10 Organizational Tips to Increase your Sanity

Organize your life with a few simple steps. Your sanity will thank you!
The true definition of "panic" is remembering that tomorrow is your favorite Aunt's birthday, and she lives across country. She sends you a card each and every year, on time. Yikes! How obvious would it be if you spent thirty dollars to send her a card and gift by overnight mail?

This year, resolve to organize your life. These few simple steps will save you tons of aggravation throughout the year.

1- Special Days

Never again forget to send a card to Aunt Judy, or your parents on their anniversary. Start a card file today. Buy a simple file with a slot for each month in the year. Write down all of the special days and people who you need to send cards to. If possible, make a trip to Hallmark and buy the cards right now.

Address the envelopes for those folks on your list who have stable residences, and just write the names on the others. Leave the cards open, so you can write in a personal note later. Place a sticky note on each card, writing in the person's name, the date the card should be mailed (at least a week before the "special day", and any gift information; i.e. Send Amazon.com certificate, toy doll is in the closet, etc. If you can afford to, buy a gift certificate early, and insert it into the card. Then all you have to do is write a short not and drop it in the mail! File the cards by month (using the "send by" date) and keep the file in a handy place where you can easily check it every week.

If you don't have time or money to buy all the cards today, use an index card to hold the place and information, and place it two to three weeks before the special date.

Bonus Tip- Buy early! If you're always short on cash at Christmas, buy gift certificates throughout the year. You can either give them as gifts, or use them yourself to shop for others.

2- Write it Down

Find a nice, thin planner with a three ring journal that will fit inside your purse. Write down all of your important appointments, special days, etc. in the calendar. Then, at the beginning of each month, transfer that month's dates onto a simple piece of journal paper, in order, and place it right at the beginning of your planner. When you open it, this should be the first item that catches your attention.

Keep a stash of blank or lined paper and a pencil. When you think of something you need to do when you're out running errands, write it down before you forget.

3- Use Labels Religiously

When putting away your Christmas decorations, separate the bins. Have a bin for your most special ornaments, your "generic" ornaments, your indoor lights, outside lights, etc. Use labels on the side of the bins to remind you where that special tree topper is. This is helpful if you have a variety of Christmas "themes" packed away. Stack the bins with the labels facing out, so you can quickly choose the bins you need.

Use this strategy for storage of other items such as seasonal clothing. You can sort clothing by person in your household, by size, by season, by style.

4- Ziploc bags are your Friend

Small items such as extra buttons, scarfs, craft supplies for different seasons, etc. can be easily stored in Ziploc bags, which come in a variety of sizes. I use clear plastic bins to store everything, and put labels on the side so I know where to find my valentine craft supplies when I need them.

5- Give, Give, Give!

At least twice a year, go through drawers, closets, the garage, etc. Unless it's a seasonal item, if you haven't used it in six months - give it away! Do you really need that ten dollar tie that hasn't been used in two years? Will the sky fall if those jeans, which are a size too small anyway, go away? If you can easily buy it again, and you're not likely to use it, get rid of it!

6- A paperless household

Someone once gave me some excellent advice. If you can get it somewhere else, don't keep it. That goes for paper as well. Keep a file folder for important papers, and chuck anything you don't need. Do you have a drawer full of refrigerator and other instructions that you've never used?

Instructions and information for most products can be obtained by calling the company or going online. If you must keep it, find a way to attach it to the item.

Refrigerator instruction, for example, can be kept in a manilla envelope taped to a cool spot on the back of the refrigerator. You'll always know where they are!

7- Get into a Routine

No one likes cleaning the toilet, or worse, the dog poop in the backyard. It's so easy to put these dreaded chores off until you discover that you need a full week to catch up! Schedule your chores so you do a little bit each day. Stick to this schedule, and you'll have much less stress when the in-laws decide to drop by unexpectedly.

8- Consolidate

Do you have thirty cookbooks that you rarely use, or keep because they each have one or two good recipes? Buy a binder and put all those recipes into it, then chuck those unused cookbooks.

9- Plan

Spend a hour each weekend planning out the week. Decide what will be on the menu each day (write your shopping list at the same time), write down all the kids activities, schedule time to go to the gym or for a walk. Ask your kids what school projects are due in the coming weeks, and schedule time to work with them. Put everything in your planner so you can easily refer to it when you're out and about.

10- Relax

Everyone, and moms especially, need to relax. Find some time each week where you can be alone to do something you enjoy. Schedule a sitter, or tell hubby that he's in charge on Thursday from 6-8. Order the family a pizza, and go take a bath, sit in a coffee shop reading a book, or take a walk. If you take a little time for yourself each week, your whole family will be better for it.

So put it off no longer, an organized household is only a few steps away. Happy Organizing!

About the Author

Michelle Gonzalez is the editor of both www.youthweekly.com and www.inspiredparent.com . A mother of three, she enjoys writing articles as well as poems and stories in her spare time. Her passions around childrens literacy and good parenting led her to create her two successful ezines.