Back to School – Creating a Homework Station!
August 20, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Depending on the grade of our child, there is a good possibly they will have homework from day one! The best thing you can do is to be prepared and make sure you child has everything they need, when they need it. It will save time and keep them focused on the homework and not trying to find their pencils and erasers!
You can set up a homework station in a variety of ways. The student could have their own desk in their room or in a common area in the home. If they like to do their homework in different rooms around the house, a portable desk may be a good option. The study space should be a place where the student can think, focus, brainstorm, and if set up correctly, should make doing homework a little less painful!
These are the essentials you need no matter how the work station is set up:
- Kids will not work in a station if it’s not user friendly. You must get their opinions and thoughts about how to best set up a workspace.
- You want the station to have storage space and surface space, they need to have enough space to store all of their supplies, printer, computer, paper etc. You need to have the surface area to write, cut, paste etc.
- Good lighting- It’s hard to do your best work if you can’t see what you are doing!
- Make sure the student is comfortable- if they don’t like their desk chair, they will never sit it in.
- Let me them put personal touches around their workspace – just like if you were working in a cubicle, you want around you the things that make you happy.
- Include a bulletin board and calendar to the workspace – they need to see deadlines and bulletin boards are a great way to post reminders and other information your student may need. (Teach the child to go through the bulletin board on a weekly basis, so it doesn’t fill up with paper clutter)
- Make sure the station is stocked with everything they need! Nothing is worse than finding out you used the last staple. Keep up on the inventory of supplies!
Happy Organizing!
5 Minute Time Out – To Get Organized!
July 30, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Cleaning out your garage can seem daunting! 
It’s a big space with a lot of stuff!
In the podcast this week, we briefly talk about starting small, and taking the garage piece by piece! Here are some quick things you can do in 5 minutes to at least get started in the organizing process! Who knows maybe after you see the progress only 5 minutes can make, you will take an extra 5 minutes, just for fun!
1) Clean up the entrance area / door leading into your home. Not the whole wall area, just the main space around the door. If you have stairs leading up to the door, make sure the stairs are clear!
2) When you are done clearing the area – take a broom and briefly sweep the area around the door. It’s amazing what a little clean up can do!
3) Take 5 minutes and walk around with a trash bag and get out all of the trash. This is a big one, especially if you have kids. You are sure to find wrappers that do not belong.
4) Gather one category of like items, for example; camping gear or sporting equipment and place it all in one area.
5) For the next 5 minutes you have, sort one category that you placed together. Use this time for the quick and easy decisions, like the Roller Blades that are too small, or the skis that are broken.
Take a time out today! Taking just 5 minutes a day… will eventually get your project done!
Doing a little is better than doing none!
Happy Organizing!
Do You Trust Your Organizing System?
July 16, 2010 by Nikki · 2 Comments
Do you trust your organizing system? 
How you answer this question, will most likely determine how organized you really are! If the answer is Yes… Well kudos to you my friend! My guess is for most people the answer is yes, sort of, maybe, sometimes, or no, not at all.
David Allen in Getting Things Done, talks about having clear edges between your reference files and action files. What does this mean? Having clear edges between your files means only reference paper goes into the reference file, and only action papers go into the action file. Clear edges means there is no grey area, it should be very clear what is in the file.
You are making a promise to yourself and making a commitment to maintain your system the way you set it up. You trust that when you are looking for a reference file, it will be in the reference file.
The files and therefore the system must be clear and well defined! You can not be sort of be organized or organized half of the time. When doing so, we are breaking the promise you made…. You are breaking the trust in the system.
What happens when we don’t trust our systems? We become numb to them! We say, they no longer work for us. We get frustrated and we can easily go back to our old habits and before we know it, the paper pile is back! We have to trust our systems in order to make them work! We have to keep the promise we made.
Here is an example of a trusted system, which is not about paper, but everyday items you would find in a home:
I was working with a client the other day and we were talking about underneath their bathroom sinks. Both sinks had a variety of different medicines, first aid, extra supplies etc, basically to the point where it was overflowing. They were buying duplicates of items because they thought they were out. So we created a new system… one they could trust! We decided to clear out the sinks and go through the organizing process by placing like items with like items. After deciding what was needed to stay under the sinks, we labeled a clear bin for the excess supplies. We placed the clear bin in their closet where there was plenty of room and easy access. So going forward, if they were out of something from under the sink, they would go to the extra bin, if it was not in the bin, then they knew they could trust it was no where else in the home and they could add it to their errand list. They now have a trusted system in place.
Do you trust your organizing system?
If the answer is no, what actions can you do to fix it?
In order to stay organized, in order to live an organized lifestyle, you must trust your systems!
Happy Organizing!
Taking a New Routine and Making it a Habit!
July 15, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
As I am reading the book, Getting Things Done, by David Allen, I realize as with any organizational system it takes time and commitment to be successful. If you follow his system or create one just for you, you must change some of your old habits and replace them with new ones.
There is no getting around it, there is no easy way out of this… To create change, you have to change! We recently had a podcast show dedicated to just building new habits. This got me to also think about routines. What is different about a routine and a habit? Essentially it is the same thing. However, a habit is usually done unconsciously, most likely we are not even aware we are doing the action. Like biting our nails when we are nervous or using our hands when we speak.
A routine can certainly be habit, it’s usually a list of tasks we do to prepare for something. Many parents use nightly routines for their kids, sort of like a checklist of things to do before we go to bed. Some of us have morning routines, where we check our email and voicemail first thing in the morning, etc.
So if we are trying a new organizing system, we need to build a new routine for our day. We need to change our thinking and the way we do things. But when it’s new, its too easy to forget! Which is the reason many systems fall apart on us.
So how do we stop forgetting, and just do? 
When you are first getting started with a new routine, may it be a new filing system, or a new way to schedule your daily to do’s, whatever the tasks may be, create a checklist! Write down all of the action steps that need to be completed and check them off as you go.
Practice, over and over again, until the routine becomes a habit! You no longer have to think about what happens next. You no longer have to worry about your system breaking down, because you are doing the work…
You are getting things done!
Happy Organizing!
Making Your Time Count!
June 25, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
We live in a busy world! There are days in my week where every hour is accounted for, and trying to get anything extra done, is almost impossible! We all wish we had more than 24 hours in the day. I wish I could function on less than 8 hours of sleep, I would get more done, but I can’t! And I can’t make the day have more hours, I am stuck with 24!
Often times when I am working with clients, they say the reason they have not gotten organized in the past, is because they just do not have the time. I can understand this statement, however I go on to tell them, once they put the time in to get organized and set up the right systems, in the long run, they will actually save time! Let’s be honest, no matter what it is, if it’s a priority to you, you will make the time to get it done.
So how we can make better use of our time?
If getting organized is a priority and you are ready to make some progress, then follow these steps to making your time count!
- Schedule and plan your organizing sessions. Take this a step further than just writing the appointment, actually put on a piece of paper everything you need to accomplish during the session. Don’t make your list so elaborate you get disappointed. Be realistic, pick your top 3 realistic tasks and write it down. Check off as you go!
- Work when you feel your very best. If you are a morning person, then be sure to schedule your appointments in the morning. You will get more done, when you feel good and most alert.
- What has distracted you in the past? If it’s the phone, turn off the ringer, if it’s the computer, shut it off, if it’s your kids, hire a babysitter for the afternoon. Be aware of your distractions and then take care of them.
- Make the easy decisions first. If you have a limited amount of time, don’t waste it on deciding what to do, leave the hard decisions for later.
- Delegate – Find out what decisions you have to make and delegate the others. If you live with other people, delegate and work together. You shouldn’t have to carry all of the load on your shoulders.
- Set a timer - If you have decided to work for one hour, set the timer. As you see the time ticking, speed up the process. Make a game out of it, see how much you can get done in the last 5 minutes. You may actually surprise yourself!
- Write down the results – Don’t waste time in your next organizing session trying to remember what you accomplished before, write down what you accomplished and what your next goals and priorities are for the next session.
Happy Organizing!
The Daily Schedule!
May 18, 2010 by Nikki · 1 Comment
There is a new Form at TCO! The Daily Schedule! 
Well not exactly brand new.. It’s been in the download section now for a couple of weeks… But this is first outside of the Podcast where we introduced it that I have gotten a chance to talk about the form!
When I have busy days, the ones where you have to be at 5 different places in a day, do everything, and don’t forget anything in between.. Sound familiar? Well, I used to write my schedule down by the hour on a piece of paper and take it with me for the day. As each hour passed and I got done what I needed to do, I would cross it off the list. This worked for the most part, but it still looked a bit unorganized and I wasn’t really feeling in as much control of my time as I would like…
So I came up with a new form….
The Daily Schedule!
This form is to be used on those days where you are so busy and every hour is accounted for.. You are not sure how you are going to fit everything in.. Maybe your feeling a bit overwhelmed and definitely stressed.
The form is set up to account for each hour in the day. So you can clearly see where you need to be and at what time you need to be there. You can account for travel time and any mini stops in between that need to be accounted for… I am a visual person and I love to see the whole glimpse of the day right in front of me.
Two sections of the form are set up for; Daily Projects & Priorities and Daily Tasks. I use these two sections in two different ways.
The Daily Priorities are things you can not forget. It may not be a place you have to go, but it could be something like not forgetting to call your mom because it’s her birthday or it could be not to forget to pay dance class tuition. Things that have to be done that day without exception!
The Daily Tasks are made more for the things you need to do and would like to do, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you didn’t get them done today!
On the bottom of the form is section for Notes and Numbers. This is really helpful if you need to call someone on the road and need the phone number.
We also included a section for the Dinner Plan for the day… This has been so helpful in planning ahead of time what is for dinner, it gives you one less thing to worry about during your busy day!
Here is a comment I received from one of my readers about the planner: “My husband gave me a copy of your daily planner form to organize my day last week, and I loved it! Today, I have a bunch of unstructured hours and a gazillion tasks – and the first thing I’m looking for is that day organizer!”
It’s a great tool and has really eased those busy days! To get your Free copy of the Daily Schedule, visit our Resources Page, and download yours today!
Happy Organizing!
Get Ready, Get Set, Go! (On Time!)
May 5, 2010 by Nikki · 1 Comment
Scenario: It’s Saturday morning and the baseball game is at 10:00am. It is now 9:40am and we can’t find the mitt, we can’t find the shoes, and we are not sure where the shirt is. We are all scrambling around the garage, the bedroom, the backyard, the laundry room, everywhere trying to figure out where everything was put. This is not a happy stress-free environment, anything but. The clock is ticking…
Does this sound familiar? Anyone who has children with sports activities on the weekend may have felt this kind of pressure! Oh and don’t forget the sideline chairs, the blanket, the umbrella, and do we have enough snacks and entertainment for the younger sibling?
This was my family on Saturday morning. I was frustrated and just plain mad at myself for not planning well enough ahead to make this morning go a little more smoother! I should know better!
Luckily and I mean with luck and teamwork from the whole family, we found what we needed and we were at the game on time!
Every experience we encounter can become learning experiences. We can grow from them and make ourselves better. In this situation we needed a better system in getting ready for our games. On our way home, we came up with one, that I think may just work!!
Our Plan:
- From now on, we have a small bin in the garage, right before you come into the house, this is designated for all of our son’s baseball equipment. This includes the hat, the uniform, the mitt, everything! When he gets home from the game, he is to take off his uniform before going into the house, and place everything in this bin.
- I will be sure the uniform is washed and folded and put back into the bin prior to his next game.
- If he takes out his mitt to play, he is to place it back into the bin as soon as he is done.
- The chairs, blanket, and umbrella are staying in the car.
- Snacks and entertainment will be packed in a backpack the night before the game.
- Our son is responsible for his mitt and hat out on the field. If he takes them off, he needs to make sure they are with him when we leave.
The expectations are now set…. Our next game is on Wednesday, with this new system in place, the half hour before the game, should be a breeze!
Happy Organizing!
Eliminate The Sticky Note!
April 28, 2010 by Nikki · 1 Comment
Do you have sticky notes surrounding you?
You know the ones… they’re square and come in so many bright and fun colors!
Maybe they’re lurking on your computer as reminders to call someone or on the kitchen table to remind you of something that needs to get done… They seem to be handy and can be a useful tool to bookmark a page in a magazine or a book.
But are they a really good organizing tool?
How many times have you lost the very important information you put on the sticky note, because now you no longer know where the sticky note is? Or maybe you are wasting time going through the several you have around the house and then 10 minutes later you finally found it! Not only is it wasting your time to have these notes, but don’t they also add visual clutter to your computer, desk or counters?
Does any of this sound familiar? If so, then this tip is for you! 
Eliminate the sticky note all together! Instead invest in a spiral notebook. Place the notebook by the phone, on your desk, wherever you may be tempted to use a sticky note. And instead of having several sticky notes everywhere, you have one, central place where you can write messages, phone numbers, important tasks etc. As you complete the item or transfer the phone number to your directory, simply cross it off! It’s that easy! Now you know where to find the information when you need it without the excess paper clutter and without wasting your time!
Happy Organizing!
Taking Control – The Home Organizing Podcast
April 22, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
TCO is going to iTunes!
I am so excited to announce, Taking Control- The Home Organizing Podcast! 
We have been working on this idea for some time now and it is finally a reality! In today’s busy world we don’t always have time to read a blog post or do the research necessary to do to tackle a project. Now there’s a different way to get the same great information! Subscribe to TCO’s podcast through iTunes and all you have to do is listen to your iPod! At your convenience, put on the ear phones and take a listen while your doing the dishes, the laundry, or when your stuck in traffic!
Every week you will get a new episode tackling some kind of project or question! The best news yet…. I want to gear these podcasts to what you need! So if you have an idea for a show, or need some tips on a project, email me, and let me know… Who knows, it may just be the next topic!
What to expect from Taking Control:
- A lively conversation with Pete Wright and myself… Who is Pete Wright? Pete is the Producer of the show and more importantly the face behind my website. I consider him a partner in my business and a huge influence in developing and telling the story of Take Control Organizing!
- Tips, tricks, and solutions to your everyday organizing issues
- One new episode per week
- Each episode will range anywhere from 10 minutes to 25 minutes (I know you don’t have a lot of time and I want to use it wisely)
- You get an insider look at how I work with clients and get to know me!
- A whole lot of fun mixed in with great education!
I hope you join me in my journey into podcast land! It should be a lot of fun and I look forward to tackling your issues. If you have an idea, send me a note on my contact page, or email – nikki@takecontrolorganizing.com.
You can catch the first episode now… The Office Closet!
Happy Organizing!
Organizing Rule: Touch it Once!
April 16, 2010 by Nikki · 4 Comments
Touch it once… Is this possible, to actually only touch an item once before it is put back in it’s place? 
In theory, it makes perfect sense, you set up organizing systems in your home to make it more efficient. To succeed in your organizing plan it is important to keep in mind these organizing principles like, “Touch it Once”!
Before explaining what this rule means, let’s talk about what you are not doing to follow the rule?
Basically it is a delayed decision. Some people may call it procrastination of some sort. Instead of taking care of the mail right away, you make a pile for it instead. Instead of putting your clothes away, they get stacked on the dresser or on the back of a chair.
Why do we do this? Lack of time maybe, could it be just plain laziness, or we just don’t feel like taking care of it at the time…
Example of not using the rule: I have a mail system, and it does not include going through it everyday. I really do not like mail that much. So I have a mail basket, when I get my mail, which is not everyday, I put it in this basket. Then once a week, I go through it. I make sure all of the bills are paid, I make out the checks right then, and make piles of categories of mail. I have a to file pile, recycle pile, etc. After I am all done, I place the ready to be sent mail by the door for the next day, and file everything else. This system works for me. I am not using the touch it once rule in this system. And that is OK with me! The system still works.
So what does the Touch it Once Rule mean? I would explain it as doing the exact the opposite of what we talked about above. Instead of the stacking and piling, we just put things away. It seems so simple doesn’t it… It makes perfect sense.
I think this rule has real substance in a lot of areas in our home. Maybe not in my mail system, or a system you have created, but I can think of other areas where I could improve and by using this rule, it could cut the clutter down a considerable amount…
SO for the next week, I am going to try it. I am going to make an effort to only touch an item once, and put it away immediately. Join me and let’s see if this really does work. Can it cut the daily clutter out of our homes….
The areas I am going to work on most are: Not putting dishes in the sink- go straight to the dishwasher, clothes are either hung, folded back, or put in the laundry hamper immediately…
Challenge: What about you? What areas can you work on this week to implement this rule?
I’ll let you know how my experiment goes next Friday! I want to hear from you too…
Happy Organizing!
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