Make Grocery Shopping an Organized Adventure

Here are a few suggestions to try and make shopping an, organized (and as fast as the line will move) fun adventure!

1. Get it on paper. As you use up the last of any item, write it down on a designated list under the name of the store where you would purchase the item. This will help you find what you need right away. Have this list handy so your family can add to it as the need presents itself.

2. Avoid making two trips. If at all possible, try and do most of your errands the same day you do your grocery shopping. Make sure you take that list along with you, so you can go on the errand run without forgetting anything.

3. Be prepared. When it is time to shop for your groceries, try and limit it to one day a week. Gather up the lists and any coupons you can use. Have a designated plastic folder or envelope to hold them all, and have it with you at all times. If you should unexpectedly stop at that particular store, you can use the coupon for the items you need.

4. Plan your route. Knowing where you're going, especially when you plan to make several stops, can save you both time and money with the high cost of fuel.

5. Map it out. Make up a list of the aisles in the store, and the grocery items in each. You'll be able to easily pick up the items on your shopping list aisle by aisle, instead of in a random, disorganized fashion. This will help you get in and out of the store in no time.

6. Get help from the teens. When you are shopping with older children, divide up the list and have them pick up items from the other aisles. If at all possible, leave the little ones at home. They almost always add to impulse shopping. Plus your focus then needs to be divided between the grocery shopping and making sure the kids aren't pulling things off the shelves, or putting items you don't wish to purchase in your cart.

7. Keep 'em cool. Keep a bag or cooler in the trunk that can hold your perishable items. This will ensure no melted and leaky ice cream packages. Generally shop for groceries last when doing the errands--this way the frozen things won't have a chance to melt.

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8. Instruct the Baggers. Request that the Bagger pack all perishables together in the bags so you can grab them first when you return home. This also gives you the option of leaving the non-perishables to unpack at your leisure.

9. Think about your calendar. Look over your schedule for the upcoming week to see if there is something unusual you will be using in a recipe, or an event that may be coming up for which you need to purchase a card or gift. Put that on your list also.

10. Carry the recipes with you. Carry your family's favorite recipes with you on little index cards that have the ingredients listed. You can see what is needed on the recipe card and get the items you don't already have. Saves unnecessary stops at the grocery store during the week for that one forgotten item!

11. Do a bit of prep work. When you get home and unpack your groceries, do some preliminary meal preparation. Cook meat and then package it into meal sized dinners. Wash all your fruit and veggies. Cut the veggies so you can just put them into the dishes you plan on making. This can be a real time saver for your meal preparation.

12. Double up. Plan on cooking a double recipe for some meals. Eat one and freeze the other for a busy weeknight dinner.

13. Create a meal plan. By having a meal plan for the week, along with the items needed list, you should have a quick and easy shopping adventure each and every week.

14. Think outside the box. There is also another solution for grocery shopping. There are various agencies and many supermarkets that can do it for you. If there is just not enough time in your busy schedule, using that service once in awhile, or all the time if you budget permits, might help you get caught up with your To Do list.

Clutter Starts From Within

I am not perfect. I always assume I am doing my best. I know changes have to start from within. But where am I going wrong in my battles to an organized home?

I found this clutter personality "test". I am not extremely happy with the outcome of my "analysis". I have a lil bit of every clutter personality listed there! Not good, extremely not good =(

I have declared war on my current clutter & future potential clutter!

If you want to check out what your personality clutter is, click on the pic below:

Outsmart Procrastination 1-2-3

Do you hear yourself saying, 'I will do it later' more than you care to mention? You lose time and energy and achieve less as a result of putting things off. Do not let that dreaded procrastination bug get you down anymore. There are ways to beat it.

1. So how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, of course! Divide and conquer a large project by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Start off slow using small baby steps. Going through the tasks one by one will be much less stressful and overwhelming than trying to get a large project finished all at once. And as soon as action has begun on a specific task, you just might find the project taking on a life of its own and actually becoming enjoyable.

2. Try completing a task immediately. Do not give it any thought. Just do it. This is a great way to get things done fast as you will not be spending time thinking about it beforehand. And it is a good way to prevent you from even thinking any thoughts about putting off the task for another day.

3. Reward yourself when you complete a task or a series of tasks. This is a step that many people forget to take into account. As an incentive and to boost motivation, give yourself a reward for accomplishing a task and accomplishing it on time. Whatever the reward may be, whether it is simply a positive affirmation or buying yourself a treat, make sure the reward is something that inspires and motivates you to get the job done. And remember to reward yourself throughout a project, not just at the end.

4. Create a to-do list. It is better to write tasks down then to have them sitting in our mind where they can get lost with all of our other thoughts. Write down all of the things you have been putting off and keep that list in view. As you complete each task, cross it off, and continue to go down the list. Keep a note pad handy to record tasks as you think of them. Keeping all of your projects on a central to-do list will prevent tasks from being forgotten. As you check items off your to-do list, you will be able to track projects and see the progress you are making.

5. Create a schedule and set deadlines. A task without a deadline is destined to be put off indefinitely. Scheduling is very helpful in getting tasks accomplished and it keeps projects on track. Make sure your scheduling is reasonable and not too stringent. Spread a large task out over several sessions. This will prevent you from getting bogged down with one large task or project thereby making it easier to want to put it off. Take 5-10 minutes at the end of each day to look over what you have accomplished for the day and get an idea of what you wish to accomplish the following day. Finally, make a weekly appointment with yourself to plan tasks for the upcoming week to follow through on your goals.

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P.S. Get organized once and for all! You can be Finally Organized, Finally Free. Get 2,175 organizing tips, ideas and techniques to help you organize your home, your time and your life!
Get It Here!

P.P.S. You can be Finally Organized, Finally Free at the office too!
Get It Here!

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6. If possible, do the worst, most difficult or uncomfortable task first and get it out of the way. Tackling that task will lift a weight off your chest and you will feel much more productive and willing to perform other tasks.

7. Whenever possible, eliminate distractions. Distractions are one of the biggest reasons tasks are not started or finished. In fact, you may find yourself looking for distractions to avoid working on tasks. Focus by turning off the television, cell phone, the Internet, etc. Clear off your work area. Try to keep things in your office and home in order. Keep it tidy and clean. Order helps to curb procrastination and a clean environment tends to create a clearer mind.

8. A good technique for outsmarting procrastination is goal visualization. When we procrastinate, we put off achieving an end result. Many times that end result is very appealing. The result could be peace of mind, money, fun, etc. By focusing on the goal and visualizing yourself achieving that end result can help to remove any doubts you have about beginning the project and going through the process of achieving the goal.

9. Use a timer. Set a timer for 30 minutes and begin a task. Setting a time limit will help you focus on the task at hand, curb daydreaming and motivate you to complete the work. And once you have started the task, you may find yourself becoming absorbed in what you are doing and continue with it rather than stopping when the 30 minutes is over.

10. One common cause of procrastination is perfectionism. It is important to understand and remember that no one and nothing is perfect. Thinking that you must do the job perfectly on the first try will likely prevent you from ever getting started. This expectation creates stress, anxiety and the fear of failure. Keep in mind that you are a human and that being perfect tends to lead to procrastination and that it is perfectly O.K. to not get the project done perfectly. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for progress.

by Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now!™
Want to get organized? Get your FREE Get Organized Now!™ Idea-Pak, filled with tips and ideas to help you organize your home, your office and your life, at the Get Organized Now!™ Web site
http://www.getorganizednow.com/

Drowning in Clutter? Organization to the Rescue!

Are you feeling like you are drowning in clutter? Are you overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff you find all around you? Don't despair! There is hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and (surprise!) it isn't a train.

With a few simple steps, and dedicated time, you can be free of the stuff you are drowning in. Follow along as we show you how organization can come to the rescue.

1. The very first step is to eliminate the clutter. No matter how hard we try, we cannot organize clutter. So, begin by putting your plan down on paper. Try to be as specific as possible. For example, instead of something generic like 'declutter family room,' try targeting areas in the room. For example; 'sort toys and donate outgrown, throw away broken.' By breaking down large areas into more specific targets, you have turned an impossible overwhelming job into a manageable piece. You don't get overwhelmed before you even start.

2. When you are ready to start on your first area, gather three boxes or large black plastic bags. Label one box 'trash,' one box 'donate' and the third box 'keep.' Now it is time to start the decluttering process. Be ruthless as you sort. If an item isn't something that you can say without hesitation that you love AND use, it should be donated or sold if it's usable, or trashed if it's broken and would be more expensive to repair than replace.

3. Sometimes when it comes to clearing out clutter, we get bogged down by sentimentality. It may help to remember that the object is not the memory. Regardless of whether you have the item or not, you have the memory. If you just can't bear to part with your great aunt's collection of lace hankies, don't store them away in a box to rot. Display them. They can be artfully arranged in shadow boxes and hung on the wall as art. Be creative and ENJOY these precious items. Don't hide them away in boxes.

4. It's important to remember to keep this purge process manageable. Don't try to do a marathon session or you'll end up overwhelmed again. Remember that you didn't get this way instantly and it won't be resolved instantly. Be realistic about the amount of time you have available to work. Even if all you have is 15 minutes to spare, you can still follow your plan and eliminate the clutter. Each step forward is a step closer to being decluttered and organized.

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P.S. Get organized once and for all! You can be Finally Organized, Finally Free. Get 2,175 organizing tips, ideas and techniques to help you organize your home, your time and your life!
Get It Here.

P.P.S. You can be Finally Organized, Finally Free at the office too!
Get It Here.

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5. At the end of each declutter session, take the bags or boxes of trash out to the trash and the bags or boxes of donate items out to your car to be taken to Goodwill or Salvation Army or similar charitable organizations. Be sure to inventory your donations and to get a receipt wherever you drop them off so that you can take the deduction on your income taxes.

6. Sometimes we get excited about being organized and rush out to buy containers before we even finish decluttering. Resist this urge until you have finished the decluttering process. This way you will know exactly what you have left that you are keeping, and will know exactly what and how many containers you will, or won't need to purchase. You may find that you have no need for new containers, because you have done such a great job of decluttering. Storing what you have kept may already be covered by the storage you currently have.

7. Once you have successfully removed the clutter, you can start your organizing plan. The first step is to take the items in your keep bag (or box) and start sorting them by room. Don't limit yourself to the 'prescribed' rooms. For instance, if you find that you use scissors in several rooms, why only store them in the office? Store things where you use them. The best system for staying organized is the one that works in your situation and the one that you actually use. Make it 'user friendly' and you're much more likely to continue and stay organized and decluttered.

8. Now that you have decluttered and organized what you kept, one very simple rule will keep your head above water on the clutter. You'll not just tread water. You'll be floating with your iced tea in hand! This simple rule is very easy to adopt and follow. What is this simple rule? It is this--for every one thing you bring into your home to stay, one thing must go out. This way, you keep ahead of the clutter and never have to worry about drowning in it again.

9. Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, life gets in the way and we get a bit behind again. It does not mean that we resign ourselves to living our lives drowning in clutter. It does mean that you have the tools and expertise to get back on top of things. You have already been through the decluttering process and know what you need to do to get back on top of the clutter. Just take it step by step and before you know it, you'll be clutter free and organized again.

by Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now!™
Want to get organized? Get your FREE Get Organized Now!™ Idea-Pak, filled with tips and ideas to help you organize your home, your office and your life, at the Get Organized Now!™ Web site
http://www.getorganizednow.com/