1. Have a home for everything
- No halfway houses. If you have a home for your keys, shoes, etc. then you won’t spend valuable time searching for lost items.
- Keep one calendar for the family. This eliminates double booking or missing appointments. Keep it somewhere visible so everyone can see it. Review with the whole family every Sunday.
- This includes mail, flyers, newspapers and other paper items. When you open the mail, make a decision immediately to keep it or throw it away. If it is an invitation or mailing for an important date, mark it on the calendar and put it in a home near the calendar
- Put items away after each use. Customized storage systems give you a home for every item to put away.
5. Use clear plastic bins for storage
- Plastic makes it easier to identify items. It also saves your items from weather damage such as water or humidity.
- This will save you from buying duplicate items. Especially seasonal items such as decorations or outdoor items
7. Limit incoming information via e-mail
- Unsubscribe from any e-mail lists that you don’t look at regularly. Unsubscribe from getting junk mail at www.dma.consumer.org. Also, make sure you are on the do not call list to avoid unwanted phone solicitors.
8. Use on-line bill payment
- Most on-line bill payments are free and will save you time from writing out bills, save you money from stamps and helps avoid paying bills late. The banks are secure to avoid abuse or hackers.
9. Keep like categories together
- When organizing your closet, put all your shoes in the same section, all pants in one section, etc. In the pantry, put all cereal boxes together, cans together, etc. This allows you to see all choices at once.
10. Have a launch pad
- Make a space in your home near the front door for items that you need to take in the morning. Set the items out the night before when you are less rushed.
