organizing resources for crafters

Crafters always seem to have at least ten of everything — we do love our supplies! But have you ever gone off to the craft store to buy another just because it's easier to find things there? If that sounds familiar, put aside the shame and get organized. If you've got a craft, ArtBin has a storage solution for you. You can even shop their Pink Ribbon line, where proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Research Fund. ArtBin offers an extensive line of molded storage boxes to organize the craft room of your dreams, or soft-sided products for those projects on the go ... even if "go" just means moving to the couch to finish up that scarf in front of your favorite TV show. Get—and stay—organized. Click here to start.

tip of the weekd (2/7/2010)

February 7 – February 13, 2010 this week’s "tip of the week" was sent from Rachel from Big Rapids, MI

Rachel writes: “Something that has increased my motivation to work quickly and efficiently, and also incorporates rewards into a busy day:

I set an alarm for a set amount of time (say, 90 minutes). I have a list of what I want to accomplish in that amount of time. If I finish all items on the list before my time is up, I do whatever I want for the remainder of the time.

I get things done much more quickly, and am having fun too!”

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

start organizing right now!

Are you looking for the perfect time to get organized? Here are some compelling reasons to motivate you to start now.

First and foremost: the sooner you start getting organized, the sooner you’ll be finished. In other words, the earlier you deal with your clutter, the faster you’ll feel relief from the feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed that have been piling up right along with the unwieldy stacks and unsightly clutter.

If you feel like you’re climbing an uphill battle to conquer Mount Clutter, it is certainly easy to think of reasons not to get started now. Perhaps you feel like you don’t have enough time, or you aren’t sure where to begin, or maybe you’re just feeling completely overwhelmed by the thought of it all. But at the end of the day, the sooner you start, the sooner you enjoy the benefits of organized living.

The good news is this: Getting started is very simple and you don’t need a lot of time to do so. And you don’t have to know each of the steps between point A and point B in order to start. All you have to do is begin! Grab a timer and a box, and pick a room. If you aren’t sure which room to choose, start with the room you’re in right now!

Once you have your supplies ready, set your timer for just fifteen minutes and look for the low-hanging fruit—items you know at a glance you no longer use, need or love. If you find yourself spending more than five seconds trying to make a decision on an item, put the item down and keep moving. Keep looking and plucking until the timer goes “ding.” Take note of how good it feels to be in motion, and then pat yourself on the back. You just got started, and you are now fifteen minutes closer to finishing!

create a chaos-free morning (part 2)

Mornings can easily become the most frenzied time of the entire day. For many families, the process of waking up, getting dressed and preparing for each day is hectic. Despite your best efforts, you may habitually struggle to arrive at work, school, or other activities on time because of morning chaos. To make matters worse, a stressful morning can easily set a negative tone for the rest of the day. By creating a chaos-free morning, you can not only reduce stress and calm commotion, but you will also improve your attitude and performance for the rest of the day as well.

If you read our post from earlier this week and are still struggling to get your mornings under control, here are 5 more tips to help you do just that!

1. Set your alarm clock to give you 15 extra minutes every morning. The extra time will allow you to remain on schedule even if there are unexpected snags in your morning routine.
   
   
2. Establish a routine. Make a list of everything that needs to be done each morning and determine what order those things will occur.
   
   
3. Give children a list of things `to do' each morning. Making their own beds, picking up laundry, and other age appropriate chores can make your job easier and keep the children busy while you attend to your own responsibilities.
   
   
4. Delegate responsibility. Assign everyday responsibilities such as cooking breakfast, dressing small children, and starting the coffee maker to capable family members.

5. Give yourself time to clean up. Nobody wants to return home to a messy house. Giving yourself several minutes each morning to tidy up will allow you to relax and enjoy your home once you return.

Recurrent frenzied mornings will quickly become a thing of the past when you use these simple suggestions to get organized. With minimal effort, you can quickly develop evening habits and morning routines for your family that will make the most out of your limited time in the morning. Reducing confusion and establishing a comfortable, yet flexible schedule will calm morning chaos and set the tone for a positive, productive day for your entire family.

create a chaos-free morning (part 1)

Mornings can easily become the most frenzied time of the entire day. For many families, the process of waking up, getting dressed and preparing for each day is hectic. Despite your best efforts, you may habitually struggle to arrive at work, school, or other activities on time because of morning chaos. To make matters worse, a stressful morning can easily set a negative tone for the rest of the day. By creating a chaos-free morning, you can not only reduce stress and calm commotion, but you will also improve your attitude and performance for the rest of the day as well.

The key to calming morning chaos for yourself and your family begins by establishing groundwork the previous evening.

1. Check your schedule every evening to see what is on your agenda for the next day. Gather any items you will need for tomorrow's events and activities.
   
   
2. Organize yourself and your family the night before. Pack backpacks and lunch boxes. Ensure that all permission slips are signed and paperwork is filled out. Make yourself a `to do' list for items you need to accomplish tomorrow.
   
   
3. Pre-dress for success. Take a moment to check tomorrow's weather forecast and choose appropriate clothing the night before.
   
   
4. Designate a place for keys, purses or backpacks, and coats near the door and ensure they are all accounted for before you go to bed each evening
   
   
5. Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep will almost definitely leave you dragging and nothing encourages morning chaos more than being slow-moving and lethargic

Now that your schedule has been checked, necessities are prepared and placed in a convenient location, and clothing is set out; you are ready to face the day ahead…right?? If you still feel overwhelmed by morning madness, check back later this week for a few more steps you can take every morning to reduce chaos as well.

tip of the week (1/31/2010)

January 31 – February 6, 2010 this week’s "tip of the week" was sent from Mike from Grand Rapids, MI

Mike writes: “I lack space in my workshop, so I fasten glass jam jar lids to the underside of the shelves. The jars can be filled with nails, screws, nuts and bolts and just screwed up into the lids. I can see at a glance what's in each jar, no labels needed! My wife thinks they look pretty.”

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizingg tips for every area of your life.

organizing challenge...taxes

It's the last weekend in January...and that means it is getting close to tax season!

Take a few hours this weekend to get all your tax paperwork in order. It will save you lots of time, stress, and money when you go to get your taxes done in the next few weeks.

Remember, the sooner you file your taxes, the sooner you get your refund!