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Newsletter Archives
December 2009
Wrapping It Up
November 2009
Prepare the Pantry
October 2009
Costumes & Decorations
September 2009
Enough
August 2009
Help for the Home Office
July 2009
Getting Crafty
June 2009
A Better Bedroom
May 2009
Eco Organizing
April 2009
Getting Ready to Garden
March 2009
The Path To Clutter
February 2009
Easing Into Downsizing
January 2009
Organizing For Renovation
December 2008
Organizing For Next Year
November 2008
More Of My Favorite Organizing Tools
October 2008
Making Life Easier
September 2008
Clearing The Closet
August 2008
How To Let Go Of Stuff
July 2008
Managing Medical Records
June 2008
Road Trip Organizing
May 2008
Collections Instead of Clutter
April 2008
Getting Ready for Tax Time
March 2008
Where to Begin
February 2008
When You Want to Help
January 2008
Top Ten Causes of Disorganization
December 2007
Organize for Air Travel
November 2007
Organize for Small Spaces
October 2007
When Life Happens, Reorganize
September 2007
Bathroom Organizing
August 2007
Paper Organizing
July 2007
Uncluttered Kids' Rooms
June 2007
Top Ten Organizing Tools
May 2007
Grapple The Garage
April 2007
Managing Your Time
March 2007
Spring Organizing
February 2007
Help for Caregivers of Aging Parents
January 2007
National Get Organized Month
December 2006
Year End Organizing
November 2006
Give Thanks for Being Organized
October 2006
Holiday Kitchen Organization
September 2006
In Case of a Weather Emergency - Organize!
August 2006
Back to School Organizing
July 2006
Declare your Independence from Summer Clutter
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ORGANIZING TIPS OF THE MONTH: DECEMBER 2008
Organizing for Next Year
December is the perfect time to plan ahead for the upcoming year. It gives such a feeling of relief to be organized after the holiday activities. Email or call me to help you make a fresh start in 2009.
- Box up decorations you do not use this year but are not sure you are ready to donate. Label the box “Decorations not used in 2008.” When you get ready to decorate in 2009, re-evaluate the contents of the box. Get rid of the things you are not going to use.
- After the holiday meals become leftovers, purge your refrigerator and freezer. Take everything out of the refrigerator; wipe down the entire inside with a non-toxic cleaner. Discard outdated food and drinks. Get rid of leftovers and produce that are past their prime. Place items in logical groupings—condiments, dressings, juices, etc. Do the same with the freezer. Toss food that has been in the freezer for over 6 months; if you have not used it by now, you are not going to.
- Look through your address book. If it is filled with outdated information, get a new book. I recommend making entries in pencil so you can easily edit your book. Make corrections collected from greeting cards that have address changes. Put business cards in clear plastic business card sleeves. You can put the sleeves in a 3-ring binder or tuck them near your address book. You can also use your computer as an address book and scan business cards into a file.
- One of my favorite timesavers is to buy a year’s worth of greeting cards. Make a list now of all the birthday and anniversary cards you want to send. Take the list with you and check off each date as you find the appropriate card. Buy extra get well, sympathy, and general birthday cards. Put names on sticky notes on the cards and file by month in a box or bin.
- When you have finished wrapping holiday gifts, take inventory of your gift wrap and ribbon supply. Restock during the end of year sales. Replenish your all occasion and birthday wrap and ribbon too.
- Assess the health of your houseplants. Sickly or misshapen plants make the whole room look dreary and cluttered. Replace those that cannot be revived; prune those that have gotten leggy. Make your rooms come alive for the New Year with healthy plants.
- Are the new gifts overwhelming an already tight space? Take the opportunity to go through your CDs, DVDs, games, electronics, and clothing and make generous donations to a favorite organization. You cannot enjoy the things you have if they are squished in with the multitudes.
- End the year with a clean slate—clear off the front of your refrigerator. Instead of cluttering the surface with magnetic business cards, enter the information in your address book or slip the cards into plastic card sleeves. Toss outdated notices. Put children’s best artwork in their memorabilia bins, toss the non-keepers. Enter appointments on your calendar; clip the appointment cards to the corresponding month. A blank refrigerator instantly makes the whole kitchen look neater.
- After you have completed your holiday cooking and baking, purge your recipe cards and cookbooks. You know which ones are old faithfuls and which ones looked good at one time but no longer hold much appeal. Make room for what you use and for new favorites. Also, if you successfully tweaked a recipe to better suit your taste, make notes on the recipe card or directly in the cookbook.
- If you are trying to simplify your life by reducing the amount of stuff that comes into your home, rethink your gift exchange routine. Create new traditions—others may be eager to join. Instead of exchanging gifts with friends, agree to meet for coffee or lunch and enjoy time together. See if adult relatives are ready to forego gifts altogether or perhaps give to one another’s favorite charity. Time together and memories are gifts in themselves. No clutter involved.
©All Sorted Out, 2008 All Rights Reserved
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