Expert Organizational Tips

Summer Clothing Purge - Now that summer is over, donate or give away any items which were not worn all summer. If they were not worn this summer, it is unlikely they will be worn next year.

Back to School Supplies Shopping - Check all the supplies in the house before spending money on new ones, and shop early to avoid the mob scenes and line-ups.

Drawer dividers: using drawer dividers or organizers is critical to keeping items separated and categorized. Without them, a newly organized drawer will return to its unruly state in a very short time.

File not pile: papers are best filed vertically in a drawer where they are clearly labeled with tabs, easily accessible, and take the least amount of horizontal space.

Less is more: the less you have on your desk, the more easily you will focus on the task at hand. Too much clutter on a desk causes distraction.

One Motion Storage: when organizing your things, make retrieval easy using one motion storage. If it takes too many actions to get something, you will probably give up. If retrieval is simple, life is more relaxed.

One in one out: this is a very important rule to live by and applies to all areas of your home. If you buy something new, take something old and either give it away, recycle it or toss it.

Winter merchandise clearance - great buys... or not? Great buys are not always wise buys. Buy only what you really need. Cluttering up closet, drawer or shelf space with items which MIGHT be good for next year, is frequently a costly mistake.

File Archiving - Archive any annual files which need to be kept for tax purposes. Place them in banker's boxes, plastic bins or an archive filing cabinet, and label with the year, as well as the year to shred/destroy.

Holiday Bins - Large plastic bins are great for keeping your holiday decorations and other items organized. Use the same brand so stacking is secure, and don't forget to label the bins.

Quick List - Create a list of tasks you need to do which take less than 5 minutes each. When you have a short time available, do 1 or 2 of the items, and cross them off your list. Nothing is more satisfying than crossing items off a to-do list.

Baby Steps - When you are overwhelmed with a daunting task, remember to take baby steps. Breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks, will make it easier, and less stressful.