Make it YOUR resolution.
If you want to become more organized and productive, don’t do it because someone else wants you to or because all of your friends are doing it.  Make the resolution for yourself, because YOU want to change. This is what psychologists call a “self-concordant” goal.

It is also important to emphasizing on the positive. Instead of saying, “I won’t be so messy” you can say to yourself, “I am effective and efficient!”

Make a PLAN
Scientific studies have shown that people who use “implementation intentions” have a significantly higher rate of goal attainment. In every day terms this means that people with a plan reach their goals.

How do you make a plan that will work for you?

Sometimes, the best plan you can make is to get expert assistance. Professional organizers can help you make the most effective use of your space and time. They can help you define your plan and break it down into manageable steps so you can be successful. I’d be happy to help you, just let me know!

For those do-it-yourself types, here are a few decluttering tips.

Start with one thing at a time.
Remember that old joke – How do you eat an entire elephant? One bite at a time.

Pick a small space such as a shelf or drawer. Start there and work your way around the room. Do a little bit every day. If you miss a day, don’t worry, just get right back to it as soon as you can.

For each item you find, ask yourself:

• Do I LOVE it?
• Do I use it regularly?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, keep the item. If you answered no to both questions, then let the item go.

If you’re still unsure, ask yourself:

• Would I take it with me if I had to evacuate immediately?
• What would be the worst thing that would happen if I got rid of this?

If you would take it with you then keep the item. If there is no “worst thing that would happen” if you got rid of the item, then let the item go.

For all items you’ve decided to keep, find the best place for the item. Keep items in the area in which they are used. If it is meant to be displayed, then display it proudly!

Is getting organized one of your resolutions? Share your plan here!

Use a specially designed thermometer and adjust the fridge dials to ensure that you’ve reached this temperature. It may take a day or two of adjusting your fridge dials to ensure you’ve achieved the correct temperature.

Start organizing your fridge by completely emptying it out and giving it a good thorough cleaning. Remove the shelves and scrub them down with hot soapy water and dry them with a clean towel or air dry them. An old toothbrush can be useful to clean out small cracks and crannies. Remember to wash the outside of the fridge as well, especially the door handles!

Ideas

• Clean the fridge just before grocery day. It’s always emptier.
• Remember to wipe off the outsides of bottles and jars before returning them to the fridge.
• Lining the crisper drawers with paper towels helps make clean ups quicker.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reminds people that best-before dates do not necessarily indicate if a food is safe to eat and once a package is opened, the shelf life  (how long the food is good) may be much shorter. It is wise to dispose of all expired food and leftovers over four days old. Remember “When in doubt, throw it out!”

When returning food items to the fridge think about what is used most often and what is used least often. The foods used most often should be put on the top shelf just inside the door. This will minimize the length of time the door is opened. Items used most often include milk and juice. Group similar condiments together on the door of the fridge.

In my fridge I can remove the “shelf baskets” on the door. I’ve grouped all the salad dressings together so when we have salad for dinner I take the entire “shelf basket” from the door and place it on the table. I’ve also grouped together in one shelf-basket the hamburger condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, pickles) so when we eat hamburgers, I just grab that shelf-basket and take it to the picnic table.

If you keep raw meat in the refrigerator, ensure that the drippings do not fall on fresh produce or already cooked foods. If you do not have a “meat drawer” store or defrost meat on a plastic tray that you can remove and easily clean and disinfect.

For more information about ideal storage conditions and shelf life of foods see the website Still Tasty.

It is also a good idea to group leftovers on one shelf. Use clear plastic container to store leftovers so it is easy to see what there is to eat. Before you put leftovers in the fridge write the date on a sticker and stick it onto the container of leftovers. This way everyone in the family will know how long the container has been in the fridge and when it should be thrown out. My favourite stickers are Avery Removable Mini Labels which I keep in a little magnetized basket on my fridge along with a pen.

One of the more difficult things to organize in the refrigerator is milk. The milk bag organizer is a great idea because the bags don’t flop around and the oldest bags are used first. I use a large basket that holds 5 milk bags as we drink a lot of milk.

A few well placed small baskets prevent small items from getting lost in the back of the fridge. Use baskets to contain small round cheeses, cheese slices and cheese sticks, mini yogurt containers and soy sauce and ketchup packets for lunches.

Keeping your fridge clean and organized will save you time because you’ll know exactly where to find what you need and your fridge will be easy to clean. You’ll also save money by not over-buying any particular item.

Just for a laugh, I found these substitutes for milk bag holders. You’ll get a kick out of Canadian innovation!

• Lego milk bag holder
• Build your own milk bag holder

P.S. If you’re wondering why the top left shelf in my fridge is empty, I pack school lunches the night before and that is where they sit.

1. Using your word processing program, select a label template. I use Word with Avery® file folder labels. They create a nice sized label and print 30 labels per 8.5 x 11 inch sheet.
2. Print the name of the camper in the labels. Feel free to use whatever colour and font you wish. You can even add a clip-art symbol such as a maple leaf, flower or car.
3. Print out the sheet MIRROR IMAGE on Avery® T-Shirt transfers.
4. Cut the labels and iron them onto the clothing according to the T-shirt transfer instructions.

If you make your own labels, you do not even have to use the child’s name. You could use a special symbol or even a tiny photo of the child him/herself – perfect for kids who can’t read yet!

• For each bed you should have two sets (pillow cases, flat sheet and fitted sheet); one on the bed and one in the closet. For the guest bed, one set is sufficient. Instead of having percale sheets and flannelette sheets, try using jersey knit sheets all year long.
• You should have one duvet or comforter per bed and/or 1 or 2 blankets per bed depending on your climate.
• Surplus pillows should have two pillow cases each.
• Each person in the house should have two bath towels (three for those with long hair), and two or three face clothes per adult, for per child.
• If you do laundry more often, you could reduce the number of sheets and towels you have. If you have young children you should have an extra set of sheets in case one of the children is ill and you do not have time to do the laundry. If you have a pool or go to the beach often you may want to have an extra bath towel per person.

Linen Storage

Store your linens in the linen closet if you have one. Put all the sheets of the same size on the same shelf. To keep sheet sets together, fold the sheets and put them inside the matching pillow case. One idea is to buy all sheet sets in the same colour. For example all the sheets for double beds are blue, all the sheets for single beds are pink.

If you do not have a linen closet, store your sheet sets in the room in which they are used, either in the closet or in a container under the bed. You can store bath towels in the bedrooms too.

If you put a sticker with the date on the container of make-up, you will have an idea of when you should toss it.

Here are some ideas:

• Donate them to a funeral parlour or cemetery.
• Donate them to a hospital or long term care centre.
• Return them to the florist or give them to a floral design school.
• Offer them to an interior decorating school.
• Donate them to groups that organize fundraising dinners.
• You can use them to store paintbrushes and art supplies.
• Most vases are not made of food-quality material so it is not a good idea to store food in them but you can use them to store spoons, spatulas and ladles in the kitchen.
• Fill a pretty vase with a collection of antique keys to decorate your home and show off your collection.

You can find ways to use pretty vases to decorate your home at this website.

You can find vases that can be used for targets at the firing range if you look at this website.