organizational ideas

Guest Post: Getting Organized at Home Could Mean Better Things At Work

July 7, 2011 By Momstart Leave a Comment

We often wish to live our lives as a dichotomy between work and home. It’s often said that the two should remain separate and there’s countless columns of advice online as to how to avoid one from affecting the other. To this I ask: why are we so obsessed with separating ourselves and our lives into different pieces? The last time I checked, I was who I was at home when I went to work, and vice versa.

Home life affects productivity, and office politics influences the way we behave at home. While I can’t offer advice on how to combat the more complicated of these dilemmas, I can say that as far as home life helping the office mentality, nothing beats getting your household organized.

Problem: Overwhelmed

photo from 123rf.com

Experts call it "analysis paralysis" but simply put when we have too many problems to solve we end up not solving any of them. If you depart for work every morning from a house plagued with clutter and in need of some fixing up, that stuff stays with you when you sit down at your desk. Whether you directly think about it or not, major household concerns take up the space in your head that could be used for doing your job better. It might seem instinctive to try and fix your work routine with work-related changes in the way you function, but you should definitely look at home first.

Solution: Inspiration through Organization

Taking the time to collect your clutter and rent a self storage unit to throw it all in, or even just going out and buying boxes to store stuff in to put into the basement, can clear some space in your head as well as in your home. Waking up to a home you’re proud of, even if all it takes is a new paint job in the bedroom or kitchen, can generate mounds of positive energy you’ll use up later when you go to work.

It’s not just about clearing your head of household worry – if you create a home environment you’re proud of and look forward to seeing and maintaining, it’ll make you a more ardent worker. You’ll be happier because you’ll have something to work for and something to deeply appreciate. When you first bought your home, surely you expected to be proud of it. That pride, especially on the tail end of hard work, leads to positive attitude and a better life experience as whole.

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: analysis paralysis, organizational ideas, organize your office, selft storage

Keeping It all Organized: Munchkin Diaper Change Pouch

June 8, 2011 By Momstart 2 Comments

As a new mom, I feel like diaper bags are kind of like strollers. It’s really hard to find “the one”…that one bag that does it all. Well, I have to say that thanks to Munchkin, I have a product that helps me turn most any bag into a good one!

The Munchkin Diaper Change Pouch comes with an easy to fold and unfold changing mat, a small zip container for wipes, and room for 3 or 4 diapers. It has a magnetic close that holds securely and a handy wrist strap that makes it easy to hook onto the stroller or even just carry on its own. The pouch is made out of a material that is SUPER easy to wipe clean (a very important plus when we’re talking about anything related to diaper changing). The changing pad is considered “oversized” and my pretty “tall” 11-month-old fits nicely, so I agree.

I go back and forth between a few different “diaper bags” depending on how long we’re going to be out, will we need to eat, etc. Having the Munchkin Diaper Pouch has helped make that transition so much easier. It can fit into my purse (admittedly not a small one), into our smaller messenger bag, or into the huge gone for an entire day type of bag. It’s very easy to move from one bag to the next.

My only complaint about this set is the zipper on the wipes pouch. The very first time I went to zip it up, it broke. It is designed to work just like a small zipper. Instead, I now have to very carefully line the edges up and seal it like a plastic baggy. I didn’t contact Munchkin about this, so they may have offered a solution. It’s not too big of a deal for me though because I tend to carry a big supply of wipes wherever we go since they can be used for anything. I can still seal the Munchkin wipes pouch if needed, so it still works.

I’ve really enjoyed having the Munchkin Diaper Pouch. It has made changing on the go a lot easier and enjoyable (if diaper changing can ever be considered “enjoyable”). This is a super helpful tool for any mom and a great gift for new moms or at a baby shower. It’s available at most stores and is reasonably priced. Although Munchkin has several authorized online sellers, I couldn’t find this exact product on any of their sites. I found it on Amazon though and I know I have seen it when I’ve been out and about. It also seems like Munchkin has a different version of the same product. You can see it here. Maybe I’ll have to test that one out too!

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and a very active member of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: diaper change pouch, munchkin, organizational ideas

Interview: Organizing Your Office and Taxes with Farnoosh Torabi and Office Depot

February 1, 2011 By Momstart 4 Comments

Organizing is something that I have failed in since well forever. I clean and organize the house and then we go and get the mail and it gets laid on the counter again and well the disaster just starts over again. It seems that I’m not alone. A recent survey from Office Depot found that out of more than 1000 office employees, 93% said they feel being organized improves their performance, even though 81% admitted to keeping a disorganized workspace. I’m in the 81% for sure. My home office is practically none-existent because I’m so unorganized. The survey also found that 49% said they clean up clutter a few times a month or less. Again, that describes me! What should you keep organized? And how does being organized all year round help you out during tax season?

The survey indicates that the person’s desk, file cabinet and computer desktop are the three critical elements that need to be organized.

You can assess the mess and focus on three key areas: debt, savings, and your credit:

Gather bills and statements from all three categories and begin arranging them using labels, folders and other organizational tools

A shredder also comes in handy when you want to get rid of dated materials and personal information you no longer need.

Begin looking ahead – make sure your messy desk doesn’t create messy finances, especially when dealing with tax-related paperwork, mortgage or rent statements, car insurance bills, warranties and other important documents

I had the opportunity to submit some questions to Farnoosh Torabi a leading financial expert and she gave me some advice on how to be better organized. These are the questions I asked her:

We have a stacking issues in our house, we stack the mail we stack the papers, how can we get on top of stacking and keep our office clean?

What is the best advice you can give for preparing your taxes, where and when do I start organizing before filing them?

Where do I start when thinking about my finances?

Why does owning a house make such a difference at tax time?

More About Farnoosh Torabi:

Farnoosh Torabi is a personal finance contributor for Credit.com and Moneywatch.com. Her work and advice has been featured in national magazines and newspapers, including Real Simple, Glamour, Marie Clair Money Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. The New York Times calls her advice, “perfect practical.”

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: Farmoosh Torabi, get organized, interview, Office Depot, organizational ideas, organize taxes, organize your office, tax season

Office Max and Peter Walsh have great Back To School Tips

August 13, 2009 By Momstart 2 Comments

Last week I participated with Office Max, Peter Walsh and 200 other bloggers with a back to school learning session. We, the bloggers were able to ask Peter Walsh questions about organizing our children and preparing for a great school year.

Kids need to be taught how to organize and stay organized. We need to sit down with them and help them learn how to file all of their papers they get from school. Most art projects do not need to be kept in the back pack for the entire semester and tons of papers don’t need to be kept at all.

officemax_ball Help your child find out how their teacher wants the folder organized and also teach them how to use all the pockets of the back pack. When purchasing a back pack find one with more than just a center pocket. Many backpacks now days come with at least three sections. The large section is for books, the next section can be used for folders and papers and the final section can be used for a lunch bag.

If you are a family that considers getting a gift for the teacher, then don’t get an apple or a nick nack. Teachers want school supplies, so get them some school supplies. A lot of stores right now are selling paper and other supplies for pennies when they are usually 79 cents each. So check all of your local ads now and find the best prices to get that shopping done.

Also, the collections of school supplies are more than just the plane ones I grew up with. You can find quite the styles even at Office Max. They sent me some to check out and I gave the composition notebooks to my sister and I gave the adorable folders to my cousins that can’t afford cute school supplies.

If my children were going to school or needed school supplies I would have given them to my own children but I know they are going to people who can use them. I have one folder that I received from Peter Walsh and Office Max last year and I keep all of my blogging supplies in there. I go through it once or twice a month and practically empty it out. Everything I have to have I have an electronic copy and my e-mail is backed up on some server in Arizona, or at least that’s what my husband kids me about. So, if you have watched Peter Walsh on Oprah, or TLC then you have learned that his motto seems to be less is more. Get rid of the clutter and remember that at least 80 % of papers you are never going to need to look at again.

Filed Under: announcements Tagged With: Back to School, Office Max, organizational ideas, Peter Walsh