished, and there was less tension in their relationship.

One of the best things you can do when getting organized is to allow the people in your life to have at least one small area of the house that is "their space." This is a place that they can organize and keep however they with (with the reasonable understanding of some sanitary expectations.) This is their refuge from criticism, tension, harping and "suggestions."

We forget about the need an individual has for space...particularly husbands. Women tend to forget that men unwind and process things generally by having some uninterrupted time to pursue a hobby (yes, watching football counts) or a space they feel no demands are placed on them. If you polled men, most would probably agree that a space such as a den, garage, workshop, "man cave," etc would be a welcome blessing in their lives.

Ladies, this often means you must release your control over your teenager’s room, or your husband's den. But isn't the resulting peace worth it? It's particularly helpful if the space has a door that can simply be shut, making the room off limits to company.

Women appreciate their own space, too, but sometimes they claim the entire house. When you agree to hand over space to someone else, you have to let go of the desire to clean it, decorate it, or arrange it. Hands off ladies! Find your own space to decorate. Often your husband will be glad to have you decorate the common areas of the house. But unless he asks, don't decorate or arrange his workshop or game room.

This goes for roommates too. Their room is their room. Shut the door and let it go.

Once the tension has diminished because everyone has breathing space, you can have a group discussion about common standards (particularly if, for example, your child's bathroom also doubles as the bathroom guests use, as is our situation.) If such a conversation is necessary, don't nag, and keep it reasonable (i.e. overflow into common areas is not acceptable.) The whole idea of this is to allow each person in your home to have a space they can call their own. It will be worth it...like it was for my student.

7 Steps to Organizing a Drawer or Cabinet

Are you overwhelmed by a drawer in your desk or bathroom? Is there a kitchen cabinet that is overflowing? Here are some simple steps to getting it organized fast.

Decide if you need to. Not every drawer or cabinet in your house has to be organized. Unless you love neatness--not because of guilt but because you truly enjoy having things in place--it may be better to spend your time on areas that you see or use more often. If it will bring you joy and peace to organize it, then do it!

Get a container. You'll need a container large enough to act as a temporary "staging area" for the items in that space. (This may becoming your organizing container for a lot of your projects around the house. If you are creative, feel free to decorate it!)

Empty the space. It's very difficult to organize a cluttered space. Starting with an empty area makes it much easier to make decisions. Think about how often you wish you could just start over in a new house. This is why.

Use a timer or item goal. Decide how long, or how many items, you will make decisions about, then stop. You may decide to work on the drawer for five minutes. Or you may think, "I'll make decisions about five items from this cabinet." Part of the drain of organizing is the mental energy needed to make decisions such as "I may need this someday."

Sort items, applying one of the following four actions: give away, throw away, hide away, put away. (A "Hide Away" box is a collection of items from all your organizing that will allow you defer decision making that bogs you down. You can deal with THAT container at another time.)

Stop when the goal is reached. If your timer goes off, and you only have a little more to go, decide if you want to. If not, keep the container in a handy place and work on it another five minutes later. You'll be surprised how much you can organize in five-minute increments.

Reward yourself. Do one small, (preferably healthy) thing to celebrate this accomplishment. It may feel like "I didn't do much," but by doing something, you have made progress. And remember, getting organized is about progress, not perfection.