If you need to organize, declutter, restructure, eliminate, purge, and/or clean, this site will get you off to a great start and on the track to cleanliness, organization, decluttering, and de-stressing!

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

Take a deep breath and let’s plan your strategy!  Your room probably didn’t get messy, dirty, or cluttered in a day, so don’t expect it to instantly become perfect.  There are actually techniques involved when trying to declutter, and organize a room.

If your room is large, mentally section it off into smaller areas, such as the bookcase area or the TV area, etc.  Focus only on that small area first so that you can make a dent in it and see some progress quickly.  Even a little bit of progress makes you feel like you have accomplished something and then you are ready to tackle the next area.

I like to get out plastic bins and place them in the middle of the room and have them labeled.  The first I label, “Give Away”.  The second I label, “Put Away”, (meaning out of view).  The third I label, “Throw Away”, and sometimes I just get a big garbage can and skip the bin for this group of stuff.  The fourth group is things I need to keep, but don’t belong in that particular room.  The last group is the things I want to keep in that room, but just need to find the right spot for, after I have cleaned that area, i.e. dusted and vacuumed, etc.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

These are just a few tips I use when I need to declutter my room.  I also use these same techniques when I am organizing, cleaning, and decluttering my garage and/or office.

Technorati Tags: clutter control, declutter, declutter house, declutter my room, decluttering your home, Household Organizing, organize, professional

What’s it like to work with a professional organizer? Victoria Pearlman, a professional organizer in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, who calls herself the Order Artisan (www.orderartisan.com), answers our FAQs:

What types of people hire a professional organizer?

It’s quite a variety. A lot of clients are professional women. They’re working all the time and have no time for the stuff that needs to get done at home. Busy mothers and people who are chronically disorganized are also frequently clients. Working with a professional organizer is good for anyone who needs a semblance of organization in her busy life. If you just don’t have the time or you can’t get it scheduled, having someone come in and help you with it means you’ll get it done.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, by Yourself -  Click here

How does it work?

It starts with a phone conversation. Typically a professional organizer talks at length with the client to get an idea of what’s going on in her life. Most of the time people call because they’re under stress: there’s some life change going on, or they just can’t take the chaos anymore. Then you set up an appointment, and the organizer comes to the person’s office or home for a tour of the space they want to organize. You talk about a game plan and get started.

How long does it take?

It depends on how quick a decision-maker the client is. Professional organizers help you move along. We’re not going to sit there and look at the box of pictures. That’s part of the benefitwe keep you on task and help you to prioritize what really needs to get done right now. We focus on what’s driving you the craziest. And we help you examine why you’re keeping things and how to let go of items that you don’t love or want. But we’re not going to say that you have to throw everything out. People are afraid of that, too. We help you find the treasures both emotionally and physically.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, by Yourself -  Click here

What does it cost?

Organizers charge anywhere from $50-$250 an hour. Business organizing usually is double the cost of residential organizing.

Should people expect to go out and buy new storage systems?

It depends on the organizer and the client. Many people have all types of organizing and storage devices; they just aren’t using them. Sometimes organizers can see things in a different way and get better use from storage that clients already have.

What should you look for in a professional organizer?

I would recommend finding somebody through the National Association of Professional Organizers (www. napo.net). NAPO members have a code of ethics and ongoing education.

Look for someone you have a good rapport with. You can get a feel for the person on the phone. Just as you want to go to a hairdresser you feel comfortable with, you need to have a comfort level with a professional organizer. The things we’re going through are very personal. (Of course, everything is confidential.)

A good professional organizer will tailor his or her system to you. We work with clients to figure out what works best for them. We don’t just set up a system and leave. We talk, we tweak, we do it together.

How do people feel about the results?

People are always happy in the end, even if they cry during the process. (One client actually did cry, but it was a good thing because she was letting go of something that was a burden to her.) But everyone’s happy because they’ve accomplished something.

So if you’re tired of dealing with the mess, consider hiring a professional organizer to restore your home or office to a place that works.

About The Author

Carol Weeg writes and edits Finding Our Way: Wit and Wisdom for Women, the newsletter for thinking women in midlife. Carol inspires women to explore their lives todayfrom work, to relationships, to dealing with perimenopause and menopause (is it hot in here?). Visit Carol Weeg on the Web at www.findingourway.com to download a free sample copy of Finding Our Way.

This article was posted on September 04, 2006

Technorati Tags: cleaning your house, clutter control, clutter free, declutter, Household Organizing, keywords, organization, organizer, professional

That brought me up short. I didn’t know what she meant until I stopped to think what she was saying. When we get an idea that we are going to organize and everything will be perfect right now, remember the saying: “Rome wasn’t built in a day”we don’t need to get everything de-cluttered and organized in one day.

It is an important step in organizing anything, a room, a closet, a desk, an office, shelves, attic, or garage, or other places we realize it is important that first comes chaos during the organizing process. When looking at the project it may feel overwhelming but realizing physically things will purposefully be undone and many times emotionally we will be undone and there will be chaos, but when focusing on the goal we can be sure it will all be organized and something better will have been accomplished. It shows something new is being created in your life. Remember the Phoenix was burnt to ashes? Out of the ashes it was reborn.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

When doing many ordinary tasks first comes chaos. For Example: Take clothes shopping for instance. By searching through racks and stacks of clothes, discarding many and trying on others; we eventually find what we want and then purchase them. Once home it is necessary to sort through the bags and separate the clothes in piles according to the person they were intended for. These will then be taken to their rooms to be put away. The shopping experience went from chaos to organization.

For people who sew or quilt first comes organized chaos. There is the process of selecting the fabric among a plethora of bolts of fabric, finding the right pattern, gathering the necessary supplies, cutting the fabric into pieces, then sewing it all back together to make a beautiful quilt. This beautiful work of art started in creative chaos.

When students are studying for a test it first starts with chaos. There are books to read, notes to refer back to, study groups to attend and organizing of thoughts. Then comes the test and it all comes together.

By taking things one step at a time we will accomplish what we want to accomplished and be organized with the least amount of stress. Remembering that first comes chaos both physically and emotionally but out of this will rise calm, peace and a sense of accomplishment.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

When tackling a room, a box, the kitchen cupboards, or the closet that will hardly close just remember there IS a Tuesday and by starting with one thing at a time, realizing out of chaos comes beauty organizing will be a rewarding and less stressful.

Organize Your Garage – In Four Simple Steps

Learn how to organize your garage with these simple organization techniques that will walk you through how to organize your garage and rid yourself of clutter forever.

I’m an Organizing Junkie

This year is my year to organize my house and my life!

Organize Your Life -by The Organized Mom

Software to Organize Your Family · Teaching Healthy Habits for Life.

Technorati Tags: cleaning your house, clutter control, clutter free, declutter, home, household, Household Organizing, organization, organize

Household cleaning is a noble profession that can only be mastered with years of experience. However, a systematized cleaning technique with the proper weapons (equipment and cleansers) will ease the job and help save time allotted for cleaning. Generally, household cleaning means cleaning the different household surfaces.

The different materials that make up the household could be painted walls, vinyl flooring, wood furniture, porcelain enamel, plastic, stainless steel, fiberglass, vitreous china, carpets and rugs from synthetic materials. These different materials can also have a variety of stains or soils that ruin the aesthetic beauty of the materials.

Unfortunately, there is no single solution that can remove all the types of soil or stains on the materials. Because of this, different cleaners are formulated to efficiently deal with particular surfaces and soils.

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All-purpose cleaners can either be abrasive or non-abrasive cleaners. These are used to eliminate intense amounts of soils that are accumulated in smaller areas. These are basically powdered or in liquid solutions and they soften the dirt to relieve cleaning stress. The degree of abrasiveness varies according to the product.

An excessive use of abrasive cleaners can destroy the coating of some surfaces. Because of this, it is important to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to preserve the materials.

On the other hand, non-abrasive cleaners also come in different forms. They can also be in powder or liquid form. There are powdered cleaners that can be dissolved in liquid to optimize its cleaning capacity.

The new trend in the market is concentrated cleaners that can also be diluted in water. The liquid cleaners also come in the forms of sprays, pump-actuated containers or in aerosol cans. Technology is continuously modifying the cleaning weapons in order to provide ease in household cleaning.

Household cleaning is not a tough job if the right products for cleaning are to be used. The maintenance of the cleanliness in the house is easier if there is regular cleaning. However, it cannot be avoided that on special occasions, extra effort is also needed to keep the household spic and span.

To organize your Home, Office, or Garage, Click here

To make the house a happy home, cleanliness is a major consideration. The household hints stated above will give ease to your cleaning project.

Technorati Tags: cleaning your house, clutter control, declutter, decluttering your home, garage organize, household, Household Organizing, organization

Does your teenager need help on organizing her room? His is a comprehensive article on how to get and keep her room organized.

Teenagers are busy, busy people. Often they get a bad rap from adults calling them lazy. But in my experience, which includes rearing five daughters and professionally working with troubled teens they are ambitious, fun and interesting. Teenagers are my favorite age.

However, a lot of fights happen between parents and teens because they don’t keep their rooms straight and clean. Out of five girls I had one who was habitually disorganized. We finally came to the agreement that she would keep the door to her room closed and would clean and organize it once a week. That worked for both of us. Now that she is an adult and has her own place she is organized. Teach correct principals and eventually they will govern themselves.

I had a teenager ask me to help her organize her bedroom so let’s get to it:

She told me that her room is so full of clutter she avoids it. With a few tips and systems in place this can become her refuge from the world and a place to bring her friends to chat and have a good time.

You have recognized there is a problem so now what you need to do is start working from the inside out in your room. Turn on your favorite music, get a treat and dig in. Start in your closet by taking everything out. I know this is a lot of work, but I suspect half of it is already on the floor. You need to assess what space you have and get rid of all those clothes you never wear because you don’t like them; they need mending, don’t fit or are out of date. If you have seasonal clothes:

Place the items that hang, in the back of your closet on the rod or move to a different closet in your home if there is space.

Fold the clothes and put them in a clear plastic container with a lid and put it on the top of your closet shelf. Label the container (seasonal clothes or you can put winter, summer, skiing etc).

Or use the under the bed roll out containers to store seasonal clothes. If your bed isn’t tall enough to do this, buy the bed risers and that will give you an additional six to eight inches of space under your bed.

Whatever you do, don’t keep the clothes you wear now with clothes you wear at a different time of year. Rotate your clothes in and out.

You have premium spaces in your room and you want these areas available for the things you use most often.

Click here for a great Organizational Tool!

Now that you have taken everything out and looked at each piece of clothing, hang them back up in the closet, putting like things togethershirts, skirts, pants, dresses and so on. Have a place for your shoes, either a shoe rack on the floor or a hanging one on the closet rod or over your door.

Next go to your dresser and take everything out of your drawers. If you want, you can do one drawer at a time. Use containers in your drawers to keep everything together and organized. Neatnix has great containers for organizing drawers, I use them and it even amazed me what a time saver they have been to me.

Your desk is next. Go to your desk drawers and do the same thing, but if you really want to start on the clutter on your floor, well okay. Pick up only the clothes at this time. Either hang or fold the clothes as you pick them up or put them in the hamper if they are dirty. Assign a different drawer for different things, one for sport clothes, one for underwear, tee shirts, shorts, pants, and night clothes. Of course you can double up in the drawers; again containers will make your life easier as things will stay neatly in their intended place.

Keep a hamper in your closet, one that hangs or one on the floor. You can keep it in the corner of your room, get one that is cute and looks good. Wicker baskets are nice, they can also be spray painted any color you like.

I know this is time consuming, clutter didn’t happen overnight. Give yourself the time needed to do a complete job and then you won’t be wasting time every day or avoiding your room because of all the clutter.

Click here for a great Organizational Tool!

If you have sport equipment that has to be kept in your room, get a basket to contain the rackets, balls, whatever it is. If you don’t use them very often see if they can fit on a closet shelf or in a pull out under the bed. You can store your sheets for your bed under your bed in a pull out container if you need to. Fold the top and bottom sheet and put them in the matching pillow case to keep them nicely folded together. This works well for the linen closet also.

Take everything out of your cubby holes and drawers in your desk area. How many pens and pencils do you have? Get rid of all but five. Only keep the ones you really like. It doesn’t matter that it is a good pen if you don’t use it. It is a waste of time to pick up a pen and put it back because you don’t like it so you don’t use it. Put containers in your drawers to hold everything you put in them, pens, paper, glue, note pads, tape, computer disks, pushpins for a cork board, notes from friends, whatever it is you keep in your drawers.

Then when you have used something it is easy to put it away because you can just toss it in to the container where it lives. If you don’t have drawers in your desk organize the top of your desk the same way, using containers for everything. Buy cute containers, again Neatnix has great organizers you can use. Have a container for your school papers on the top of your desk where it is handy, or in one of the drawers. Do not keep all of your school papers. Keep a sampling of your work. Put these in a large manila envelope and put it on your closet shelf. Only save one envelope per year.

Click here for a great Organizational Tool!

Make your bed every morning and I mean every morning. If you do school work on your bed it will be ready for you when you come home from school, your friends and you can sit on your bed to talk, and at night it will be ready to turn down the sheet to sleep. If you do your homework on your bed be sure to put it in your back pack for the next day (hang your back pack from your desk chair) or if it is ongoing it can be on your desk, in the designated basket.

Make up, manicure supplies, perfumes and other personal things put together. Always put likes togetherGet cute containers and put your make up all in one place. You can even have separate containers within a larger container. Do the same with the other things. The things you don’t use very often either put on a shelf in your closet, if it is convenient, or in the bottom drawer of your dresser or in a space that is not premium space but readily accessible. Another good organizing container that has more than one use is a shoe rack over your door. It can hold scarves; baskets of things like make up, hair brushes, blow dryer, curling iron, and other girl things.

Now it is time to pick up anything that is left on the floor. Put these things either in the desk drawers, recycle container, garbage or the basket of ‘take things to other rooms that shouldn’t be living in your bedroom’.

If you eat in your room put the dirty dishes by the door when you are done and as you leave the room they can go back to the kitchen. As you clean out your room get some kind of containera basket, box, sack to put things in that need to go to a different room. After you have finished with your room then they go back, don’t waste your time doing it one at a time.

Click here for a great Organizational Tool!

You now have a system in placeeverything has a place and you put everything in its place. I know that doesn’t always happen, but by everything having a home they will have a better chance of living there. When you try on clothes and are in a mad dash and leave them on your floor, make a pact with yourself you will hang them up before going to bed, no matter what. If you threw them down because you really don’t like them and will never wear them, recycle them, and don’t clutter up your space with them.

By assigning a place for everything and having containers to hold them you will be able to get in the habit of putting things away so clutter doesn’t accumulate. You will like your bedroom again and won’t avoid it. Your mom will be saying, “why do you spend so much time in your room, I never see you”.

Marilyn’s bio

Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors and their families create space and end clutter in their homes and offices by setting up custom made systems.

Marilyn invites you to visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find solutions to your organizing needs. She offers free tips in her blogs, articles and videos for your home and office organizing solutions.

By Marilyn Bohn Published: 8/4/2008

Technorati Tags: bedroom, children's, cleaning your house, clutter control, declutter, home, household, Household Organizing, organization, organize, teenager's

This is also the time to sort through the contents of closets and shelves. House cleaning is made easy when there is a minimum of clutter. You will be able to focus on the actual cleaning instead of getting bogged down in moving the clutter around to clean beneath it. Divide the “stuff” in your house into three piles according to how long it has been since you last used it. Label these piles to keep, to give away, and to throw away. When you have tossed or given away the things you no longer need, or when you have held a garage sale to clear that clutter, you are ready to clean.

For a great organizational tool, CLICK HERE.

Before you begin, check the condition of your cleaning equipment. If it is necessary, go ahead and purchase good replacements now. At a minimum, you should have a good broom and dust pan, a wet mop or sponge mop (depending on the type of floors you have), a dust mop, soft cloths for polishing, dusting, and wiping off fixtures, and a variety of brushes to clean the different surfaces on your walls, windows, and in your bathroom and kitchen. You may need a wax applicator or a window squeegee. A good vacuum with a variety of attachments or carpet sweeper is also a wise investment. Make sure that you have serviced your vacuum recently and that you have fresh bags, replacement rollers, or replacement belts on hand. Quality cleaning supplies are made for a particular job or surface. They will speed your jobs because you will not have to work as hard to get the job done. Also, this equipment will last for years if cared for correctly.

Next, be sure to have enough of your favorite cleaning supplies on hand. At a minimum, you will need glass cleaners, tile and grout cleaners, kitchen and bathroom disinfectants, degreasers, and soaps or detergents specially formulated for the type of floors you have. Again, the correct formula for each job will protect the surfaces in your home while cutting the time involved in cleaning those surfaces. Products that are too harsh can destroy a surface, while products that are too mild will not get the job done. Planning and purchasing the right products before you begin the project will also save time because it will not be necessary to stop in the middle of a job to run to the store because you have run out of cleaner. Be sure to cross-check your list of supplies against your housecleaning list and the tasks at hand before you purchase your supplies.

Find a sturdy bucket, tote, apron, or rolling cart to store all your cleaning equipment in one place. This container can be taken from room to room, saving you the time and energy to go back and forth from your cleaning storage area to the room you are cleaning. If size is a factor, fill the container with only the tools and products you will need for the room you are currently cleaning. It is a good idea to also store items on the cart that might need refilling in the room on which you are focusing. For instance, carry trash can or wastebasket liners, soap refills, light bulbs, or tissue boxes and toilet paper. Have a place to store any items that belong elsewhere in the house or to carry out any garbage you find in the room.

At the very least, take two plastic bags with you – one for trash and one for stuff to put elsewhere. Organizing what you carry in your tote or cart is made simpler if you have your housework cleaning checklist at hand. That way, for example, you will have made notes to yourself that when you clean the bathroom, you will also need the screwdriver to tighten the towel rack, and will need to refill the hand soap container. House cleaning is made easy by being organized and planning ahead.

Visit: http://www.fuller-brush-products.com

Technorati Tags: checklist, cleaning, cleaning your house, decluttering your home, household, Household Organizing, housework, organization, organize

Tired of collecting and organizing your kid’s toys that are creating a mess at home? Toy storage bins are excellent ways to help your child organize and store the toys when not in use.

Toys are the most colorful, vibrant and inseparable elements of our childhood memories, which make those golden days truly memorable. That cute little Barbie doll you had, the blue colored dinosaur figurine you loved, or the cuddly teddy bear you just couldn’t sleep without – toys truly make childhood days more memorable. Cute little dolls, chunky roller trucks, baseball clubs, skipping ropes, chess sets, board games, video games, play dough kits, toy cars and trains, kids’ kitchen sets and endless number of toys and games are available in the markets.

Toys are a whole lot of fun when we ourselves are kids and storing and arranging the toys is the last thing on our mind. However, when you grow up to be an adult and have a baby or a toddler or a kid of any age in your house, it is often observed that the toys make their way into every nook and corner of the house distributing the mess equally all around the house. It is at times like these, parents start looking for an easy and convenient way to store the toys and keep them organized in some way. Toy storage bins are excellent ways to help your child organize and store the toys when not in use. We will discuss the numerous types and varieties of toy storage bins, their advantages and disadvantages and several other things that you need to keep in mind while looking for a good toy storage bin.

Size of the Toy Storage Bins

You need to ensure that the toy storage bin is not too small or too large for the kid’s toys collection. It is always better to take a look at the number and size of toys that your child has and buy a toy storage bin accordingly. It is very unlikely that all the toys at home are going to be of the same size hence looking for a toy storage bin that has a combination of small, medium and large size bins can be perfect for your children. You can obviously buy a toy storage bin that is big enough to contain the largest toy, which will ensure the rest of the toys fit in, however this method will be slightly inconvenient while storing and removing toys from the toy storage bin since smaller toys can get caught under the larger ones. Also think of the place where the toy storage bins are going to be kept, since the storage bins should not be too small or too large for the room itself.

Material of the Toy Storage Bins

Preferably pick a toy storage bin that is made of sturdy material. In case of storage of light and soft cuddly toys, you can have toy storage bins made of soft fabrics. In case of heavier toys like toy cars and train models made of iron or steel, pick up toy storage bin that is made of sturdy plastic variety or wood or even metal. Make sure that no matter what material the toy storage bin is made of, it is convenient and durable enough to hold the toys.

Functionality of the Toy Storage Bins

Make sure that the toy storage bin is able to store all the toys. In addition to this see how you can increase the functionality of these toy storage bins. For example there exist several varieties of toy storage bins that not only help to store the toys but also serve some other purpose. Toy storage benches are popular types of toy storage bins, which once shut; make for a simple bench for sitting. Another popular variety is a toy storage cart which is a wheeled cart which not only makes it easier to store the toys but also to transport or move them from one room to another. Very often a toy storage bin, which is a part of the bed, is also used. Make sure that the toy storage bins are easy to open and close and can be easily used by children. Also ensure that the toy storage bin does not have any sharp edges inside as well as outside, to ensure your child’s safety.

Aesthetics of the Toy Storage Bins

After you have taken care of all the above-mentioned essential elements, it is time to think of the aesthetics of the toy storage bin. Although you can almost pick any color or theme for your toy storage bin, you can always co-ordinate the color and theme of the toy storage bin with the overall theme or color scheme in the child’s room. There are various themes starting from jungle safaris, and classic cartoon themes to the more elegant antique toy chests that resemble a treasure box. Pick a theme that suits the child’s room and matches with the interiors of the room.

In case you are planning to get the plastic toy storage bins and cannot find a suitable color, you can go for transparent bins that can also allow the child to view the contents more conveniently.

By Uttara Manohar
Published: 3/18/2008

Decluttering and Organizing Children’s Toys

In the weeks after Christmas, it can be a struggle to get a handle on all of the new toys (and stuff in general!) that has made its way into our homes.

An Old Fashioned Girl: Organizing Toys
I’m a romantic at heart.

Organizing Children’s Craft Supplies …

Organizing Children’s Craft Supplies

24/7 MOMS: “Control It” Kids Space at the “Organize It” Party

Although it’s ideal to keep all toys where they belong, younger kids just aren’t always able to bring toys back to the right room.

Technorati Tags: bins, children's, cleaning your house, declutter, Household Organizing, organize, storage, teenager's, toys

First, here’s a brief overview of how organization works. Everything in your home or office, even your car, should have a home. A place where any particular item can be kept. Now it makes sense that something you use each day and possibly several times a day should be easily accessible. For example, whether you have a home office or an office out of the home, or both, perhaps you might use paper clips every day. These should be right on your desk, within easy reach. Maybe you only use the stapler once or twice a week. This doesn’t have to be front and center, You don’t mind reaching into a drawer or a cabinet to get the stapler once or twice a week, do you? Now, here’s the beauty of being organized. You get to choose. Do you mind reaching into the drawer for the stapler. Then let’s put it right out there within your reach. Suppose it’s kept on the right hand side of your desk. That’s the place you have designated for your stapler. But, you pick it up, use it, and put it down absentmindedly on the left side of your desk.

Now multiply this behavior by 20 or 30 times a day. You pick something up from where it is always kept, and set it down somewhere else. If you do this with 20 or 30 items every day in your office, what do you have when it’s quitting time? That’s right. A disorganized mess on your desk, However, don’t despair, there’s just one rule you have to follow. All you have to do is make an effort to put things back where they belong. Put that stapler back on the right side of your desk! This rule applies to just about everything, whether you are at home, in your office or in your car. As we said before, it sounds easy, and it is; once you get used to doing it. Go ahead, try it and watch what happens. The 7 tips below will get you started.

1. Paper Clutter – This might be the number one organizational problem people complain about, so if it’s yours, you are definitely not alone. As you probably know, the mail can pile up very fast. Sort your mail as soon as you get it. Send the junk mail to a shredder, recycling or the trash basket, unopened, right away. Separate your bills and personal mail. If don’t you have a place for these categories, get two baskets, two folders or two of any type of storage container. Put bills in one and personal mail in the other, But you knew that already, didn’t you?

2. Plan Ahead – It’s very easy to feel disorganized when you are rushed. If you have a lot to do in the morning, try to get a jump on things the night before, even if it just making a list of what you have to do, in the order they need to get done. Decide what you are going to wear the next day and set it out, so there’s one less thing to think about the next morning. If you drink coffee, get that ready the night before. Don’t worry if you don’t have a coffee pot with a timer. Just measure the coffee into the filter, fill the reservoir with water and you’ll be all set. Coffee doesn’t take that long to brew. When you get up the next day, pop into the kitchen and push the brew button on the coffee maker. It will be done before you know it.

3. Keep All The Same Things Together – How many times have you gone through the house looking for stamps, an envelope and a pen, just to send something off in the mail? When we say keep all the same things together, this is a good example. You know you will need at least these three items if you want to mail something. So why not keep them all together? Get a nice basket or any other container you like and store anything that has to do with sending mail in it. This could include different size envelopes, paper, note cards or whatever. Do you print out emails, then lose them? Make a folder for all emails you have printed. In your kitchen, keep all your measuring supplies together in a drawer or a cabinet. Measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, large spoons and your mixer. Paying bills? You already know where your stamps, pen and envelopes are. Make a bill-paying folder just for bills to pay. You will be surprised how many things you can group together once you start thinking about it.

4. Save Time By Multi-tasking – Do you have to go to the Dentist’s office? Take a book you’ve been wanting to read and haven’t had time to do. Walking your dog? Make an effort to take him or her out more often and go for a brisk walk each time. Jog or run if you can. You will be getting some exercise and so will your dog. What’s more fun, walking or running with your dog or mindlessly pacing on a treadmill? Paying bills but want to watch your favorite TV show? Gather up all your bill paying needs and settle down in your living room; watch TV and pay your bills at the same time. Trying to learn a new language? Get the lessons on CD and play them when you are driving.

5. Plan Your Meals For the Week – You can’t imagine how beneficial this is. Knowing exactly what you are going to make for dinner each night will definitely ease stress. Make a list of each meal and post it on your fridge. It will also save you money when you go to the market. With your list of meals in front of you, it is a lot easier to only buy what you need.

6. Put Things Away – It only takes a minute or two to put things away. But how many of us come in the house and toss our jackets on the back of a chair, rather than hanging it up in the closet or even on a coat hook? Enlist the other members of your family to put their things away when they are finished using them. If all else fails, make a set time for everyone to go through the house once a day, pick up their things and put them away. Allot 10 or 15 minutes for this activity. Once this activity interrupts other things your family would rather be doing, you may find they are a lot better at putting things where they belong right away.

7. Add Space To Your Home – Add some shelves to a closet that is a catch-all. You will be able to store a lot more in there with shelves and everything will be easier to find. Buy modular cubes that can be stacked on top of, and next to each other. Many of these can be purchased with storage baskets that fit right into the openings, giving even more versatility. Do you have an half-empty bureau or chest of drawers? Store little used items in those drawers.

By: Elle Dixey

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Now that you know how easy it really is to get yourself organized, come on over to our site www.thebeautifulhome.net to get our Free Report – 50 Ways To Get Organized and more organizational and time-saving tips and also decorating ideas. When you get there click on “Organization” See You There!

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