Blog - Page 27 of 27 - Getting it Together

Getting It Together for Spring Clearing

Do you have the URGE TO PURGE?

Spring is almost here and so if you are thinking about clearing the clutter, then you are certainly not alone.

While you are at it you may as well do some spring cleaning. The best time to start your spring clearing and cleaning is when you stop using the heat in your home.

The hardest part is always getting started so let’s look at five great “Together Tips” to help you get on your way.

Together Tips

Tip #1

Make a list of all the things you would like to accomplish in your spring clearing and cleaning. Go from room to room and in a notebook write down all the things you would like to have done in each room.

Tip #2

Break your list down into tasks as this project can seem overwhelming and huge.

For example in your bedroom:

1. Closet

Take out all the clothes that are not seasonal and place them in a pile on the bed.
Separate this pile into clean and dirty. Send the dirty clothes for cleaning/washing and store the clean clothes in a different closet or storage area.
Take out all the clothes that you haven’t worn in a year or that do not fit you any more. Pack them up for donating or selling in a consignment store.
Clean the closet shelves and walls and vacuum the floor to remove dirt and dust that accumulated during the winter.

2. Dresser

Perform the same tasks as you did in #1 above. Be ruthless with old tattered under clothes. Just because nobody sees them does not mean they have to be old and worn out.
Do you store your jewellery and accessories in your dresser? If so, is it time for an update. Do you still wear all the items? Are they your style and do they still go with your cloths. If not then it is time to purge. Ask your self “would I buy it again?”.
What a great time to change the drawer liners and add a little essential oil to freshen things up.

3. Night tables

This can be a catch all area. Take inventory of what you really need in your night table.
If your night table has a drawer dump it out on the bed. Ask yourself “do I need this in my night stand, do I use it and do I want it?”. If the answer is “no” to any of these questions then it is time to toss it out or pass it on.
Does your night table have every book or magazine that you have ever read on it? Pass on the ones you are finished with and organize the rest in your book shelf. Keep only current reading material on your table.

Once your room is complete, move on to the next room and go through this system again. If your entire home needs a spring clearing/cleaning you may need to get help.

If you have a lot of clutter, call a relative or friend or better yet a professional organizer to help you sort through it all. If you can’t stand doing the cleaning part, hire a cleaner. If you end up with no clothes in your closet after the clearing, an image consultant can help you find new or gently used clothes to replace your old ones. And you’ll have a new image to go with it!

Tip #3

Get your family involved. It is no fun doing this alone and chances are it’s not all your stuff.

For example:

Spend a day in the garden together clearing out all the debris from winter and cleaning all the cement walks and driveway. Borrow a power washer from a friend or neighbour (the kids will have fun with this one).
Get small children to go on their hands and knees and dust all the floor boards and behind hard to reach furniture. Don’t forget to get them involved in their own rooms too. They can clear out old toys and clothes to make room for the new season.Reward them with a treat or special activity at the end of the day.
Make a “honey do” pot. Write out all the chores you would like for your husband to do. Write one chore per piece of paper and place them in the pot. Every Saturday morning he gets to pick one job out of the jar. Reward him at the end of the day too! If you do not have a husband or he is not the “handy man” then make a list for the local handy man in your area. Some areas have “husbands for hire” companies.

Tip #4

Turn on your favourite music, open the windows and take it step-by-step. Stay focused and don’t get distracted by those photo albums! Doing this all before summer means you don’t have to think about it during the best part of the year.

Tip #5

The best tip of all is “an organized home takes 40% less time to clean”. What will you do with all your spare time?

If you just can’t fathom tackling your urge to purge alone, contact Rowena for Spring Clearing help.

Rowena List is an Image Organizer™, motivational speaker, CD author, writer, trainer and mentor in the fields of personal and business development. Based on her own personal trade secrets, Rowena provides training, coaching, tools and support for creating healthy reflections from the outside in. She focuses on “enhancing faces and clearing spaces” to provide the energy, productivity and confidence that are the foundations for her unique approach to Success Without Struggle™.For more information on Image Organizing™, on booking Rowena for a presentation or a one-on-one or on Getting It Together please contact her at rowena@gettingittogether.ca.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:56+00:00January 5th, 2009|Uncategorized|4 Comments

Getting Your Kids Schedule Together

Ahhhh, the beginning of the school year.

It’s like spring time. Fresh, new, wonderful, bright…and hectic! All over town we see moms and dads pulling their hair out trying to juggle school with kid’s activities, work and home. So how do we manage all this with much less stress?

Here are a few Together Tips to keep you on top of it all.

Tip #1 – Kids do best with routine

By now, we should all have settled in to our schedules. Routine is important, however, if a child is not thriving on this schedule it is wise to reconsider. Possibly remove or add an activity that will produce less stress in your child’s life.

Tip #2 – Leave time for rest and play

Kids love structured activities, and a certain amount of it every day is important. Each child is different, so gauge how much they need by their behaviour. More than anything, after school and on weekends, kids need and want free time to rest and play. Ensure you allow for that too.

Tip #3 – Sit down as a family

Decide as a family which one or two activities each child wants to do per season. Two activities is most likely the maximum, although every child is different. The demands of school just keep getting greater, so keep an eye out, so that their schoolwork doesn’t suffer. Make sure you don’t overdo it too as your stress will be absorbed by your children.

Tip #4 – Make a calendar

This may seem like the most obvious of tips, but you’d be surprised when a child gets to be involved in the planning how much more willing and cooperative they can be.

On the calendar, mark down all the regular activities. Ask each of your children to choose a colour marker that then will only be used for their activities. Ensure that your schedule includes which grown-up will be in charge of driving which child to which activity. Look into car pooling especially if you need to be in multiple places at one time.

Tip #5 – Family time

No matter how busy you get with activities, work, school or home improvement, the most important is family time. Schedule one activity per week with the entire family. And, if possible, one activity with each of the parents separately with each child.

On the calendar be sure to schedule in family time in a different colour.

Now this all may seem complicated, but actually it will simplify your life. Keeping life simple and balanced means harmonious, happy kids.

For more information on this or any other subject, contact Rowena at rowena@gettingittogether.ca or visit the Getting It Together website.

Announcements

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Don’t miss Getting It Together for Halloween:Less Is More Even When It Comes to Candy. More amazing tips to make your Halloween more enjoyable.

Referral program

Whether you are a client or not, Rowena would like to thank you for your referrals by offering a referral fee for any new client you send her way.

She’ll give you a cheque for 10% of the total bill or that same amount off your next newly booked session with her. That means that if you refer a client who books an image organizing session worth $400, then you get $40. That’s a free night at the movies!

This offer is time limited so don’t wait…refer away.

The 1 to 31 Organizing System™

Have you ever wondered how Rowena keeps on top of her hectic schedule. The key to her success is the 1 to 31 Organizing System™. It has been the base for her business and personal life for over 20 years and has proven to be a great asset.

Because of this, she wants to bring this organizing system to all you Moms, entrepreneurs, business people or anyone who desparately needs to be organized.

One customer said:

“The 1to31 has helped me enormously. I used to have bills, invitations, cards, lists and reminders stuck all over my fridge. I felt overwhelmed by the clutter and would miss important dates. The 1to31 helps me feel in control of my life’s events and keeps everything together. I wouldn’t be without it.”

Amanda Baggett
Sales Trainer, Education Services
Research in Motion

The system is so easy to use, that it will become second nature within a few days. Once you get started you’ll wonder how you ever managed (or didn’t manage) without it. For more information click here.

The 1 to 31 Organizing System™ is available at www.1to31.com or by contacting Rowena at: rowena@gettingittogether.ca.

Please feel free to share your success stories with us at Getting It Together.

Rowena is available for keynote speaking engagements, workshops and one-on-one professional organizing and Image Organizing™.

For more information on Image Organizing™ or on Getting It Together please contact Rowena List at rowena@gettingittogether.ca.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:56+00:00January 3rd, 2009|Organizer|0 Comments

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