OrganizingNeeds hints and tips on organizing your house? Are you a clutterbug or do you pile things instead of filing things? Help out where you have succeeded or ask for help from this great group of friends!
Hi!! I am new to this forum/group (really to any group like this) and really don't have much experience , but am interested in any help that I can get.... I have never been great at being/staying organized, but it is harder now that I have become medically disabled with little energy/stamina and strength... I would love any advice, tips, help that I can get to help me be more organized around the house, and just in my life in general.
I hope that this is the right place to post this... I will be anxious to see if anyone has any ideas and/or thoughts.....have a great day, Lisa
Lisa, I know exactly how you feel. Here are some ways that I organize myself.
I use Google calendar to send myself reminders of doctor's appointments, shows that I want to watch, when someone's birthday is, and so on. You can send multiple reminders via email or pop-up to inform yourself of anything. I sometimes send myself a reminder a week before in case I forgot and then one the day before and one the day of, depending on what it is that I want reminded of.
As for around the house, how about making sure you have a place for everything. Losing things will cost you quite a bit of energy and time looking for them. I keep a notepad handy to write a list of things I need to get at the store or errands I need to run. You can also keep a document on your computer of a running list of things you need for a shopping list. When you run low on things, you can add them on the list. Write your menus ahead of time so that you don't spend your time running back and forth to the store.
Color coding works for some things so you can see them at a glance. I get things ready for myself the day before such as laying out clothes, making my lunch, etc...so that in the morning, I am not rushed. I pick a day each week to do laundry, get groceries, and so on so that I am not spinning my wheels.
The main thing that I have learned is to make sure you put everything in your home in its place and put them in areas that you will remember where they are located. For example, I put pans hear the stove or keys near the door. I also put a table ear the door to throw the keys on since organizing a place would set me up to fail since putting things in a shelf or a hook is not my style. I also have mini-plastic shelves for little things that I need as well as a can or holder of some sort for pens and pencils.
I like the Google calendar idea, currently I use iwantsandy.com - it will also text message me on my cellphone. I use it for things like remembering when to give my daughter her inhaler, reminding myself to call and book a doctor's appointment (because I only remember I have to do it at 10pm at night! lol), reminding me to bring the snack to the kid's soccer game etc. All those little things that happen in a day, week or month that will slip your mind.
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Kate
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wife to Paul
mom to Connor, Bethany, Hannah, Leah and Patrick
If I don't use or like something anymore then it goes to a charity or in the trash. I try to have a place for everything and keep everything in its place as much as possible but that's difficult when you live with other adults who don't put things away when they are done with them. If I am cleaning out a drawer or cabinet I like to use sticky post-it notes to temporarily label things that belong in a different room or are going to charity or elsewhere. Then when I'm finished with the area I make one trip to the other room or charity box. I keep a waste basket near so the trash gets thrown out immediately. I also like lists and try to make a list of 10 things that I did for the day. They don't have to be big things but are encouraging and help me to stay focused. I'm more of a pen and paper list maker than using the computer since I would more likely get distracted on the computer.
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You didn't say what kind of a disabilty you have. For me I no longer can reach up to get hanging pots from my beams in the kitchen. I have taken about 5 that i use the most and put them in the cupboard where I can reach them so I can cook without asking hubby to help me. I also have redone most of my cupboards to be easier for me. Only this I seldom use go on the top shelf of anything. By my toaster I have a cake pan size basket(9 x 13"). IN it I keep small plastic cremer jars with sugar,splenda,cinnamon&sugar, Garlic powder and other stuff that usually sets on the counter. Peanut butter,salt & pepper. Then it makes it so easy to just move the basket to wash the counter. I then slide the basket back.
I also have a simular basket by the stove with S&P , olive oil, veg oil,liquid smoke,sesame seed oil, 5 spices, Winchestershire sauce. Things I use alot.
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Grandchildren are Gods way of compensating us for growing old.
Those are wonderful ideas and now makes me wish I hadn't passed up some pretty wire baskets that were at the dollar store today... I'm not disabled but it sure would be handy when I'm cooking to have it all in one place instead of going looking for this or that.
That is a wonderful organization idea. Kudos to you.
Anna
__________________ We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Thanks everyone for all your help... it is great to have so much input....to Candy, I have several conditions that cause my disability..... I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, long term effects from west nile encephalitis, chronic insomnia, migraines, chronic myofascial pain syndrome..etcetc.... in addition to low energy and decreased stamina, I have lots of pain and cognitive disabilities (I forget lots and have trouble completing things)... what I have learned from being sick is that I have to pace myself, and when I can work around the house, I limit it to 15 minutes at a time... I think that in addition to all of the wonderfully helpful hints you all have posted, I could use ideas for things that I could do in short bursts.. about 15 minutes at a time... thanks for all your help...Lisa
