Aug 16

Before and After School Checklists

By Sherry Borsheim Blog, Home Organizing, Inspiration, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

back to school routine

Making a list and checking it twice starts at Back to School!

Last post we released on Back To School Planning was a bit of on introduction on Back To School. The goal was to help busy, hard working parents like yourself get a head start on the year to increase productivity and decrease stress.

We’ve since had quite a bit of feedback on that post which really brought a lot of inspiration to us for future content. So to continue this thought process and follow through with some of our previous promises, we thought we we get into something a little more specific.

The before and after school routine. Some might think it’s easy to set and keep a routine in the mornings – but with an entrepreneur super mom on our team (Cijaye DePradine) we know that it only LOOKS easy unless you are really on top of your game.

The number one secret to success according to Cijaye is making lists! She lives by them. Not just because she has a high functioning A.D.D. but she also has two school aged children and a business to run from the break of dawn onwards.

Without lists — everything can be a distraction! So, as we said last time….

Don’t forget the little things – make checklists NOW

If you take inventory of all the little things you really do need to do to start your day properly – it will be that much easier to make them a part of your routine. And it’s always a great first step to make checklists for them so that they don’t become routinely chaotic for everyone. For example:

The daily before school schedule may consist of all the dress and hygiene tasks that are an absolute in everyone’s daily lives, but don’t forget to schedule breakfast (it’s the most important meal of the day) even if it’s a glass of OJ or water and some fresh cut fruit or bagels — breakfast is critical. Along with breakfast you and your child might need to take medications or vitamins.

Have a reminder list and doing this together as a team ensures that everyone is doing it. PLUS it gives you extra quality time together as a family.

Lastly but certainly not least, a “double check” rule should be in order daily as well. This “double check” rule ensures that each and every morning your child takes a look at his or her agenda, books, binders and bag to ensure that they have everything they need for the day. Kids tend to carry more of what they don’t need and less of what they do.

They are often quite forgetful as well. If they are forced to double check every morning – they will be more on the ball than anyone can hope for, I promise.

TIP: Make a reminder list for this in the evenings so that they know exactly what to look for in the mornings.

The after school schedule is definitely different. In many homes – the children are HUNGRY as soon as they walk in the door. If you hire an in-home nanny or sitter for this time, you might want to ask them to prepare light snacks/meals for the kids that will be ready upon their return.

If you don’t have a sitter and your children are not of age to do this on their own – it might be important to schedule yourself to step in here. If your child is of age, having a list to remind them which meals are acceptable after school and which are not may be helpful. (Afterall you don’t want your children eating a triple dose of sugar filled cereal mid afternoon – let alone any other time of day).

This way everyone simply goes on about their days and stays focused. Also, although some parents do not believe in chores, many do and in those homes, chores and homework are always a top priority. The challenge is putting them in order. Which comes first in your home is going to be up to you. But do make sure you schedule the time for each. It is important.

Finally if your children have after school sports or activities – make plans for this too. If you must arrange another carpool or two – do that. If it’s all on you – that’s okay – but just make sure you set your OWN schedule to make room for this. Your children will need to get their uniforms, dressy clothes or costumes on. They may need their water bottles filled and they will always need some sort of healthy snack in them before they go (if not dinner).

A good rule of thumb is to give yourself at least 1.5 hours between the end of your work and the beginning of sports to make it all run smoothly.

Of course this is just a small list of the many things you can do to keep your daily routine in check – but it’s all important. If you run a home business it’s VITAL.

Aug 09

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Does a Messy Desk Make You More Productive?

By Sherry Borsheim Blog, Business Organizing, Closet Organizing, Free Articles, Home Office Organization, Home Organizing, IABO Weekly News, Inspiration, Organizing Paper Files No Comments

Well, the verdict is still out on this one and I’m not sure that having piles of paper and stacks of stuff around makes you more productive. I know for me, that a clean desk is a calm mind and I’m less distracted and more focused on the task at hand. But on the other hand, if a messy desk can lead to make employees more productive, than maybe there is a lesson to be learned here. So I stuck my neck out on this one, held my breath and waited for your response.

What’s your threshold for clutter?

For the past 25 years, I’ve worked with 1000’s of business owners, executives and employees who range from being very creative, spontaneous, most things last-minute to clean desk, highly organized and looking for ways to improve their systems even more (they don’t like to waste time). What I know to be true is everyone has a different threshold and tolerance for the amount of clutter and chaos they allow to pile up on their desk, in their homes, and in their life. When they hit the breaking point, they call me for help.

Cookie-cutter solutions don’t stick

Another lesson I’ve learned as a Productivity and Organizing Consultant is there’s no one-size fits-all solution to organization and time management. That’s the reason all my products, programs and hands-on services are personalized to the way you think, function, and use your environment. I will share several ways to organize something and you decide what works best for you and then personalize it. No cookie-cutter solutions here!

It’s about the journey

The truth is, organizing is also a journey (which we really don’t like to hear) and in the process we all learn about ourselves, our habits, our choices, and we grow as a person expanding our skill base and knowledge. It’s our choices that determine our reality. Let’s be realistic here, the piles didn’t magically happen overnight, and they won’t magically disappear by the wave of a magic wand. As much as I’d like to wave a magic wand and make all the piles and chaos go away, keeping your desk clean of stacks and piles takes daily maintenance. Just like your clothes won’t magically pick themselves up off the floor and hang themselves on hangers in your closet, or the dishes in the sink won’t wash themselves. The same is true with getting and staying organized, and achieving your dreams and goals – it’s about choices and taking action.

Also, there are foundational best practices and systems that need to be in place to effectively run a business or household, otherwise you’ll be:

Wasting precious and valuable time looking for things
Losing money on missed opportunities and duplicate purchases, and
More than likely, unfocused and not as productive as you could be

Time-tested Productivity and Organizing Solutions

Before I recommend any products, systems and processes, apps, software or referrals, I personally test and use everything myself. For software, apps and all things technical, it must pass the strict scrutiny of my technical team. After it’s passed all our tests on ease of use, functionality, durability, esthetics and so on, then we share the productivity tools and organizing systems with you. We take our job seriously because we know that you put your trust in us and our recommendations.

So when I read this interesting article written by Rob Waugh “Messy desks in the office can actually lead employees to think more clearly, say researchers” my thought was to put this research to the test myself and get your feedback. Even though there was some hesitation on my part at first to share this article, I thought who better to provide feedback than my clients, customers, and followers.

The comments came back on my Facebook Page that a clean desk is preferred to be more productive and confirms what I’ve been training and implementing over the past decade. The reason I started my business back in 2001, was I realized not everyone has the natural organizing skills that I was born with and I’ve learned how to pass those skills onto others. So, my purpose in life is to serve others with my gift of organization, to be fully alive and present, to love and appreciate others and to learn and share my gifts, so that I inspire others to live more fully and make a greater difference today. I’ve seen the results of helping a mother who’s very creative, frantic, anxious and always last-minute learn organizing skills to calm the chaos in her personal life, household and family. Then pass on the organizing skills to her kids. It’s life-changing on so many levels. And, as a result of getting her life and home organized, it gave her the freedom to live her purpose and make a huge impact in the world today!

What’s your preference? Messy Desk or Clean?

If a messy desk and piles of stuff works for you, then that’s ok, we’ll set up systems that work for you and purge a little in the process. If a clean desk and a clear and focused mind is what you want, then we’ll close the gaps and create systems that work for you too. Either way, it’s all about you and how you want to use your time, space and life to make a greater difference in the world.

On a personal note, thank you allowing me to share my passions and gifts with you. I truly want the best for you and your families. Now it’s your turn to post your comments below.

Do you prefer a messy or clean desk? How does clutter impact you personally, professionally, physically and/or psychologically? Would love to hear your comments on this. Post your comments below this article.

Aug 09

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Conquering Office Clutter

By Sherry Borsheim Blog, Home Office Organization, Organizing Paper Files, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

Feeling overwhelmed by increasing clutter?

Oh Clutter…. So quickly it builds up. So often it distracts. So difficult it is to get rid of. It is a rampant problem in our paper driven economy. It can be found in just about any office.

Why is clutter such a problem? For starters, just consider the mounds of paper that pass through the average office. The sheer quantity is overwhelming! Secondly, if what’s on the paper is not immediately applicable, it goes into the ‘later’ pile. The problem is that so often ‘later’ never comes. Thirdly, there are the papers that for one reason or another need to be kept and cannot be disposed of. And lastly, there are the piles that people want to keep for sentimental reasons. They might need it someday, or it would just be a shame to toss.

Knowing how to deal with and avoid office clutter is an important aspect of office management if an efficient business wants to be run. Here are a few tips to help you tackle your clutter:

Clear your desk.

Make room to work. Trying to work amongst clutter is anything but efficient and will only cause frustration and stress, and it slows down progress. In effect, having your desk piled high just makes more work. Having a clear desk area is calming and promotes quality and satisfying work.

Use paper trays.

They come in all shapes, colors and sizes. For those papers that you need to have on your desk, give them a home, one that is need and tidy. You are more likely to keep things organized if you have some equipment that makes it simple. Which leads me to my next point.

Implement an easy filing system.

The trays will work great so long as they get emptied periodically. Create a simple system that works for you. It doesn’t have to be fancy. So long as it is easy, efficient and tidy, it will work.

Date things to create deadlines.

You are more likely to deal with papers if they have a defined due date. Cycle through papers frequently and deal with those whose due dates are approaching. Resist the temptation to procrastinate. De-cluttering takes discipline.

Lastly, tidy your work area at the end of each day.

It is a simple task that often gets ignored when you’re rushing out of the office. It only takes a minute or two, and it will give you a jump start on the next day. There is a no more discouraging way to start day than coming in to a cluttered mess.

The steps are simple and quick. The results will be invaluable. Life at work is so much simpler when you’ve conquered the clutter!

Happy DeCluttering BizOrganizing family.

August 2012