Think creatively to keep your home #organized in the new year, Good Housekeeping says. It offers 100 ways to sort out the #stuff in your small spaces such as #drawers and #closets in order to help you store everything more reliably. Use bins to compartmentalize and #organize drawers, install hooks and shelves to take advantage of vertical space, and designate a “drop zone” where everything can be sorted out as it enters the home. When your stuff has a place to be, it’s less likely to get scattered where it doesn’t belong and create #clutter — and you’ll be able to find whatever it is easily when you need it. #OrganizedNewYear
Tag: getting organized
School May Be in Session, But Summer Isn’t Over
This week, schools throughout the country are welcoming students back for another year. A few kids may not be ready to let the carefree, lazy days of the seasonal break go, of course, and may complain loudly that “summer’s over.”
#Summer is far from over, though, especially for anyone who isn’t in school. The start of school may be a harbinger of cooler climes to come, but there’s still a month to go before the vernal equinox — and plenty of warm weather left to enjoy.
Now’s the time to kick that summer fun into high gear! Have you gotten in any of your favorite outdoor activities, such as camping, fishing, boating, kayaking or swimming? Have you taken the opportunity to picnic in a park or cook out?
Maybe you’re more indoorsy — or a temporary heat “dome” is encouraging you to stay inside. Beat the heat at an indoor matinee. Or take on a household project such as #decluttering your wardrobe or #redecorating a room, Apartment Therapy suggests.
There’s still time to schedule an end-of-summer trip, too. September and October are beautiful months to visit many northern climates and see the leaves change color, and it’s still hot enough in the south and the tropics to swim and sunbathe.
If you opt to #organize and #declutter, there’s still time to schedule and stage a #garage sale. Set aside your castoff clothing and household goods and tag them. Pick a weekend and post signage directing shoppers to your door; you’ll have extra pocket money in no time.
If that sounds like too much work for your precious summer days, you can always schedule a free #donation #pickup at ClothingDonations.org to effortlessly relieve yourself of that #extra #stuff while supporting valuable #veterans programs.
Whatever you choose, there’s a lot of summer left to do it. Even the Labor Day holiday isn’t the limit — and if you have kids, they’ll be at school, leaving you much of the day to concentrate on personal and professional needs. Start planning what’s left of summer now!
Free Yourself From a Lifetime of Clutter
The latest word in #decluttering advice is “death cleaning,” a no-holds-barred strategy to get rid of unnecessary belongings that can be undertaken long before the ultimate demise forces family members to do it on one’s behalf. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter, artist Margareta Magnusson asks readers to embrace #minimalism to put things in order for good. It can be a difficult but invigorating process, and the book is an entertaining beach read for any aspiring #declutterer with aging family members. When you’re done reading and #decluttering, contact ClothingDonations.org for a free donation pickup! #SummerReading
Summer Reads to Fit Your Schedule
Pick an #organizing book that fits into your schedule to avoid getting overwhelmed with the task, says VeryWell Mind. Pick a short book with small projects if you’re time-constrained, or something more detailed from a #decluttering or home guru such as Marie Kondo or Martha Stewart. If you can count on your family to join you in the struggle to #declutter and #organize, try The Real Simple Method to Organizing Every Room: And How to Keep It That Way, which offers checklists and step-by-step instructions for a variety of household organizing projects that can build a new routine and encourage long-term tidiness. #SummerReading
Start a 12-Month Organizing Schedule
As you enjoy #summer #vacation, make a plan to #organize your home once and for all: Grab a copy of Organize Your Home In A Year Or Less! by Kai M. Jordan as your beach read. The book discusses mistakes when attempting to #orgnanize their homes and three techniques you can use to sort out your life. The calendar-based approach offers 12 exercises to follow in organizing your kitchen, living room, bathroom, garage, attic, bedrooms, closets and more, and discusses the differences to know between #decluttering (a project) and #organizing (a system). Get with the program to clear up the persistent messes and #clutter that add to stress. #SummerReading