10 Timeless Tips You Didn't Know

Are you overwhelmed thinking about how to get everything in order? Get rid of the notion that it will happen immediately; the goal isn't to end up with a sparkling space where everything is always in its place. Organizing is about being orderly; it's about recognizing and replacing bad practices with better habits.  

Many people don’t organized because it overwhelms them, but make a list and manage your tasks into steps. Another option is having an accountability partner; it’s less likely for a person to procrastinate with another person involved. When I’m doing things, like schoolwork, I have found myself guilty of over-analyzing. Too much thinking leads to inaction; just jump in, set a goal, and get it done… quit thinking about it! Happy organizing :)

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Little Signs That You're Obsessed

As business students, we have learned that there is an 80-20 rule in business; 20% of customers account for 80% of the businesses sales… and these same customers account for 80% of the profits. Sherry Borsheim, President of the International Association of BusinessOrganizing (IABO) redefined the 80-20 rule: “Take a look around your office and home and notice what clothes, toys or office items you use 80% of the time. This is a real eye-opener when you are honest with yourself because 80% of what you use, you use 20% of the time" (Borsheim, 2011). The one-in, one-out rule goes hand-in-hand with the 80-20 Rule.

 

With that said, I can’t stress enough how sorting is essential. If you regularly use something, then keep it… it most likely falls into your 80-20 rule. Donate or sell the items that you no longer use or have duplicates of. I use both eBay and Craigslist to try to make some extra cash for my unused goods. Also, I bring my clothes to resale shops, like Plato’s Closet, to see if they have any interest in my items before I donate them. Another quick way to make some money is by having an annual garage sale. Store sentimental things that you want to hold onto, but don’t need cluttering up you living space. Lastly, trash or recycle the items that are no longer usable.

 

References

Borsheim, S. (2011, November 17). The one-in, one-out rule. Retrieved from http://www.bizorganizing.com/2011/11/the-one-in-one-out-rule/

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Santa Already?

It's November 1st, just one day after Halloween. News headlines declare that the Detroit Christmas Tree has arrived to Campus Martius, Christmas songs and commercials have begun, stores are cluttered with Christmas decorations... Christmas is around the corner! I know the majority of people don’t start thinking about shopping until the Black Friday kick-off, but I cannot stand shopping in crowded stores or trekking out in the snow storms, so I have had all my shopping done since September. I shop year-round for gifts so I can get the best deals. Here's a tip: making lists and labels in chronological order will save you time! 

Lists involve writing things down in order to reduce forgetfulness; whether it be carrying around a pad or an app on your phone. I find that going paperless works best as it prevents more junk (little scrap sheets of paper, post-it’s, etc.) from laying around.

• To-do lists or schedules: Schedules lay out tasks that need to be done in chronological order according to the time of day.
• Checklists: Checklists help to ensure consistency and completeness in carrying out a task.
• Grocery/shopping lists: I organize my grocery lists by department in order to save me both time and money. I try to avoid backtracking in a grocery store to prevent me from tossing unplanned items in the cart.
• I do a lot of my shopping at my local Meijer so my shopping lists are organized on my phone based on the layout of the store... it starts at the first door in health and beauty, then goes back to school supplies, then electronics, then home, then kitchen, then to grocery. In grocery, I start in the back at dairy (I make note that the bottle return machines are in this corner of the store), then move to meat and cheese, then grocery, then frozen, and finally produce. My coupon book follows this same order! 

Labels are name tags used for product identification. They are used to maintain organization. If you are forever misplacing your keys, create a home for them; then hang hooks near the door in order to establish a routine of always placing the keys in the designated spot. Use well-labeled containers to create a storage system, labels let others know where things are located.

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