Blog – Page 35 – ReSolutions – The link to your organized future

RESET DAY: Cleaning routines with your kids

Posted on October 6, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Children, Goals — No Comments ↓

I’m excited to introduce a new series of blog posts called “Reset Day”! This series is dedicated to helping you “reset” an area of your life so you can effectively reignite and move forward more efficiently.

Today we’re talking about how to get your kids to regularly do their chores. I’m reminded of the phrase I heard (often!) as a kid, “Have you cleaned your room yet?” How many times did you hear that growing up and how many times are you saying these words now?

Children’s bedrooms can get out of control. Organization is oh-so important in helping your children maintain some sort of order in their chaotic lives. If your children aren’t regularly cleaning and organizing their rooms, hit “reset”!

We know how to clean and organize a room, but that doesn’t mean they do. Work together to show them what chores you expect from them each day. As a Boston professional organizer, some of my clients have done this and they are so happy they took the time to show their children what was expected of them. Some of my clients, have taken photos of what a clean, organized room should look like to help their children see what the end result will be.

By setting expectations and putting these routines in place, you will be happier. Your children will also learn the importance of cleaning and organizing their own room, which will pave the way for a valuable lifelong lesson.

Photo: Yay!

Check in: Have you reached your 2015 goals?

Posted on September 30, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Goals, Time Management — No Comments ↓

No need to fire the alarm if you haven’t reached your goals, as we still have 3 more months left in 2015. The end of September is always a great time to check in on the progress toward your personal and professional goals. Have you examined your goals and are you on track? If not, it is not too late to take inventory of what you have done and what can be achieved in the last quarter of this year.

As you look at your 2015 goals, ask yourself these questions:

Were my goals reasonable and achievable?
Did I set myself up for failure?
Am I proud of the progress I made?
Was my goal too easy?
Did a life event get in the way of me making progress toward my goals?
Did I create too many goals?

Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t gotten to all your goals. It’s important to stay aware of progress or lack of progress to ensure better goal setting for next year.

I made a business goal to send out a monthly newsletter this year. I did great until the month of July. I missed that month. Rather than beating myself up, I chose to learn from that situation. Come August, I was back on track and will strive to meet my goal by the end of the year.

What have you learned when you look back on your goals? Any adjustments that need to be made? Please share any thoughts or insights.

Photo: A Thrifty Mrs.

3 Things to Purge As Fall Arrives

Posted on September 23, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Fall, Garden, Summer — No Comments ↓

When it comes to getting rid of “stuff” cluttering the house or yard, we all have items that need to either leave permanently or be put away for the season. So what are we focusing on this month? Summer. Yes, we are sadly saying goodbye to summer items so we can make room for fall and winter clothes and essentials. Below are three sets of items you should be throwing out or storing in a safe place:

Beach gear – Take a look at your supply of beach towels, kids’ sand toys, and beach chairs/umbrellas. Get rid of anything that is stained, broken, or simply unusable. If your child is too old to play with certain toys next year, donate them to a friend or non-profit organization. As for the items you need to retain for next summer’s fun and frolic, store them in a less accessible spot to make room for autumns’s rakes and blankets.

Summer shoes – As the temperature dips, sandals will be worn less and less. One of the things about sandals and flip flops is they tend to get A LOT of wear during the summer, and sometimes, they are simply too worn out to keep around. Get rid of the shoes that have seen better days, and place the rest in a crate or box that you can store in the basement or garage.

Annual plants – This is always one of the hardest tasks to make time for. It’s easiest to just let the garden die, and simply do it next year, right? Wrong. Prep your garden and lawn now. Remove your annuals, prep your lawn, and get that rake or leaf blower ready. In a matter of weeks, you’ll need to start removing those pesky leaves.

As you’re saying a fond farewell to summer, take a minute to soak in the memories. Summer will be here again, but the memories are most assuredly unique to each calendar year.

Photo: sheknows.com

Tip Tuesday: 5 Essentials for a Better Organized Kitchen

Posted on September 15, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Kitchen, Storage — No Comments ↓

We’re halfway through September, and that means we’re nearing the primetime for cooking and entertaining. I absolutely love cooking and spending time with guests over the holidays…but if my kitchen is in disarray, it is less enjoyable. Quite frankly, I get grouchy. Get ahead of the holiday chaos and get your kitchen organized. There are five kitchen essentials I think every home should have.

Magnetic Knife Holder – Now, I know every knife set comes with a knife block, but sometimes these blocks are too clunky and take up way too much counter space. Hang a magnetic knife strip on the wall above your counter, and make more room for cooking preparation! With a magnetic strip mounted on your wall, your kitchen knives will always be accessible when you need them.

Tension Rods for Platter & Cutting Boards – Are you tired of having to lift out trays and cutting boards to get to the one you want? By installing small tension rods vertically in a deep drawer or cabinet, or on shelves, you can store your platters and cutting boards in between the tension rods. With this little DIY kitchen hack, you can easily see all of your available kitchen platters and cutting boards, and easily choose the one you want.

Wire Magazine Holder for Plastic Wrap, Tin Foil, and Wax Paper – Install a wire magazine holder to the inside of one your cabinets. This will create a vertical storage space to easily store those long, rectangular boxes, and free up precious drawer space.

Tension Rods for Cleaning Supplies – Cleaning supplies are great! Yes, keep on cleaning up your kitchen space regularly. But sometimes all of those bottles can create clutter under the sink or on the counter top. Hang a tension rod under your sink to hold your entire spray bottle cleaning supplies. It will be easier to see the labels on the bottles, and you’ll be able to free up valuable kitchen storage space.

Lazy Susan – One Lazy Susan is good. Multiple Lazy Susans are even better! Use a large one in a bottom cabinet to store pastas, cereals and more. Use a smaller one in a refrigerator to easily store condiments and see what you have with a quick spin. And of course, use one to store your spices.

I hope these kitchen organizing tips are helpful! Next week is our monthly “Purge!” post focused on what you must get rid of before fall rolls around. Stay tuned!

Image: bobvila.com

Enjoy the Day, Folks. Happy Labor Day!

Posted on September 7, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Holidays — No Comments ↓

Wow, where has the summer gone? It always goes by so quickly. It’s already Labor Day but it seems like yesterday that there was snow on the ground and we were all anxiously awaiting the arrival of warmer days. Those days finally arrived, and they were amazing. The time with family and friends during the summertime is simply unbeatable. I’m a little bit sad to see it start to fade away.

As we celebrate Labor Day, let’s take this time to relax and reflect on the memories from those good ol’ summer days. For many of us, starting Tuesday, children will go back to school and the rush of life will be in full swing. It goes by oh-so quickly, so be present and enjoy these moments.

Image: NEOC

The Perfect Homework Caddy

Posted on August 25, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Back to School, Children, Storage — No Comments ↓

When school is back in session, the kids take over. Notebooks are on the kitchen counter. Pencils are found in between couch cushions. There are school supplies in every nook and cranny of the home. To minimize unnecessary clutter and avoid misplacing these supplies, create a homework caddy. This should be the hub for all homework supplies. By creating a homework caddy, your kids can do homework anywhere, and even work next to mom or dad while he or she is in the kitchen preparing dinner.

The homework caddy can be easily made, and the best part is you can do it on a budget. First, purchase a caddy, small bucket, or basket. Then, think of the supplies that your children need. Here is a starter list:

Lined Paper
Scissors
Index Cards
Markers
Crayons
Pencils
Pens
Colored Pencils
Highlighters
Stapler
Erasers
Glue
Protractor Kit
Pencil Sharpener
Tape
Graph Paper
White Out
Calculator

Put everything in an organized fashion on this caddy, and even create a checklist of supplies you have in the caddy. By consolidating your homework supplies to this mobile caddy, you can minimize unnecessary pickup around the house, and easily put homework supplies out of sight. What are some other school supplies that your children need? Share your ideas with us.

Photo: Happy Go Lucky Blog

Tip Tuesday: Apps to Help Clear Paper Clutter

Posted on August 13, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Apps, Eco-friendly, Paper Management — No Comments ↓

Paper, paper, everywhere. We are living in a digital world, however there is still so much paper. And you know what? This paper is not going away anytime soon, which is why it’s time for you to tame your paper clutter. From business cards to receipts, there are many available tools to help you get organized. Below are my favorite digital apps that will aid in a paper-free house and workspace.

Dropbox – This is a great starting point for someone who needs a digital home for his or her paper scans. Once you create an account, you can access your Dropbox from any of your mobile devices. That way, you can access your receipts or other documents from anywhere.

NeatReceipts or Fujitsu ScanSnap – These are both great applications to use to scan in your paperwork. I think it depends on whom you ask and what device or operating system you are using. I have a client who has the ScanSnap iX100 wireless mobile scanner that she has this with her at all times. She told me recently that she was on a plane scanning in a bunch of papers so that she would have them available to her in her Dropbox at all times and eliminate the need to hold on to the paper.

OneReceipt – This app allows you to scan in a receipt by photographing it with your mobile camera. The other helpful feature is that it pulls email receipts from Gmail or Yahoo Mail accounts and posts them in a visual dashboard, sorted chronologically.

PaperKarma – This app allows you to scan your unwanted mail, and they contact the sender, and have you removed from their lists.

Evernote – Instead of writing your notes and ideas on paper, store them on an app. This app allows you to keep everything in one place and you can virtually check goals and tasks off your list!

Do your research and dip your toe into the digital paperless world. Let me know how you like it and what you choose!

Photo: Woman’s Day

5 Things to do TODAY to get your kids ready for school

Posted on August 5, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Back to School, Children — No Comments ↓

All of those snow days from last winter forced many schools to stay in session until the week before Fourth of July. It was a LONG year, folks. Whether you choose to believe it or not, the next school season will be here before you know it. Yikes! Instead of waiting until the last minute to get organized, start organizing your to-dos TODAY. Remember, doing small tasks each day will prevent a pile of to-dos. Below you can find five back-to-school organizing tips that will provide a bit of sanity before the madness begins (again).

Adjust Sleeping Patterns – Sleep is needed. Sleep is deserved after such a chaotic year. Enjoy these lazy days of summer, but remember that the best thing you can do for yourself and your children is to acclimate to school hours as you approach the start of the year. A few weeks before the first day of school, gradually have your children go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. By doing this gradually, it won’t be such a jolt to their sleeping pattern.

Organize and Purchase Clothes – Now is the time to go through your children’s clothes to see what needs to be purchased. Outgrown clothing can either be passed on to younger siblings or donated. Start this process with the oldest child so you have an idea of what clothes you can give to the younger ones. Then, make a list of the clothing you’ll need and budget for these purchases.

Practice the Route – Will your children be walking to school, riding a bus, or carpooling to school? It’s important to do a practice run to see how long it takes to make sure they arrive on time. This is also a great emotional exercise for your kids if they are scared of leaving your side. If you are driving your kids to school, remember to take into account more traffic as you approach the school. It’s also good to instruct your kids on the official drop-off and pick-up locations.

Create a Command Central – Create a central “hub” in the kitchen, mudroom, or another location that works best for your family. Put up a calendar (if you are a paper person) or select an electronic calendar that allows syncing across platforms (such as Cozi) and print out a week-at-a-glance. Use a color-coding system for each family member to make it easier to identify each individual’s schedule.

Schedule Doctor Appointments – Pick up the phone and make all of your doctor appointments now. Most schools require a copy of recent medical examinations for athletes. Are your children’s immunizations up to date? Check on the school’s website to see what you need for September. It’s also a good idea to schedule your appointments. With the craziness of the school year, sometimes making time for yourself can get pushed aside.

Sending your loved ones off to school does not have to be a nightmare. Proper planning will ease the process!

Photo: Teach Hub

3 Ways to Manage Your Laundry Better

Posted on July 28, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Bathroom, Clothes, Family, Laundry — No Comments ↓

Laundry. I’ll admit it’s not the most glamorous topic. Now, I know some people who love to organize (ahem, yours truly). I’ve met people who get a kick out of purging junk. But laundry? I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who absolutely craves putting dirty clothes into a dark, swirling hole.

That said we must discuss this topic. After all, we all do laundry, so why not learn how to make this task more efficient? Keep these three laundry organization tips in mind and save time and angst when doing your next load of laundry.

Sorting – Save yourself the headache of sorting a big pile of your family’s laundry, and create two separate laundry baskets – darks and whites. Put laundry baskets in both the bedrooms and your bathrooms to make it more convenient for the dirty clothing to get stored away properly. The last thing you want to be doing is walking around a room, picking up dirty clothes!

Timing – There are two schools of thought when doing laundry. Some people like to do laundry in one day; others like to do it as soon as there is enough for a load. I prefer the second method. Who has an entire day to devote to laundry? I throw a load in the washer, as I am getting ready for dinner. The washer is typically done by the time I am either done eating or done preparing. I either hang dry the clothes or put them in the dryer. By the time I am done cleaning up and ready to relax, the dryer is done and I can fold the clothes while watching something on TV. Ahh, the joy of multitasking!

Putting clothes away – This is the biggest hurdle of doing the laundry for most. Now that the laundry is done, it’s time to put away your clothing. Putting away YOUR clothing is enough, so in order to save yourself time, teach your family members how to put away their own clothes. Label drawers or shelves to show them where their clothes should go. Additionally, we’ve all been taught to fold clothing, however I’ve discovered that rolling is best. Roll your clothes and put them in the drawer from front to back. The next time you’re looking for a shirt, it will be so much easier to find and you can bet it will be less wrinkled.

Photo: The Home

Tip Tuesday: 5 Tips to a More Organized Garden Space

Posted on July 15, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Garage, Garden — No Comments ↓

July is the heart of gardening season in New England. The tomatoes are starting to fruit, cucumbers are getting larger by the minute, and the squash is reproducing like crazy. It’s certainly wonderful to grow and harvest your own fruits and veggies, but sometimes gardening can wreak havoc on the shed, basement, or garage. Gardening tools are in five different locations, gardening soil is everywhere, and the pots are stacked high. It’s time to get your garden space organized! Here are five tips to help you on your way to a more organized gardening space.

Set aside a designated space – Give your gardening supplies one central hub. Devote an area in your garage, shed, or basement to house all your gardening supplies & tools. The great thing is you don’t have to set aside a large chunk of real estate. It can be a small nook or small table that is just for your gardening needs.

Use vertical space – Pegboard or lattice are great options when looking to maximize vertical space. Hang tools, or even small shelves to place small pots.

Create a worktable – Sometimes the best worktables are the most inexpensive. Use adjustable sawhorses and a precut Formica countertop instead of purchasing a more expensive unit.

Put together a portable tote – To save time, create a tote bag or another mobile solution to house gardening supplies. If you have a small garden, you can use a reusable grocery bag. For larger projects, you can repurpose a child’s wagon, a bucket, or wheel barrel.

Keep it clean – One of the messiest parts of gardening is the potting soil. If you’re not careful, the soil can get everywhere. By keeping your potting soil in a plastic container, you can keep your gardening area clean, and even use the spillover soil!

Photos: Gardenista