How Prepared Are You for an Emergency?

Most of us will face an unexpected event in our lifetime. Events that once appeared impossible are the new reality – hurricanes, earthquakes, power outages, and more. 

How prepared are you for an emergency?

The National Association of Professional Organizers Chapter in Michigan has provided a summary of the American Red Cross and FEMA recommendations for emergency preparedness.

1. Get Informed.  Know your community’s emergency plan including the following:

·        Community response plan

·        Community evacuation plan

·        Emergency shelter locations

·        Community warning/alert systems

·        Other community plans

2. Make a Plan. The best way to be prepared is to have a plan and communicate it to all family members.  The plan should include the following elements:

·        Communication Plan

o   Key Contacts List.  Prepare a list of key contacts that can be used by family members to seek help when needed.  The key contacts list should be placed in a visible location within the home, entered into every family member’s mobile phones or placed in children’s back packs. 

o   Designate out-of-state contacts.  Make certain that the key contact list includes contacts that are located outside the community and, if possible, outside the state.  It may be easier to call a person outside the area if a disaster strikes locally.

o   Define emergency meeting locations.  Identify a location outside the home and outside the community where the family can gather if they cannot access the home or the area due to a fire, tornado or other disaster.

·        Define Escape Routes Outline how to evacuate your home, subdivision and neighborhood.  If your home is two levels, a route to escape the upper level should be defined along with an escape ladder.

·        Define Shelter-In-Place Locations  Identify the locations within the home where you can take cover in a weather or disaster situation.

·        Obtain and Use Equipment  The following equipment should be obtained and checked regularly for functionality:  

fire extinguishers,

smoke detectors,

carbon monoxide detectors and

escape ladders.

Family members should be trained on how to use fire extinguishers and fire ladders.

3. Assemble a Disaster Supply Kit. A disaster supply kit should be assembled keeping in mind the needs of family members and pets.  A list of items to include can be found at:  www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit. The supply kit should be placed in a designated, yet accessible, location for all family members.

4. Maintain Your Plan.  Your plan becomes effective only when it is communicated, practiced and updated.  Make a commitment to review your plan with the family at least annually by indicating a date on your calendar to perform this.  Regularly update any equipment, evacuation routes, key contacts or any plan aspects.

You will appreciate that you were prepared when an emergency happens!

For more organizing tips, visit www.NapoMichigan.com.

Article submitted by Chapter Member Mary Lynn Badr, Professional Organizer, Imagine It DONE, LLC.

 

 

Problem Organizing Your Pantry?

We are constantly in our kitchen pantries and often are overwhelmed by being unable to find a specific item.  Many of us struggle with this daily.

 This is what we’ve learned in our Chapter:

• Too many items on one shelf. 
• Not enough room to store everything. 
• Outdated items are stuck in here too.

How can I get this together?

 We recommend that you start organizing your pantry; by removing every single item.  Check the expiration date on each item.  If the date is older than 6 months, toss it.  Example: if the date is June 2012 – it’s good; December 2011 – it needs to go.  You can check expiration dates for food @

www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/do-food-expiration-dates-matter 

Use your table or counter top, even the floor, if necessary to sort the items, into categories or ‘zones’. 

Example:

• Baking Items
• Beverages
• Cereal
• Fruit
• Jell-o /Puddings
• Paper Products
• Pasta
• Sauces
• Seasoning Packets
• Soups.

Once you have set up your ‘zones’ on your working surface; now look at the configuration of your pantry.  Do you have lots of room on your shelves?   Or is your pantry a small space?  There are many useful space expansion shelves and baskets available on the market.

We recommend lighter weight items to be placed on the top shelves: example, paper products and cereal. Moving down the pantry shelves, place the items you use most frequently; arranged by zone.  Also, there are many neat little baskets on the market to corral those pesky slippery packages and small boxes.  Even a small cardboard box can be used as a ‘file’ for seasoning packets.

Professional Organizer Cindy Greenleaf of New Leaf Organizing, LLC @ NewLeafOrganizingLLC.com suggests you; “think about what you need to get from your pantry to complete a specific food preparation.  Example: baking.  It is really helpful to have all the ingredients in one container on a pantry shelf.  A small container, basket or even a plastic dishpan can hold flour, sugars, spices, chocolate chips, nuts and decorating items: so when you are ready to bake, you only need to reach for that specific container from your pantry to get you started.”

Once you’ve organized your pantry, it will be easier for you and your family members to access it on a daily basis. 

There is peace in the pantry.  Enjoy!!

For more organizing tips, please visit www.NapoMichigan.com.

Article submitted by Chapter member, Kathy Tucker, Director of Membership; owner and partner of Finally Organized, LLC.  You can visit Kathy’s website @ www.FinallyOrganizedMich.com and learn more about Kathy @ www.FaceBook.com/FinallyOrganizedMich

Ho Ho … How to Organize and Store Your Holiday Decorations!

These simple tips from the National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan will help you organize and store your holiday decorations.

Items you will need to help you organize:

Large Containers

Preferably the strong, stackable, plastic type with a lid. They come in an assortment of sizes and colors. Cardboard boxes won’t stand the test of time.

It is recommended that you separate your indoor decorations from your outdoor decorations in different bins.  This will make decorating each area much easier.

If you select the clear (see-through style) bins, you will be able to see what’s inside. Otherwise, if you prefer to use colored bins to differentiate the holiday decorations (indoor/outdoor, etc.), simply label the outside of the container

Have a container for each room of your home that you decorate. This system will make it much easier to       locate those special items dedicated to a certain area, such as train sets or holiday villages. 

Ornament Keeper / Ornament Storage Box

These items can be purchased from many local hardware and home décor stores where organizing products are sold.  They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and will help you safely store up to 72 ornaments in bin.

Just be sure to mark them FRAGILE and put these bins on top of the stack so the ornaments don’t get crushed. 

Cardboard Tubes 

Save your empty wrapping paper tubes or paper towel tubes for storing your tree lights. Simply put a slit in one end of the tube to secure the end of the string of lights and then begin to gently wrap them around the tube to keep them from getting tangled. This is also a good time to inspect the lights and determine if they need to be replaced with a new set. Some light sets suggest replacement after 90 days use (or equal to approximately 3 holidays).

Plastic Bags

Once the tree lights have been wound on the cardboard tubes, place them in a plastic bag to protect them.

Commercial wreath storage bags can be purchased to store wreaths. The bags will help keep the shape of the wreath if stored properly. 

Other helpful hints:

Wrapping paper should be stored in a box (with scissors, tape, gift tags and ribbon) in a closet or under a bed. This way you will have everything together and it will be protected from being tattered, dusty or even moldy – depending where you may have stored it.  

This is also the best time to inspect your decorations. If they are discolored, chipped or broken, it is time to repair or toss them. Watch for post-holiday sales when items are deeply discounted to purchase the replacements to your holiday decorations.

Organizing your holiday decorations is easier than you think! 

 

For more organizing tips, visit NAPOMichigan.com. 

Article submitted by Chapter member Marilyn Sclafani. Founder of Organize-Pro.com

 

Choosing and Using a Calendar

Calendars are the most basic and widely-used tool of time management.

Calendars link events and actions to a particular date and time.

Calendars also serve as a record of the past. 

Endless variations exist. Choosing one can be daunting: a traditional paper wall calendar or desk planner? An erasable whiteboard? A computer-based solution?


 

Before deciding, make a wish list.

 

Consider:

▪   Context:

 

Will you be using the calendar in one location?

Or do you need something portable?

▪   Complexity:

 

How many events are you scheduling each day?

How many people need to refer to it?

▪   Control:

 

Will you be the only one adding, revising, and deleting events?

Or do others need to contribute to it?

▪   Aesthetics:

 

Do you want your calendar to delight or inspire?

Do you want to frame time by the day, the week, or the month?

Winnowing through the options becomes a much saner task when you know which features are essential. Try different designs and types to learn which features support you and which get in your way. Keep in mind that a style that works well for one phase in life may not function at all when your needs shift.

An unused calendar is just a piece of clutter.

 

People who use a calendar effectively:

▪   Consult it before making appointments (to avoid double-booking)

▪   Record every appointment (if it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t happen), and

▪   Refer to it frequently (at least twice a day: in the morning so that you keep your commitments; in the evening so that you’re prepared for tomorrow).

Caution: use only one calendar at a time. Multiple calendars generate chaos!!

For more organizing tips, visit www.napomichigan.com.

Article submitted by Chapter member Melanie Sobocinski, owner of

Prof Organizer LLC.

 

The Island of Misfit Toys

How to deal with toys.

Step 1: Break the project down into manageable parts.
It is probably unrealistic to tackle all the toys in your home at one time. Instead, pick one shelf, drawer, or box at a time.

Step 2: Sort toys into categories.
While there are many categories for toys, here are some common ones: stuffed animals, dolls, books, vehicles, kitchen, dress up, puzzles, and games.

Step 3: Go through the toys and figure out what to keep.
Some questions to ask that will help in making this decision include: Is the toy broken or is it in good shape? Is the item played with? Is the item age appropriate? Do we have an appropriate number of those items?

Step 4: Create play zones.
It can be helpful to name the kind of play that happens in each zone. Zone examples include art, reading, or transportation. All toys that are used for each specific kind of play will go in their zone.

Step 5: Find a home within the zone for the toys that you keep.
Once you find a place to put the toys, it is important to find a way to identify the container. This will make it easier for your children to put the toys away. Identify this new home with a description (a picture) that is attached to the bin or container .

Step 6: Find a different home for what you want to get rid of.
If you know someone with a child who is younger, perhaps some of the toys that are no longer age appropriate for your children would work well for them. Put them in a labeled bag and take them to your car so you will have them the next time you and your friend get together. Put any toys that are going to a donation center in another marked bag in your car.

Last words

Toys can be a source of great joy to children and their parents. Learning how to manage toys will help make this sentiment a reality!

For more organizing tips, visit www.NapoMichigan.com. 

Article submitted by Chapter member Susan Hunsberger, Professional Organizer, with Strategize Organize LLC   strategizeorganize.com

Moving Mountains also known as Overcoming Procrastination

 

“He who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones”

so says a Chinese Proverb.  

We all procrastinate about something.  Sometimes it about writing blog posts about procrastination. 

Determining why you’re procrastinating can help you overcome it. 

One of the most common causes of procrastination is overwhelm, the task seems so big that you never start.  Overwhelm paralyzes.   

Overcoming overwhelm can be accomplished by taking the task at hand and breaking it down into smaller pieces until you get to the smallest next step you can actually accomplish. 

 So instead of “paying the bills” it might look like this:

·       Find a pen

·       Find the checkbook

·       Find the bills (ignore all the rest of the paper)

·       Put the bills in order by due date

·       Write the checks

·       Turn on the laptop

·       Pay the online bills

·       Find the stamps/address labels

·       Stamp/address the bills

·       Put them in your purse or car so you remember to mail them the next time you are out. 

By breaking down the job into small pieces, you can overcome the resistance to do it, no matter how big that job may be – happy organizing!

For more organizing tips, please visit www.NapoMichigan.com.

Article submitted by Chapter member, Cynthia Gentit, Professional Organizer, Eat That Elephant LLC.  Cynthia’s website is www.eatthatelephant.com.

Make your move stress free!

Moving is one of the top ten stressers in life. If you plan for the move ahead of the actual move date, it does not have to be stressful at all.  Here are some tips to make the move easy and pain free:

1.   As soon as you know you are moving, spend some free time each week going through cabinets and drawers. Don’t forget the closets, garage, and basement too. These places are where most people store things that they will use, but many of the items in these places are not looked at too often.  Ask yourself, “Do I really need this or does someone in my home really need this?”

2.   If possible, get each person in the house involved in going through items.  It will be more fun and less of a chore.

3.   Eliminate anything that no one in the house is using. Donate it to a charity and obtain a tax receipt.

4.   Only move things that will be used, and don’t waste time packing and moving unwanted items.

5.   What is being kept to store, such as children’s clothes and holiday decorations, keep in labeled bins. This way, when it gets moved, it will not have to be unpacked unless there is something breakable in it. The breakable item(s) should be packed seperately.

6.   Pack items ahead that you are not using on a daily basis. These items could include fine china, holiday decorations, and out-of-season clothing.

7.   Keep paper plates, napkins, cups, and plastic utensils unpacked and available to use during the last few days at the current house and to use the first few days at the new house.  Be sure to prepare some meals ahead or purchase some lunch meats and bread for sandwiches. Don’t forget the bottled water too.

8.   Make a list of movers, their availability dates and prices.  Keep this information in a spiral notebook so it stays together. When you have secured a move time, call the mover and use the research you have already done to secure the actual date.   

9.   If possible, allow about a month lead time to secure the mover. Allow an even longer lead time for a long-distance move.

10.  Keep in mind that it takes about ten days to transfer mail, so plan accordingly when sending the address change form to the Post Office.   

“Moving is an opportunity to get rid of the things you no longer use or that you don’t find a useful purpose for in your life”, said Angie Weid, Professional Organizer with Organized Solutions.

Preparing for a move can be easier than you think.  For more organizing tips, visit www.NapoMichigan.com. 

Article submitted by Chapter member Theresa Brune, Professional Organizer, Simplify It LLC.www.SimplifyItLLC.com.

Get Organized - Simplify!

When applied together, these two concepts can go a long way toward creating a better quality of life for all of us.  After all, who would not like to gain more control over our surroundings and have more time to relax?  Members of the National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan are all about helping others live simply and embrace the organized lifestyle that most people crave.  Here are some tips to get started.

Clear the clutter:  Move out things that no longer fit, that you don’t enjoy or love, or that don’t meet your present needs.  Make some thoughtful decisions about what items are really vital to your everyday existence!

Plan your day:  Each evening compile a basic to-do list for the following day.  Be sure you are realistic in what goals you can truly accomplish in the limited time you have available.

Get help:  If you absolutely abhor gardening or housework, or are not very good at it, consider engaging the services of a professional.  It will save you time and money in the long run.

Set priorities:  Determine what you really value and strive to be congruent with those values.  If you desire to spend more time with your family, are your activities supporting that desire?

Streamline your systems:  Look at your errand, mail processing, email or laundry routines. How can you improve on these so that they are not undermining your precious time?  For example, run all errands together that are located in the same part of town. 

Achieving simplicity in our lives can indeed be a positive, life-changing process. More information on this and other organizing topics can be found at www.napomichigan.com.

Article submitted by Chapter Member, Rita A. Wilhelm – Cluttergone LLC, www.cluttergone.com

When you need a Paperclip, can you find one?

If you can’t find one when you need one, it’s probably time to organize your desk.


The National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan wants to share some tips on how to organize your desk, whether it’s at home or the office.


1. First think about whether you are a person who likes things in sight, or out of sight. One good rule of thumb is to only keep within arm’s reach, those office supplies that you use on a daily basis. If you like things out, find a nice tray to put out those items on your desk. Or install a narrow shelf, 5 inches deep, above your desk so items like a stapler and tape dispenser are within reach but off the work surface of the desk.


If you like things kept out of sight, keep these items in a drawer or decorative box on whatever side you write with. People are most comfortable using their dominant hand to reach for things so place things where you can easily reach in the drawer for them.


2. For those items that were in your desk that you use less frequently, like spare printer cartridges, find a place further away from your desk, like a nearby closet, to store those items.


3. A kitchen silverware tray can make a good drawer organizer for things like smaller items like pens, pencils, staples, and paper clips. Label the side or bottom of the divided areas in the tray so everyone knows where an item goes back.


Lastly, if you find yourself having to go to your desk repeatedly to get an office supply like scissors that you use elsewhere, buy yourself an additional pair to keep where you tend to use it, whether it’s in the family room or breakroom. That way, the items in your newly-organized desk will be there the next time you need them.



Organizing your desk can be easier than you think. For more organizing tips visit http://www.napomichigan.com/. 


Article submitted by Chapter member Cindy Greenleaf.

Ideas for Sharing a Workspace

Do you share a workspace with someone? The National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan has some ideas to help you organize your area.

1. Label spaces where shared desk supplies go. Use a label maker (or piece of tape and a marker) and put the label (or the tape) right on the surface or shelf where the desk supply goes, then place the objects on top of the label. Do this for all your supplies: stapler, tape, dispenser, scissors, ruler, etc.

For supplies that go inside a container (paperclips, rubber bands, tacks, pencils, pens) you may want to label the inside wall of the container.