AUGUST 2008
Welcome!
As a student and then an educator in the public school system, August always meant that school was just around the corner. And, that meant that I had to really get moving if I was going to finish (or start) all those projects on my summer To Do List. Also I knew that I was running out of time for enjoying some summer fun and freedom. I loved my job, the students, and my fellow teachers, but I just wanted summer to last a little longer.
So, let's not overload ourselves. This month's tips cover a few projects to help get the kids ready for school and to fix up the basement, garage, and yard. What if you don't have kids, a basement, garage, or yard? Does that mean you can just head off for a catnap while the rest of us are working up a sweat? No way! If you give it a little thought, I bet you can spot a couple of different problem areas. Then, just jump in and fix them up.
The Pickup Projects this month include preparing a list of clothes needed for school, another list for school supplies, and sweeping out the new accumulation of cobwebs inside the house.
This month's Quickie Cleanup includes 15-minute projects for organizing a mystery box in the basement, sweeping out the garage, policing the front yard, and rearranging the pots and pans.
As always, if any of these tasks don't appeal to you, look around and tackle a different small project.
Good luck with your clutter culprits - and have a nice rest of the summer!
Joyce
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONQUER SOME CLUTTER?
Are you overwhelmed with monster messes or could you just use a little help fixing up your home? You're not alone. When it comes to clutter and housecleaning, we're all struggling. Fortunately, we can do something about it.
If you're pressed for time or not realy ready to jump into a huge project, why not just fix up a few small problem areas each month? Does this mean that your home will suddenly be perfect? Nope. But if you systematically work your way through your house one step at a time then each month you'll notice that you aren't tripping over quite as much clutter and that things will seem to be more organized and running smoothly.
- 52 PICKUP offers suggestions for following one new Daily Anticlutter Routine each month, a weekly Pickup Project, and a 15-minute Quickie Cleanup. At the end of the year you will have fixed up 52 problem areas and will have a lot less clutter and chaos. If you're just clicking in for the first time then consider this the start of your New Year or catch up with the rest of us by checking out some previous 52 PICKUP cards and doing a few extra each week.
- BUY THE BOOK provides links to online bookstores where you can order Help, I'm
knee-deep in clutter! and find information about how to contact me and how to access my author's blog on Amazon.com/Amazon Connect.
- PAST ARTICLES lists each month's 52 PICKUP card as well as past CLUTTER CULPRIT articles and ASK JOYCE questions in case you're a new visitor to my website, you missed some, or you unexpectedly find yourself in the mood to do a little organizing and could use a few tips to get started.
- Decide what's driving you the craziest, such as your basement, then flip to the basement chapters for step-by-step assistance.
- Break big cleanup jobs (like the garage, paperwork, and closets) into smaller, more manageable tasks.
- Set up easy daily and weekly routines to keep the mess at bay.
WEBSITE
This website will change on the first of each month. You might like to print out the
52 PICKUP card and post it on the refrigerator as a handy clutter checklst.
Click on the following pages for organizing tips:
BOOK INFORMATION
So what is my book about? Help, I’m knee-deep in clutter! suggests simple solutions for getting things under control immediately. For example, you can:
AUTHOR INFO
Since retiring from my position as a public school librarian/media specialist, I've honed my organizational skills by teaching adult education organizing classes and by helping local families and small businesses organize their homes and work spaces.
If you have a question, contact me at Joyceanderson@kneedeepinclutter.com. Also, check out my author's blog on Amazon.com/Amazon Connect.
HOPE TO SEE YOU EACH MONTH!