Get Organized Tips

Is clutter getting you down? Try these get organized tips for moms. 

1 - Storage, storage, storage - If you really want to get organized this should be the first priority.  Look around your house and write a list of possible storage solutions for all your clutter.

2 - Be Ruthless - We tend to hold on to so many things, and although some things you just can't get rid of try to do everything in your power to get rid of things you don't really need.  Donate old toys or clothes to charities or have a garage sale.

3 - Get Help – Don’t do it all yourself.  Write a checklist of things that need to be done in the house and assign tasks to all family members, even very young children can help put away toys.

4 – File those Papers – A job many of us put off until we have little stacks of paper all over the house.  Get a good file box or filing cabinet and start filing away all those papers into appropriately labelled folders.  Old papers like old utility bills can be placed in a labelled box and put away in the attic.

5 – Off the Floors – Shelves and ceiling hanging storage are great solutions for keeping the house organized, especially kids rooms.  Put up a few shelves and help clear your floors of all that clutter.

6 – Use your Calendar – Do you keep forgetting all those important events?  Hang up a calendar in your kitchen and write down all important dates.  Glance at it each evening to mentally plan your next day.

7 – Use your Phonebook – Write down all those phone numbers you have laying around on pieces of paper in your phone book.  You don’t only need to use your phonebook for friends and family numbers, write down school numbers, activities, and so on.

8 – Clean Your Purse – Having trouble finding things in your purse?  Clean it out and throw away any old papers or receipts you don’t need. 

9 – Receipt Box – Place a box in a prominent place like your home office or kitchen and label it “receipts”.  Whenever you buy something place the receipt in the box straight away, this way if you need to exchange it or take it back you’ll have all your receipts right on hand.

10 – Warranty Box – Just like a receipt box this will save you a lot of time and hassle.  Label a large box “Warranties” and place all your important documents for items that are covered under yearly or extended warranties like washing machines or computers, you can also keep all your manuals in this box.

11 – Write your List – Don’t waste time going shopping or running errands without a “to do” list.  Speaking from experience I know us moms can easily forget the things we went out for (especially if we have the kids with us).  Write a list of all your errands or shopping items and before you go back home glance at it to make sure you’ve done everything.  This will keep you from having to go back out again.

12 – Message Station – Perfect for busy families.  Have one central place where you place the mail and telephone messages on a daily basis.  This way mail and messages won’t get lost when passing through different family members.  Make sure you keep plenty of post it notes, paper and pens at your message station.  This is also a good place to keep your calendar with important dates.  

13 – Under-Bed Storage – Great when you don’t have a lot of space.  Keep the things you don’t use on a daily basis but can’t go into the attic in under bed storage.  It’s a good solution for comforters, sheets or toys.   

14 – Toys, toys and more toys – Most of our children have too many.  One solution is to go through the toys and have your kids choose some to give to charity.  Explain to them how it’s good to help others that don’t have as much.  If you really can’t bear to give them away make sure you have plenty of storage.  A good option is to have one or two toy storage chests in the living room or family room as well as the kid’s rooms.  Kids won’t keep their toys in their rooms only and by having additional toy storage handy you’ve made the task of clearing up toys much easier.

15 – Recycle – Recycle that stack of old newspapers and magazines.  You may have meant to go back and read some but if more than a few weeks has passed chances are you won’t go back to it.  Take the whole thing down to the recycling yard and feel better.