MONTHLY TIPS

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June      

JUNE

Write a master list of all your warm-weather projects that you'd like to accomplish.

Prioritize the list.

Now, using your calendar, schedule the actual dates you will work on your top three projects. Be fair about the amount of time you think each project will require.

If you actually plan the time into your schedule for your wish list of projects-one at a time- just as you do any other appointment, you're well on your way to being successful.

MAY

It doesn't fit, but it's still in your closet. You haven't worn it in ten years but you can still remember exactly when you bought it and what you bought it for so you just can't part with it. We all have clothing items we find difficult to part with for various reasons. However, the negative psychological and physical aspects of hanging onto these items in a closet used everyday are numerous.

Do you really need to be reminded everyday that you still don't fit into those jeans from college? And just think of all the room you'd have if these items weren't taking up your valuable "prime" space.

A less "painful" way to discard these items is to place them all in a garbage bag and store them elsewhere for that season (or year). If you don't look for anything in the bag for this duration then your ready to donate them to charity; removing them from your closet creates a safe, non-threatening way to psychologically detach yourself from the items-after all, you're not getting rid of them, yet.

APRIL

Craft supplies are a frequently sought after organizing challenge. Here's a few ideas to corral those stray buttons, beads and googly eyes:

1. Sort & Categorize: During this phase, throw out any unusable items such as old, dried-up markers, and broken crayons. Then place like things together. For younger children, the broader the categories, the easier the crafts are to use and to clean-up. For example: Anything that could be used to glue on a project, ie: googly eyes, buttons, felt dots, etc. can all be stored together in one bin marked craft accessories, or decorations, or simply "glue-ons". Similarly, all beads that are used for stringing, regardless of shape, size, or color can all be stored together. Include the beading string, yarn and elastic in this same container in a plastic bag so all materials that are used together, are stored together. Perla beads, for example, can be stored together with the templates and wax paper.
2. Storage: This actually depends on both the quantity of crafts and the storage location. Although small drawers sometimes look easier to use, inevitably materials get mixed up with one another; for children, broader categories, in a container big enough for them to see and use what they need is a lot easier than opening and closing a few drawers. For adult craft storage, a container which has individual compartments, like a toolbox, can keep things separate, yet visible, all at once. This works well for older children as well.
3. Labeling: While clear containers are recommended, each container should be clearly labeled. Label at least 2 sides of each container (a short side and long side); this increases the chances of the label facing out no matter who replaces the container.
4. Accessibility: If possible, try to store the supplies where the activity is to be done. Consider making your container choices based not only on what's going to be inside, but where it's going to be stored; if you have to move the container from one area to another then you'll want something with a handle. One helpful hint: keep generic, often used supplies (scissors, glue, tape, etc.) in a handy caddy (ie: the Homework Helpmate). A caddy is easy to use during the activity, it's portable and it's easy to store.

MARCH

Whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not, we all tend to get spring fever when March arrives. Here are a few tips to make your "spring cleaning" a success:

1. Create a Master Project List
2. Schedule at least two of your projects on your calendar so you'll set the time aside and try to make the first ones non-weather dependent,(ie: cleaning out the basement or garage), so as not to sabotage yourself.
3. Break large projects into smaller segments (ie: basement toy closet, basement storage closet). This will make your overall project seem less daunting and make you feel more successful when you've completed each segment.
4. Choose a finite amount of time that you're willing to devote to each segment; decide how long you can spend without interruptions, maybe an hour to start. You'll accomplish more in an uninterrupted hour than in an interrupted two or three hours.
5. Pre-think where your uncovered "treasures" might be going: trash, donation, re- sale store, garage sale. As you work, separate your items into these categories. If you're planning a garage sale then you might want to choose a date so you have a deadline to work with.
6. Stick to one area until it's complete. Getting sidetracked is common and an easy way to get overwhelmed. If you need to relocate an item from where you're working, place it in the desired area and go back to where you were; the relocated item can be dealt with when you get to that other area at some other time.
7. Have Fun! Play your favorite music, invite a friend to join you, whatever it takes!

Planning is the first step to "doing", so grab your calendar and set time aside as you would with any other appointment-and then "spring" into action!

FEBRUARY

Tired of crossing-out names and numbers in your phone book? Between cell phones, pagers, and the ever-changing job market the contact information you keep on people is changing all the time.

If you're comfortable with electronics, then there are many PDA's (Personal Digital Assistants) available on the market to suit your individual needs. However, a low-tech and very effective system is the Rolodex. Traditionally the Rolodex has been reserved for use in businesses. Used at home, this flexible system can prove to be invaluable. Here are a few helpful hints:

1. First place friends and relatives alphabetically, as they are currently in your phone/address book. Traditionally, alphabetize by using the last name, first.
2. Take your service-oriented names, ie: the plumber, the electrician, etc. and place the service heading at the top: PLUMBER. Then underneath this heading place his/her name, address and number. Now this can be filed under "P" for easy retrieval by service/subject. You can place a card under the plumber's last name as a cross-reference to "SEE PLUMBER", similar to the yellow pages, to avoid any confusion. This is especially useful if more than one person is to be using this system.
3. Use the system to save you time:
*List all frequent flyer numbers on one card and file under "F" of "T" for travel.
*List immediate family's social security numbers on one card for easy access; this is useful when these number's are used for minor's custodial accounts, etc. *List account numbers along with some of your services, ie: newspaper service, electric service, medical plans, etc.
*List favorite restaurants and their numbers on one card under "R".

Once your basic system is set-up you'll enjoy the flexibility it affords. And you can make changes and move cards around without it affecting the whole system. Once you get used to this system, you'll find you can take cards with you that you need for that day; this saves you the task (and time) of rewriting numbers; just remember to put the cards back! The Rolodex is a very user-friendly system; there's no learning curve and once you've started using it, you'll wonder how you lived without it!

JANUARY

It's always great to have goals; something to work toward. But do you find yourself ushering in another year with unfulfilled goals of yesterday? Here are some tips on how to attain your goals for the future:

  1. Be Realistic. Sometimes people find it safer to set unrealistic goals, and thus have a built-in excuse for not attaining them. Instead of saying, "This year I'm going to exercise every other day for 45 minutes and diet to lose those 20 extra pounds", try making the goal a little more realistic. If you don't exercise at all now, try adding one to two days of exercise and start out with 15 minutes. Tell yourself if you accomplish this for one month then you'll reward yourself by adding that diet regimen you've been looking into. After two successful months then you can increase your exercise and treat yourself to a forbidden food as a reward. The idea is not to stymie yourself due to goals you know at the outset you'll never accomplish. Start small and work your way up to the big stuff; no matter how small your interim successes are they're still successes!

  2. Break long-term or large goals into smaller pieces. For example, if you're unhappy in your present job and have been for awhile, instead of talking about how unhappy you are and not doing anything about it because changing jobs, let alone careers, seems overwhelming and scary, begin to do something about your situation by starting out small. Look into courses in areas that interest you or find out about seminars offered in your desired field. Try to set up lunches with people who may know of ways to help you or point you in the right direction. Just taking this action brings you one step closer toward your goal. You may find out that you need to go back to school or do other kinds of research to make the leap from present to future job, but at least you've begun to work toward it and small steps are necessary in order to achieve your goal in the end.

  3. Remember that you have choices. Sometimes choosing NOT to do something is as important as choosing to do something. Evaluate your priorities and make your choices accordingly; remember it's okay to NO and saying no can actually be liberating. However, not making a decision on something IS actually a decision, (they call this decision by no decision) so why not make yours count? If your constantly on the run then on some level you must like to be, or else you would choose to do things differently. Be aware of your choices and of your decisions because they are YOURS.

 

DECEMBER

With one month to go until the end of the year, you still have time to make the most of any tax advantages available. These are just some possible suggestions and anyone considering any of these tips should check beforehand with their own tax advisor.

  1. If you pay estimated taxes, you might consider paying state and city taxes before years' end.
  2. If you're self-employed, consider opening a keogh account.
  3. If you have regular deductible expenses, pay for them in the current year.
  4. If possible, defer any income into the next year.
  5. If you're in the middle of medical work that may carry over into next
    year, (ie: dental work), pre-pay the expense this year for the deduction.
  6. Call your accountant and find out if there's anything you can do next year to reduce your tax liability.

And don't forget to set up your year 2000 tax file by the end of the year!

NOVEMBER

Take advantage of the early celebration of Chanukah even if it's not the holiday you celebrate. With Chanukah occurring during the first week of December, retailers are gearing up their holiday merchandise now! Make your lists and start buying and putting away gifts while the stores have supplies available. If stores haven't yet received a coveted item, then you have plenty of time to find out when they expect deliveries; mark your calendar accordingly and call before you waste your time on another trip to the store. Many retailers also provide gift-wrapping-a great service to use, just be sure to mark each gift as it's wrapped in the store to avoid possible confusion later!

OCTOBER

Celebrate National Get Organized Week, October 3 - 9, 1999, and organize just one of the areas you've been wanting to do for a long time: a drawer, a cabinet, your phonebook - Set aside one-two hours this week and pick a project you can start and finish in that time period. Then make sure to congratulate and reward yourself on your success!

For those of you in the Northeast now's a great time to get those winter clothes out of storage. If you stored them at the dry cleaner or other "off-site" facility, be sure to call a few days prior to pick up so your things will be ready when you get there. Set aside summer clothes - see how much you have - then store them in an appropriate container. Best bet: Clear containers, properly labeled, make retrieval easier for any warm-weather trip during those cold months.

SEPTEMBER

It's "Back-to-School" time! Here are some suggestions that will make getting back into your routine stress-free:

1. Make two "quick reference" lists: One for your kitchen (or other central location) and one for your wallet. Your lists should include: School phone #'s, after-school activity phone #'s, carpool partners' phone numbers, and any other numbers you need every week. This saves time both at home and on the road and relieves anxiety if you're ever delayed.

2. Coincide the school calendar with your regular calendar. Working from two calendars is tricky and when everything is in one place there's less chance of a missed event.

3. Get a quantity of singles ($25, $50, or $100) and at least one roll of quarters; keep them handy in a kitchen drawer, for example, so you're all set for last minute hot lunches or other petty cash needs.

AUGUST

Purchase a 16-month academic calendar which begins in September (a month that "feels" like the New Year!). This allows you to plan things through January and beyond without skipping a beat. It's a real time-saver and will have you feeling less harried during the Holidays.

Two early "Back-to-School" ideas to get a jump on things before September:

1. Purchase school supplies now, in duplicate: one set for school and one for home use (or back-up for school). Include lunchboxes and backpacks as part of the supplies.

2. Be sure to set up an area in the home where these supplies are stored for easy use; ideally, it should be close to the homework area, or use a supply caddy for easy toting to and from the homework area. Also, create a folder (or shopping bag for pre-schoolers with oversized projects) for all work brought home during the school year. This works for students of all ages!

JULY

Write a master list of all your warm-weather projects that you'd like to
accomplish.

Prioritize the list.

Now, using your calendar, schedule the actual dates you will work on your top three projects. Be fair about the amount of time you think each project will require.

If you actually plan the time into your schedule for your wish list of projects-one at a time- just as you do any other appointment, you're well on your way to being successful.

JUNE

BEACH BAG BASICS

Use a clear cosmetic case to stock your beach bag with essential items that should remain in the bag: Suntan lotion, lip balm, hairbrush, bandaids. You can also keep games and reference reading material in there so it will always be available.

Now your bag is always ready to go when you are!