Time Management

One of the biggest questions I get asked as  Professional Organizer is "how do I manage to get it all done?" The truth? I don't. No one does, but that does not mean you cannot get most of the things you need done finished. I think the secret is really in figuring out what "it all" means to you. For one person that might mean getting 4 out of the 5 things they need to accomplish done, for another it might be that they only get 1 out of 5 things accomplished, for yet another it could mean they did not get to the things that they had on their list but they did spend the morning playing with their kids, doing an art project etc.  Below are some tips to help you with time management.

• Develop a Routine
• Use Lists
• Timers are your best friend
• Create a "First Then" chart for yourself
• Calendars are also your best friend                                                                                          

~Develop a Routine: This is by far one of the most important keys to time management. A Routine helps ensure certain things get done every day without having to plan, it promotes consistency and lowers anxiety. Children in particular of all ages (even teens) love the predictability of a routine, it makes then feel secure. Schedule in things such as meal times, bed times, chore times, etc. in a routine.

                                                                  
~Use Lists:  A list is very helpful in that it is a visual reminder of what we would like to get accomplished. Write down everything you want to accomplish , then go over it and prioritize what is most important and go from there. It is important to remember your list is not in charge of you and you do not report  to it. In other words do not become a slave to your list, rather your list works for YOU. :)

                                                                 
~Timers are your best friend: Timers such as the one below from Clever Container are wonderful in that they are an audio reminder to you. Once the timer goes off you have given yourself permission to stop and move on to something else. Say you have set your timer for 15 minutes to declutter 1 kitchen cabinet. After that timer is up, stop, you can pat yourself on the back for a job well done, is the entire kitchen decluttered? No, but one cabinet is and you will feel better. Timers help break down big tasks into manageable pieces, they are also helpful in everything from reminding your kids when to get out of the shower to internet usage. As a homeschooler to 3 kids including 1 with special needs it s very helpful to get him through his tasks and keep his focus. It is easier for him to realize that while he may not want to do his math he knows he only has to do it until the timer goes off an then he gets to do something fun.

                                                                       
~Create a "First Then" Chart: This idea was one I used when my kids were little to teach them about chores, schoolwork etc.  They knew that whatever task was on the chart first they had to do it then they would get to choose something they wanted to do. I found though that since I tend to procrastinate I created a "first then" chart for myself in my head. I create a mental picture of what I need to do and then decide what I want to do when that task is finished and create a picture of that too. I am a visual person so I need to see it. If I don't create a mental picture in my mind, then I will do it on my List..while I am prioritizing it, I will put in a task I need to get done such as 2 loads of laundry, and then put either one of my easier tasks, or schedule in 20 minutes to read a book or read blogs on the internet, have a cup of coffee. etc. then I will have another task on my list and so on.

                                                                  
~Calendars are also your best friend:  Calendars are great, for one thing they are a visual look at what my week ahead will be like. It is also a way for my family to see what we have coming up so before they come and ask me about hanging out with a friend, or going to a get together etc. they know to check the big wall calendar we have first. They are also useful in counting down to something like a vacation! :)

           I could seriously talk forever about time management but here are the basics to get you started.

Have an Organized Day!
Jen                                                                  

Tame those spices & packets!

Before

Do you ever open your cabinet to get a quick spice you need and see this? Then spend the next 5 minutes searching for the 1 spice you need? Meanwhile your recipe is burning? Here is a couple ideas for you to solve that problem. The first one is to use bins. I love bins and baskets, and containers of all kinds. It does not have to be expensive either. In this cupboard the bins used were from the dollar tree. They are plastic, and washable which is awesome when you have something in them like corn syrup or honey in the event it tips over and spills, it is much easier to pull the bin out, take out the items and wash the bin then to climb on the counter, step stool etc. and try and scrub it off the shelf, you cannot really soak a shelf. :) Now when putting the spices in the bins it really does not solve your problem at first because what you see  are the tops off all the spices, but you would still be spending time lifting up each and every one looking for your spice. Enter my trusty label maker which I am never without, I simply created labels for the tops of the spices so when I pull out the bin I can see what everything is. Yes those spice tops are small so you will probably have to abbreviate which is fine as long as you know what it is. If you cannot remember, make yourself a little cheat sheet and stick it on the inside of the cabinet door. :) Next if you don't have a label maker or don't want to use one, there is special labels made for tops of spices or other small things that you can find at office supply stores, check Martha Stewart as well because really...is there anything she has not thought of? You can simply write the names on the labels. Then, if you have more then one bin...label it! I ran out of tape in my label maker from an organizing job I had done earlier so I simply took some Avery Labels and wrote on them and put them on the boxes. The result is a clean cabinet with easy to find spices.

After!

Clever Pockets!

If you don't have a big enough cabinet to hold bins, or just don't have enough space in your cabinet for all your spices, or you want to use the cabinet for the taller spices such as those nifty Costco spice containers, then here is another way you can organize your spices and see what you have. Enter the  Clever Pocket  from Clever Container. (click on the link and it will take you to my CC page, from there you can shop our online catalog and even order online. groovy..I know!) I love this pocket system, look how it holds not only spice jars but seasoning packets! It is good for so many other uses but that is a whole other post. I love that it hangs over the door and frees up your cabinet for other things. A real space saver for sure! So there you have it, a couple of fun ideas for organizing your cabinets.
Have an organized day!
Jen


p.s. Be sure to check out Works for me Wednesday @ We are that family. & Delightful Order "Inspiring Thursday Party" and Joyful Stamper