Last minute tips for Organizing a Guest Room before the Holidays

When setting up your guest rooms try to anticipate your guest comforts and needs.  For example, look over the room to see if it has the items you might need for one extra night, blankets, pillows, clock, and reading material.

You might consider adding some pampering items in the room, perhaps a nice smelling candle, padded hangers, fresh flowers and a water bottle or snack.

If you guest is from out of town maybe a luggage rack or extra empty drawer might be a nice and easy way to unpack.

Remember to clear the clutter.  Guest rooms are usually a easy place for you to use as a staging room or dumping ground for unwanted items around the house.  Take some time to clean up and make room for your guest.

Make room for your guests’ clothes in the closet.  Consider using a freestanding clothing rack if you don’t have closet room.  If you don’t have a spare drawer, add a hanging organizer to a closet or garment rack.

Some extra thoughtful touches might be to add a small wastebasket, facial tissue, spare bath towel, jewelry tray and a basket full of fine toiletries to really make your guests feel at home

Office Organizing:

Does your office look like a trash can?  Do you have piles in every corner?  Does it take you a long time to find the right bill to pay?  Do you wish all the paper would just disappear?

Here are some quick suggestions:

1.  Create a quick filing system on your desk.  I call it the hot file

     To Pay, To File, Coupons, Events, Invitations, Pending, To Do Work, Children/School

2.  Touch each paper once and decide which file it should go into

3.  For the Filing system, create an alphabetical systems for your papers.  i.e.; Auto, Banking Credit Cards, Home, Insurance, Medical Travel, Utilities , Warranties 

4.  Open the mail each day for 5 minutes and sort quickly

5.  Set aside time each week to pay bills

6.  Spend 20 minutes at your desk each day creating order and keeping up with your paper work

7.   Make a to do list with that is within your priorities

8.  Write down all your phone messages in one place and keep track of all your return calls and numbers

9.   Keep your business cards in one place and write them onto your contact list If you need a hard copy, keep them in a notebook.

10. Reward yourself for your efforts and keep track of your current papers.

Create a Password Organizer

Create a chart to keep all your passwords in one spot.  This will help you remember and access them when you need to. Keep them in a safe place either near your computer or near your personal banking papers.  Try to think of someplace that you can get to them easily and will remember where they are.  A common problem is not remember what the passwords are and/or where they are stored.  Include in your chart any website emails, log-in names and passwords. The Chart should include email address, computer log in, banking passwords, billings, social media, shopping sites, photos, work related sites, Travel, school and any other sites you have passwords to.

Back to School Success

Planning ahead is the most important part of getting your children ready for school.  Begin by talking to your child about their attitude and mindset: anxiety, tension, nervousness, frustration, and excitement. In dealing with these emotions ahead of time, you will help your child start the year off successfully.

Success begins with the Night before: Turn off TV’s and computers an hour before bedtime so that you can get organized for the next morning.  Make lunches and gather school supplies together.  Set out uniform or wardrobe and shoes for your child in their room. You can even set the table for breakfast the next morning.  Make sure you have milk, cereal, eggs, bread, cheese, yogurt and fruit for healthy breakfast choices.   Create a special zone for backpack and paperwork to be found easily in the morning before exiting the house. 

Morning Routine: Set your alarm clock to wake and get dressed before you wake up your children.  If they see you dressed and ready they will be more inclined to do the same.  Good role-modeling is very important in the morning. Wake the harder- to-rise children first and then go back to get the others.  If your child needs help getting dressed be patient and assist; perhaps playing some music can set the mood of the morning.  Have healthy breakfast choices and easy clean up (paper plates and bowls might be helpful).  Double check their lunches (hopefully made the night before) and snacks, homework assignment and anything else they need for school.  Enjoy your coffee on the road.

During the Day: Make sure your child’s school has your important phone numbers and emergency information during the day.  Plan your dinner menu and errands to be available to be finished by the time school lets out.  Create an in home pharmacy.  Stocking up on supplies will save you from running across town to all night pharmacy.  Items such as bandages, cold medication and lice shampoo may be needed during the first week back.  Re-stock your refrigeration for healthy snacks and food essentials.  Get a few rolls of coins and some small bills. Stash them in a “penny jar” No more scrounging for loose change in an emergency. Prepare a “chore chart” or large wall calendar to list schedule of everyone’s afternoon school schedule.

After School Success:  Arrive at the carpool line on time.  The worse feeling for your child is waiting to be picked up.  Give yourself enough time to get to school and be relaxed.  (This might be the chance to have a second cup of coffee or ice tea in the car!)  Prepare a snack for the drive home (popcorn, cut up fruit, grapes, cheese and crackers are good choices).  This is your time to chat with your kids before you get home.

Dinner time and Homework:  Hopefully, you have had time to plan dinner and set the table or provide a snack that can hold them until dinner is ready.  Plan extra food so some of it can be offered for lunch the next day (you can also make the lunch at the same time you make dinner).  Create a homework zone free from distractions.  While older children may benefit from doing homework in their bedrooms or in the home office, younger children who need parental support could do their homework in the kitchen or dining room while their parents are preparing dinner.  Decide on what time is appropriate for homework, chores, down time and the nightly bath routine.  If you need a babysitter or homework helper, try to plan this in advance and warn your children.  They might need extra attention the first few weeks of school.

Bedtime:  Set or determine an appropriate time for bedtime and routine.  Bath, reading, talking should all be discussed and agreed upon so there is minimal disagreements. 

Start the Routine all over again for the next morning.

I will be teaching these principles and more at “Café Mom” on September 13, 2011 at 9:30am at the Jewish Family Service on Pico Blvd. 

Organizing Tips for This Week

  

Office Organizing:

Does your office look like a trash can?  Do you have piles in every corner?  Does it take you a long time to find the right bill to pay?  Do you wish all the paper would just disappear?

Here are some quick suggestions:

1.  Create a quick filing system on your desk.  I call it the hot file

To Pay, To File, Coupons, Events, Invitations, Pending, To Do Work, Children/School

2.  Touch each paper once and decide which file it should go into

3.  For the Filing system, create an alphabetical systems for your papers.  i.e.; Auto, Banking Credit Cards, Home, Insurance, Medical Travel, Utilities , Warranties 

4.  Open the mail each day for 5 minutes and sort quickly

5.  Set aside time each week to pay bills

6.  Spend 20 minutes at your desk each day creating order and keeping up with your paper work

7.   Make a to do list with that is within your priorities

8.  Write down all your phone messages in one place and keep track of all your return calls and numbers

9.   Keep your business cards in one place and write them onto your contact list If you need a hard copy, keep them in a notebook.

10. Reward yourself for your efforts and keep track of your current papers.

Time Management

1   Keep a daily calendar/planner. Write down all your commitments and appointments

2.  Write down your "to do's " daily

3.  Keep track of how you use your time each day and how long it takes you do to each          task/activity

4.  Keep appointments and try to be on time

5   Don't overbook yourself.  Give yourself enough time to make each appointment

6.  Write down all appointments and due dates on your calendar daily

7.  Call in advance to confirm appointments

8   Try to multi- task some of your shopping. i.e.:  go to the cleaners on the day you need to get gas if they share the same location.

9.  Buy in bulk if it saves you time.

10. Find a buddy or a partner if its time saving for you.  i.e.; your friend can go to the market while you go to the post office.