In every household management task I do, I'm constantly trying to find a shortcut or a quicker and easier way of doing it. There are some tasks I just want to "do it and get it over with" so I can move on - the mundane things like filing the warranty and instructions to the new vacuum cleaner or paying the cable bill.
Back in 2003 when I was still working my corporate gig, I decided there had to be a better way to get it all done in the day and still have time left for me. I established a household "Command Center", also known as "Mom's Office", for all the tasks that routinely needed to be done and then I tweaked and modified the system as needed.
Here are the 7 secrets to household management I learned through the "school of hard knocks" that have helped me to effectively handle the business of running a home. It does not require a lot of space, just a few simple systems and tools to get the job done.
1. Calendar / Planner - Choose a calendar that fits your style. You may like an electronic version like
Google Calendar or the hip and cool
Cozi (both are f.ree), one that has plenty of space to take notes like
Planner Pad, or one that keeps up with the schedules of an entire family like
Mom Agenda. Ask your organized friends what type planner they like - and why - and then choose the perfect planner for you.
2. Action Files - These files contain all the current papers you are working on. They usually require some form of action from you before they can be filed away in the reference files. They can be things you need to do, bills that need to be paid, projects in various stages of completion, or things you want to read when you get a minute.
3. Reference Files - These files contain the papers you have finished working on and want to keep. They can be anything from your bank statements and car insurance policy to your voter registration card.
4. Wastebasket - Keep paper to a minimum by making it easy to get rid of.
5. Shredder - Protect your identity and shred anything with your name, address, or other personal information on it. It only takes a second to tear off the label from a magazine or other unwanted piece of paper. (Here's a scary thought: I heard a rumor that one day our landfills may be "mined" for the recyclable items like aluminum, glass, metal, and plastics we threw away for so many years. Papers - with our names on them - that have been buried for years without exposure to air will easily be able to be read.)
6. Recycle Bin - You can keep paper that has only been printed on one side for reuse as scrap paper, for making lists, or printing information that doesn't require a clean sheet of paper.
7. Contact Management System - To easily keep up with your contact lists (and eliminate tiny scraps of paper and restaurant napkins with scribbled information) you may use an
address book,
Rolodex,
Outlook (it comes with Microsoft) or other computer program to keep up with names, physical addresses, email addresses, home/work/cell phone numbers, birthdays, anniversaries, and other important information.
What I have discovered is that by having just a few simple systems in place, the management of my home has gotten so much easier. And you know what that means - more leisure time. More time to cook, exercise, read a book, peruse a magazine or catalog, volunteer, take the dog for a walk, leave town for the weekend, or simply to do nothing at all.
If you don't currently have a household Command Center, I encourage you to assemble one. It'll be one of the best time saving investments you make for you and your family.
© 2008 Southern Home Organizers, All rights reserved
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