Home Organizing Tips for Busy Professionals

Do you have chores left to do at home and not have enough time and energy left to do it? Well, you are not alone. Many people, especially working moms constantly struggle with this dilemma every single day. After a gruelling day at the office, the thought of going home and cleaning and organizing the house can really make one cringe. For most working moms, housework and family duties never seem to get finished which makes their lives a lot more hectic. But there are actually ways to prevent this from happening. With proper organization and time management, maintaining the home can be a breeze. With this, here are some home organizing tips for busy professionals.

1. Write down your tasks for the day. It is always a good idea to jot down all the tasks that you want to accomplish each day. This way, you could spend your time wisely and keep track of your progress. Writing them down also makes sure that all the things that you need to do are done before the end of the day. It is very important to set realistic goals or else you’re just setting up yourself for a whole lot of stress. Once you get the hang of doing these tasks every day, then it will be just a normal routine for you.

2. Avoid multitasking. For most professionals, multitasking is the key to get the job done in half the time. But in home cleaning and organization, it’s not exactly the same. Sometimes, multitasking house chores can consume more time than doing it one at a time. Doing two or more tasks at a time can also make it more inefficient which can result in mediocre results.

3. Take a break from time to time. It is very important to give yourself at least fifteen minutes twice a day just to gain clarity. Stop whatever you’re doing for a while and take a quick break from your daily grind. This can help you destress and regain energy to do more tasks.

4. Delegate tasks. If you’re living with your family or if you have housemates, then it’s a good idea to assign house tasks that they can do. If you have kids, you can ask them to put away their toys or if you have a flatmate, you can take turns in cleaning the bathroom and so on. This way your house tasks will be reduced and you’ll have more time to do other things.

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Six Organization Tips to Prepare For Your Holiday Party

It’s time to get ready for the party you’ve been planning to have this holiday season. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your menu and decorate your home for the holidays. However, before you decorate, you may need to declutter! Now is the perfect time to take a good look at your home and decide on how you would like things arranged and organized on the big day. Unless you’re fortunate to have abundant space, you may need to move some things around and even remove some items to accommodate all of your guests. Here are a few organization tips as you approach the day of your holiday party:

1.2-3 weeks before:

-Mail out your invitations or use an online invitation service like evite.com.
-Begin the decluttering process throughout your home. Break it down and do something every day.
-Schedule home services to give you a helping hand prior to the party, e.g cleaner, event planner, handyman, professional organizer, interior decorator, personal assistant, etc.

2. 2 weeks before:

-Plan your menu. Select a menu based on the time of the party, whether it will be casual or formal or simply a wine and cheese cocktail party.  Do you have enough serving platters and a dedicated area to serve beverages?

3.1-2 weeks before:

-If you are ordering catered items, check the deadline for placing your order, in order to be ready in time for the party.
-If your home is not yet decorated for the holidays, you may want to get started at least a week before the party, so that you don’t have to worry about it the week of the party.
-If you having a pot-luck dinner, call guests to confirm the dish they will be bringing to share.

4. 1 week before: 

-Shop for the ingredients you will need for your menu.
-If necessary, begin decluttering your entertaining space.
-If children are invited, set up a kid-friendly area for them to play and feel comfortable.  This is also a great time to put away your children’s special toys and breakables, and purchase a few extra bins or baskets for toys that you intend to leave out for your younger guests to play with.

5. 5-7 days before: 

-Call invited guests who have not yet responded to your invitation to find out whether or not they are attending the party.

6. The Week of the Party:

-Determine the final count of attendees and check to make sure you have enough food and beverages for everyone.
-If necessary, rearrange your furniture and set it up to encourage conversation.
-Add your finishing touches to your decor and then do some final decluttering!

After using these organization tips, on the day of the party, you will be free to take a deep breath, relax and enjoy your clutter-free and beautifully decorated home.  Have a great party!

Jacquie Ross is a Professional Organizer, writer and owner of Maryland based, CastAway the Clutter! [http://www.castawaytheclutter.com]. CastAway the Clutter! and online resource Halo Organizers. Jacquie serves clients in the Baltimore, Maryland area and is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. She teaches homeowners and professionals how to get organized and reclaim their time and space. Jacquie is also the Organized Families writer for the Baltimore Examiner. This post originally appeared at http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacquie_Ross

For more help planning your holiday party visit In Order to Succeed on Facebook and on Twitter.

Prepare for the Scariest Holiday with these Halloween Tips

Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday for children and adults. However, sometimes the stress of trying to get things ready for Halloween can put a damper on the fun. You can avoid the stress of Halloween planning by using the following Halloween tips to get prepared for all the festivities.

1. Make a List

Before you head out for Halloween shopping make a list of everything you will need. A list will keep you from having to make several trips to the store while you are trying to get kids ready for trick or treating or trying to get your home ready for the Halloween party.

2. Save Money by Comparison Shopping

Check out your local circulars to get the best prices on Halloween candy and decorations. Write the name of the store with the best prices for each item on your list. This will not only make your shopping easier it will also save you money. Remember to check your Sunday newspapers for coupons you can use for a discount on Halloween candy.

3. Gather all Your Decorations

Get all of your fall and Halloween decorations together. Sort through them and throw away the ones that are broken or just look worn. Before you begin decorating, make sure you clean your home and remove all clutter. This will make it much easier to decorate for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Make sure you have plastic bins labeled and ready to store your Halloween decorations in for next year.

4. Costumes

Getting the right costumes for your children and yourself can be the most time-consuming and expensive part of Halloween. If you are making costumes from scratch, you need to allow yourself plenty of time to get them completed. You definitely don’t want to be rushing around trying to put last minute details on the costumes. If you are buying costumes, you should get them as early as possible. It may be more cost-effective to rent costumes instead of buying.

Another great idea for costumes is to get with your friends to do a costume exchange each year. This will save time and money. You and your children can have a different Halloween costume each year without spending a lot of money.

Don’t forget to check the after Halloween sales on decorations and costumes. You can save as much as 75 percent on clearance Halloween items. This will help you be prepared for next year.

5.  Safe Trick or Treating

It is always best to take your children trick or treating. However, sometimes the older children want together in a group. If this is the case, make sure your child carries a cell phone and a good flashlight. Have your child check in periodically with the phone and set a time for him to be home. Make sure you know the area your child will be trick or treating in.

Getting ready for Halloween doesn’t have to be scary. Follow the tips listed above and enjoy a safe and fun Halloween.

Visit In Order to Succeed on Facebook and on Twitter.

5 Tips to Prepare for Fall

Fall is in the air bringing vibrant colors, cooler weather and yes, pumpkin flavor everywhere.  As the seasons change from the dog days of summer to cool days of fall it’s important to get your home ready for imminent weather changes, both inside and outdoors. These tips will help make sure your house is prepared for the colder months ahead.

1. Give your appliances a seasonal check-up

As it gets cooler many of your appliances will be getting more use, especially the furnace, space-heaters, dryer and hot-water heater. Before the days get shorter and the holidays approach, make time to evaluate all of your large appliances to make sure all is running well. This may mean replacing older pieces of piping or reinforcing joints. If you’re not a handyman, don’t be afraid to call the professionals in heating for some light, preventative repairs.

2. Maintain Your Gutters

Making sure your gutters are free from leaves and debris is important between seasons. With fall approaching expect lots of leaves to make their way into your gutters, causing clogging during rainstorms and potential freezing when the temperatures drop. As a preventative measure, clean your cutters beforehand and thank about investing in gutter guards. These are a metal caging attached to the top of gutters to block leaves and dirt from entering. Gutter guards are great to add just before fall to stop the foliage from becoming a problem.

3. Fall Cleaning

Transitioning from summer to fall means exchanging swimsuits for sweaters and beach towels for blankets. Before you re-stock your closet for fall, re-evaluate your summer gear. Get rid of clothing, toys, accessories and decorations you didn’t use this season or won’t use in the future. Donate your items to a thrift store, consign them locally or have a good old-fashioned yard sale. Reducing your clutter will make your home feel bigger for the cooler months when more time is spent inside.

4. Make-over your Mudroom

In the months to come footwear and jackets become much bulkier and dirtier tracking in mud, leaves and eventually snow. In preparation make-over your mudroom so it’s functional for fall. Think about organizing your space and installing extra coat-hooks, shelves and cabinets to keep jackets, umbrellas and rain-boots out of the way.

5. Special Window Treatment

Clear the air

To keep your house from feeling stuffy, leave your windows open when the fall weather is just right. Studies from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report that the air in your home can be more polluted than the air outside. To circulate in the fresh air leave your windows open for at least 20 minutes when the weather is nice. As an added bonus, this could help prevent your family from catching a fall cold (and cut a little cost on the electric bill)!

Seal of approval

When the temperatures begin to drop it’s time to turn on the heater. To keep the heat inside your home and the cash inside your wallet, invest in weather strips for your windows. These can be cheaply purchased at any home improvement store and easily installed and will help you conserve heat and cash.

Thanks for reading, have a great fall!

Author: Jesse Aaron is a professional blogger with a passion for homebrewing and recommends Xtrema for all your serious cooking needs (including homebrewing!). He writes on a variety of topics on his blog, Mashbout. Follow Jesse on Google Plus.

Three Products to Help You Organize Jewelry, Accessories & Make Up

Here are some unique ways you can organize and display your jewelry, accessories and make up.

Weekly Pill Containers: You know those pill containers you can find in drug stores? While they are also great for jewelry storage. They keep necklaces from tangling and because they are clear the contents are easily identifiable. It’s also great for traveling.

 

 

 

drawer organizer from inter design[1]Linus 3″X6″ Drawer Organizer: These drawers are clear and stackable, and available from Amazon.com for $4.99.  They stack on top of one another and also fit well perfectly on the shelf in any medicine cabinet and you can use them to separate make-up brushes,  mascaras, cosmetic crayons and pencils.

 

 

 


Kantek Clear Acrylic Pencil holderKantek Clear Acrylic Pencil Holder:  For organizing tubes of ointments, tweezers, cuticle scissors and small stuff that does not stand up on their own in medicine cabinets. Retails for about $6 to $9.  it is a perfect size for medicine cabinet shelves as it’s dimensions are 2.75 x 2.75 x 4″ high.  You can see what is inside and it keeps this type of loose stuff within reach, and not falling out of the cabinet.

 

 

 

 

In Order to Succeed is a full service Professional Organizing and Project Management firm serving private individuals and business owners throughout New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. In Order to Succeed works closely with clients helping them to live, work and move in productive, organized and stress free ways.

Useful Link: Mikyajy

A Girl’s Guide to Dominating the Closet While Living with a Boy

If you wish to dominate the closet the first step is to determine what is the minimum space that your man requires for his clothes to fit comfortably and be easily accessible to him. Once you’ve figured this out it should be considered safe for you to begin mapping out the rest of the closet space for yourself.

Some men are perfectly fine with their women taking over the majority of space within a shared closet. If you’re guy is one of those men then go ahead execute the domination. If however your man wishes to have 50 percent or more of the shared closest space but it’s obvious he doesn’t require that much space for his clothes to fit comfortably and be easily accessible you’ll have to use a variety of creative and cleaver measures to divide the closest space in such a way so that the difference isn’t visually obvious. This can be hard to do if the room is symmetrical and you are dividing one side.

If your man does not have any major objection offer to take on the work of initiating the closet reorganization and set it up so that you establish your preferred spaces while also allocating and customizing the areas to be used by your male closet-mate. Hopefully, your guy will see this act of kindness in a positive light as it saves him the time and the effort from having to do this somewhat tedious work himself. And by setting up the joint closet it side steps the need for negotiation up front. If there is some lack of satisfaction then there can always be a reallocation of drawers, hangers and shelves later.

First utilize as much of the vertical space as possible, even if there are windows in the closet this need prevent that “wall” space or ceiling hanging space from being utilized well. Shelves and rods placed high on the walls or hanging from the ceiling can be allocated to the male partners since more often than not they are taller than their female counterparts.

Maximize your closet space by using decorative boxes or plastic bins to hold hats, scarves, hosiery, etc. This will keep them together and neatly organized and make your day start out beautifully knowing you won’t have to dig through drawers to find the perfect scarf for your outfit. SimpleStencil.com lets you create attractive personalized labels.

Another cleaver idea is to use velcro to affix drawer labels since they can easily be changed as the seasons do. (or you can change a drawer from “his” to “hers” if you need to dominate additional areas after the original closet design is agreed to).

The use of attractive color and supplies can help in so many ways. Select colors that are not too feminine or patterns too girly when a space is to be shared with a man

Once the new closet has been created your guy may actually be pleased both with the outcome as well as the fact that it was done without his required effort.

Denise Caron-Quinn is the Founder and President of In Order to Succeed, a professional organizing firm serving clients in New York and Connecticut. One of the things In Order to Succeed does for our clients is help them organize closet spaces. In addition, Denise and her husband have successfully shared a walk-in closet for several years.

Decluttering as Zen Meditation

Decluttering your home or workspace can often seem overwhelming, but in truth it can be as peaceful as meditation, and can be a way to practice living mindfully and in the moment.

Decluttering can be your zazen, as it is often mine.

Recently I was honored with the chance to speak to a class at the San Francisco Zen Center, with the wonderful Zen priest Susan O’Connell (one of my favorite people in the world, and my favorite movie star friend). I talked with the Zen students about decluttering, and a couple things stood out for me as I talked:

  • Clutter is a manifestation of a) holding onto the past and b) fear of what might happen in the future.
  • Letting go of clutter is a way to live more mindfully and in the present.
  • The act of decluttering itself can be a mindfulness practice.

Let’s talk about each of those things briefly.

Clutter is holding onto the past, or fear of the future

Why do we have clutter in the first place? Why do we keep it when we don’t really need it? Maybe we think we do need it — for two reasons:

1. We don’t want to let go of the past. Often clutter comes in the form of emotional attachment to objects that have significance to us. They might remind us of a loved one, or a vacation, or a special event like a birthday, funeral, graduation, etc. It might be a gift from someone. All of this is living in the past. I’m not saying we should forget about the past, but letting go of these objects (and they’re only objects, they’re not the events or loved ones themselves) … it is a way of releasing our hold on the past. It’s a way of living more in the present. I never forget the past, but it’s not a place I try to dwell.

2. We’re afraid of the future. Clutter might be things we think we might need sometime in the future. We hold on to them just in case. Over-packing for a trip is a good example — we bring more than we really need, just in case we need them. It’s the same in our houses — we have a ton of things we don’t really need or use, just in case. We’re afraid of being unprepared for the future, but the truth is we can never be totally prepared. We can’t control the outcome of the future, and trying to do so means that we’re never really living in the present moment. We’re always preparing for what might (or might not) come.

Look at your clutter carefully, one object at a time, and ask yourself why you’re holding onto each object. It’s probably for one of these two reasons, if you’re honest.

Btw, books are usually examples of one of these two reasons. We hold onto books we’ve already read, as trophies of our reading accomplishments. We hold onto books we might read in the future (but probably won’t), with the optimism that our future selves are going to be more amazing readers than we’ve ever been in the past. In truth, you only need three or four books — the ones you might read in the next month. Then after you’ve read those, donate those books to charity, and check out a few books from the library.

Let go of clutter to live mindfully

So if clutter is holding onto the past, and fearing the future … how can we live in the present instead?

I slowly get rid of clutter, and in doing so, I release my mind of these attachments and fears. It’s a liberating process. Clutter is the physical embodiment of these attachments and fears — emotional stuff that we don’t realize we have. By decluttering, we are clearing ourselves of these tangled webs.

And when I’ve gotten rid of clutter, I’m freed. I can forget about those things, and live instead in this moment. I can fully appreciate life as it happens, instead of looking back on what has happened before, or looking forward to what might happen later.

It’s of course possible to live in the moment even if you have clutter. There is no prerequisite to mindful living. But decluttering can be a beautiful process of helping ourselves let go of the things we don’t realize we’re holding on to.

Clutter as mindfulness practice

And so, as I declutter, not only am I freeing myself up to live in the present … I am living in the present during the process of decluttering.

It’s a form of zazen — which is sitting meditation, but at its core zazen is really a way to practice being mindful. It’s a way to prepare us for dealing mindfully with the rest of the things we do in life. And really, anything can be used as a way to practice mindfulness. I’ve often used running and walking, but also washing dishes and sweeping.

And decluttering is one of the best mindfulness practices, in my experience. Here’s how I do it:

1. Pick one cluttered flat surface. It can be a tabletop, countertop, shelf, the top of a dresser, floor of a closet, floor of a room (just a section of that floor to start with). Don’t worry about all the rest of your cluttered spaces for now — just pick this one space. Small is good.

2. Clear that surface. Take everything off and pile it on the floor or another table. Clean the surface while it’s clear — wipe it with a cloth, slowly and mindfully.

3. Take one object from the pile. Forget about the entire pile — just look at that one object. Ask yourself why you have it. Is it for emotional reasons, or do you really use it? Is it for “just in case”? When was the last time you used it? If you don’t really need or use it, put it in a box for donation or trash it. If you do really use it, put it in another pile to be put back on your now-clean surface. If you’re on the fence and can’t bear to give something up, put it in a “maybe” box and put that box away for six months (mark the date on your calendar).

4. Repeat, one object at a time. Practice doing this mindfully. Make a decision with each object — keep, donate, or maybe box. No waffling or putting off decisions. Deal with each object once, then move on.

5.Put the objects back, and make a “home” for each one. Each object needs to have a spot that is its home, and you should always put those objects back in their homes. If you can’t find a home for an object, you don’t have space for it. Donate the items in the donation box, and put away the maybe box. Eventually you won’t need a maybe box as you get good at this.

Learn to focus on one thing at a time, mindfully, and deal with each object once. This is a good practice for doing things in the rest of your life.

Original post written by Leo Babauta of Zenhabits.com

6 Tips on How to Deal with Stress for a Longer Life!

It feels like everyone’s schedules seem busier than ever right now! However, one high-priority item to add to your full plate is to take at least 10 minutes a day to relax and you will live a longer and happier life! Stress is one of the top killers in our modern world, and yet we still refuse to take a time-out. Taking a break is like hitting your reset button; this brief appointment with yourself will increase your productivity, improve your mood and most importantly, decrease the chronic stress that over time paves the way for heart disease, depression, insomnia, cancer and other life-shortening health conditions. Here are 6 tips on how to deal with stress in order to live a long and happy life.

Quiet Time Is Not Just For Toddlers

Somewhere along the line, we got the idea that taking time for ourselves was selfish or even a waste of time. While we schedule time for our children to rest, we think we are exempt. Yet, rest and relaxation are essential to restore our physical energy and to maintain emotional balance. Take 10 minutes of quiet time in your day. Read an inspiring book. Take a long, slow stroll in nature or your neighborhood. Commune silently with a furry friend, meditate, journal, or whatever makes you feel peaceful within. I’m giving you permission to relax.

Retreat From Technology

This tip may seem a little radical to some: take a one-day retreat from technology. Information overload is particularly harmful at midlife because you have less tolerance for stress, which can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. So, give yourself a break. Take one day out of the week to minimize screen time. Don’t watch TV, resist the lure of email and skip the news. It will be there tomorrow and, after a day of rest, you’ll be refreshed and ready to deal with it.

Unblock Tension With Exercise

The constant pressures of your responsibilities can lead to chronically elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is a direct cause of muscle and joint pain. Clenched jaw? Chronic back and neck pain? These can all be manifestations of stress in your body. Release physical tension and clear these emotional blockages with massage therapy, cardio exercise, yoga, tai chi or qi gong.

Breathe For Stress Release

For increased stress reduction, practice five minutes of deep breathing during a break. Deliberately slow down your breath by counting to six for each inhalation and exhalation. When you exhale, blow out and let go of worries and negativity. After five minutes, you should immediately experience deeper state of relaxation and a clearer head.

Stay Relaxed With Schisandra

Supplement your attempts to be stress-free with healing herbs. Schisandra, sometimes spelled schizandra, is a berry that has been used for thousands of years in China as an energy tonic to revitalize the senses, soothe the nerves and take the edge off anxiety. Schisandra contains several vitamins and flavonoids that possess antioxidant and immune-boosting properties, which will also come in handy with the upcoming cold season. Grown in Asia, it is available as a supplement from health food stores and online. Also, look for schisandra   berries, which can be infused into a tart and tasty tea. Sometimes you can find schisandra in combination with other herbs. Schisandra should not be used by pregnant women.

A Powerful Stress Release Relaxation

This more structured relaxation releases tension in your whole body front, sides and back. If you practice this exercise daily for 10 minutes, you may begin to notice that you have a higher capacity to cope with stress, a less worried mind, and an increased energy level. Lie down on your back. Try to slow your respiration, breathing from deep in your abdomen.

FRONT: Starting at the top of your head, imagine your scalp muscles relaxing while you say the word ‘calm’ to yourself with every exhalation. Repeat this with each body part as you move down through your face, throat, chest, stomach, lower abdomen, thighs, knees, legs, ankles and feet. Visualize all the tension leaving your body through your toes as black smoke.

SIDES: Begin at your temples on either side of your forehead, and work your way down the sides of your upper extremities. Again, imagine your muscles relaxing while you say the word ‘calm’ inwardly with each exhalation. Repeat with each body part as you move down through your jaws, the sides of your neck, shoulders, upper arms, elbows, forearms, wrists and hands. Visualize all the tension leaving your body through your fingertips as black smoke.

BACK: Starting at the back of your head, repeat the breathing-visualization-word routine as you move down from the back of your neck to your upper back, middle back, lower back, back of thighs, calves and heels. Then focus on the soles of your feet for one minute.

Try to work up to two 15-minute sessions per day.

Hope everyone finds the time to RELAX because it’s crucial to your health!

Credit @ WendyKlucas

College Dorm Storage Ideas

227356389_da6f0cbc58Across the country students are beginning to move into their college dorms.Whether you or your college student is returning for another year or just starting figuring out how to store things in a college dorm is a daunting task.. Read this article from Jenna Hart, a freelance writer who specializes in home decor and organization tips.

Storage Ideas For College Dorms

Moving into a college dorm room as a freshman is always exciting. But many students are not prepared for just how small their new space on campus is. With most rooms only averaging around 228 square feet, it can be tough to squeeze all of your stuff into that area, especially if you’ll be sharing the space with a room mate. Fortunately, there are all types of great storage options to look into that can help maximize your living area as well as give you some much needed storage.

Consider a Trunk: A storage trunk is a great piece to have, as it can often store everything from sweaters to jackets to blankets to even your everyday supplies. It adds a nice decorative touch, especially with so many different styles available. Best of all, it can double as seating or a coffee table, eliminating the need for extra furniture.

Maximize Closet Space: You and your room mate likely each get your own teeny tiny closet, or you may share a somewhat larger one together. One of the best ways to make sure you use your closet space is to use temporary organizers, such as baskets or hanging closet organizers. This makes it much easier to know exactly where everything is.

Use Your Wall Space: Your school may have rules about putting things on the walls, but there are a number of temporary wall adhesive based hooks which can be removed easily from the walls when you move out. These can be used as hooks alone for hanging towels and jackets, or you can use them to hang a dowel rod across the walls to hang other items from.

Raise the Bed: While some schools may restrict what type of furniture you may bring, bunk beds and loft beds can certainly help make up for a lack of square footage if you are permitted to have them. By lifting the bed up in the air, you can either fit two beds in one spot, or use the space below for other uses. If you’re absolutely stuck with beds the school provides, use dorm bed risers or concrete blocks to raise them and give you extra storage under the bed.

You don’t have to sacrifice on style or the things you bring with you on campus when it comes to storage ideas for college dorms. With a little creativity, you’ll be able to fit in to your new room easily and comfortably!


Further Reading

Jenna is a freelance writer who writes on home decor and organization tips. You may enjoy her articles on closet organizing and dorm storage ideas.
Storage Ideas For College Dorms was originally published on Ezine Articles.
Organizing Tips For Every College Dorm Room (August 2010)
Tip Day Wednesday: 4 Tips for Packing to College (August 2010)
Image via flickr by Flutterbright.