Give Yourself a Break: Take the Day Off

June 17, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

One of my favorite things about summer is all the activities available to us. During the school year, programs are once a week or once a month, but in the summer, programs are constant. Though my kids get tired of being on the go, they also get tired of being home.

Though I would prefer to stay at home and get projects done, my children need to get out of the house. So, leaving the laundry pile, the stack of bills, the blog posts schedule, and the weeding project behind, I choose to give myself a break and take the day off.

From a day at the water park to time with friends at the jump zone, the day off gives us all time to relax, have fun, and interact with others. At the end of those days, I am tired, but I never regret the break in our schedule.

Realizing that there is a line here between procrastination and a break, I know moms in my circle work so hard, and we need to take the break. Our homes will not fall apart if we get a little behind one day. In reality, I find I have more energy to tackle those undone items after a day off than if I just worked day after day after day.

As you plan your summer schedule, I know you plan to get some of those items done that just keep getting pushed to the back of the pile. However, children are growing up, and we will remember the memories we made more than the clean, organized home.

When you give yourself a break and take the day off, do so without regret. Plan for the break, and take it. I’m planning to take a break this week as we need a day for fun. In using time wisely, making choices that will last a lifetime trump the piles at home that can wait a little longer.

I’m slowly learning to let it go, give myself a break, and take the day off. Hoping you can take a day off without regret as well. Happy relaxing!

Question: Do you periodically give yourself a break or take the day off?

Organizing the Master Closet: Straightening – Part 2 of 2

May 27, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Ridding our home of unused items and purging drawers and cabinets is an on-going task. Just when I think it is done, my children outgrow something else.

Many times our master bedroom becomes the dumping area until projects get finished. Getting to my things comes when everything else is done. Though I do not consider the master bedroom the last priority, it seems like it is just last on the list because I have no deadline.

On a week when laundry had not been done, I decided enough is enough. I began organizing the master closet, and I started by purging. Last week, I shared the two piles of clothing I sent to the donation center. This week, I share how I straightened the master closet. (Well, my items in the master closet. Someone else gets to organize his stuff. ;-))

Shirts and Blouses

Located on a lower bar of our closet, my shirts and blouses hang on plastic hangers. I have chosen white and burgundy hangers for my clothing. Alternating between the two colors, I hang my short-sleeved and my long-sleeved tops.

The front section is my regular clothing and the back section is maternity wear. Yes, I still wear some of my maternity clothes because they fit, feel comfortable, and hang longer than my regular tops.

Another way I organize all my clothing (and most of my items) is by the colors of the rainbow (e.g., pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, and white). I warned you that I am very particular, but I’ve organized this way since grade school because I can easily find the item I want.

Also, when I remove an article of clothing, I place the hanger back in its place. After washing my clothes, I retrieve the hanger, place the item back on it, and hang it back up. As I look for a favorite shirt and find an empty hanger, then I know that I have already worn that item. I then choose another outfit to wear.

Sweaters and Sweatshirts

Folded and stacked within the shelves of our closet, I keep my sweaters and sweatshirts neatly folded. Arranged by popularity, I put my well-loved items on top of the stack with holiday items near the bottom.

Shoes

Keeping my shoes within their boxes, I keep my sandals and summer shoes to the right with my winter shoes to the left.

With like items like sandals in multiple colors, I stack the boxes by the color of the rainbow (e.g., the boxes in order from top to bottom are red, blue, black, khaki, and black). When I need a pair, I just go to the appropriate box as I keep the labels showing the style and color facing out.

I also keep my special shoes, like snow boots and bowling shoes, in the back corner of my closet by my preserved wedding dress.

Dresses and Bottoms

Since college, I have used tiered hangers to maximize my closet space. Hanging up to 6 skirts or slacks per hanger frees up my dresser space.

Starting from the left, I hang all my dresses, then on the tiered hangers I keep my skirts, slacks/pants, and then capris with space to spare. All these items are hung in color order as well making retrieving the desired item efficient.

In organizing the master closet, I took about 1 hour to purge and straighten my clothing. This investment of my time allowed me to see what items I would like to add to my wardrobe and to remind me of options that had slipped my mind.

While using time wisely organizing the master closet, I have clothing that fits, is comfortable to wear, and weather appropriate. With places to visit and people to see this summer, I need not wonder what to wear, but I might get stumped on choosing the color of flip flops for the day. 😉 Happy organizing!

Question: What tips do you have for organizing a closet?

Organizing the Master Closet: Purging – Part 1 of 2

May 20, 2013 by Tracy

In getting ready for summer, we are switching over from the long-sleeved winter outfits to the short or sleeveless outfits for summer.

Purging our closets of out-grown or unused items saves us time in picking outfits for the day.

With all the clothes weather-appropriate and the correct size, we can make a choice, dress, and set off for our day.

In purging my closet, I have chosen the following criteria to determine whether or not to keep items:

Have I worn it in the past year?

If not and I do not have a plan for the item, then I let it go. If the outfit is for a special occasion, then I keep it away from my regular everyday clothing.

Do I like the item?

If I do not care for the item, then I let it go. No sense in passing over that item every time I am looking for something to wear. If I only wore it because it was the only item that matched another item, then I begin looking at sales for a fitting replacement that I want to wear.

Does the item fit?

If the item is too big, too tight, too short, etc., then I donate it. By keeping it in the closet, I am reminded each time I wear the item of why I do not care for it. To prevent wasting time fixing a loose strap, readjusting, uncomfortable, or miserable, I get rid of the item.

After going through my entire closet answering these questions honestly, I am left with a workable wardrobe. I place the donation items into bags and put them in the van for the next trip by the donation center.

As I was organizing the master closet, I purged two piles of clothing to pass along to others. The next step I took in organizing my master closet was straightening.

Beware, I am very particular about the order and the sections of my closet. I will share my extreme organization next week, but you have been warned. 😉 Happy organizing!

Question: How do you determine what to keep and what to donate?

Cleaning: Trying a New Routine

May 13, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Ever get stuck in a rut or a routine? I have maintained the same type of cleaning routine for about 16 years.

I would clean top to bottom every room in my house every 6 to 8 weeks. The rest of the time, I would keep it picked up and wiped down.

With the increase in trips to and from school this year, I have fallen further and further behind in my cleaning routine.

So, I decided to try something different because my current routine was not working.

Preparing for a new routine

I took almost 2 weeks and deep cleaned my entire house. Let me tell you, I was exhausted from all the scrubbing and moving of furniture, but my house was almost spotless.

Maintaining the new routine

Now, I spend about 2 hours one day a week to re-clean my upstairs and about 1.5 hours another day during the week to re-clean my downstairs.

Planning for changes to the new routine

This new routine has been working for me this month. Our home stays clean and picked up. I’m excited about going into the summer with a new game plan for keeping our home clean.

Having to remind myself to clean is a bit different from my previous system, but the results are worth the extra effort. I like the morning weekly cleaning verses the 3-day monthly cleaning that completely tires me out.

Realizing that seasons of life produce changes in our routines, I am willing to try new ways of doing the same thing. In using time wisely, I am enjoying this new routine.

If you are struggling with a system you have had for quite some time, mix it up by trying a new routine. You might surprise yourself while saving energy and time. Happy trying!

Question: What changes have you made to your routines?

Delight in No-brainer Routines

May 6, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Not sure if this happens to you, but I can finish a day and feel like I have accomplished nothing.

I can get my children off to school, maintain the house by picking up a few things, make the meals, clean up, help with homework, run to and from school, play with my children, and feel exhausted at the end of the day.

In this typical scenario, I did accomplish much as I exerted lots of energy which resulted in a well-fed, well-cared for, and happy family. So, if you are struggling with days where nothing but the ordinary gets done, delight in your no-brainer routines.

My No-brainer Routine

I’m sure you have at least one no-brainer routine. These are routines where you don’t need to think. Your brain goes on auto-pilot, and the task gets done which saves you from exerting brain power and energy.

One of mine is making lunches for my children. I follow the same routine each weekday morning. As long as I am not interrupted, I make the sandwiches, add the snacks, and place the thermoses in their lunch bags.

Without having to think about supplies, items, or which bag gets which item, I accomplish the task with little effort. It is not that the task is mundane, but that I have perfected the system to a no-brainer routine.

Paul’s No-brainer Routine

My husband also has a no-brainer routine in the morning. He puts on his Bat belt (his term for it). He goes through a series of adding his handkerchief, wallet, MP3 player, belt, two cell phones, and other accessories. Leaving any one of these items at home creates a disruption to his day.

However, knowing what he needs, creating a routine, and following that same pattern each day results in a no-brainer routine that saves energy and time.

As you go about your week and you find days where you feel like you haven’t accomplished anything, focus on what tasks you completed. Every day is not going to be Facebook-worthy, but those little tasks repeated day after day serve a purpose. Delight in no-brainer routines because they are the glue that holds your life together.

On those mundane days, look for a bright spot. Give yourself grace. You need to rest, play, and enjoy life. The To-do list is still there and will stay there until you can get to it.

(Writing this to myself as I get tied to my To-Do list way too often. I needed this reminder.) Learning to delight!

Question: What are your no-brainer routines?

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