Memorial Day Salute

I was moved by an essay written by a woman visiting the graves of her parents at Arlington National Cemetery. It appeared in the Washington Post and, although it has nothing to do with organizing, I am sharing it with you this Memorial Day http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052801966.html

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Memorial Day Salute

I was moved by an essay written by a woman visiting the graves of her parents at Arlington National Cemetery. It appeared in the Washington Post and, although it has nothing to do with organizing, I am sharing it with you this Memorial Day http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052801966.html

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Making Checklists

Successful people are able to keep track of what they need to do and finish what they start. One of the best ways to improve your productivity is to use a checklist.

You might already use a to-do list for tasks or a shopping list when you buy groceries, but there are a lot of other ways you can use checklists.

You can create a packing checklist if you travel often. Although this list was created for a trip to France, it can give you some inspiration http://www.overbyte.com/free/trippack.htm

If you carry a diaper bag, you can create a list of everything that goes in it daily. Here’s a sample from Parents magazine http://www.parents.com/app/checklist/?checklistId=80001e

Remember when you change the oil in your car and do other preventive-maintenance tasks http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/remainder.html

You can always count on Martha Stewart to provide cleaning checklists for every situation http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/cleaning-checklists

Here is a list for appliance maintenance http://www.atlantaappliancerepair.com/Maintenance_Repair_Checklist.html

If you print your checklist, you can laminate it, so you can use a dry-erase marker to check items off and reuse the list. If you have a smart phone or PDA, you can retrieve lists easily wherever you go. You can even share your list with other people, using jibidee or mytodos

What can you put on a list that will save you time and reduce your stress? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Making Checklists

Successful people are able to keep track of what they need to do and finish what they start. One of the best ways to improve your productivity is to use a checklist.

You might already use a to-do list for tasks or a shopping list when you buy groceries, but there are a lot of other ways you can use checklists.

You can create a packing checklist if you travel often. Although this list was created for a trip to France, it can give you some inspiration http://www.overbyte.com/free/trippack.htm

If you carry a diaper bag, you can create a list of everything that goes in it daily. Here’s a sample from Parents magazine http://www.parents.com/app/checklist/?checklistId=80001e

Remember when you change the oil in your car and do other preventive-maintenance tasks http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/remainder.html

You can always count on Martha Stewart to provide cleaning checklists for every situation http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/cleaning-checklists

Here is a list for appliance maintenance http://www.atlantaappliancerepair.com/Maintenance_Repair_Checklist.html

If you print your checklist, you can laminate it, so you can use a dry-erase marker to check items off and reuse the list. If you have a smart phone or PDA, you can retrieve lists easily wherever you go. You can even share your list with other people, using jibidee or mytodos

What can you put on a list that will save you time and reduce your stress? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Getting Kids to Pitch In

Economics professor Tyler Cowen was profiled in the Washington Post on May 13. He is an interesting character and has a popular blog, http://www.marginalrevolution.com/, with a faithful following.

A quote in the article stuck out for me because it has to do with getting kids to help around the house. He said, "If you tell your daughter she is obliged to do the dishes, that story will stick in her mind. She may not always heed her duty, but she will feel some need to cooperate. . . . When we pay our children, the tale changes. She says to herself, 'Doing the dishes is a job for money,' and she feels less obligation. The parent becomes a boss rather than an object of deserved loyalty."

There are differing opinions on how to get kids involved in housework. One side says children should be paid for household chores because it prepares them to do work for pay when they grow up.

Another side says that members of the family should all pitch in with chores, without compensation, because it teaches them to be productive contributors to society when they grow up.

Most parents I know struggle with getting everyone in the family to maintain organization and keep up with routines. The economist’s view is that, when you don't pay your kids, the dynamic changes from being a paid employee to being someone who does a task because it feels like the right thing to do.

Do you agree with Tyler Cowen? How do you get your children to help with household chores? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Getting Kids to Pitch In

Economics professor Tyler Cowen was profiled in the Washington Post on May 13. He is an interesting character and has a popular blog, http://www.marginalrevolution.com/, with a faithful following.

A quote in the article stuck out for me because it has to do with getting kids to help around the house. He said, "If you tell your daughter she is obliged to do the dishes, that story will stick in her mind. She may not always heed her duty, but she will feel some need to cooperate. . . . When we pay our children, the tale changes. She says to herself, 'Doing the dishes is a job for money,' and she feels less obligation. The parent becomes a boss rather than an object of deserved loyalty."

There are differing opinions on how to get kids involved in housework. One side says children should be paid for household chores because it prepares them to do work for pay when they grow up.

Another side says that members of the family should all pitch in with chores, without compensation, because it teaches them to be productive contributors to society when they grow up.

Most parents I know struggle with getting everyone in the family to maintain organization and keep up with routines. The economist’s view is that, when you don't pay your kids, the dynamic changes from being a paid employee to being someone who does a task because it feels like the right thing to do.

Do you agree with Tyler Cowen? How do you get your children to help with household chores? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Recycle in Style

I found a very smart looking, albeit expensive, recycling bin that would look good in just about any house. The Deluxe All-In-One Recycling Center from Mode holds up to 12 gallons of glass, plastic and metal and up to 5 gallons of paper.

The Recycling Center features a mail slot on the top and a clock you can set to remind you to take out the recycling. I love that the blinking light can’t be accused of nagging.

Not everyone is going to want to spend almost $200 on a recycling bin; however, the company’s Website also offers great recycling tips and resources http://modeproducts.com/.

What products have you found to help you keep recycling from taking over your house? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Recycle in Style

I found a very smart looking, albeit expensive, recycling bin that would look good in just about any house. The Deluxe All-In-One Recycling Center from Mode holds up to 12 gallons of glass, plastic and metal and up to 5 gallons of paper.

The Recycling Center features a mail slot on the top and a clock you can set to remind you to take out the recycling. I love that the blinking light can’t be accused of nagging.

Not everyone is going to want to spend almost $200 on a recycling bin; however, the company’s Website also offers great recycling tips and resources http://modeproducts.com/.

What products have you found to help you keep recycling from taking over your house? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie