Organizing Tips for March

Spring arrives this month, at least on the calendar. Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 11^th.  Set your clock ahead one hour.  This month we are concentrating on the attic and clothing.

• This is the time to get indoor tasks finished so you can enjoy the outdoors as soon as the warm weather is here.  Whatever the project, do not let it drag on or remain unfinished until next winter.  Make that final to-do list and get it done.

• The Attic.  Unless you are storing items for another family member, the goal is to keep as little as possible in the attic.  It is usually inconvenient to access and too hot or cold to spend time there.  The extreme temperatures are also not good for many items to be kept there safely.  In addition, you must take care to prevent invasion by critters.

      If you are storing items for adult children or other friends or family consider          asking them to retrieve them.  Setting a deadline to have them removed or they             will be donated may spur them into action.  In my professional and personal        experience, I have found that most people don’t really want them after being       without for awhile.  You may be surprised that is the case with items you may       have stored for others.

            For safety reasons and convenience, add lighting and secure floor boards in areas of the attic you must use.  

            For items you must keep, create zones for the types of items you are storing.          For example, holiday items can be labeled and stored together. 

            Use color coded containers or labels to help identify containers quickly.

            Take care to cover wood furnishings with sheets or blankets.  Upholstered furniture should not be stored in the attic for many reasons.

            The attic is not suitable for candles, photographs, soft plastics such as in dolls,       electronic media such as tapes, and many fabrics.

            If there are many items left to store after sorting, purging and cleaning the attic      space, it is a good idea to create a map of where items are located.  This will save        much time when it is necessary to recover them.

• Clothing   As the days are longer and warmer, remove the heaviest clothing you will save to summer storage.  This may mean to the back of the closet, to another closet or storage area, or out of the house permanently.  If they will be part of a future yard sale, store them in the area set aside for that.

  Winter clothing takes up lots of room in closets and drawers because they are   heavier and have long sleeves.  If there are items you did not use or those that        children have outgrown, consider moving them out now. 

  
  

        Clothing closets are one of the most frequently requested areas to organize.            While there are great strategies to use in setting up closet systems, the biggest             problem is too many items.  Pareto’s rule applies here.  You usually wear only        20% of your clothing 80% of the time.  Being willing to let go of those items that            you don’t wear, for whatever reason, will make the task of organizing the closet    much easier.

  
  

        While consignment shops usually only take current season clothing, removed          items can be donated to a charity or sold in a yard sale.  Moving them out will       give you more space for the items that you do love and wear.

  
  

  • If you have considered the possibility of having a yard or tag sale. It is never too early to plan and prepare for one.  This month is the time to set the date and work towards that goal.  May and June are great choices as it is not too hot and people are on the move.  Consider going in with neighbors or friends to draw more customers onto your street.

  
  

  In the March 2011 checklist, I promised not to complain about the summer heat after last year’s cold temperatures and I kept that promise.  The mild weather this winter was my reward.  My fall camellias were still blooming in January while the spring varieties were just beginning to blossom.  I love it! 

Organizing Tips for January

Last year my January article suggested you eliminate one bag of donations/recycle a week and eliminate one hour of electronics to free up your time.  If you followed through on it, you are well on your way in your organizing journey. 

This year I will make another suggestion to jump start the organizing process.  Keep a bag or box near your door for donations.  Each day as you see an item that you no longer use, immediately place it in the container. 

So many times we keep things “just in case I might need it” but we haven’t used it in years if ever.  Impulse purchases and gifts are often put in drawers, cabinets or closets but never used.  Free yourself of these items and make space for organizing what is left. 

Other items may have lost their usefulness but could be used by someone else.  Move those on to a higher purpose.  If sentimental items are not being enjoyed or honored but rather packed away in a closet or attic, see if another family member has room to display or used them.  Letting go an item doesn’t mean you forget the person or event.

If you are diligent to put an item in everyday, you will quickly see more space for the things you use and love.  Of course a closet clean out could have enough items to meet your quota for a week or two.  It is never too late to make changes to be better organized.

Here are more reminders for January.

• Start a container for tax related items that arrive in the mail this month. 
• Update your paper and computer records by purging folders of items no longer needed. This will make planning a new budget for the year and preparing tax forms much easier. Shred old financial documents a little at a time or take them to a records management company to be shred professionally.  If you have questions about how long you should keep some records, contact me or check out pages 135-138 in my book, Orderly Places.
• If you have not already done so, get a new planner/calendar that shows a week at a glance and breaks each day into hourly segments.  Schedule your daily activities in it.  Most computers have programs to do this, as does Google and other online sources, at no additional cost.
• Update your home inventory.  Take pictures or make a video of every room, every closet, the garage and attic for insurance purposes.  These pictures will also give you a fresh and objective look at the appearance of you spaces.

Set a goal to make this year a successful one for organizing your home.  Every step will make it a more enjoyable place for you and your family. 

Organizing Tips for Thanksgiving

This is the week to make final plans for Thanksgiving.  Next week begins the preparation.  As you get ready for the big day there are some good organizing tips to remember.
1.  Keep good records of your planning.  This is especially important if you are entertaining at your house.  If you use a computer, you can keep a folder just for this holiday and include files regarding guest list, menu, recipes, grocery list, decorations, time schedules,etc.  If you prefer paper files, create a master folder or notebook and have a section devoted to each of these items.
2.  Make notes as you prepare your house and meal.  I print out my menu, grocery list and recipes and make notes directly on them as I proceed throughout Thanksgiving week.  If I forgot something that should have been on the list, I write it in.  If I should have invited someone that I left off, I make a note of that, etc.
3.  After the celebration, I update my files to include my evaluation of what happened.  If I had too much turkey but not enough dressing, I make a note of it.  If I didn't allow enough time for the ham to cook, I note that on my time schedule.  Anything I can think of improving or changing is recorded on the files so that I won't make the same mistakes again.

Keeping good records, notes and updates now can save you time, money and energy the next time you have your Thanksgiving feast.