Organize Your Life and More
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About this ebook
Organize Your Life and More
Are You Organized?
Does any of the following describe you?
Stressed, low on cash, low on time, hectic schedule, late for appointments, forget important items, forget important tasks, always looking for lost items, your kids lack responsibility, you live in a cluttered home.
Disorganization can be stressful, time consuming, messy and expensive but there is help.
“Yes, YOU can be organized too! Learn the best kept secrets of becoming organized and staying that way. Learn how to be efficient, save time and money, reduce stress and clutter, get the help and cooperation you need from family members and prove to yourself that it can be done.
In this book you will find a vast collection of:
1.Incredibly easy to follow organizing tips.
2.Short articles.
3.Examples to help get you started.
4.Budgeting and financial information.
5.Ideas to organize using new or recycled products.
6.Organizing challenges with references to help you accomplish each one.
7.Information to help you organize absolutely everything!
No more long, drawn-out explanations, just the help you need now! Get organized today! The results will simply amaze you!
Christina Scalise
Christina Scalise is a Professional Organizer, author, wife and mother of three. She resides in upstate New York with her family and is the author of Organize Your Finances, Your Kids, Your Life! and Organize Your Life And More. She also writes many articles, and provides weekly tips and product recommendations on her website.Additional Qualifications: Professional Organizer since 2004 (individual coaching for home and office). Creator and owner of “Organize Your Life And More” and “OrganizeYourLifeAndMore.com,” event organizer and planner, management experience with real estate, business offices, town office management, and non-profit organizations.
Read more from Christina Scalise
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Reviews for Organize Your Life and More
7 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Good thicks on how to organize yourself better. It might be hard to follow sometimes
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Many chapters appear blanco on my screen therefore not informative at all
Book preview
Organize Your Life and More - Christina Scalise
Chapter 8. Clutter Control
A Cluttered Mind=A Cluttered Home=A Cluttered Life
General Rules to Controlling Clutter Before It Starts
Temporary Clutter
"I Have Too Much Stuff!"
Get-Rid-Of Pile
Discard Baskets
How to Plan a Garage Sale
How to Organize a Junk Drawer
Sentimental Belongings
How Many Can You Get Rid Of?
Chapter 9. How to Remember What You Always Forget
Don’t Forget
Reminders
Where to Write It Down
Create a Set of Instructions to Avoid Saying or Hearing These Words: I Can’t Remember How to Do That; I Will Figure It Out Later!
"I Can’t Remember Where I Put It!"
Remember to Pay Those Bills on Time!
Index Card Reminders
To Do List at Work
Chapter 10. Time
Busy Bag
Guilt
Multitasking and Saving Time
Schedule It In
Timesharing
Individualize
Save Computer Time
Chapter 11. Plan Ahead
Think Ahead, Plan Ahead
Family Calendar
Be Prepared; Stock Up
Gift Ideas and Preparation
Do Before Leaving
and Bring on Trip
Lists
Emergency Kits
Final Affairs in Order
Death of a Loved One
A Great Quote to Remember
Chapter 12. Finances
Financial Layout
Designate an Area for Bill Paying
Check All Statements Thoroughly
Tax Receipts
Too Many Accounts
Chapter 13. Paperwork
Eight Ways to Reduce or Eliminate Those Piles of Papers
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Throwing Away Papers
What and When to Toss
Double Up Your Filing System
Computer Folders
How to Keep up With Incoming Mail
Make Time to Read Those Articles
Finding Your Receipts
Storage of Your Pending Receipts
Tackle That Drawer Full of Papers
Highlight and Bold
Chapter 14. Family Communication of Information
The Importance of Designating a Family Communication Area
Post Important Information Where It Is Needed Most
Dinner Time
Information for Each Folder
Chapter 15. Organizing Your Kids
Kids Need to Be Organized Too! This Includes Schedules, Chores, and Rules!
Twenty Ways to Get Your Child to Pick Up and Organize Their Bedroom—and Keep It That Way
Chore Sheets
Job Cards for Kids
Rules Sheets
Jobs List for Kids
Have a Fun Things to Do
List Ready to Go
Leaving Your Children Home Alone
Back to School
Don’t Forget the Homework
Planning for the Future
Preparing for College
Leaving for College
Chapter 16. In the Closet
Separate Clothing
Briefly Worn Clothing
How to Organize a Closet and Quickly Determine Which Clothes to Get Rid Of
Chapter 17. Gardening
Springtime Planting
Garden Layout
Plant Progress
Chapter 18. Shopping
Shopping Lists
Extra Long Shopping Lists
Sales and Coupons
Chapter 19. Food
Recipes
Restaurant Takeout Menus
"Grab and Go" Snacks
Cook in Bulk and Freeze to Save Time and Effort
Remember to Take Your Dinner Out of the Freezer the Night Before
Keep Your Food Fresh
Chapter 20. Projects
Project Organization
Grab and Go Fix-It Bag
Chapter 21. Organizing Specific Items
Medications
Keys
Pet Toys
Creative Storage for Kitchen Utensils
Paint, Paint Supplies, and Paint Samples
Extra Parts
Gift Bags and Wrapping
Ten Ways to Organize Those Smallest of Items
Cosmetics, Nail, and Hair Accessories
Hobby Rooms
Pictures
Movies, DVDs, Music, and CDs
Taming Your Cords and Wires
Replace That Rolodex
Selling Your Home
Garage
Chapter 22. Recycle and Reuse
Organizing Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
Recycle Those Unused Containers
Storage Containers
Baskets
Binders
What Can You Recycle?
Chapter 23. Organizing Challenges
The One Week Challenge
Challenges to Do
Conclusion
Introduction
When most people think of organization they imagine cleaning up their home and clearing out clutter, but organization is also about family, finances, time management, stress control, and so much more. It affects every aspect of our lives and our family members’ lives as well. Organization is the foundation for a successful, stress free, clutter free, happy, and fulfilling life.
If you are reading this book perhaps you have already decided you have some areas of your life or home that need to be organized.
In this book you will find a vast collection of organizing tips, short articles, and many examples to help get you started. Also included are many organizing challenges to help with any specific areas that may need attention. It’s up to YOU to choose which challenges to accept and accomplish.
Each challenge has references which will lead you to the help you may need to complete each one. Try to do as many as you can (maybe schedule one a day or one every week) and add in some of your own as well.
When you are done, make sure to take the time to enjoy the rewards of being organized. You will soon be asking yourself, Why did I wait so long?
Happy Organizing, Everyone!
Chapter 1
Why Organize?
Are you an organized person?
Is your family life more chaotic than it should be?
Does any of this describe you?
Stressed.
Low on cash.
Hectic schedule.
Low on time.
Low on energy.
Late for appointments.
Forget to bring essential items with you.
Forget to do important tasks.
Always looking for a lost item such as your car keys or cell phone.
Your house has piles of clutter you just don’t have time to deal with.
You are running out of space in your home.
Your kids are constantly forgetting their homework and are not acting responsibly.
Disorganization can be stressful, time consuming, messy, and expensive!
Organization can help you and your family in many different ways:
Reduces clutter, helping to maximize your space so you can enjoy more of your home.
Saves money and improves overall finances by helping you take full advantage of savings and opportunities available to you. No more late payments from bills that were forgotten and not paid on time. No more loss of savings such as tax deductions, insurance claims, rebates, and coupons because the paperwork was lost. No more increased repair costs caused by forgotten maintenance. No more missed opportunities to advance in your career caused by lack of organization and preparation.
Saves time for you andyour family. No more wasted time looking for lost items, making you late for appointments or special events. No more wasted time running back and forth to the store, purchasing items you didn’t know you already had. No more multiple trips for multiple items.
Reduces stress for a healthy lifestyle by simplifying daily activities and improving everyday life. No more forgotten items when leaving home. No more schedule conflicts and arguments caused by lack of communication. No more forgotten homework and responsibilities from the kids.
Improves your quality of life with all the above.
Chapter 2
Some Things to Keep in Mind While Organizing
One thing to keep in mind—and you will notice this stated many times throughout this book—is to start by tossing everything you no longer want or need and categorize the rest. These are extremely important steps that will help you save space, control clutter, and quickly find what you need.
There are many other things everyone should keep in mind while organizing. Here are a few of those things:
The ABC’s of Organization
A place for everything and everything in its place.
Be prepared and bring a Busy Bag with you to get things done while you wait.
Categorize your items before storing them away.
Different ways to organize. There is more than one way to organize. Choose the way that works best for you and your family.
Everyone shares household responsibilities.
Family budget. Create one and stick to it.
Get rid of clutter, file those piles of papers, clear out that junk drawer, and organize that pantry.
Help each other organize and come up with more ideas.
Information is important. Create a family communication area with a family calendar and post all necessary information.
Joy: it’s what you will feel when you’re done organizing. You will also feel a real sense of accomplishment and reduced stress knowing you are now organized.
Kids need to be organized too!
Learn how to live an organized, stress free, clutter-free life, and maintain that organization.
Miscellaneous. Avoid labeling any files, drawers, or storage boxes Miscellaneous.
No is a powerful word. Use it when you need more time for yourself and your family and don’t want to become overwhelmed.
Organize now to save time and money and reduce stress and clutter.
Procrastination: fight it!
Quickly put away a few items at a time: five minutes, five items.
Reduce stress. Plan ahead, stock up on everyday items, leave a few minutes early, etc.
See it, find it. Store your items in clear containers to see it and find it quickly.
To do lists. Have one going at all times so you can quickly decide what to do with those extra few minutes in the day.
Unused and unwanted items need to go. Hold a garage sale, recycle and throw things away, or donate to your favorite charity.
Vertically store your items to save storage space.
Write it down. Don’t rely on your memory for everything, write reminder notes.
X marks the spot. Mark the spot where you planted seeds in the garden and are now expecting them to grow, mark a spot in the garage with a hanging tennis ball or soft cone to know where to stop the car so you don’t bump into anything important, mark the spot where the end of the driveway is with reflective markers so when the snow covers everything you will still know where the end of the driveway is, etc.
Yes. Say yes to those who offer to help you.
Zzzzzzz. Take a break, take a nap, take time for yourself, and enjoy how organized you have become.
Realistic Organization
Nothing will ever be 100% organized 100% of the time. Do not stress over having everything perfect. Organization isn’t about perfection; it’s about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your quality of life.
Sometimes Less Really Is More
The less you keep, the easier it will be to find the more important items. So get rid of as many items as you can that you no longer want or need. Donate, sell, or toss, it’s up to you. Once you have cleaned out the items you no longer want or need, you will notice a wonderful feeling of relaxation and liberation!
A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
How many times have you heard this expression? It really is very good advice. Each week, take the time to look around your home at the items that are still sitting out; odds are that a lot of these items do not have a designated place in your home. Once you have designated a place for each item, you will suddenly find it easier to keep your items put away and your home will become clutter-free in no time. So make a file for those unfiled papers,