Assess the Mess

Resolve to be on time

2010-01-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

With a new year come many new resolutions. Instead of resolving to loosing weight this year or get in shape, resolve to be on time.

Being on time will enable you to feel less stressed and more prepared for each appointment. Here are some sure fire ways to beat the clock and be on time.

1. Set a timer before you have to go to an appointment. You can use the timer on the microwave or even on your watch. This will give you a count down and a way to monitor your time.
2. Prepare anything you need for your appointment the night before. This will eliminate a last minute rush and prevent you from forgetting anything.
3. Set a realistic goal of how long it will take you to get out of the house or drive to your appointment. Spare on the side of caution and always over estimate the time.
4. Lastly, commit to being 15 minutes early for everything and then maybe you will end up on time!

Tupperware Gone Wild

2010-01-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

Last night after dinner my fiance` so graciously offered to clean up the dinner dishes. He opened the cabinet drawer that contains all of my Tupperware and a mess of mismatched lids and containers came tumbling out.

It was TUPPERWARE GONE WILD!!!

I quickly started to research some organizational solutions to solve my Tupperware problem fast.

Here are some Tupperware organizational tips.

1. Consider your Tupperware Needs:
First you need to review exactly what Tupperware you use and what you use it for. I like to have a lot of containers available for when I do my Once a Month Cooking but I do not use these containers on a daily basis. By storing these types of containers away in a separate location you can free up some storage space and eliminate extra clutter.

2. Organize Brands Together:
Stack all the Tupperware together, all the Rubbermaid together, all the Glad Loc together, etc. Then keep the lids for each specific brand in a separate basket. This helps when looking for a lid. You do not have to sort through all the lids you just need to go through the lids for that specific brand.

3. Stack Same Shapes Together:
Putting all the same shapes together will help you find a lid for a certain shaped container much quicker.

4. Lid Storage:
Keep lids in large Ziploc bags so they are easily contained.

If anyone has any great fixes for Tupperware storage please post your comments/ideas here. I would love to hear from you.

Don't Forget Your Keys

2009-11-19T07:01:00.000-08:00

In my very first post I wrote about the importance of finding a central location to house your keys. Now I have found the perfect product to not only store your keys but also any important items you need to remember before walking out the door. It is called the "Doorganizer" and it is from The Container Store.

Check out this great product that hangs over your door knob and acts as a friendly reminder so you do not forget anything. This is also the perfect Christmas gift for those family members that are constantly losing their keys.

Ready, set, SHOP!

2009-11-16T06:55:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, has always signified the start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday is less then 2 weeks away so if you are planning to brave the crowds this year and search for the best deals you better start planning now!!

The Black Friday mayhem is not for the faint of heart so make sure you are organized and have a plan of attack.

1. Wear comfortable shoes since you will be doing a lot of walking. This is not the day to dress to impress.
2. Eat a good breakfast and bring a snack along.
3. Prepare a list in advance of the key items you want to purchase. List the items in order of importance and make sure you hit those stores first. Stores often only stock a certain amount of each item so if they run out you will be out of luck.
4. Make sure you check the store's ads for their hours. Most stores will open very early and often only run their sales for part of the day.
5. Preview the day's bargains and leaked deals at http://www.bfads.net/ and http://www.blackfriday.gottadeal.com/
6. Some stores even start their sales as early as Thanksgiving Eve so make sure to check out your favorite stores on-line Thursday night.

Now GET SHOPPING!!

Do you have an email addiction?

2009-11-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

Check out this e-mail statistics.

15 % of Americans say they are addicted to email.
59 % of those using portable devices check email as it arrives.
43 % of users sleep near their email unit to hear incoming messages.
40 % consider email accessibility when they plan a trip.
83 % check their email once a day while on vacation.
43 % check their email first thing every morning.

AOL, Opinion Research Corp., study 7/26/07

Do any of these statistics apply to you????

Organize Your Finances

2009-11-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

"Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time." - Jim Rohn

So try saving time and money by tracking and organizing your finances using http://www.mint.com/. This is a great tool I recently discovered.

Here are some of the benefits of using mint.com
1. First and foremost...this is a safe, secure, and trusted website
2. When you join you register all your financial information including (checking, savings, loans, credit cards, etc.) This allows you to track all your financial information in one location rather then logging on to multiple websites. This is definitely a HUGE time saver.
3. Each time you log in your financial information is updated.
4. You are able to create a budget for each spending category (food, auto, entertainment, bills, etc.). It will track when you are getting close to going over budget. This will help to eliminate overspending.
5. You can even sign up for e-mail notifications that are sent when you go over budget.

There are many other great tools that this site offers, so sign up today and start tracking your finances.

You've Got (too much) Mail

2009-11-09T10:04:00.000-08:00

I came into my office this morning to an overflow of e-mail in my in-box. Even with all the social networking sites available, e-mail still remains the main source of communication for the majority of people. So, what's the trick for organizing your e-mails to make sure nothing is missed and everything is addressed in a timely manner?

Follow these 3 easy steps to take control of your in-box.

Step 1: Schedule interrupted time to process and organize e-mails.
           - If you are a morning person like me you may want to do this over your morning cup of coffee before anyone gets in to the office. If you like to burn the midnight oil, then schedule time at the end of the day when most people have left the office and it is quiet.

Step 2: Go through one e-mail at a time starting at the top.
         - By following this systematic process you will be able to go through each e-mail and nothing will be missed or accidentally deleted.

Step 3: Use the Four D's to decide what to do with each e-mail that you open.
          - How many times have you opened, reviewed and closed the same e-mail message without taking any action? This process will help eliminate this duplication of work.

Delete it: Generally you can delete about half of all e-mail you receive. To some of us the word "delete" is a bad word. But by deleting e-mails you are able to free up your in-box and quickly view and address the more pressing items.

Do it: These e-mails should be tasks that you can do in less then 2 minutes. These e-mails will require quick responses that will address the issues and can be done in 2 minutes. There is no reason to file or save thess e-mails if it can be addressed right away.

Delegate it: This may be my favorite option!!! If you are able to delegate the task do it right away. You should be able to compose a message and delegate it to the appropriate person in about 2 minutes. Then move the original e-mail from your in-box.

Defer it: If all else fails, then you will need to defer taking action on the e-mail until later. These are the e-mails that you will need to review at another time since they cannot by quickly responded to during your scheduled e-mail processing time. Make sure that you flag the e-mail or mark it as important so you can remember to review and respond at a later date.

Hopefully these tips will help keep the e-mail overflow and the "mailbox full" notifications to a minimum.

Quote of the Day

2009-11-06T06:34:00.000-08:00

Organization is not an option; it is a fundamental survival skill and distinct competitive advantage.

- Pam N. Woods

Ahhh...my love of lists

2009-11-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

I absolutely LOVE making lists. That is how I start every day...making a "to-do" list. And the enjoyment I get from crossing items off my list is pure joy. I will even admit that I sometimes put mundane tasks on my list (getting up, eating breakfast, going to bed) just to cross them off. This is a great little trick I learned from my father! I have always been of the old school mentality when it comes to making a list...pen and paper is best. However, for those list makers that want to step into the 21st century there is a wonderful on-line application called Ta-da list (http://www.tadalist.com/). You can create lists electronically and actually have them e-mailed directly to you.

Here are a few tips for those novice list makers:
1. Set aside 10-15 minutes each morning to create your list.
2. Try to keep your list to one page so it can be carried wherever you go.
3. Try assigning a time slot to each task to make sure you stay on track.
4. Make sure to include any mandatory appointments as well.
5. Prioritize your list from easiest to hardest. Then determine the time of day that you are most productive and work on the hardest tasks then.
6. In addition to your daily lists, it is also good to keep an on-going list of projects you want to accomplish.

"You've Got Supper"

2009-11-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled across the BEST WEBSITE EVER!! Per my last post, meal planning, prep and cooking can be a daunting task. Check out this amazing website: http://www.youvegotsupper.com/

You register your e-mail address and every Thursday they send you five FREE recipes, cooking instructions and a grocery list. If you are adventurous you can even search their recipe box for additional ideas.

Does it get any better then this! I only wish I had thought of the idea myself.

Once a Month Cooking

2009-11-02T09:27:00.000-08:00

Could you imagine if you only had to cook dinner once a month!!!! What would you do with all that extra time at night??? And no...this does not mean ordering take-out 29 days of the month.

I was looking for a way to get a healthy meal on the table every night of the week while working full-time and I stumbled upon this amazing cookbook, "Once a Month Cooking" by Mary Beth Lagerborg and Mimi Wilson.

This cookbook creates 2 and 4 week meal plans that enable you to cook enough food for either 2 weeks or 1 month...in ONE DAY!!! The book outlines all the groceries you will need to purchase for your day of cooking as well as the best order to prepare your meals. It leads you step-by-step through the process which includes shopping the day before. The authors suggest that you do your shopping and some of the food prep the day before so that the task is not so overwhelming. Then on the second day you lay out all your ingredients and get cooking!!!

I have done this for several months now and I am a huge fan. In the morning I go in my freezer and pull out one of my pre-made meals. At night all I need to do is cook or reheat and I have a wonderful homemade meal that requires little effort. Not only is it wonderful not to have to worry about what you are making for dinner every night...but you also save money on groceries. By planning out what you're going to buy, using coupons, purchasing what's on sale and avoiding those $40 Chinese take-out bills you'll save some serious money.

So prepare your meals ahead of time and enjoy a wonderful home cooked meal each night of the week.

Working efficiently in a clean workspace

2009-10-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

Now that you have a clean and organized desk, let's discuss how to optimize your efficiency during the workday.

1. Create a main base of operation at your desk.

The things you use daily should be within hand's reach. The things you use weekly should be within arm's reach. This way you do not need to get up from your chair every time you need to use the stapler or find a paperclip. By making everything easily accessible, you save time and energy searching for those commonly used supplies.

2. Create a filing system that works for you.

Every worker usually needs to following files.

"In-box": this should be reviewed and emptied every 24-hours
"To-read": this should house material that is not time sensitive that you would like to read at some point in the future. However, make sure you go through this pile at least once a month. If you have not read it at this point you will most likely not read it...so throw it out!
"To-file": this should be documents that need to be filed in a separate location.

This system will help eliminate a lot of extra paper on your desk.

3. Keep a day planner that keeps track of all your appointments and to-dos.

The average person has many tracking systems: the computer, post-its, phone messages, blackberry, and note pads by the refrigerator...get it all organized into one place. This will help avoid misplacing any notes or reminders. Reminders or post-its that are scattered all over your desk should go into your day planner to keep everything organized centrally.

Remember to clean up your desk at the end of the day so you can start fresh each morning. Starting each day with a clean, organized desk will allow you to have more time to complete the tasks you need throughout the day. An organized desk will also increase your efficiency which leads to increased productivity.

Now...GET TO WORK!!!

Efficiency Begins With a Clean Desk

2009-10-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Whether you work at home or in an office building, your desk is the heart of operation. And if your desk is not clean and organized you will find yourself spending HOURS searching for misplaced documents, folders or other important papers.

Start with these steps to get your work space clean and organized:

Step 1: Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary organizing supplies on hand. This includes a trash bin, pen, marker, folders, labels, and any other supplies you feel are necessary.
Step 2: Address your desk problems in blocks of time. You may be able to straighten up clutter in a few hours, or you may need more time. In order to make the job more manageable, devote a couple hours each day to organizing until you're done. Block off time on your calendar for daily organizing so you will never forget.
Step 3: Begin by sorting everything into piles so you can clean an area to work.
Step 4: Then Go through each pile and determine if you should keep it, discard it or file it...remembering to throw out as much as possible. You should now have a clean working environment.

Stay tuned for tips on keeping your newly cleaned desk ORGANIZED!!

Pamper your pet by being organized

2009-10-26T06:18:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of tips to organize your favorite four-legged friend.

1. Corral all their toys and treats together in one easily accessible spot. This will also allow you to store them away quickly when guests come over.
2. Put leashes, disposable bags, and a towel for muddy paws near your entryway so that taking your animal outside is easy and enjoyable.
3. If you do have an animal that sheds a lot also remember to keep a lint brush near the entryway.
4. Track all of your pet's medications on a calendar to ensure they never miss a dose. Some medication is taken on a monthly basis which can be easy to forget.

By being an organized owner you allow yourself to have more time to spend with your favorite four-legged friend.
My dog Bailey is an active chocolate lab that always keeps me on my toes. By being organized I can have a toy, bone or leash ready at a moment's notice.

Five Minutes to Spare...

2009-10-22T05:30:00.000-07:00

Do you have five minutes to spare before you start dinner, run out the door to pick up the kids or before your favorite show??? Imagine what you can organize in those five minutes! Five spare minutes of organization a day can add up to a 1/2 hour a week and 2 hours a month. This will keep you from spending half your Saturday or Sunday cleaning and organizing. So grab a basket of laundry and get folding during American Idol commercial breaks...then spend the weekend relaxing with your family.

Daily maintenance is key.

The KEY to your success

2009-10-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

The KEY to success is always being able to find your KEYS!!! This may not actually be the REAL key to success but it definitely helps your day run a little smoother when you can find your car keys in the morning. The best way to avoid losing your keys is to have a central location where they go the second you come into the house. This way they do not have the opportunity to get misplaced throughout the house. Whether you prefer a hook, a bowl, or a basket...a central location is key. When I first moved into my house I created a "key bowl". This is a specific decorative bowl that is located on a table right by my front door.

As I took a closer look I realized that the Key Bowl has now become a place to house more then keys!!!

Remember...once you implement an organization ideal you continually need to check back and make sure it is still meeting your need. Time to reorganize the key bowl!!