All Tipped Out
June 28, 2007
The last day of tips is here!
Tanta says, “Give loose items ‘homes’ in closed containers. If they are out of sight, your home feels more organized and you are more ready for dreaded drop-ins.”
Kerri suggests two solutions to the horrific experience of letting the wash sit and stagnate or letting the dryer stop and the clothes wrinkle. Set a timer (and then get up and take care of it!) or use an old baby monitor. You’ll hear the washer quit or the dryer beep or stop, and you’ll know it’s ready for you to come do your thing.
Liz left two good tips. She says, “My roommate and I have a little sticky pad on the inside of a kitchen cupboard where we make a list of borrowed items so we know who borrowed what from us. It’s out of the way but easy to use and cross items off when they are returned.”
She also says, ” I have a computer file with all my passwords saved. The password for the computer file is a “family one” that both my parents and siblings are aware of in case something should happen to me.”
Not a bad idea. I know there are a number of things in our home that I take care of, and my hubby has no clue on the details. Wouldn’t be bad to have that down someplace.
Jennifer says, “I buy containers, cubbies and shelves that are on sale. Then, when I tackle a cleaning/organizing job, I already have things available without making a special trip.”
Ooooo! A reason to shop for organizational goodies! I’ll definitely share this one with my hubby. Good tip, Jennifer.
Mary Beth says, “Keep items you use frequently close at hand. To minimize clutter, use storage containers, baskets, and bowls. This keeps me organized and is visually pleasing.”
That first part, keeping things close at hand, seems like one of those obvious ones, but I know too often I find myself digging through things for an item I use over and over. That’s when you know it’s time to empty the closet and fix it.
Here’s a tip I so agree with. Janette says, “Find a planner you like and USE it. Carry it with you wherever you go. I keep it near the bathroom when I shower. I keep a running shopping list (for Target, Walmart, etc.) in it. I keep my planner nearby when I’m praying or reading the Bible since that is always when we think of things we need to do. I just jot it down and go back to what I was doing.”
I love my planner. I could go on and on about that thing, but I’ll show restraint and not do it at this time. (Big sighs of relief, I’m sure.) When I use my planner right, it’s hard to lose information like the repair guy’s phone number or doctor’s appointments or what the contractor originaly quoted you on that kitchen remodel.
And this last one is another obvious one but well worth stating since it’s too easy to overlook.
Robin says, “I’ve found that so many of my organizational woes come from my mental state. I tend to get overwhelmed and stressed by too many details, and if there are too many things that need to be tackled all at one time, I get almost paralyzed.
A few years ago, I prayed a prayer that immediately calmed me down. “Father, you are not a God of chaos, but of order. I need you to bring order into this chaos, because I can’t do it.”
I pray this any time I’m getting overwhelmed, and things seem to fall into place. I’m calmer and can figure out what to do first.”
Love that! Of course, the emphasis is not so much on the words as the fact that she turned to God for help. Before anything else, pray! Thanks for the reminder, Robin.
Phew! That’s all the tips. But tomorrow I’ll announce the winner. Stay tuned . . .
- Only a few more days to enter the drawing for Snitch! Winner will be announced on Monday.
Comments
One Response to “All Tipped Out”
I love the advice about keeping a planner nearby at all times. On January 1 of this year, I traded in my regular wallet for one of those little organizer/portfolio things. It has a calendar, address book, notepad, and spaces for my credit cards and money. I turned one section into my check (or debit card) register so I wouldn’t have to carry that around with me anymore. So now all my info is pretty much with me all the time.