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Aug 10
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Back to School: College Dorms

By Blog, Checklists, Time Management No Comments

First of all – congratulations on your next big chapter!

 

Whether you’re a new or returning student, I’m sure you are bursting with excitement to get into the dorms and back into student mode!

Right now, you are probably packed full of all these different jitters. Excitement, eagerness, anticipation, and a general zest for life!

But alongside these thrilling emotions come the other half of our nerves. Anxiety, apprehension, fear, and nervousness. You may be asking yourself questions like:

When should I start packing?

What should I be planning to do on move-in day?

What things do I need to do before moving into the dorm?

What are some fun, entertainment things to bring?

How long does it take to move into a dorm?

But before you get too overwhelmed, let’s start with the very basics.

 

Before Anything!

Schools will usually provide a checklist of necessary items to bring for all students who are moving into student housing. If you haven’t received one, reach out to the administration and start from there.

You should also carefully read through your college dorm rules to know beforehand what kinds of things are allowed and what is prohibited. Make sure to check what is already included, too. Sometimes apartments will come furnished, with kitchen appliances or basic furniture. Dorm rooms may include basic things like a desk, chair, bed, and lamp.

 

Lists and Preparations

Okay, we’ve got the basics down and now it’s time to fill in the blanks! Let’s start making a list of necessities – but first, you’ll want to contact your new roommate to discuss who will bring what. The last thing you need is to waste money on duplicates to take up extra space that you won’t have!

Another money-saving tip is after you make your list, make notes of what you don’t already have. Then before you head to the store, check with friends and family members to see if they have any items on your list they would be willing to give or lend to you.

SEKINER
Hook for door

BRUSALI
Shoe cabinet with 3 compartments

ALEX
Drawer unit

Clothing

(Remember not to pack too crazy – college is all about comfort so you’ll likely just be wearing your favourites most of the time)

Must-have

Underwear
Bras/Sports bras
Socks
Pants (jeans, workout, casual)
Shorts (workout, casual)
Shirts and sweaters (bring things you can layer)
Sweatpants or cozy lounge pants
Pajamas
Jackets for fall and winter
Cold-weather apparel (warm hat, gloves, scarf, boots)
Runners, casual shoes, and sandals
Hat and/or umbrella
Belt
Wallet

Nice to have

Formal clothes (if you plan on attending events or interviews)
Purse
Swimsuit
Jewelry
Shower shoes
Slippers
Casual dress
Stain remover pen
Lint brush

Leave at home

Anything you already don’t wear often
Duplicates

Important Documents

(Electronic versions preferred)

Must-have

Credit and debit cards
Driver’s license
School ID (or your paperwork to get one)
Car registration and insurance
Health insurance card
Copy of birth certificate
Copy of social security card
Emergency contact list
Financial aid information
Class schedules
Meal plan card

Leave at home

Hard-to-replace/Irreplaceable original documents

Tech and Electronics

(Check with your roommate for what each of you will bring)

Must-have

Phone and charger
Extension cord power strip
Earbuds
Laptop, charger, and case
HDMI cable
Wall cube for USB cables
Login info for streaming services

Nice to have

Wireless mouse
Laptop stand
Tablet
TV and stand
Video game console and games
External hard drive
Portable phone charger
Printer and printer paper (check with your school, everything may be online)
Alarm clock

School Supplies

Must-have

Backpack
Pens and pencils
Highlighters
Pencil sharpener
Spiral notebooks or binders with lined paper
Binder section dividers
Index cards
Sticky notes
Stapler, rubber bands, tacks, paper clips, tape

Nice to have

Sticky tab page markers
File folders
Small whiteboard and dry erase pens
Paper wall calendar

Toiletries and Medicine

Shower caddy or small tote
Shampoo and conditioner
Body wash
Body oils or lotion
Loofah or wash cloths
Hair styling products
Hand soap and sanitizer
Skincare products
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Comb or brush
Hair heat-styling tools (flat iron, curling iron, blowdryer)
Razors and shaving cream
Cotton swabs and pads
Sunscreen and bug spray
Make-up
Feminine hygiene products
Tweezers
Nail clippers, file, buffer block
Nail polish and polish remover
Extra contacts and solution
Eye glasses
Sunglasses
Toilet paper
Deodorant
Hair accessories
Retainer/mouth guard
Bathroom cleaning supplies and air freshener
Prescription medication
Inhaler
OTC meds you use regularly (acetaminophen, cold and flu, antacids, allergy)
Vitamins
Birth control
Sleeping mask

Yamazaki Caddy

Linens and Laundry

Must-have

Sheets
Bath towels, washcloths, hand towels
Pillows and cases
Blankets or duvet
Clothes hangers
Laundry basket
Laundry detergent and dryer sheets
Quarters for washer and dryer or laundry card

Nice to have

Mattress protector
Extra blanket for outdoor events
Clothing iron
Laundry bag for delicate items

Furnishings and Decor

Must-have

Fan or space heater
Under-bed storage pullouts
Additional seating (futon, folding chairs, etc.)
Mini broom and dustpan
Trash can and bags
Light bulbs
Vacuum

Nice to have

Lamp for desk
Wall art
Poster tack to hang things
Area rug
Full-length mirror
Make-up mirror
String lights
Plants or fake plants
Small vacuum or hand vac

Food, Snacks, and Kitchen

Special snacks and food you can only get at home
Cereal and/or oatmeal
Tea bags or loose leaf tea with infuser
Small coffee maker or french press, coffee, filters
Your preferred coffee or tea condiments
Hot chocolate mix
Some easy-to-prepare meal options you can make in your room (ramen noodles, soup, and microwavable entrees stored at room-temperature)
Microwave popcorn
Quick-energy snacks (granola bars, nuts)
Reusable water bottle
Can opener
Toaster
Mini fridge and microwave (if not provided, make sure you’re allowed to have them in your room)
Dishes that you can wash or compostable plates and cutlery
Mug
Travel mug
All-purpose cleaner and rags
Dish soap
Kitchen sponges
Paper towels
Drying towel
Reusable straws and cleaning brush

Recreation

(Search up the fitness and recreational facilities on campus, they may have some of your desired equipment already)

Sports equipment (basketball, baseball bat, etc.)
Yoga mat
Journal
Religious texts
Books or magazines to read for fun
Music instruments
Art supplies
Duffel bag or small luggage for weekend travel
Bicycle, helmet, lock
Skateboard or longboard
Hiking boots
Gym bag
Playing cards or board games
Hand weights

Safety and Miscellaneous

Flashlight
Earplugs
Mini toolkit (screwdrivers, hammer, wrench)
Picture hanging kit
Small first aid kit

Closing Advice

While this list covers just about all you’ll need, remember to jot down anything else that comes to mind. Prepare, prepare, prepare, so your university experience will be as smooth as possible!

Hope to see you back with a successful year under your belt!

Did we miss anything? Comment below your must-haves for any time spent away from home!

 

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Jul 15
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Why the Kitchen is the Heart of the Home

By Blog, Home Organizing, Quick Organizing Tips, Simple Living No Comments

What’s one thing we can all agree on about our homes?

 

It’s that no matter where you live, whichever the size of your house, how many heads are under the roof… The kitchen is the heart of the home 💝

It’s the place where we gather for all things important; breakfast, after-school lunchbox drop off, baking, and hosting social events.

And by optimizing this space in our own unique ways, we can craft a specific aesthetic through a mix of organization and color.

Setting a schedule for decluttering and cleaning will also help your kitchen to become more efficient. It will do so because you will not have to clean irregularly or at a moment’s notice for guests, and there is less of a buildup of “stuff”. 

Download your free Kitchen Cleaning Checklist here.

But beyond just the look of a kitchen and pantry, what often stands out most is the feeling we get when we step in 😌 This is something we can curate, too.

Personalize. Add color. Textures. Are you looking for warmth and liveliness? Or cool tones and calm relaxation?

All styles are welcome here, and I invite you into my guide for optimizing your kitchen space.

Our Influence from Kitchens

Let’s talk about efficiency.

If the kitchen is not efficient, we will not be efficient in the kitchen either. It’s important to understand the flow of how a kitchen works, and then to dive into the fun decorating part!

You will soon be able to minimize cooking time and maximize family time with these optimizing tips.

🥣 Cooking

Near your stove and serving stations, the closest drawers can be used for cooking and serving utensils. These can be sectioned with either acrylic or wooden drawer dividers.

This way, you’re not running to the other side of the kitchen for a wooden spoon as your pasta boils over!

You can also keep your plates and meal dishes in a closeby cupboard or drawer for easy serving. Use plate dividers if you’re going to store them in a drawer to avoid chipping.

🥂 Beverages

A convenient location for drinking cups is your cupboard next to the fridge.

If your beverage zone (coffee, tea, drink mixes) is also in this area, at-home and to-go mugs can live here as well. Try a few ideas of arranging them in a decorative way!

💦 Kitchen Sink

Have you heard the saying “everything but the kitchen sink”?

People often forget that under the kitchen sink can be a very useful storage spot, if fitted correctly. Utilize a cleaning caddy and small shelving unit to maximize the space.

Here you can store your kitchen cleaning products, extra sponges, garbage bags, and a compost bin.

💐 Decor

Undoubtedly the best part of styling any home, decorations!

You will want to limit the number of decor pieces on counters. Be cautious to not clutter surfaces, make sure you refresh often (seasons, holidays, change of taste), and dust frequently.

A fun way to make your kitchen more of a social hub, is to incorporate interactive decor pieces. This allows guests to interact with the room itself, therefore feeling more at ease and engaged.

Share more of YOU in your kitchen

Become the home where everyone who stops by wants to be invited in. The comfortable one where kids will not feel distracted or embarrassed by clutter.

One where you wake up and smile, already looking forward to brewing your morning tea 🍵

What features are you most proud of in your kitchen? Share with us below!

 

 

 

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Jun 06
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Reduce Stress and Mind Clutter: Minding Your Mind

By Blog, Quick Organizing Tips, Simple Living No Comments

“Hey Sherry,

Could you write about how to free mind clutter?”

 

Have you ever gone to bed at the end of a stressful day, only to lay there for hours thinking of all the things you need to do the next day?

 

You stress over all the things you need to do and try not to forget when you get up in the morning. Things like calls, emails, and texts to reply to. Kids’ school papers to sign, groceries to buy, what to cook for dinner, and a birthday party to plan. Oh, and don’t forget all the errands, too!😮‍💨

 

Next thing you know you’re waking up exhausted in the morning with a major lack of sleep from all the mental notes to remember.

 

This is called mind clutter.

These are stress signs from your brain that you need to slow down your mental pace and reduce mind clutter.

You could organize your house a hundred times over but when it comes down to it – your headspace follows you everywhere in life. You need to declutter your mind in order to really take care of your personal well-being.

 

No amount of reading quotes online or thinking “I need to get back to myself” is going to transform your mind to a state of peace. You just simply have to do the work.

 

Which brings us to the question…how can we reduce stress and mental clutter? As a Professional Organizer, I have had a ton of experience teaching how to organize both physically and mentally.

 

I see firsthand every day what works and what doesn’t. These habits are what I incorporate into my everyday routine and I now reap the benefits of my mind clutter being off my mind.

 

Saying Goodbye to Mind Clutter Anxiety:

 

✍️ Write it down:

Do a “brain dump” and get your thoughts onto something visual like a notebook or your phone. Write down all the tasks, reminders, errands, dreams, and goals that are cluttering your mind and keeping you awake at night. Don’t evaluate or try to organize this list, just let it flow onto the paper. This exercise alone will remove most of the mind clutter causing you stress, anxiety, frustration, and sleepless nights!

Download "Brain Dump" Exercise

📝 Prioritize Your List:

Look at the list you just made from the mind clutter brain dump and highlight or circle the most important tasks that you want to accomplish next week. This will make the biggest impact on cutting your list down! Sometimes completing one task will take care of many other small tasks, kind of like a domino effect.

 

🧘🏽Meditate:

The goal of meditation can fluctuate. It doesn’t always need to be a deep experience or take a lot of time. Allotting yourself time throughout the day to focus on yourself is highly rewarding. The length can be flexible; maybe some days you have a good hour, some days only five minutes. It can be however best fits your lifestyle and however often you feel will give you the benefits you desire. Try asking yourself what you really need in the moment and allow any feelings, words, or images to flow.

 

Listen to your body and notice how you feel after just these few exercises. Are your shoulders more relaxed and not up at your ears? Are you breathing more calmly? Do you feel more in control and confident that your reminders aren’t slipping through the cracks?🤔

 

All these emotions and feelings are mind clutter. Let’s uncover some more on how to reduce stress and mind clutter:

 

📆 Use a Calendar System:

Pick your tool and stick to it! I can’t stress this enough. Use a digital calendar or a hybrid of a paper planner, daily task list, and/or digital planner. Digital lets you capture appointments and reminders within the moment no matter where you are. Writing down in a traditional paper planner to plan the next day works for others who are more hands-on. Personally, I use a paper planner and a digital planner and I like to plan my day the night before. This sets my mind at ease – which means I get better sleep and I’ve already put my plan in motion for the next day.

🕐 Batch and Block Time:

This is the secret sauce to being highly productive. When you batch time to do specific tasks, you reduce the mind clutter of switching back and forth between different tasks. Batching also saves you time as you’re not multi-tasking and unfocused.  Things to batch are; calls to make, checking your email twice a day, content creation, errands, organizing your computer photos, family time, meal prep, and the like.

 

In conclusion, the more we can consciously manage our to-do lists, the more we are able to unpack our stresses. When a weekly schedule is organized it leaves us with more time to relax and enjoy that time with our loved ones – and who doesn’t need more of that?❤️

 

If this article reminds you of someone who needs to declutter their mind, pass along the tips!

 

 

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