Back to School Tips

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I sent out a newsletter yesterday that had a lot of links to help you set up routines to get the school year started on the right foot. For all those readers that are not signed up to receive the newsletter I am posting it on today’s blog post. To receive future newsletters in your email box, please sign up on the right sidebar.

Decluttering Tips Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 13

Back To School Time
As I hear the school bus pick up the children at the corner of my street I am reminded that many schools are already in session. My youngest is away at college in his last year so I tend to lose track of the start of school days for younger children.

Some schools haven’t started yet so those parents are still in the back to school shopping mode. One reader, Sue, had some back to school shopping tips I wasn’t aware of. The main one was that some schools do not allow solid fabric backpacks or book bags. Since it has been awhile since my children were in the elementary and secondary schools the safety rules have changed. Some schools that are in high risk areas are more strict on what is allowed on school grounds. If you are not aware of these rules, which also include dress codes, you should contact your children’s’ school for a list of them. It could save you from buying things that are not allowed and the hassle of having to return them. It can also prevent arguments with your children if it is school rules and not just your rules on not allowing your children to have certain clothes or other items.

Whether your children have already started classes or about to now is the time to set up routines to make this transition a lot smoother. The Flylady web site (http://FlyLady.net) has a great control journal just for students. It will teach your children to take responsibility to follow routines that will help them learn to take care of themselves.

Here are some other sites for you to check out ideas on how to prepare your children and yourself for the upcoming school year. Work on keeping your children’s routines as simple as possible. That will help reduce the emotional clutter and keep them and you from being overwhelmed.

http://www.familycorner.com/homegarden/organize/back_to_school.shtml

http://holidays.kaboose.com/back-to-school/

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/home_school/b2shandout.aspx

http://childcare.about.com/od/behaviors/bb/backtoschool.htm

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/schoolage/going_back_to_school.html

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice Scissors

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com
http://facebook.com/CutClutterWithScissors

 

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Being Organized Is A Journey, Not A Destination

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We all have hopes of reaching the “point” of being organized and our lives run smoothly. Anything before that “point” feels like we aren’t there yet.

The problem with this kind of thinking is that even if we reach that “point” we won’t be able to stay there for long. Life is always changing. Sometimes we hit a bump in the road and with a small adjustment we can quickly get back to being organized. Sometimes we hit a major lifestyle change, good or bad, and we get completely derailed.

Once a lifestyle change (such as adding a new baby to the family or a major illness or death) has derailed you, you will have to change your old organizational plan to a new one. You may feel like you are living in chaos for awhile but you will get back on track. It will just be a new track.

This is why it is better to look at organizing as a journey. You will always be improving and/or changing your organizational plan to fit your current lifestyle.

If a bad lifestyle change occurs the journey way of thinking will help you get through the crisis with a lot less stress. You will know you have to be flexible and adapt to the change.

Just remember there are plenty of good changes in our lives, not just bad ones.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://facebook.com/CutClutterWithScissors

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

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Moving Clutter and Trash

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Have you ever noticed that when someone has just moved out of their house the trash waiting for pick-up is a mile high? Have you ever wondered where they were keeping all that trash? Why did they keep it?

My theory is that things get stored out of sight and are forgotten. Even if they are in plain sight they can be forgotten amongst all the other things that are just sitting there. We may be saving it for “someday” when we have time to fix it or clean it up so it can be used again. But when we move we decide it isn’t worth bothering with and throw it away.

The more items we keep because of this thinking the more difficult our move will be. So if you are planning a move soon you may want to start cleaning out all those “someday” things. You old home will be easier to pack up when the time comes. You new home will be easier to unpack if you don’t have to mess with the clutter.

If you are not planning a move then you can still pretend like you are. Go through each room and ask yourself the following questions about all your things.

  • Is this item worth paying good money for to move to a new home?
  • What wouldn’t you take because you don’t like it or use it?
  • Why are you keeping it in your current home?
  • If it isn’t worthy enough to be in a new home what makes it worthy enough for you current home?

You deserve to live in a clean “new” home even if you are not planning on a move. Clear out the clutter and you will feel like you are in a “new” home. Add some new paint or other decorative touches and you’ll have a fresh start in your home.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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Back to School Shopping

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Many states are having the “School Tax Holiday” this weekend. If your state participates then you will want to take advantage of it especially if you are in need of a big ticket item like a computer.

This week’s Decluttering Tips Newsletter has suggestions on how to take advantage of these tax savings. You don’t want to buy more than you need because the extras can easily end up as clutter. If you haven’t signed up to receive this newsletter then please do so on the right sidebar. I will be sure to send out a copy to anyone who signs up in the next couple of days.

If you are already signed up to receive the newsletter then please check your inbox.

Back to school shopping can be exciting or stressful. Planning ahead and writing down what you need to buy will help reduce the stress. It’s important to keep children enthusiastic about going to school. Their whole future depends it.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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Being Decluttered Makes Life Easier

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If you read my last post you know that I am going through a health crisis. Since I have spent the last six years as a Flybaby, (Flylady.net) I have been decluttering my home. I now realize how grateful I am to have reached the point of being organized with minimum clutter around.

The past six weeks have played havoc with my mental and physical health leaving routines by the wayside. Since I have reduced my incoming paper clutter what does come in is manageable. The majority of my bills are paid electronically so the few paper bills have been easy to handle on time. With facing a lot of future medical bills my finances are now under control and that will make it easier later.

The biggest advantage I have seen has been in my home. Although I haven’t kept up regular routines of cleaning, the house has still not gotten out of control. Yes, the dust gets thick enough to write your name in it and the beige carpet sometimes is sprouting a layer of black hair (black dog). But I get to them when I can. Without the clutter the dirt isn’t as noticeable. When the toilet bowl starts showing that distinct water line I take a couple of minutes and clean it.

It’s the organization of my home that has kept the clutter build-up at bay. The books, magazines, papers, trash, etc. have been manageable because I have limited the incoming traffic of them. The groceries have a place to go and are put away immediately. Since I don’t have a lot of clothes (only what I will wear and fits) I am forced to keep the laundry up. Either I wear dirty clothes (not good for the mental or physical health) or wash them and put them away. Smaller loads are easier to take care of without getting overwhelmed.

So whenever there is a disruption in your routines due to vacation, back to school, holiday season, home remodeling, health crisis (yours or a loved one), etc. if you have less clutter around it will make your life so much easier to manage. Just think if it is easier during a routine disruption how easy it will be during the regular times.

Time to evict the clutter and take back your home.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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