With the holidays behind us, it’s a great time to organize your home and make a fresh start. Here’s a list of new years resolutions to help you begin the new year on the right foot.
Gentle Reminders:
Clean up you computer. Organize your electric documents by making folders for relative files, and transfer photos to CDs, DVDs, or an external hard drive to free up memory on your computer.
Create a laundry-sorting station. Use separate bins for lights, darks, and dry-clean-only garments and you’ll save time and avoid extra hassle on wash.
Plan the year vacations, and submit time-off requests at work.
Reduce unnecessary clutter. For example, transfer your collections of compact discs to an MP3 player, and give the music CDs to a library or nursing home.
Round up winter accessories. Provide a basket for each family member to store hats, gloves, scars, and other cold-weather gear. Keep the containers in a convenient spot, such as a mudroom or an entryway.
Pare down kitchen supplies. Donate items you never use, such as that wok you received last Christmas, and stash infrequently needed supplies in out-of-the-way cabinets and on less-accessible shelves.
Organize your recyclables. Set out individual containers for glass, metal, paper and plastic articles, and make sure that each bin is clearly labeled to eliminate any confusion.
Helpful Housekeeping Tips:
Chill Factor
Keep houseplants away from frozen windows. Leaves touching cold glass can be damaged and will eventually drop off. Rotate pots frequently to ensure that the plants grow straight and symmetrically.
Hearth Help
Clean soot off your fireplace with a dry-cleaning sponge (available at hardware stores). The foam-latex pad erases debris without using harsh chemicals or moisture, which tends to turn soot into mud.
Rank and File
Prepare for tax season. Be on the lookout for end-of-year bank statements, W-2 forms, and other important documents arriving in the mail this month, and set them aside in one folder to bring to your accountant.
Up to Date
Check expiration dates on your drivers licence, passport, car registration, gym membership, and insurance policies, and take care of any necessary renewals.
Now all you have to do is make sure to keep all of these resolutions in 2008 and beyond. Go through doing them all once and you won’t have any difficulties repeating the process next years.