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The Armchair Academic January Tips |
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This page was last updated on: December 4, 2002
January Tips for Being Organized Getting organized takes some time, but once you have some effective systems in place, you will be amazed at the time you save! As the new year starts, here are a few tips I have found useful. Get out your cheque book and fill in the year date on the next ten cheques. This will avoid the embarrassment of being called back to change the date, and by the time you have used ten cheques, you will likely be used to writing the new date. Purchase one of those little flip calendars with the cartoons or words of wisdom on it, and keep it on your kitchen window sill or somewhere you will see it every day (by the computer?). Go through it and jot down all the birthdays and important dates you want to remember, on the appropriate date. If you will need to purchase or mail a card, flip to the previous week and make a note "Card for Susie" (be sure to make this note earlier if you will be mailing overseas). Because these calendars are not dated for a specific year, you will never forget another birthday. I've had the same one for almost ten years. I also note on mine when to put the hummingbird feeder out, when to plant the spring bulbs, and when it's blackberry-picking time! Did you get too many calendars for Christmas? Keep one in your laundry area and note on it when you wash bigger items. Life gets busy and sometimes I can't remember when I washed the sheets or blankets on my kid's beds. A quick look at my calendar tells me exactly when they were last washed. Do a load of laundry every day. Why let it pile up and take a whole day to do? I do at least one load a day, fold it as soon as it is done, and put it away. If anything needs repairs, do them immediately. If at all possible, leave your sewing machine set up. I have mine on a desk in a closet. I simply open the closet and I'm ready to sew. Most mending only takes a few minutes if you don't have to set up your sewing machine each time you need it. Try to deal with mail and newspapers daily. I find that if I take five minutes when they first arrive and deal with them, it saves time in the long run. (File important papers, put bills to be paid by the computer, look through newspapers and then put them in the recycling). Keep a day-timer! Mine is affectionately known as "my life", and I would be lost without it. I have tried several different formats and my all-time favorite is the planners Nechako sends their students. I have glued envelopes inside the front and back covers so that I can tuck important notes/papers there. I use paper clips to attach the grocery list, or the sale announcement from my favorite fabric store to the current week. -Marilyn Powell |
My personal motto is: "Never put off until tomorrow what you can conceivably get done today!" |
