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Posts Tagged ‘organizing’
Kind Words from Our Client Sue Brushey!
C”I just want to say thank you to you Cathy for the time you spent here with me, helping me to get started on my organizing. I certainly could have used you for another 2 days, at least, but the one day was such a big help. Your ideas and skills helped get me started on organizing our place…it’s always much easier when working with someone. So, thanks again Cathy and know that I will recommend you to anyone who could use your organization skills. How many of us can’t see the nose in front of our faces until someone like you points out the obvious. I’ll be calling on you again, in the future!”
– Sue Brushey, Mississauga, ON
Thanks for reading…
P.S. CLICK HERE to read more testimonials!
Homework and Study Checklist!
It’s BACK TO SCHOOL time…and it’s time to introduce you to a new checklist!
CLICK HERE to view our newest checklist. It’s all about HOW TO SET UP A HOMEWORK or STUDY AREA!
Organize a Homework and Study Area!
Set Up a Homework and Study Area!
When your children get home from school, have them unload their backpacks—dirty lunch containers go in the sink or dishwasher, books go to their homework or study area, etc. Let them have a snack and some time to themselves before they start homework.
Make sure that your children have an area to do homework or study that is clear of clutter, comfortable, well-lit and as quiet as possible.
If your children have trouble focusing on homework, set a timer. Help them prioritize their tasks, so they don’t become overwhelmed. Have them work on their most difficult subject first. After that, everything will seem easier. If they get off track, don’t despair; assist them with getting back on track. It’s better to get a bit off track than to give up. Homework should go into their backpacks as soon as it is completed in order to avoid getting misplaced—or the dog eating it!
Wise Words from Tom Bodett
“The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”
-Tom Bodett
Getting Organized for Back to School!
It’s that time of year again! The relaxing days of summer are almost behind us.
GETTING ORGANIZED FOR BACK TO SCHOOL
Planning
If you plan ahead, you’ll be ready for the first day of school.
Don’t wait until the night before school starts to try and get your children into their back-to-school routine. Start a week or two before. The morning routine is under your control. Everyone will have a better day if it starts out calmly.
Clothing
Have your children try on all of their clothing to see what fits. Yes, they really have grown 3 inches during the summer! Make a list of what needs to be bought.
Let children decide what they are going to wear, and lay out their clothes the night before.
School Supplies
Has the school provided a list of supplies that will be required? Stock up during the back-to-school sales. With higher gas prices, saving a couple of dollars by running from store to store may not be worth the extra effort involved. Remember that your time is valuable.
Backpacks should be the correct size for your children. Let them choose one with your help; if they like it, they’ll be more likely to use it and less likely to lose it.
Lunches
Keep your cupboards well stocked with lunch items. While single-serving sizes are convenient, they are more costly. Be thrifty and get supplies in bulk. Keep a pen and paper handy in or near your pantry to make a note of items that are running low.
Older children should be responsible for making their own lunches. Provide healthy choices, and let them choose what they like. Make lunches at night to save time in the morning. Put leftovers into lunch containers when cleaning up after dinner. When you cook, double the recipe and freeze one batch. You can use the second batch for lunches or dinner on a busy night. It will save you time and will be healthier than picking up fast food.
Labelling
Don’t forget to label all items your children take to school which need to be brought home each night or week.
Checklist
Post a checklist as close as possible to where your children enter and exit for school. Make it easy for everyone to read. Have young children draw an outline of the items they need to take. Have a designated spot for each child’s coat, mittens, boots, backpack and sports equipment.
Calendar and Scheduling
All activities should be put onto one calendar. Keeping more than one calendar is difficult; it usually results in missed appointments. Label each family member’s activities in a different colour; let your children pick their favourite colour. Limit extra-curricular activities for each child. To make everyone’s life easier, try not to overschedule. Your children need some time to be kids!
Rewards
Set up a reward system to motivate your children to reach their goals throughout the year. With your encouragement and positive reinforcement, they will succeed!
Kind Words from Our Client Nancy Schreiner!
“Cathy has helped me immensely with a family member’s move.
Not only is Cathy pleasant to work with, very knowledgeable and proficient at her work, she went above and beyond her duties. Cathy was able to reuse or donate items to assist other families which meant a great deal to me.
I highly recommend Cathy as her expertise would benefit those who must take on any type of project!”
Nancy Schreiner, Burlington, ON
Thanks for reading…
P.S. To read more testimonials, please Click Here
Yard Sale and Packing Checklists!
Check out our CHECKLISTS!
Is there a particular checklist that you’d like to see?Please send us a note with your request.
We’ll get to work so that you can get checking!
Technology and Time Management!
Summer is usually the time of year to take a well-deserved break. Like many of us, you’ve been eagerly awaiting some time off from your busy schedule.
While your business may slow down during the summer months, it shouldn’t grind to a halt.
Did you know “it is a fact that creativity often flows more readily when you are out[side]—especially if you are near water”? In Write It Down, Make It Happen, Henriette Anne Klauser tells us that “Being near water, especially moving water, gets ideas to flow.”
I attended a POC conference session a couple of years ago on “The Impact of Technology on Time Management” and learned a new word – “Thinksomnia.” While Harold Taylor (a Canadian time management expert) did not create this word, he has “adopted it and use(s) it in the context of our extreme busyness and resultant lack of creativity.” The definition for this made-up word is: “An idea that pops into your head just before you fall asleep, which is so big and brilliant, or else so dark and scary, that it keeps you awake all night long”.
For Harold, “it fit perfectly with [his] belief that because we are so busy and preoccupied all day, the only time we get to really think about anything new is at night just before we fall asleep. That’s when the ideas pop into our minds, and we start thinking about them to the point that we can’t get to sleep.” “I recommend to my clients that at least 10 percent of their work day should be left [available] for planning and thinking. Because our success and the success of our companies depend on it. Everything except creativity is being outsourced to other countries…We can’t afford to short-change our creativity – which we’re doing in this age of speed.”
Keep the above points in mind as you think ahead and set personal or business goals for the remainder of 2012. You may come up with your most brilliant ideas yet. Remember to keep a notepad handy to jot ideas down, so that you can put them into action!
Wise Words from Paul J. Meyer
“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
-Paul J. Meyer
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