Copyright © 2008 OM Home.  All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2008 OM Home.  All rights reserved.

exit chaos, enter calm

Favorite Organizing Tips to Save Time, Energy and Sanity!

• Everything in its place.   For everything that you own, designate a place for it.  Then simply put things back where they belong when you’re done using them.  It sounds simple, but it actually takes a lot of practice to get this habit down. 
  

• Start small.  If your life, your home, your office are all disorganized, don’t try to conquer all of it at once.  Choose a small area and organize that.  One chunk at a time, you can get organized.
  

• All information in one place.  Keep all information in one place and never hunt for it again.  Binders or hanging folders are great for storing phone directories, team rosters, flyers, etc.   
  

• Put it away now.  Done using something?  Don’t put it down with the intention of putting it away later.  Cluttered houses and offices are full of these intentions.  Make an effort to put things away immediately whenever possible.
  

• Use an “inbox” (and empty it).  If you find that you have papers all over the counter or the desk, create an “inbox” to collect all incoming papers.  Empty it regularly and if you need something you will only have one pile to sift through to find it!
  

• A simple system for pending items.  All you need is a folder and a calendar.  Keeping track of pending items, such as plane or theater tickets is easy with a folder and a calendar.  Store pending or future items in the folder and note it on the calendar.  The note on the calendar will jog your memory and send you to the pending folder!
  

• Keep a simple filing system. If your filing system is too complicated, chances are you won’t use it.  It simply requires that you have a place for everything, and get into the habit of putting things where they belong right away. 
  

• Find a calendar that works for you and USE IT!  For the computer savvy try an online calendar so everyone can access and update it from anywhere.  If you prefer the pencil to paper method that works too but be sure you have a master calendar and update it regularly with everyone’s important information. 
  

• Make your system usable.  If you’re having problems with your organization system, take a careful look at what’s tripping you up.  Keep it simple — if possible, even fun — and you’ll be more likely to stick to the system.
  

• Create a landing strip.  Having a place to toss keys, bags, cell phone, cash, anything when you arrive home saves time searching for it when you leave again.  The “mud room” has become popular with families to catch backpacks, coats, shoes, hats, etc.  If your house does not have a mud room – there are lots of creative ways to create one! 
  

• Presort Family Laundry - Favorite Time Saver!  Clean laundry is only half the battle — it still needs to be sorted and put away. Save those steps by keeping washer-and-dryer-safe mesh bags, ($8, www.stacksandstacks.com) in each kid's room — one for lights, one for darks.  Throw the bags directly into the washing machine and dryer, then hand them back to the kids. If they're old enough, they can do their own folding.
  

• Use Lists - Whoever unwraps the last bar of soap from the four-pack or scrapes the last spoonful of mayo out of the jar should be responsible for writing it down on the shopping list.
  

• Create a Beauty Station - Favorite Time Saver! got girls?  Save time and energy by having a mirror by the door, along with a basket filled with last-minute primping tools. No one has to run all over the house looking for brushes, barrettes, sunscreen, hand lotion, or various makeup essentials: It's all in the basket. There's even a blow dryer, so no one leaves the house with a wet head.
  

• Create a Day-By-Day Shelf System -  Monday's & Wednesday's are soccer; Tuesday's are Ballet; Friday's are your early morning walking club.  Need to remember different things for different days?  to help you get out the door more quickly consider using a shelf system for each day.  Soccer ball and cleats go on the Monday/Wed shelf, Ballet slippers on the Tuesday shelf and water bottle and hand weights on the Friday shelf. 
  

• Organize future "hand-me downs" - keep a "future bin" in each of your  boys' closets for hand-me-downs and clothing purchased on clearance in larger sizes.  Purge their closets once a season and anything they have outgrown either moves to the younger sibling's future bin; the charity bin, or the trash.