Description:
Organomics
Contents:
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 16
 May 16: Make house cleaning less overwhelming. Write one cleaning task on your calendar on each day of the week, e.g., Laundry, Vacuuming, etc. Make that your task for the day. Be sure to include a free day. Once you’ve worked your way through all the tasks, simply start over again. Even if it takes two weeks to get through all the tasks, your house will survive.
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 15
 May 15: Recycle responsibly. Product labels that say “Please Recycle” are relevant only if your community collects the products for recycling—and meaningless if it doesn’t. Contact your city or county government to find out what can be recycled in your area and how you can make sure your recycling gets to the right place.
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 14
May 14: Have you ever felt so overwhelmed with e-mail and voicemail after returning from vacation that pretty soon it seems like you never left? That’s when it’s important to set some priorities. You can't do everything at once, so make a list, set priorities, and do the most important tasks first.
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 13
April 13: Most of us underestimate the time it takes to do things, so pad your time. If you think a task will take 15 minutes, schedule 30. That way, your schedule won’t be thrown off if the task takes longer than the 15 minutes, and if you finish before 30 minutes, you're free to start something else or take a little break.
Awash In a Sea of Paper
By Kelly Pratt It’s probably not news to most of you that very few of us have received any training regarding what to do with our paper. There are no classes offered in school or through community ed. So, we have piles. Piles on the kitchen counter, by the side of our beds, in the car, in the bathroom. Piles! For me, the one pile that needs the most sorting on a regular basis is all of my kids’ school papers. However, these tips can also be used for all different types of papers… just follow the same strategy. Ready? Here we go! My kids just started school this week, and in just one week we have received district policies and procedures, a three-page document outlining acceptable classroom behavior, a monthly lunch calendar, lunch money deposit slips, registration materials and two new planners. Homework hasn’t really kicked into gear yet, but I anticipate that next week we will receive plenty of worksheets along with a reminder about Back-to-School Night where we will receive printed information about volunteering in the classroom. If this scenario sounds familiar, you are in good company! Here are my favorite tips for handling incoming school papers as well as storing special school treasures. 1. Create guidelines for what you will keep- and what you won't. The sheer volume of school paper precludes keeping everything. You especially know this if you’ve tried. As you begin the school year, or even if you’re mid-stream, sit down with your kids and decide together what kinds of things you’ll keep. In our family, the rule is that garden variety worksheets take a trip to the trash. I look them over to make sure my kids are understanding concepts, and then put them in the recycle bin. The same goes for spelling tests, dictation sentences and anything else they do often. We end up saving a couple of these kinds of papers per term just for handwriting samples or if someone wrote a particularly clever sentence. We generally save especially nice artwork samples, report cards, special projects and a paper or two with glowing praise from teachers. 2. Decide where to put the paper. There are two aspects to storing school papers: short-term and long-term. Short-term storage is the place where you’ll put not only your child’s paper but also any paper related to school that you have to deal with on a regular or one-time basis. Here’s an example: In our family, we each have an inbox in our high-traffic area which happens to be the kitchen. (I’ve included a picture below for your viewing enjoyment.) You’ll notice these are vertical inboxes, which are much more accessible than horizontal stackers. When new paper comes home from school, we do a preliminary toss of the papers we’ve decided we aren’t going to keep (bye, bye worksheets). Each of my girls has her own “File” folder where we then place the items we want to save. As you well know, there are papers like reading calendars and spelling lists that need to remain accessible, so each of my girls also has a folder labeled “Action” for those items. If there is additional information that requires immediate attention, like soccer or chess club sign-up sheets, those things also go into the “Action” file. My favorite file folders for both the “File” and “Action” files are clear plastic project file folders. I love them because they keep everything together without concealing important papers I need to see as a visual reminder. Since you can’t store a year’s worth of school paper in an inbox (even if you are a ruthless purger), you need a place for long-term storage. Two of my favorite storage solutions are banker’s boxes and binders. When you notice that your “File” folder is getting full, it’s time to empty the contents to a long-term area. The solution I use is the banker’s box. Banker’s boxes are available at most office supply stores for about $1.50 each. You can also use plastic totes around the same size if you’re concerned about water damage. I just take the contents of the folder and put them in the box. No hidden tricks. Just put them in the box. If you are more ambitious than I, you could also create divisions for writing samples, art projects, etc. to keep like categories together. Each box holds at least two school-year’s worth of stuff, and I recommend placing some kind of divider between the years to keep things neat. I label each box with the child’s name and grade levels and place the boxes in the storage room. You may also want to try placing special school papers in binders. I have a good friend who creates a new binder each school year for her daughter. These binders are in her bedroom so she can regularly review the history of her life. If you choose this option, place papers and projects in sheet protectors to guard from damage. For large-sized or bulky items, consider taking pictures and storing pictures rather than the item itself. You’ll save yourself a lot of space! 3. Create a system fo purging.
Notwithstanding the fact that we try to be judicious in what we save, it’s still necessary to go through items that make it into the “File” folder or the banker’s box to further purge. At this moment, I’m thinking that if I really save this much stuff for my kids, by the time they leave home they will each be hauling six banker’s boxes full of school memorabilia. I don’t imagine they will want six banker’s boxes worth of school memorabilia. Comments I’ve read on the internet from children whose parents saved EVERYTHING generally express that (1) they end up getting rid of a lot of stuff, and (2) they wish their parents had saved less because having so much is more of a burden than a blessing. You may be surprised at how much your children are willing to part with after it sits for awhile. We generally do our purging when the “File” folder gets full and then go through the storage box again at the end of the school year or during the summer. As with every good purging session, remember to do this activity when you and your child are relatively well-rested and at your high energy time. Going through school memorabilia is a great mid-summer activity because you can revisit school-year highlights but aren’t strongly emotionally attached to the prior school year. Helping your children through the process of deciding which paper to keep, where to put it and how to winnow it down on an ongoing basis ensures that your children will receive basic instruction on what to do with paper. What a gift! You will also reduce the size of your piles and successfully contain the items that are most meaningful to you and your children. I wish you much success with stemming the tide of incoming school paper this year, and invite you to post additional comments or ideas. To help you get started, here are some great organizing solutions from FranklinCovey: Floral File Folders Color Blocks File Folders Julie Morgenstern In/Out Tray Happy organizing! Kelly Message Edited by GOAdmin on 05-09-2008 01:14 PM
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 12
May 12: If you’re all wound up at the end of the day, exercise can be a great stress reliever. But make sure you complete your routine at least three hours before bed so the extra adrenaline has quit pumping through your bloodstream by the time your head hits the pillow.
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 9
May 9: Mother’s Day is only two days away. This year, don’t think quantity, think quality. Really reflect upon what the mothers in your life mean to you and then express that sentiment, whether in word or deed. The most wonderful feeling in the world is knowing you’re appreciated. So, do something to show the mothers in your life how much you appreciate them.
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 8
May 8: Block out 30 minutes of every day to get organized before you schedule anything else. Schedule other appointments around that time. By making a project of getting organized, you're committing to getting something done instead of saying you don’t have time to clean out your files, clear off your desk, go through e-mail, etc.
Go Tip-Per-Day: May 7
May 7: Shari Lieberman, coauthor of The Real Vitamin & Mineral Book, recommends breakfast as the best time to take your vitamins. Vitamins are better absorbed with food and since breakfast is the meal most eaten at home, it’s a good time. Dinner is not as good because some nutrients, like vitamin B, can keep you awake.
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 6
May 6: Time and gas are wasted when we do errands one at a time. Make a commitment to only do errands when more than one thing can be accomplished. Don’t run to the store for one thing unless you can pick up other needed items as well. Start with the errand furthest away, and then work your way back.
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 5
May 5: Think of your Task List as a closet or drawer. It needs cleaning out sometimes. If you have tasks on your list that don’t really need to be done, get rid of them.
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 2
May 2: When you’re dashing out the door in the morning, it isn’t the best time to be looking for school bags or diaper bags. Help everyone have a less stressful start to the day by establishing a standard place for important family bags. Have whoever brings the bag home place it in the assigned spot before they go to bed. And don’t forget to restock the diapers!
GO Tip-Per-Day: May 1
May 1: Every time you send an e-mail, give it a specific subject header, e.g., “Inventory assignments.” When people reply, your header will be included and your archived e-mails will be easy to search. Vague headers like "question" or “have you” make it nearly impossible to find information when you want it.
GO Tip-Per-Day: April 30
April 30: If you’re feeling like you never get anything accomplished, make an activity log for an entire workweek. Record when and how long you spend every day on every task. At the end of the week, analyze which tasks you spent too much time on (like reading junk e-mail) and which tasks need more of your time (like writing the article that’s due next week!).
To-Do Lists
By Julie Morgenstern Scattering your tasks and appointments among a variety of post-its, legal pads, two planners and a wall calendar is enough to make the most sophisticated person crumble. Hours are wasted transferring information, second guessing what to do next, and living in fear of what might be forgotten. A single, reliable to-do system puts you in command of your days by providing a complete picture, so you get more done and stay focused on the moment. Rule #1: Select One Your to-do list becomes an extension of yourself, so you have to pick the right one for you. There are so many choices on the market, how does anyone decide?
Spiral notepads—generally only work for people who don’t need to plan more than a day or two in advance (e.g. non-working people with short lists of errands, or administrative assistants who have to capture zillions of tiny requests). Facing one long to-do list is impractical and paralyzing for everyone else.
Paper Planners--work best for “visual/tactile” people (i.e. those who find physically writing things out helps them think and remember more clearly). Portability is essential for people on the go. If you like binder planners but find them too bulky, try a wire bound monthly version.
Electronic/Computer Planners--work best for people whose thinking flows easily typing into a keyboard or through a stylus. Electronic devices are small, lightweight and can hold a lot of information, but entering to-do’s can be very time consuming. Try typing in tasks with a portable keyboard, or combine digital with paper by adding a small dated planner that fits into your palm case, with one page per day for daily tasks. Rule #2: Schedule "when" you will do things A to-do not connected to a “when” simply doesn’t get done. For every to-do, ask two questions: How long will this take me? When will I do it? Think of your day like a container which can only hold so much. Schedule tasks into your planner on the specific day you intend to do them for a clear visual picture of how realistic your plans are. Keep your planner visible and refer to it constantly. At the end of each day, schedule :15 quiet minutes to review your to-do list and check off what you accomplished. Reschedule unfinished tasks for another day, or delete them because you realize they’re just not that important. Rule #3: Neatness Counts Writing in an attractive, legible hand is very grounding and calming. Not only will you be able to read your list when it’s time to take action, slowing down forces you to think through each task and decide: is this really worth doing? Remember; no to-do system is perfect. Pick one planner you really like, customize it to your heart’s content, and then learn to live with its foibles. It will be a supportive, dependable friend for years to come, helping you achieve your goals and live your life to the fullest.
GO Tip-Per-Day: April 29
April 29: Rather than making a to-do-list for all of the things going on in your life, schedule each event in your planner. For example, if you have to go to the grocery store before dinner on Friday night, schedule it for sometime on Wednesday or Thursday. This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed by the amount of things on your list, and help you to plan exactly when and how long you want each event to take.
GO Tip-Per-Day: April 28
April 28: Take a walk. Now that the weather is warmer, use your free time to go outside and bask in the sunlight. When sunlight hits your skin, your body responds by producing Vitamin D, a crucial vitamin needed for maintaining several organ systems. A brisk walk in the warm sun will keep you healthy and happy, and give you more energy to accomplish the everyday tasks.
GO Tip-Per-Day
April 25: Today is the nationally recognized Arbor Day. Strive to save a few more trees today by getting a recycle container for your office and your home. Think of all of the extra paper that flows through your desk: old memos, extra copies, etc. Likewise, your home can be a paper waste haven: old worksheets, junk mail, printing mess-ups. Clean up the clutter and save a tree at the same time.
The Family Communication Center
By Kelly Pratt If you are living with one or more other people in your home, you may have experienced one of the following scenarios: It’s Wednesday evening. You’ve just finished dinner and are clearing the table when there’s a knock at the door. You answer and standing on the doorstep is the neighbor family you invited over for dessert—NEXT Wednesday. “No, honey,” your spouse says. “Remember? We changed the date. Didn’t you write it on the calendar?” “Which calendar?” you reply. “The one in your office or the one in mine?” Amid smiles and confusion, you invite the neighbors in for a stale cookie—there would have been fresh ones next week—and vow to figure out how to keep this from happening again. Or, as you’re falling into bed at night, you remember that your spouse’s friend called to ask for help moving—two days ago. And move day is tomorrow! You forgot to deliver the message because there wasn’t anything by the phone to write the message on. There never is. You wonder how many important messages may not have made it to you and vow to go out in the morning to buy a supply of Post-its and a package of pens, hoping that somehow it will help. Miscommunications and missed communications seem to be part and parcel of family life. There is, thankfully, a way to avoid the frustration created by scenarios such as these. The solution to some of your communication disconnects is a family communication center. A family communication center is a place designated for coordinating your calendar items, posting messages, displaying special cards or children’s artwork and housing your paper flow system as well as files that may need to be accessed by all family members. When establishing a family communication center, try to place it in a high-traffic area, such as the kitchen or family room, so that everyone has ready access to the information posted and stored there. Here are some suggestions for what to include in your family communication center. Keep in mind that these are guidelines; you can tailor your communication center to meet your family’s needs. Some basic elements include— + A bulletin board to display cards and messages. + A calendar with all family and individual activities. + A phone message center. Use carbon copy phone pads so you always have a copy of messages taken, and make sure you have a supply of pens. + Your paper flow system and at least two file drawers so all family members know where to find specific pieces of paper. As it relates to your paper flow system, your family communication center is the place you will likely process school papers that come home with your children. You can also have in-boxes for each member of your family to house incoming paper, such as mail. The benefits of a family communication center are numerous, but here are two of the most important: 1. Your family members won’t be angry or frustrated with each other for forgetting to pass along information! Although miscommunications will still occur, a family communication center greatly reduces their frequency. Members of the household are more likely to receive communications from the outside world in a timely manner, whether they arrive by phone or by mail, because you will have created a system to make sharing information easier. 2. With a family communication center, not only will you be able to keep track of when you’re entertaining the neighbors, more importantly you will be able to create a supportive family environment. Everyone will know when your youngest daughter’s dance recital is, and everyone will know which night your oldest son is in the school play. By using a central calendar, you can also accurately assess how full your life is so you don’t overextend (as often). Here are some suggested items to help build your Family Communication Center: + File Folders + Magnetic Strip to hold papers Best of luck as you create a communication area for your family. I hope you experience rich benefits! Happy Organizing! Kelly
GO Tip-Per-Day: April 24
April 24: Today, go get some fashionably functional baskets or bins and put one in each of your children’s rooms. Designate it for random toys that always seem to end up on the floor. If you don’t have children or your children are grown, get a bin for magazines or pet toys.
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