Get Happy...Get Organized Issue #11 January

Set the timer and start today!

In fifteen minutes or less, you can:

1. De-Clutter One Drawer. Most people have at least one junk drawer in their kitchen areas. Remove all of the contents of the drawer and sort into categories and everything that does not belong goes into a box labeled 'other place in home' to be put in its proper place later. Toss the extras of things like twist ties, rubberbands, old pens, coupons, pieces of gum (are you wondering if I'm in your kitchen right now?). You are now ready to load the `kitchen only' items back into the drawer. Viola, you have quickly organized a spot in your home.

2. Home Sweet Home. Take those kitchen junk drawer items (that don't actually belong in the kitchen junk drawer) to their proper home. In less than fifteen minutes, you can have those items back in the areas of your home where they really belong. Taking that fifteen minutes to put these items where they belong eliminates another pile to be dealt with later.

3. Junk Junction. Sort through that pile of mail. Start by tossing all of the ads and catalogs into the recycle bin. It's important to protect your identity! Separate the remaining mail into categories such as bills, correspondence, charitable organization requests and so forth. You can eliminate even further if you only keep the requests from charitable organizations that you regularly support.

5. Lighten the Load. Fold a load of laundry. Let's suppose we started a load of wash before heading out the door to work. When you get home from work, put the clean load of wash into the dryer. After dinner, when you sit to watch your favorite `Idol' you will be able to fold that load of clothes that is now dry. You can make great use of the commercial breaks to put that load away--or at least into the hands of a stray child or two, who happens to wear those clothes. Each owner of the clothes should be responsible to put them away.

6. Hop to it Dust Bunnies. We sometimes put off dusting because we think it will take too long. However, in less than fifteen minutes you can get an entire room dusted. With a feather duster or one of the many disposable products on the market, it won't take long at all to go over the surfaces. Work from top to bottom and go clockwise or even counter- clockwise around the room, dusting every surface that collects dust. And the less clutter you have the less time to dust and the less dust that accumulates. Make some dust-free room to breathe for yourself!

7. Sparkle and Shine. Give that bathroom a sparkle and a shine. Sometimes it can seem like a thankless task to clean that bathroom. If you take less than 15 minutes daily, you will have a bathroom that stays cleaner and gives you more time to do fun things with your family. When you have finished your morning routines to get ready to face the day, you can spend just a few more minutes to leave a fresh smelling bathroom behind. First step is to rinse the tub, shower and surround. If you are fortunate and have a hand held showerhead, you can use that to rinse the tub down. Then spray with a shower spray. Then, with a disposable wipe-- either homemade or bought at the store--and wipe down the counter, sink, faucet, the edge of the tub, and the toilet. Once you have finished the wipe down, you are ready to go out the door, in less than 15 minutes.

8. Corral the Clothes. Hang up those clothes that mistook the treadmill for a clothes hanger. Okay, so maybe it isn't quite that bad, but you know how flat surfaces can be so easily accumulate items. Once one item is there, it doesn't take long for the surface to disappear completely under the pile of clothes. Take the time to sort through these clothes. Make a pile for things that need to be taken to the cleaners, a pile for things that need repair and finally, the pile to be hung up. The final few steps are easier now. Hang up the clothes that should be in your closet, take the pile to be repaired to your favorite sewing spot and take the clothes that need to go to the cleaners to a spot where you can grab them on your way out the door. While you are out running errands, you can drop off the clothes at the cleaners. Now you have a serene and uncluttered chair to sit and read in, or a treadmill you can use, or a clear space on which to put a vase of flowers.

What haven't we written about that you would like to read? Let us know by sending an email to jessicadolan@roomtobreathe.us today!