|
|
WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF THAT PAPER!
You can set up your home office space to be functional and easy to maintain!
Here are the things you can do to keep your home office organized:
1. Use a drawer organizer to keep pencils, paperclips, bullentin board pegs, etc. organized and in place.
2. Use a desk top file folder organizer. Either one level or step organizers work well. Get colorful file folders to put in it. Label each folder for ease of use. Use a RED folder to put items in that need attention right away. Keep your bills together in one folder so you can easily find them.
3. Use a desk set (pencil holder, note paper, paper trays, file box, and magazine holders, etc.) Keep the pencil holder well stocked. Use the paper trays for IN and OUT boxes for papers coming in. Use the magazine holders to put in any paperwork that will need filing. File regularly so the holder doesn't become overflowing!
4. Use a bulletin board for any important notes/paperwork that need to be in sight to be remembered.
5. Keep a recycle container, shredder and garbage can close to the office area for easy access.
6. Use a dry erase board for quick messages, notes, etc.
7. Keep a spot open on the desktop for your computer and give yourself plenty of room on the desk for writing and doing paperwork/bils.
8. Go through your mail right away and sort into recycle, toss, shred, file, ACT ON (red folder). This will make it easy to find paperwork later.
9. Set up a filing system that works for you. Label folders using terms that trigger your memory. Example..Car Repair instead of Automobile. You will remember things the more specific you are.
10. Remember to clear off your desk the last 15 minutes of the day so you start clutter-free and organized for the next day!
If you need the assistance of a professional organizer to get your home office space organized, contact SOS at 616-554-3175 or info@SusiesOrganizationSolutions.com.
Thanks!
Susie Marsh
Professional Organizer
|
|
Did you know that JANUARY is "GET ORGANIZED" month!
Just a few days until 2012!
What better time to take inventory (literally and figuratively) of your life and surroundings!
Is your 2012 New Year's resolution to get better organized and get the clutter cleared out? You are not alone! Many people start the year out by making a resolution.
To Get Organized in the New Year, you need to make a plan.
Ask yourself these questions: (I ask my clients to ponder these questions before starting to organize)
What are my goals?
What does success look like to me?
What areas do I want to focus on?
Do I need help or motivation? How much do I want to be pushed to get it done?
Once you have answered these questions, you can get started.
I am going to help by posting tips each month on how to get organized in these trouble areas :
January- Too much paper!
February- Closet Cleanout!
March- Bathroom Clutter!
April- It's Tax time!
May- Spring Clean Me!
June- Summer Party/Event Prep!
July- Kitchen Cleanup/De-clutter!
August- Back to School Again!
September- Storage!
October- Outdoor Spaces!
November- How to be organized when you travel!
December- How to stay organized during the holidays!
I look forward to sharing some tips with you!
I wish you all a very happy and organized 2012!
Sue Marsh
Susie's Organization Solutions LLC
info@SusiesOrganizationSolutions.com
Ph.616-554-3175
|
|
November Organizing Tip 2011- Holiday Stress Reliever
Are the approaching holidays stressing you out?
Here are some tips to handle and even avoid Holiday stress:
1. Plan ahead! Procrastination causes panic, less quality and overall unhappiness.
2. Break down your task into small parts. (example: shopping for gifts) Make a list of all persons that you need to purchase gifts for two to three months before the holidays. Get an idea of what the person likes, write it on your list and run with it! Look for sales and bring along reinforcements if it will take more than yourself to get the job done. Don't try to do all the shopping in one day! (avoid Christmas Eve shopping....now that is stress and pressure!) Be flexible. If you can't find the item on your list, have a Plan B (gift cards and food items are the usual standbys)
3. Ask for help. Delegate tasks to others in your family if that is possible. Remind them that more hands make lighter work! AND you are a much nicer person to be around which is reinforcement in itself! Don't forget to say thank you. We all like to be appreciated no matter how routine the task is.
4. Don't forget to take time out for yourself. Take a walk, exercise, meditate, watch a movie, get a massage, or have lunch with a friend and don't feel guilty about it!
5. Enjoy your family and friends! The Holidays are over before we know it, so be sure to spend time with them and don't worry that everything is not perfect. Being organized is not being perfect. It is having a process and a plan and knowing when to be flexible to get the desired end result. Success= Fun and Happy Holiday Season!
If you need help with your holiday preparations or more tips on stress reduction, contact SOS at 616-554-3175 , www.SusiesOrganizationSolutions.com.
Have a happy and organized holiday season!
|
|
October is a great time to think about cleaning out the clutter in your Garages/Attics/Basements!
The weather is turning colder but it isn't snowing yet so there is time to get rid of the clutter!
Do you dream of using a cluttered basement space as a "Man Cave" or Craft Room or Workout Room?
Do you dream of converting a cluttered attic space into another bedroom or office space?
Do you dream of using your garage to actually park your car in instead of holding a bunch of stuff?
You are not alone! Many dream of transforming cluttered and unorganized space into functional and beautiful spaces. Let's talk about how to get there!
1. Break the job down into small steps (several hours at a time over several days) to avoid burnout.
2. Enlist the help of family/friends if it is a large job. Offer to help them with projects or give them a thank you gift for helping. Having incentive food/drinks always works well too!
3. Use cardboard boxes to sort items to make donation/giving away easy without the worry of getting bins back.
4. Sort wanted items into zones (example: Toys, Tools, Car Repair, Decorations, Sports, Bikes, etc.) and encourage everyone to put items where they belong by labeling the zones.
5. Get the unwanted items out of your house as quickly as possible to avoid the temptation to look in the boxes again.
6. Check out the home improvement stores/large retail store for organizing products for the garage,basement and attic. There are always new products coming out and some are very affordable. Be sure to measure your space so you know how big the space is you want to organize.
7. Call Susie's Organization Solutions, LLC for a FREE intial consultation if you feel your are over your head and need some expert advice.
Now is the time to take that first step in making your dream come true!
Good luck and enjoy your newly organized and functional space!
Susie
Check back for more tips on organizing from Susie's Organization Solutions, LLC
616-554-3175
|
|
Back To School Tips:
It's that time of year when the kids are back in school and the family routine is focused on which kid needs to do what and get where?!! It can be a challenge for all involved to get back on track and be productive for the school year.
Here are some tips to help your student have an ORGANIZED school year:
- Check the class list of supplies needed/syllabus for any items you missed prior to school starting. Look for sales of clearance items and stock up for next year while you are at it!
- Go through your child’s binder/folders to check that they have a place for every subject so that paperwork is organized and easy to find. Color code folders to make it fun! Label a folder “Homework” and place it in the front of the binder for easy access for papers/notes/communication/homework for elementary/intermediate students.
- Encourage your student to go through his/her binder once a week to purge unneeded items.
- Set up a place in your home for ALL returned homework/graded papers to be stored for later reference (to verify correct grades in event of errors) Important for Middle and High School students.
- Encourage your student to use their calendar/agenda book to record homework assignments, tests/quizzes, projects and special events. This will make it second nature to him/her to use some type of organizer as he/she gets older.
- Use a dry erase board to record all social/school events for all members of the family for easy identification and coordination of schedules (color code to put some fun into it!). Transfer to your IPhone or Blackberry to go the high tech route.
- Give rewards to your student for staying motivated and organized!
Good luck and much success to you and your student during this school year!
If you need more ideas or assistance with getting your kids organized for school,
Contact SOS for a consultation.
Call 616-554-3175 today to discuss your organizing needs!
|
|
Pantry Organization
Do you struggle with a disorganized pantry?
Here are some tips to quickly get your pantry in tip top shape!
1. Remove all items from the pantry. Wipe down the shelves with your favorite cleaning product in order to
start from a clean empty surface.
2. Discard the old/outdated items. If in doubt, toss it out!
3. Place items in zones (like items together): breakfast foods, snacks, canned goods, paper products, etc...
4. Place larger heavy items on the lower shelves.
5. Place kids' items on lower shelves to eliminate the need for chairs or stools to reach the items.
6. Place frequently used items on the shelves that are located between waist high and eye level.
7. Place less frequently used items on shelves lower than waist level or higher than eye level.
8. Place items back on the shelves according to zones listed above.
9. Label the shelves for easy identification.
10. Enjoy your newly organized pantry!
For more organizing tips, stayed tuned for Back to School tips in September!
If you need help, contact me for your personal organizing session! 616-554-3175
info@susiesorganizationsolutions.com
|
|
|
