Sock Monster- BE GONE!

Mesh Laundry/Sweater Bags

If you hate pairing socks as much as I do, or wonder where the sock monster hides until your socks enter the washer, then this is the perfect Simplify Saturday Tip for you! 

Keep a mesh laundry bag on the back of each bedroom/bathroom door knob and place socks in every night. Then collect the mesh bags at laundry time, zip and throw the whole thing in to wash and dry. Easily pair upon drying. Be sure to have a large enough bag to allow socks to move around while washing to ensure cleanliness. 

A laundry dryer sheet can be placed in the bag to ward against any odors while on the door knob, just be sure to remove before washing. 

A colored ribbon or string can also be threaded through or knotted on to deciefer which family member's bag if following The Color-Coded Family approach. This also makes it easy to get younger kids involved as it breaks down the task. They can just focus on one bag at a time knowing they are all the same size and owner. 

Happy Simplify Saturday!

Meal Planning and Pre-Printed Grocery List

Here is a helpful way to plan meals and groceries. A Pre-Printed Grocery list. 

Download for FREE and make a few copies while you are at it... pin one up close to the fridge or pantry. (I keep mine posted on the inside of a cabinet door between the fridge and stove so I can easily mark what I am running low on as I see it.) If everyone in the house marks what they have used the last of, or see running low, there will be a whole new light shed on grocery shopping and cooking as well!

Plan your meals to the right and Keep It Simple. List the main dish for dinners and a side item. Have several veggies on hand to pick one.

Also try to use themes to simplify the planning. For example: Mondays are Chicken nights, Tuesdays are Mexican, Wednesdays are crockpot cooking, Thursdays are vegetarian, etc. Get kid involved too and have them pick a meal each week to help plan, prep and cook. 

By planning your meals and shopping weekly for them you will save time- by planning, save money- by shopping only for what you need, and eat healthier- by having meals ready and less temptation to eat out as much.

Also be sure to check back weekly or subscribe to the blog for the weekly menu I post for my own family with a grocery list ready for you to take to the store or pull up from your smartphone. You can find that on the Menu Page of this blog.

Hope this helps make your meal planning a little easier!  Grocery List 2012

Top 5 Ways To Get Your Life Organized- Business Owner Editition

Do you want business growth? Do you want to increase your productivity with less stress? Do you crave a better strategy for your overall day? Then you need to get organized! Here is a simple top 5 list of ways to start:

1.       PLAN: Block out time to plan- if you do not plan your upcoming week, or even upcoming day, you will end your day with a sense disappointment. This does not need to be a long amount of time, just 30 min or less to review what you have going on and synchronize schedules .

2.       WRITE: Write your top 3 goals for the week, every week- Be consistent each week to set goals for yourself and your business. This will allow you to track your progress in a proactive manner as well as quantify your accomplishments. 

3.       SAY NO: Just say no when asked to help or lead something new- Well, not forever. But at least until you have aligned your goals with your plan of action. Start thinking before your say yes to new initiatives and weigh the outcomes with your list of written goals. Do they line up? Remember to stay on track. It never hurts to take a night and sleep on the ‘yes’ before delivering your answer. You will thank yourself in the long run!

4.       DECLUTTER: Out with the old and less of the new- Keep it simple. Less really IS more. A clean, organized, work area and home are the key to increasing your productivity, but first you must part with the clutter weighing your down and implement healthy habits that accommodate your life style.

5.       ADJUST: Review your plan regularly and adjust where needed- If you try something and it does not work, then try something else. Everyone is different and there is no cookie cutter formula. You have to do what works for you. This applies to both organizing products as well as systems. If you find this step difficult, it may be best to enlist the help of a professional organizer or coach to help you set up a strategy that works best for you.

There are proven health benefits to living an organized life. The key is getting organized and sticking with the systems you put in place. The outcomes can remarkably change your life and increase your business! Get organized today!