Organizing 101

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Laundry Sorting Tips  Thanks to Springfield Mom reader Janet von Behren for these laundry sorting tips that work well in her household: 

“I admit, when it comes to the laundry, my goal is to get it clean, not necessarily put away,” Janet says.  “I used to keep my laundry room contained to 2 sections - things that were clean and things that weren’t.  That method was too overwhelming because I didn't have time to search for that outfit that needed to be cleaned by morning or those favorite shorts that someone wanted to wear right away.  So I changed systems.  Now, to help organize my 2 piles, I purchased 3 carts.  Two were separated into 3 non-removable bins.  I labeled on the frame: whites, darks, reds, hand wash, Dad's work stuff, other.  Our 13-year-old daughter now has an easy time sorting the laundry for me when she brings it downstairs (daily).  This makes it a lot easier for me doing the wash because I can just throw in everything from one bin.  I also know where something should be if it is dirty and needs to be cleaned immediately. The last cart has 3 removable laundry bags - oldest daughter, youngest daughter, boys (they are about the same size and share a room).  As I take the laundry out of the dryer, I separate out all the kids’ clothes and put them in the correct bins - everything else gets thrown into my old baskets.  Now if the kids are trying to find something they know where to look.  They are also responsible for taking their bin upstairs and putting their laundry away when it gets full - one less job for me!”

Get it together! Try a family organizer.  This simple project will take just minutes to put together and save you lots of time later on.  Take a three-ring notebook and fill it with plastic sleeves.  Then go through all those important papers you have scattered about the house and file them in the notebook.  Things like: family phone numbers and addresses, long and short term “to do” lists, school schedules, club lists, babysitting notes, soccer schedules, etc.  You can even tuck bills to be paid or other important correspondence in the front pocket.  Keep it the same place, and your entire family will know where to look.  This easy idea comes from a mother of three who adapted the original idea from www.flylady.net.   

Babysitting Notes by Melissa Allen

Tired of rewriting the same information whenever the sitter comes over?  Afraid you might forget something in the rush of getting out of the house? 

Type your babysitting notes on your computer, and then you can edit and print them out whenever the need arises.  Include all of your important work and cell phone numbers, neighbors’ names and telephone numbers.  Also, leave emergency numbers including 911, your physician’s name and daytime and after hours phone numbers, poison control (1.800.222.1222), and the name and type of your insurance plan.  Don’t forget to list your street address and telephone number.  Although it sounds like a lot it will only take up a small amount of space.  You can leave a blank area to write in where you’ll be and any special instructions for that particular night.

Organizing Closets by Amy Peterson

 Is your closet constantly a mess?  Is it always disorganized?  If your answer is “yes” and you want to organize your closet, first take a step back and figure out what is causing your space problems.

 Most of us either do not have enough storage or we simply have too much stuff! 

If you do not have enough storage, here are some solutions: 

• You can double the amount of space by repositioning your standard hanging rods.  If you currently have one bar straight across, reposition the bars so that you have double hanging space.  Hang pants on top and shirts on the bottom.

• If you have long hanging items, lower the rod so that the longest hanging item falls one inch above the floor (add a rug under this area so clothes stay dust free).  You can add shelves “above” the hanging rod for shoes, accessories or folded items.  Now these items are at eye level and not hidden on the floor.

• Reposition your closet rods from front to back.  Most traditional closets (especially in older homes) have one rod that goes from side to side.  If you reposition the rods, then you can access your clothes easier and gain more storage space.

• If your closets have more space than you need between the shelves, you can move the shelves closer together. This helps keep your closet neater because you won’t have one big stack of sweaters or shirts, you will have fewer items on each shelf.

• Use your doors or walls for storage! Attach hooks on the backs of closet doors, install belt or scarf rods and add hooks inside closets for hanging purses.

Maybe you have too much stuff?  If so, here are a few tips:

• Move off-season clothing to the attic, basement or under the bed (using labeled storage containers).

• Make sure current items in the closet fit you. If you can’t part with the clothes that don’t fit, purchase enough tubs to store these clothes. Label the tubs by size and season. Place in attic, basement, under the bed or off-site. Each season, go through these tubs and re-evaluate what you should keep.

• If you have several formal outfits/suits or other items you rarely wear taking up valuable space, consider moving them to another closet if space is an issue.

• Focus on all the clothes you love and wear often.  Consider getting rid of the $200 suit you never wear. You paid good money for it, but now it is taking up valuable space. Donate it to charity or sell it on consignment. If you can’t part with those items, you should “box” them up and schedule an appointment in three months to see if you have changed your mind.

 Amy Peterson, Springfield mother of three, and her husband, Brooke Peterson, own The Closet Guy, Inc.

"It's a Good Thing" Martha On Housecleaning by Betsy Londrigan

Martha Stewart’s “Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home” is currently available at amazon.com for $28.35. (List price is $45.)

If you’re dying to know what Martha did during her tenure at Alderson’s Prison for Women, here are 744 pages of tips for homekeeping in 10-point font to demonstrate how she bided her time. Actually, if it’s approached as a book for reference purposes and not to be read cover-to-cover while curled up in a comfy chair on a rainy day, it’s great.  Stewart first provides checklists for daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal cleaning routines. Taken with a few grains of salt and a margarita, many of her suggestions, like sweeping the kitchen floor each day are reasonable; however, vacuuming the coils inside your refrigerator each month reeks of “I have a full-time staff!”

Most of the book is dedicated to minutia, but if “God is in the details,” then you’re in good hands. Martha breaks homes down room by room, section by section, then item by item. In the “Kitchen” section, Stewart begins by identifying the ideal kitchen layout. Most of us have our own ideas about where knives should be stashed, but it’s a good starting point nonetheless. Larger items such as countertops and range hoods are addressed. Each type is listed then deconstructed into Pros, Cons, Do’s, Don’ts, Maintenance and Repair. Granite is heat-resistant (Pro), but expensive (Con.) Protecting marble from acidic foods is important (Do) and abrasive cleaners can scratch it (Don’t). Butcher blocks should be oiled monthly (Periodic Maintenance) and deep grooves can be sanded out (Repair). This is enormously helpful for someone purchasing new countertops, and useful for the rest of us to treat existing countertops appropriately. The same attention is paid to each feature of the kitchen from appliances of all sizes to choosing the right vegetable peeler.

After tackling each floor and ceiling in your home, and literally everything in between, Stewart offers her insight on house systems, such as water and security. She instructs on how to rewire a light socket and eradicate beetles from the basement. It would be challenging to find a piece of your home not specifically identified in this book. My initial reaction when I started reading the “Homekeeping Handbook” was intimidation and depression since I really couldn’t remember the last time I’d washed my baseboards, let alone given them a “touch up” with paint or stain. Realizing that this is not meant to be light reading, rather a “go-to” guide for getting grape jelly out of the white carpet or understanding the differences in dishwashers before a major purchase is made, is crucial.  

Overall, this book is well written, well thought out and a useful addition to any household. That – it must be said – is a good thing.

Laundry Sorting Savior! by Kim Little

To speed up the monotonous chore of sorting and washing laundry:

I purchased two fabric markers, I mark the inside collar or waistband as follows:

• Using a blue one, I mark Cold Wash items with a “C”

• Using a purple one, I mark my Warm Wash items with a “W.”  

No more searching for tags to remember which goes in which temperature, I just sort the W’s and the C’s.  This also gives your children another way to help out around the house; have them sort the C’s and the W’s.   Let the clothes dry 24 hours before you wash them.   

BONUS:  Save these fabric markers for craft projects and also they are great for writing your kids’ name in clothes they use at summer camps or for school coats & book bags, etc.

Declutter and Simplify!

Photo montage: Buy an 8 X 10 magnet sheet and attach a cluster of photos to it for your refrigerator door.  Photos stay in place without clutter.

Streamline for a good cause:  Kid’s toys and clothes multiply each season and clutter our homes very quickly!  It's always a good time to go through your toy stash with your children and donate to local groups like Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery (217-525-6800) and Sojourn Women’s Shelter (217-726-5100).  Do the same with your winter coats, hats and gloves.  Have your children come with you when you donate them; it’s never to early to model service to our community.  Note it’s helpful to call places first to find out their wishlist of items.

Clutter Control Scrambling for even more space for kids’ toys?  Try the back of the closet door!  A clear vinyl over-the-door shoe holder (we got ours at Meijer for $6) has see-through pockets perfect for stowing toy cars, small dolls, puppets and other miscellany.  The kids can find what they need and help themselves to the stuff stored in the lower pockets.  This trick also works great in a linen closet for medications (in the highest pocket), Band-Aids, a thermometer and other items you reach for often

Mudroom Mayhem be gone!

If your mudroom has turned into a disaster zone with all the boots, scarves and gloves the chilly weather brings, a few minor changes can make a major difference.  Consider mounting a small coat-rack (they can be found for under $10 at most discount or hardware stores) at kid-level, so your youngsters get into the habit of hanging up their own coats and book bags.  And a clear pocket, over-the-door shoe holder is perfect for those stray hats and mittens, not to mention the shoes and boots that can trip you up near the door.

Kids Rooms: Designing on a Budget

In Correspondent Lori Harlan's article "Room to Room Review", she interviews Springfield Moms Founder Kim Little who shares her tips for designing on a budget and keeping kids rooms organized and functional for more years to come.   Room to Room Review"  Reprinted with permission from the STATE JOURNAL REGISTER:  July 28, 2006

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Office

Analysis Paralysis by Joy Duling

I met with a young woman late last week who was in a state of mind that I've seen in a lot of business professionals... regardless of their age, their level of business expertise or even their role in their company.   I call it 'analysis paralysis' and it's a debilitating state of mind.   Too many options, too many risks, too much pressure.

The result is that you sit with your questions, watching good things happen to other people and wondering why you just can't get unstuck.  'Analysis paralysis' is, I think, the opposite of 'bright, shiny object' syndrome.  With 'bright, shiny object' syndrome, people jump from one good idea to another without really thinking through the implications.  'Bright, shiny object' syndrome tempts us to try the next big thing. 

'Analysis paralysis' occurs when you can't STOP thinking about the implications.  If I do this, then this might happen, or that might happen, or what if this other thing happened.  Maybe it would be better if I did this other thing over here.  Analysis paralysis results in a lack of execution.  Nothing gets done.  No movement forward occurs... only because you can't decide what move makes sense to make.

So, how do you break free from analysis paralysis.   Try this...

1)  Instead of being afraid of potential failure, embrace the experience.

If we followed the 'perfect path' every time, we'd never really be able to speak to what doesn't work... and sometimes, that information is just as valuable as what does.

From every life experience, every business venture, every project dared, we learn something about ourselves.  We learn what works, what doesn't.  We begin collecting life wisdom that is unique to us.

2)  Overcome inertia by picking something.

Do you remember high school physics class?   An object at rest tends to stay at rest.  An object in motion tends to stay in motion.  If you've been stuck in analysis-paralysis mode, chances are it's going to feel like it'll take a pretty good 'oomph' to get you moving.  At the risk of making it sound way too simple, there comes a point when you just have to do something. 

Choose what feels best to you at the moment, flip a coin, roll a dice... but start somewhere.   You can even make it something very small, but the key is to start somewhere, doing something. 

3.  Once you're in motion, it gets easier.  Keep moving forward. 

Keep asking yourself what you're learning about yourself, about life, about business.  I guarantee that no matter what path you choose, there are always lessons to be learned.  You just have to be in the right frame of mind to see them.

What do you think?   Are you a bright, shiny object kind of person... or an analysis-paralysis kind of person?  What helps you get unstuck?   Send us your ideas and we will share!

About Joy Duling

All great visionaries need someone behind the scenes who helps them create a solid plan to move from point A to point B. As a business strategist and found of A 25 Hour Day, LLC, Joy Duling plays that role, helping time-pressed professionals find the focus, systems and accountability they need to achieve their goals. Joy is a skilled speaker and regularly consults on issues of planning and growth. Find out how she can help you move your business forward by visiting www.a25hourday.com.

Top 10 Best E-Mail Habits

Reprinted with permission by Joy Duling

Improving email habits can drastically increase your productivity. Like any new habits, these take focus and practice. But the reward is so worth the effort. .

1.       Check email only at scheduled times for a specified amount of time. Twice a day for 30-60 minutes works well for many. Unplug until the next scheduled time.

2.       Unsubscribe relentlessly. Make sure you receive only the things you really want to—and do—read.

3.       Reduce the amount of routed email (i.e., cc’d from coworkers) to only that which is essential.

4.       “Slash and burn” on your first pass through your inbox. Delete as much as possible and file the rest. Use the second pass for replies and other follow-up actions.

5.       Empty your inbox every day and keep it that way.

6.       Include contact information in your signature— phone, fax, website, email, skype—so that others don’t have to hunt for this information.

7.       One topic, one subject, for easy filing and recall.  Change the subject line if emails turns to another topic; break up multiple topics into separate emails.

8.       Count to five before clicking “Send.” Make sure your email is clear and represents what you really want to say to avoid a lot of back-and-forth later.

9.       Include in replies the original context of the email so you (and others) don’t have to hunt for it later.

10.   Resist the temptation to check your email more than your scheduled times! It’s a simple step but has a profound effect on productivity.

All great visionaries need someone behind the scenes who helps them create a solid plan to move from point A to point B. 

As a business strategist and founder of A 25 Hour Day, LLC, Joy Duling plays that role, helping time-pressed professionals find the focus, systems and accountability they need to achieve their goals.  Joy is a skilled speaker and regularly consults on issues of planning and growth.  For more visit www.a25hourday.com

Online user name and password chaos, streamlined!  by Kim Little

I finally found a way to effectively manage my list of user names and passwords for my many online accounts!  I bought a good old fashioned rolodex, and I write them down there.

For instance, for amazon.com I list it under "a"; my bank account is under "b," kodakgallery.com is under "k."

I can easily update my passwords if needed, and I sometimes add the toll-free number if I want to have that handy too.

As I get email coupon codes, I will also write those down on the card with the expiration date next to it.

www.theholidayspot.com  & www.coolarchive.com  Readers’ Digest recommends these sites for downloading free fonts & clip art to your computer.

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School

Tips from our Readers

Are school forms/papers/artwork threatening to overrun your household? Thanks to Springfield Moms reader Janet von Behren for these practical ideas on how to better organize your child’s paper onslaught:   

“Take a 12 month accordion file and re-label it for the subjects/classes your child has,” Janet says.  “As the papers come home from school, file them in the proper location. Not only do you have a place for the clutter, the kids will now be able to find homework and quizzes to review from for tests.  At the end of each quarter, remove any papers you are sure you are done with and don't need to hold onto.  If you have an extra opening, move the 'keepers' to here.  At the end of the year you should be left with only those papers/artwork you want to hold onto.” 

Janet adds: “At our house I expanded on the idea by placing all the files in an empty drawer in a filing cabinet and I placed an in-basket on top of the cabinet. After I am done looking at the school work, I put it into the in-basket. It is up to the children to occasionally go through it and file their own papers.”

From Lisa Barutcu To help you corral all the “mail” coming in from your child’s school.  All it takes is a two-pocket folder (you can get these at discount and office stores for as little as $.20 each) and a marker.  On one inside pocket write “Fill Out and Return” and mark the other “Reference.”  Then file papers as soon as they come in and check the folder as you’re preparing for the following school day to avoid missing any deadlines.

Preserve the memories  If you like to save your kids’ artwork and important school papers, date-stamp them on the back so when you take a trip down memory lane you’ll remember from whence the handprint turkey came.  Keep an ordinary office date-stamp and inkpad in an accessible location, and make a habit of marking those keepers as they come home from school or day care in your child’s bag.  Then, consider storing them in Lillian Vernon’s “Memories and Keepsakes Portfolio,” $19.98, www.lillyskids.com.  You can even get it personalized with your child’s name for free.

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Holidays

Straight from the Teacher's Mouth:  Holiday Gift Ideas

Area teachers always appreciate gifts at holiday time.  One teacher said: “The best part of getting a gift from the children is seeing how excited and proud they are when they give it to you!  Whatever is inside, is gravy!”  But still, it can be difficult to know what to pick out.

An anonymous survey of local teachers delivered the following scoop on what to do or not do for your child’s favorite teachers.

Ideas to Consider:

• Movie Night gift set:  theater/video store gift certificate with microwave popcorn or theater sized candy boxes

• Scented candles

• Pictures and cards made by the kids, frames and things to put children's photographs in for the classroom, things for the classroom itself (for example, paint, fun foam, construction paper and other perishable supplies as well as things like books, a label maker, glue gun, etc)

• Scented lotions, bubble bath, shower gels, sprays

• Plants/flowers

• Notepads, stickers, notecards

• Travel mug from a local coffee shop with gift certificate for coffee refills

• Personalized note of appreciation (it's free and teachers love them)

• Gift certificates to bookstores or educational stores like Springfield’s ErgAdoo (544-9466). Teachers also enjoy gift certificates to restaurants.

• Stacey DeBroff in her book “The Mom Book Goes To School: Insider Tips to Ensure Your Child Thrives in Elementary and Middle School” offers the following ideas for teacher gifts at holiday times: “Teachers especially appreciate gifts they can use in the classroom.  Ask the teacher about supplies you can provide like poster board, extra tissues, or glitter.  A gift certificate to a bookstore or office supply store is always useful. Another great idea is to send in rolls of film with a gift certificate for developing the photos.”

• Check out the www.familyfun.com website and follow their Holiday link to Christmas and their easy-to-make Christmas gifts for teachers.

What to Avoid:

• Apple themed anything can be overdone.

• Some teachers collect “Teacher” ornaments but others prefer more unique ideas.

• One Springfield teacher decorates an entire tree with her teacher ornaments each year and has literally run out room. 

• “Teacher” mugs are another often over-given gift.

• Avoid sending gifts of food – chocolate, nuts, popcorn, cookies, candy are all wonderful in small amounts but as one teacher put it: “We are all trying to watch our weight in my school so the food gifts can be really challenging. 

• One year we had a whole table in the teacher’s lounge filled with fattening gifts the last week of school before break.”

• Avoid giving jewelry or home décor items unless you are confident you know the teacher’s taste in those items.

Helpful Holiday Hints: 

It’s never too early to start planning for December 25^th.  Check out www.organizedchristmas.com for pointers on how to streamline the process and printable to-do lists, calendars and forms for recording purchases and gift ideas.  With the holidays approaching, it can be fun to create a seasonal basket just for the kids.  Gather your holiday-themed and season/weather books, along with any small, seasonal toys (we like to hold these back in a designated storage tub to keep them exciting) and put them all together in a basket in your main living area. 

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