There’s a cold crisp in the air, and you are starting to see signs of the fast-approaching Christmas holiday season all around. When shopping, you notice that businesses are decorating their establishments to help usher in a season of good tidings. 

As we get closer to gathering with loved ones to celebrate the birth of Christ, you can reinforce the festivities by sprucing up your dwelling. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you make your home look a lot like Christmas!

1. Outside Your Home 

While you will be spending much of the holidays indoors, given the weather, it’s important to decorate the exterior with Christmas in mind, as it will put you in the right mood as you arrive home each day from work, errands or school. And making your home look a lot like Christmas on the outside will help you share the joy with all your neighbors and visitors.

Select some festive lanterns and hang them outside. You can get versions that are solar-powered, with LED lights that will last a long time.

These lanterns will, of course, supplement the strings of Christmas lights that you hang on the roof and intertwine around the trees and bushes. You might want to add to the display by installing lawn and roof decorations too, such as inflatable Santa Clause and elves figures.

And remember to hang a lovely holiday wreath on the home’s front door.

Change out your ordinary welcome mat at the front door with a Christmas-themed mat, to further set the mood before people enter your dwelling.

2. Inside the House

You can never go wrong with setting up your Christmas tree earlier rather than later, no matter what the size you and your family prefer. 

In fact, you can use any type of plant – be creative if you are looking for some vegetation that goes beyond the traditional tree.

Make sure to festoon the tree with plenty of lights and some tinsel. Family heirlooms as well as new ornaments will help to round out the beautification of your Christmas tree.

Place candy canes as decorations, to further get into the holiday spirit.

On the table, place a winter-themed bouquet with your local plant life.

In anticipation of Santa’s visit, you’ll want to hang up some stockings over the chimney, where you can then stuff them with treats such as candies, fruits and little toys.

For even more coziness in the living room, put out some luxurious red or green blankets and pillows. And remember to put holiday-themed pillowcases and sheets in the bedrooms.

3. ‘Tis the Season for You and Your Family to Have a Merry Time Together

Decorating your home now for Christmas will give you and loved ones plenty of time to spend time together and getting everything ready for the upcoming celebrations. 

We hope that these tips will help make you and your family feel merry and bright,  as what this season is about.

That special day when we pause collectively to give thanks for all that we have is soon upon us. Don’t get caught off-guard by the impending Thanksgiving holiday. This can be quite a busy time of year, so planning ahead now will make it much easier and less stressful when you want your space ready for family and guests to enjoy time together.

Here are things you can do to get your house ready for Thanksgiving that are easy to start doing now, so you won’t be feeling rushed closer to that much-anticipated fourth Thursday of November!

1. Make a List of Who Is Coming

“Who will be my guests?” should be top of mind. This will give you a head count, so you’ll know if you need to put out a second dining table, for example, and how many chairs you’ll be needing to entertain the crowd. 

You’ll also want to stock the guest bathroom with extra towels, soap, toilet tissue and candles, since more people than usual will be using the facilities.

2. Determine What Food to Prepare

When you have a pretty good idea of how many people are coming over, you’ll be ready to plan how much food to purchase for the main event. Of course, there are no worries if you overestimate, since you’ll then have some delicious leftovers to look forward to. 

At this point, you’ll also want to keep in mind what types of food to prepare, which is crucial if you have guests with food allergies.

If a large crowd is coming, check that you have enough dishes and cutlery. When you are in short supply, borrow extras from a neighbor, friend or relative.

3. Pin Down a Schedule to Clean the House

There’s an old saying that, if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. So, it’s important that you actually make a schedule so you and your family can get the whole house cleaned up, inside and out, before Thanksgiving arrives.

Put up the details on a calendar or a planner, such as on the kitchen wall, to keep everyone on track. It’s easy for people to forget about their duties when they are busy with end-of-year tasks!

4. Delegate Chores to Your Family Members

You’ll find that the Thanksgiving holiday preparations to transform your house will go much more smoothly (and faster!) when you enlist the entire family. 

Assign chores to each person based on their abilities and interests, such as one child may make decorations while another one is in charge of moving furniture to make space in the living room for additional guests.

5. Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Celebration

Getting your home squared away in plenty of time before Thanksgiving should go easier when you try the above-mentioned tips. And when your home is ready, you will breathe a sigh of relief that one more item on your holiday to-do list is checked off.

Here’s hoping that this will be a memorable Thanksgiving holiday for you and your loved ones!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, people are eagerly anticipating getting together with friends and family to share some great food and catch up with the loved ones they haven’t seen in a while. But another aspect of the holiday that excites people is the promise of some amazing Black Friday deals.

If you’re pressed for time, here is some advice to help you prepare for Black Friday shopping, so you get the best possible deals to fit your budget:

1. Set Your Budget

First, list all the necessary items you’ll be buying, based on your budget. This will let you see at a glance that you’ve arranged something for each person on your list, and you can adjust the ideas to make room for another item as needed.

2. Source Items Depending on Brands 

If you already have a preferred brand in mind because you trust and respect its current line of products, you’re ahead of the game. It’s a good idea to look for items on your list, such as a watch, bathrobe, toy or woodworking equipment according to the manufacturers you prefer.

If you have a lot of items to buy, consider breaking them out into different lists, each for their own store. That way, you won’t forget to get something and need to rush out at the last minute to complete your shopping on Christmas eve.

3. Search Online to Get More Information

Knowledge is power, so it’s in your best interest to carve an hour or so out of your busy schedule as soon as you can, to go online and look for the most enticing offers.

You’re not just looking at various prices. Going online can help you find the layouts of stores so you will be able to quickly navigate the aisles later in person, to help you find the items on your list as efficiently as possible.

Remember to follow your favorite manufacturers, brands and stores on social media, because they may put out announcements about special offers close to Black Friday. So, check Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at the very least, to learn about some potential bargains and opportunities to buy everything on your shopping list.

4. Do Reconnaissance

If you have time, check out prices not just online, but also by going into stores. This lets you also check out the quality of the merchandise you have in mind ahead of time. If a product doesn’t meet your standards, you’ll still have time to look for an alternative item and keep your recipients happy.

5. Giving Thanks for Family, Friends and Great Deals

The day after Thanksgiving has become a ritualized day of over-the-top shopping, as consumers go online and flock to brick-and-mortar establishments in search of great deals. Preparing well in advance for your Black Friday shopping excursions, whether via the Internet or in shops close to home will help you stretch your budget. This means you can buy more things for the people you care for, while adhering to your established budget.

You want to get in shape, have a clean house, finish an important project at work…but things just keep getting in the way. If this sounds familiar, procrastination could be preventing you from moving forward and getting things done. In many cases, we procrastinate because we either can’t decide what to do next or are simply getting distracted from the things that need to get done. The tips below can help hone your focus and ensure you are able to avoid some common procrastination pitfalls — and boost your productivity as well. 

1. Define Success

What do you actually want to achieve? Sometimes it can be difficult to get started if you are not even sure what you want the end result to be. Whether you want to complete a single task or a step in a more involved project, defining what your goal is and what success looks like is critical to getting started. In some cases procrastination isn’t about not wanting to do a task — it’s simply not knowing where to begin or what to do. 

2. Dump Distractions

Life can quickly intrude, making it difficult to stick to tasks. While some emergencies or urgent situations could disrupt what you are focusing on, keep everyday distractions to a minimum. Turn off the phone (or at least turn the ringer off), don’t check your email or socials and avoid launching any new project while you are trying to complete the one you are focusing on. You’ll be far more productive if you can focus on the task at hand and complete it. 

3. Take Baby Steps

A task can seem overwhelming if it is too large or lacks focus. “Clean the kitchen” sounds like an easy thing to do, but if you’ve just cooked a big meal or haven’t tidied up lately it can be tough to know where to begin. Break big things down into smaller steps and you’ll be more likely to meet your goal. Some smaller steps for the kitchen task above might include; 

• Throw away all trash
• Put away leftovers
• Put dishes into the dishwasher
• Clean countertops

Each of these steps will move you towards your overall goal — and listing out specifically what needs to be done also makes it easy to see your progress. You’ll find it easier to stick to any task, even a simple one like this, if you break it into manageable steps. 

4. Spot your Most Productive Times

Make the most of the best hours of your day, If you are a night owl, then projects that require your attention and focus may be easiest to complete later in the day, when you feel fully alert and awake. For morning people, the best time to get things done is likely right after breakfast. Your peak time of focus and attention is uniquely yours, and identifying when you are most productive allows you to best allocate your time.

Take a few days to really tune into the time of day when you seem to get the most stuff done. Chances are you’ll discover you are most productive at a specific part of the day. Use this info to make sure tasks that require your full attention and brain power are getting the attention they deserve.  

Focusing on the things you want to achieve will help you get past any procrastination and roadblocks. Once you begin to see progress, tackling tasks at the right time, with the right amount of focus will help you eliminate procrastination for good. 

An ergonomically safe home office delivers many valuable benefits. A variety of statistics prove that it enhances productivity, enables people to avoid serious health problems and decreases missed days of work. By preventing fatigue, it also reduces mistakes. These tips can help you improve the ergonomics of your office:

1. Table or Desk

Consider using an adjustable work surface that lets you choose between sitting and standing. People generally experience less neck, shoulder and back discomfort when they spend less time sitting. Try to alternate between standing and sitting every half-hour. Just standing one more hour per day could substantially improve your health.

2. Computer Screen

Try to place your monitor or notebook computer screen about 50 to 100 centimeters away from your face (20 to 40 inches). Its height also holds great importance. Your eyes should line up with the upper portion of the display when you look straight ahead. It’s best if you can see everything on the monitor without moving your body.

Only use two screens when it’s truly necessary. This is rarely as ergonomic as using a single monitor. Center the primary display on your desk, and put the second monitor next to it. You should still follow the above-mentioned distance and eye level recommendations.

3. Office Chair

Select a cushioned adjustable chair that supports your lower back and allows you to place both feet on your office’s floor. An alternative is to use a separate footrest. This accessory helps promote healthy blood circulation. Armrests are optional; try to set them at a height that doesn’t strain your shoulders.

4. Lighting

It’s wise to choose a highly adjustable desk light. You should be able to change the angle and move it around with ease. Overhead lighting and excessively bright bulbs often cause eyestrain. If you experience problems with glare, experiment with different monitor brightness settings and color combinations.

Light from windows can also strain your eyes. Work on arranging your home office so that there should be at least one meter or yard between your monitor and the nearest window. Consider using a combination of blinds and curtains on sunny days. Polarized filters and monitor visors can help counteract some types of glare.

5. Keyboard, Mouse

Your keyboard and mouse or trackball ought to be easily reachable. You shouldn’t have to bend your wrists or stretch out your arms to use these devices. Make sure your wrists aren’t pushed against a hard surface (like the desk or keyboard edge). If necessary, reposition your equipment or buy wrist rest(s).

Your keyboard ought to be placed at approximately the same height as your elbow. Both your elbows and knees should remain bent while you work. This is only possible at the right desk and chair heights. Optimal positioning can prevent carpal tunnel syndrome as well as shoulder and back pain.

Regardless of how ergonomic your home office becomes, it remains important to take breaks. Remember to look away from the screen and blink your eyes. Stand up for a minute or two at least twice every hour. This may seem insignificant, but it will make a difference in your health and long-term productivity.

It’s no secret that happiness and productivity are closely entwined. When employees aren’t happy, they are distracted; they can’t be their best or most efficient when they are worried or frustrated. But more to the point, what can managers and employers do to boost employee happiness? How can employees improve their mood?

1. Employees: The secret to productivity is work-life balance

Employees must manage their work-life balance rather than overworking themselves. When employees overwork themselves, they frequently find they are less effective and productive; instead of doing 2 hours of work, they will do eight, and get the same amount of work done. Employees must learn to take breaks effectively, schedule their work at their most productive time, and reach out for help if they find themselves frustrated.

2. Employers: Supporting the mental health of employees

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy for employees to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Employers can provide support and resources to help employees manage their mental health by way of implementing policies that promote a healthy work environment, such as flexible work schedules, or maybe promote a culture of open communication where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health with their supervisors.

Employers can’t control their employees or what happens to employees out of work, but they can provide support and assistance.

3. Managers: Employees don’t leave jobs; they leave managers

Managers play a crucial role in employee happiness. After all, employees don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. If an employee is unhappy with their job, it’s likely because they are unhappy with their manager specifically. But managers can foster a better company culture by leaving the pathways of communication open.

Talk to employees and schedule one-on-ones with regularity. When you meet employees during a one-on-one, discuss how they are doing and what they need to get their job done. Gone are the days when managers are expected to “whip their employees into shape.” Instead, managers are expected to give employees the tools that they need to thrive.

4. Conclusion: Happiness and Productivity are everyone’s responsibility

There will always be issues throughout any industry and any career path. Employees, supervisors, and employers will have to work together not just to achieve business targets but also a healthy and motivating workplace.

Organizing a small home with an even smaller office can be challenging, but it is possible with a little creativity and effort. You may find that, as you organize, your tiny home office is even more efficient and productive than a larger office might be.

Follow the below tips to organize your tiny home space and make it as comfortable and effective as you can.

1. Use vertical space.

When you have limited square footage to work with, it is important to make use of every inch of space available. This means utilizing the vertical space in your office by installing shelves and hooks for storage. Shelves can be used to store things that you don’t actually need very often, such as extra office supplies.

2. Keep it simple.

When it comes to organizing a small space, less is definitely more. Avoid cluttered surfaces and instead focus on keeping things tidy and streamlined. This will help to make your office feel more spacious and open. Schedule some time at the end of every week to put things in their place. Where you can, label your storage; you’ll spend less time wondering “where things need to go.” If there’s something you aren’t sure what to do with, consider whether you need it at all.

3. Get creative with storage.

There are many ways to get creative with storage in a small office space. Use baskets and bins to store items such as office supplies, documents, and files. Utilize the space under your desk for storage as well. If possible, invest in furniture with built-in storage, such as a desk with drawers or a shelving unit. Don’t neglect the space that’s under things; rather than having an end table, consider an end table with storage.

4. Keep up with your organization.

One of the most important things to do when organizing a small office space is to keep it organized. This means having a place for everything and keeping things in their proper place. Invest in some organizational tools, such as labels and folders, to help you keep things tidy. You’ll find that a stack of papers takes up less space when it’s all in folders.

5. Be selective with your decor.

When it comes to decorating a small office space, less is definitely more. Stick to a few simple pieces that will help to make the space feel open and airy. Avoid clutter by hanging only a few wall decorations and keeping desk items to a minimum.

6. Get multi-purpose office equipment.

In a small office space, it is important to get multi-purpose office equipment. This includes items such as a printer that also scans and copies or a desk that doubles as storage. Investing in multi-purpose furniture and equipment will help you save valuable space in your tiny home office.

By following these tips, you can successfully organize a small office space in your tiny home. With a little effort and creativity, you can turn even the smallest office into a functional and stylish space.

It’s hard. When work is always present, it’s very easy to constantly start more work. But it’s also not healthy. When you don’t have an appropriate work life balance, you start to hate your work… and feel resentful about what you aren’t accomplishing in your daily life.

There are a few things you can do to have work life balance when working from home.

1. Set regular hours for yourself and stick to them.

This will help you create a routine and keep your work life separate from your personal life. Let everyone know your hours too; this tells them when they shouldn’t be bothering you with home-related tasks. Sometimes, work-related balance goes the other way, and you find you can’t get work done because of your home life.

2. Take breaks throughout the day to relax and rejuvenate yourself.

Go for a walk, take a nap, or just step away from your work to clear your head. This will help you come back to your work refreshed and ready to be productive.

3. Make sure to schedule time for fun activities outside of work.

Make plans with friends, go on dates, and do things that you enjoy. This will help you stay balanced and prevent burnout. Try to make sure that you are truly balanced; take a look at how much time you’re spending on both work and play.

4. Talk to your friends and family.

It really helps to have a strong support system. Let them know what you’re struggling with and ask for their support. They can help hold you accountable and make sure that you’re taking care of yourself. You can also talk to your colleagues.

5. Eliminate additional distractions.

Distraction is everywhere. Scheduling can help manage these distractions. Set your working hours and let your family members know. This will help keep you from getting distracted.

6. Continually reassess whether you need to improve your work-life balance.

As your life changes, so will your needs. Make sure that you’re always taking a step back to see if the way you’re doing things is still working for you. Ask family and friends if it seems like you’re working too hard or too little and what you can do to better be there for them.

7. Talk to your boss.

Today, it’s one of an employer’s responsibilities to make sure you have opportunities for appropriate work-life balance. If you find that your work is constantly infringing on your life, it may be something that your employer has to address in terms of workload and processes. Keep them looped in, as they don’t want you to experience burnout either.

Working from home can be tough, but we are tougher. We just have to remind ourselves that we can do anything we put our mind to and remind ourselves of our own personal goals other than that of our career. Let us take care of our health mentally just as much as physically.

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to our home offices. We tend to spend a lot of time in these rooms, so it’s important to make sure they are comfortable and inviting. Here are some simple ways to refresh your home office décor and make your office just feel a little more friendly.

1. Start by Decluttering Your Space

The first step to refreshing your home office is to get rid of any clutter that has built up over time. This can be anything from old magazines and newspapers to empty coffee cups and half-used notebooks. If you have any decorative items that you don’t use or need, consider donating them or storing them away until you have a use for them. Once you have decluttered your space, you will be amazed at how much more open and inviting it feels.

2. Add Some Greenery

Another way to refresh your home office décor is to add some greenery. Plants can help to purify the air and they can also add a splash of color to your space. Plants can also help you relax and soothe your eyes after hours of being in front of your computer monitor.

3. Change Your Lighting

If you often find yourself working late into the night, then it’s important to make sure you have good lighting in your office. This will help to reduce eye strain and it can also make your space feel more inviting. Consider adding a lamp to your desk or investing in some good quality lights.

4. Add Some Artwork

If you’re looking for a way to personalize your space, then consider adding some artwork to your walls. This could be anything from family photos to paintings and prints that you love. Adding artwork is a great way to make your office feel more like your own.

5. Rearrange Your Furniture

Sometimes, all it takes to refresh your home office décor is to rearrange your furniture. This can be as simple as moving your desk to a different wall or swapping out your chairs for something more comfortable. Open up your office a little if it feels stifling.

6. Try Out New Wallpaper or Paint

If you’re feeling really adventurous, you could try out some new wallpaper or paint. This is another way to freshen up your home office without spending more money. Just be sure to choose colors that you find calming and that won’t distract you from your work. There are proven psychologies to colors; green and blue, for instance, are calming, whereas yellow and red may produce anxiety.

These are just a few simple ways to refresh your home office. By making a few small changes, you can make your office feel more motivating and comfortable.

If you work at home, you face a double threat when it comes to organizing your office — your work stuff and things from other parts of the home that migrate in. Taking some time to get organized can help you find what you need, when you need it and make your office space one that you can truly enjoy working in. Here are 5 simple and nearly instant ways to reorganize your workspace.

1. Set your mind to declutter regularly.

Make a decluttering routine. If it isn’t something you use regularly, need or absolutely love, it needs to go — or at least leave your office space. Tackle decluttering a drawer or shelf at a time and purge anything that is not directly related to your work. You’ll create more room for the things you do need and a more comfortable work setting, too 

2. Keep a trash bin handy.

Put a small trash bin right next to your primary workspace or desk. Discard junk mail, printouts you no longer need, packaging and more as you work. These items can build up quickly and create a chaotic mess on your desk if you don’t get rid of them. 

3. Go digital.

If you haven’t already, make the switch to digital storage instead of paper printouts. Not only will this dramatically reduce the amount of paper clutter you have, it will also make it easier to find what you need. When you store items in the cloud you can search by keyword to find what you need instantly, you can also collaborate more readily with others. Best of all, your workspace will be far more organized when you get rid of big stacks of printed papers. 

4. Corral cables and cords.

Your laptop, phone, printer and other items all need cords – but if those cords are a tangled snarl they’ll be difficult to use. They’ll also make your office look like a cluttered mess. Cable minders or keepers are inexpensive and hold all your cables together in one tidy strip — you can also use zip ties to get the same effect and keep the cables where they belong. 

5. Optimize your file storage.

If you have important documents you need to use regularly or that are essential for your business, make sure they are readily available. Throwing them all into a folder entitled “documents” with every other item you save will make it messy and tough to retrieve what you need. Instead, make a special folder just for these items and put it in an accessible place — and you’ll be able to instantly retrieve what you need, when you need it. 

Each of the above organization steps for your home office takes just a few moments to do but has an immediate impact on the way your space looks and functions. Tackle one step a day and you’ll have a more organized and comfortable office space in a week, without spending hours cleaning. Once you’ve finished you’ll have a space that is far more enjoyable to use and more useful to your work. 

Organizing your home office doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little effort and the right system, you can easily make some organizational changes that will help you find everything and get more done. Here are some of the best ways to get your home office into shape.

1. Create a Filing System

If you’re the type of person who prefers paper documents instead of digital options, a filing system is essential for good organization. That doesn’t mean you can’t use a digital file system, of course. But if you have a lot of paper around, it’s even more vital that you create a system that lets you find things quickly.

2. Consider Color-Coded Options

Color-coding your files and important documents can help you see at a glance where everything is. If financial records are green, for example, and bills are red, you’ll easily be able to locate the folder you need and find the right documents fast. That lowers frustration, and raises peace of mind.

3. Make Use of Containers

There are always items in a home office that don’t really have a place to go. These are usually small items, and ones that have odd shapes. If you need a place to store those items, using containers can make it much easier to keep everything organized and looking neat and orderly. You’ll also be able to grab what you need efficiently, which is important when you’re working.

4. Keep Frequently Used Items Handy

Items you use often shouldn’t be put away where you can’t get to them quickly. That just takes more time out of your day, and makes it more frustrating for you to work in your home office. You can use containers, trays, or other organizational options to keep those frequently used items right where you can reach them.

5. Use the Space On Your Walls

Your walls aren’t just for artwork, or the latest soothing paint color. You can also use them to help organize your home office more easily. By putting up a mail station, small baskets, floating shelves, or other storage and organization options, you’re better able to see what you need and still have it neat and clean. Using wall space is a great opportunity to reduce clutter.

6. Divide Personal and Business Documents

Your personal and business documents are probably both in your home office. That makes sense, but doesn’t mean they should be mixed together. Keeping a separate file drawer for personal items is one of the ways to keep them separate. You can also have a separate filing cabinet or other storage option, so you aren’t mixing the two areas of your life.

7. Clean and Declutter as You Go

As you move through your home office to organize it, cleaning and decluttering at the same time means you won’t have to go back through it and clean or declutter afterward. By doing it all at the same time, your home office will be a great space to enjoy working in, and everything in it will be something you need and want to keep.

One way to be more consistent with decluttering is to make it a routine. Just like brushing your teeth or taking a shower, adding decluttering to your daily or weekly routine can help make it a habit.

1. Set Realistic Goals

Trying to declutter your entire home in one day is probably not going to happen and will likely just leave you feeling overwhelmed. Start with small goals like decluttering one room or one area at a time.

Sometimes, this can seem like an endless treadmill. You clean one room, and another one grows out of control. As with everything, it just requires balance. Keep adjusting till you find the right spot.

2. Start With a Small Schedule

Start small by setting aside 10 to 15 minutes each day to declutter. Once you get into the habit of decluttering regularly, you can start to declutter for more extended periods.

Habit-forming is about creating a scenario in which you feel automatically prompted to do something. You don’t have to start decluttering immediately: Rather, you have to create the opportunity.

3. Create a Place for Everything

A place for everything and everything in its place. By having a designated place for items, you can help reduce clutter and make it easier to put things away. Buy a label maker if you have to.

This doesn’t mean that you need to go out and buy a bunch of storage containers. Rather, look around your home and see what you already have that can be repurposed for storage. When you have a place for everything, you stop clutter from initially building.

4. Get the Whole Family Involved

Decluttering is not a one-person job. If your family is constantly creating new clutter, it will be difficult for you to keep up, regardless of the time you spend during the day. Instead of decluttering on your own, involve your family in the process.

Start by talking to your family about the importance of decluttering and why you want to do it. Then, create a plan that everyone can follow. Assign each person specific tasks and set a schedule for when those tasks need to be completed.

Remember, the goal is not to be perfect. Rather, it’s to create a system that works for you and your family.

5. Start with a Big Spring Cleaning

If everything is just too out of control and overwhelming, you might need to start with a deep clean. This will give you a blank foundation to start with. Once you’ve decluttered everything, you can start fresh with a new system.

Set some ground rules for what can come back into the house and be sure to stick to them. This will help prevent your home from quickly becoming cluttered again. If something is in your hand for longer than a few minutes, put it in a pile and try again later. Avoid overloading yourself.

6. Finally, be patient with yourself.

Making any kind of change can be difficult, and it may take some time to get into the habit of decluttering. Just keep at it, and eventually, it will become second nature.

Sometimes it seems like there are never enough hours in the day. But with a bit of time management, you can make time for the things you need to do, like housework. Here are some tips on how to manage your time for housework.

1. Set realistic expectations.

Don’t try to do too much in one day or week. Spread out your housework over a period of days or weeks so that it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. “I’m going to clean the entire house today” rarely goes well and will just make you feel defeated.

2. Make a list.

Once you know what needs to be done, make a list of the tasks and prioritize them. This will help you focus on what needs to be done first and prevent you from forgetting anything. You can also create checklists for things throughout the house so you can just move from one task to another.

3. Set aside some time each day or week for housework.

Dedicate a specific amount of time to cleaning each day or week. This will help you stay on track and get the job done on time.

4. Try to clean as you go.

Have you ever noticed dishes are easier to wash if you rinse them off immediately? This doesn’t mean that you have to clean up every single thing as soon as you finish using it. But if you can, try to put things away and tidy up as you go. This will save you time in the long run and help keep your house more organized.

5. Use your time wisely.

Make sure you are using your time efficiently while you are cleaning. For instance, if you are vacuuming, move all the furniture in the room first so that you don’t have to keep stopping and starting. Don’t dust before you vacuum; you’ll just have to redo everything later.

6. Take breaks.

Don’t try to do everything in one go. Take some time to rest in between tasks so that you don’t get too tired or overwhelmed.

7. Reward yourself.

When you’ve finished all your tasks, give yourself a pat on the back or a good treat like a good cup of coffee. This will help you stay motivated and look forward to the next time you have to do housework. Housework is always going to be a bit of a chore, but it shouldn’t be miserable.

8. Don’t try to do everything yourself.

Delegate some of the tasks to other members of your family. This will help you get the job done faster and free up some of your time.

With these tips, you should be able to manage your time for housework better. Dedicate some time each day or week to cleaning, and don’t try to do too much at once. Make sure you use your time wisely and take breaks between tasks. And finally, don’t forget to reward yourself when you’re finished!

Clutter is a daily challenge. It seems to appear out of nowhere and can quickly take over your home or office. The key to conquering clutter is to have a plan and be consistent with implementing it. Think about it like a war that you’re constantly fighting with yourself.

Here are some tips to help you get and stay on top of the clutter.

1. Make it a daily habit to declutter as you go so the mess doesn’t pile up

When you bring the mail in, toss the trash out. Try to declutter as you go. If you’re in the bathroom, take everything out of it that doesn’t belong there. If you’re preparing food in the kitchen, start cleaning as you wait for something to be done.

2. Start with small projects so you don’t get overwhelmed and discouraged.

Focus on one area at a time. Don’t try to tackle the whole house all at once. That will make it seem like an impossible task and you’ll be more likely to give up.

3. Set aside time each week to declutter

Designate a specific day and time each week that you will declutter for a set amount of time. Make it a routine. Whether it’s 30 minutes or 2 hours, make sure you stick to your schedule.

4. Put everything in a specific place each time you use it

One of the best ways to keep your home or office decluttered is to put everything back in its proper place each time you use it. This will help you avoid creating new messes and make it easier to find things when you need them.

5. Invest in storage solutions

If you don’t have enough storage space, things will be out of place no matter what you do. Take some time to assess your storage needs and invest in some solutions that will work for you.

6. Get rid of the stuff you just don’t need

One of the biggest causes of clutter is holding on to things you don’t need. If you haven’t used it in six months, chances are you’re never going to use it. Get rid of it and free up some space. If you’re having trouble identifying these items, pack them up. This brings us to…

7. Put things you don’t need immediately into storage

If you can’t bring yourself to get rid of something, put it into storage. This will help declutter your space and give you peace of mind knowing that the item is safely stored away.

Clutter is a daily challenge, but by being consistent and having a plan, you can conquer it. Do you have any great decluttering tips?

Many people are searching for homes with bigger closets or converting entire rooms into closet space. Fortunately, there’s an alternative that doesn’t involve sacrificing your guest room or spending huge amounts of money. You can use these tips to declutter and efficiently organize your wardrobe. This project doesn’t only free up space. You’ll spend less time searching for the right clothing when you wake up in the morning or get dressed for a special occasion.

1. Reduce

It’s easier to find enough space and fully organize clothes when you have fewer of them. Use a box to collect items you plan to donate, and consider keeping it in your closet. Before you start organizing, search for unwanted apparel that’s uncomfortable or doesn’t fit and get rid of it or donate it. Remember to do this again at least once every year. If it’s overwhelming, tackle one type of clothing at a time.

2. Sort

You will find things more swiftly if you keep each kind of garment in a separate place. Consider using different shelves, drawers or sections of a rack. Put frequently worn items in places that you can easily reach. It depends on what you wear, but potential categories include jackets, short sleeves, long sleeves, dresses, jeans, khaki pants, swimsuits, formal, casual and underwear. You could also separate lightweight shirts from heavier, warmer shirts and sweaters.

3. Divide

There are many ways to divide your closet and drawers into sections; do whatever works best for you. Among other things, you can identify different sections using specially made closet dividers, old compact discs or ribbons tied to hanger hooks. Shallow boxes could divide large drawers that you want to use for multiple types of clothing. You can also put adhesive labels on shelves and plastic bins.

4. Maximize

Make the most of your space with efficient storage techniques. Prioritize using drawers for socks, underwear, belts and other items you can’t easily hang. Fold and stack heavy items such as sweaters. Try to put shirts, pants and most other clothes on hangers. This will make them easier to find because they won’t get buried under other garments. Avoid putting large or heavy items on lightweight hangers.

If your closet is small and you have a lot of clothes, consider folding seasonal apparel and storing it in bins on the floor or under your bed. You might also benefit from a hanging shoe organizer. Think about installing more shelves or wall hooks in your closet if there’s enough room. To maximize the space inside of boxes and bins, roll up lightweight clothes before you store them. This technique works well for shorts, t-shirts, leggings and pajamas.

Basically, it’s best to reduce the total amount of clothing, divide it into meaningful categories and separate the categories in a visible way. You may need to use more efficient storage methods when you have limited space. If you have difficulty organizing your wardrobe, you might benefit from closet organization products, better lighting or a larger storage area for off-season apparel.

Procrastination is the boogeyman that most of us blame for our lack of productivity. It is a strange psychological phenomenon that often has roots in many other aspects of your life. Learning how to overcome procrastination is vital to your long-term success, though. How do you do that? Let’s look a little deeper at procrastination and how to overcome it. 

1. Understanding Procrastination

The first thing you need to do in order to overcome procrastination is to understand it. We know we procrastinate, but we often don’t know why. There is no blanket answer to this question. The causes of procrastination will vary greatly from person to person. Procrastination always has a root, though. Finding your roots can be very freeing and can help you become a more productive person. 

You can start better understanding your procrastination by reading about this problem. There are many great books out there that look at the psychological foundations of procrastination. If you have access to counseling or therapy, you could also talk with your therapist about this and how it specifically applies to you. 

The most important thing is that you do not excuse your procrastination and you do not simply accept it. This is a problem that needs work. 

2. Set Little Goals

Many people procrastinate because they are overwhelmed by the big picture of all of the tasks together. This overwhelm will cause some people to freeze and do nothing. The better option is to set small tasks and only focus on them one at a time. Remind yourself often that you only need to work on one task at a time. As long as the others are on the list and prioritized, they are okay for now. Pay them no mind until it is their turn. If you need to say it out loud. When your brain wants to think about all of the tasks at once, say, “No, you must wait your turn.”

Creating prioritized lists can be very helpful in controlling tasks. 

3. Identify

Once you start to understand this issue, it will be very important that you identify it every time it pops up. This will help to start signaling to your brain that this is not acceptable behavior and it needs work. One way you can identify procrastination is the small habit of writing it out. “I am trying to procrastinate.” Write the date and the time. Then write a note to yourself explaining why this is destructive and then write out which task you will actively go do right then. This type of accountability can help to rewire your brain for new behaviors. 

4. Re-Direct

Once you have identified the procrastination, you must re-direct immediately. As soon as you are aware of the procrastination, you need to identify the task that needs to be worked on right then. Immediately start that one task. Remember, you should not think about all of the tasks at once, just the next one on the list. 

Consistent, sustainable productivity is all about priority setting. Prioritization is a soft skill that can literally affect your success at every level. Without honing prioritization skills, the only thing you can really count on is frustration, decreased productivity, and high levels of stress.

Prioritization is the ability to sort through tasks and determine which tasks need attention first and which tasks need the most attention. It also includes creating lists of tasks in descending order of urgency. Setting priorities this way helps people to use their time more wisely, and also allows them to get more of the important stuff done in a timely manner. Once you have had these practices in place for a while, you will notice that productivity momentum will start to grow because the right things are getting done at the right time.

What should you do, though, when every task on your list feels urgent? How do you sift through those tasks and apply time and energy appropriately? This quick guide was designed to help you understand how to prioritize tasks when everything is urgent.

1. Create a List of Tasks

Prioritizing is always easier when you can do it visually. When everything is just bumping around inside your brain, you can start to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Put the tasks on a list so that you can visually see each one. The order of the tasks at this point doesn’t really matter. Just get them written out.

You should make notes of which tasks have a deadline attached. If there are deadlines involved, you will first want to consider these deadlines. Deadlines are an easy way to determine what is truly urgent and what is not.

You will also want to take a look at which tasks are foundational to the success of the entire project. There may be certain tasks that will need to be done in order for the others to get done. Take some time to clarify which tasks will be foundational to the others. This step will help you further determine urgency.

To make this step easier, you might want to consider digital organization options such as mobile calendars.

2. Determine Urgent Vs Important

The terms urgent and important may seem synonymous, but they are not. An important task is a task that needs to get done, but an urgent task is often connected with a deadline or it is a foundational task that must be done before anything else can be accomplished.

Look through your list again and re-write the list, now putting urgent tasks at the top to avoid feeling burnt out.

3. Create a Timeline

Now that you are clear on urgent vs important, you will want to create a timeline that will incorporate any deadlines that have already been established. With the deadlines in mind, how much time will you realistically need for each task?  Set up the list of prioritized tasks with these timeframes in mind. Your timeline should smoothly take you from start to finish within the deadline.

4. Be Realistic

One of the big mistakes people make when prioritizing is that they are not realistic with expectations of how much they will get accomplished. Be realistic when setting up tasks. Make time for hurdles and challenges. Expect hurdles and challenges, so that they do not completely derail you when they happen.

Prioritizing and organizing tasks in this way will help you to become more productive and less stressed.

Who doesn’t enjoy crafting? It’s a fun way to unwind after a stressful day, and many families enjoy it as a way to spend quality time together.

The crafts projects that you and your family enjoy working on are a great source of pleasure, to be sure. But if the various crafts supplies are sprawling all over the place, you run the risk of losing items or not being able to find and use them when you want.

And when you are working in a small space, it’s particularly important to come up with a way to organize your craft supplies.

1. Label Everything

Put labels on all of your supplies so you can sort them more easily. Think of sitting down to make crafts to give out at gifts, and how many things you need to keep track of, and you’ll see the value of not only labelling things but storing them in clear, transparent organizers so they’re easy to spot. Now, it will be a snap to find wooden popsicle sticks, Styrofoam balls, buttons, beads and googly eyes.

2. Tools at the Ready

Keeping tools at your fingertips is a better solution than having them in different locations, such as sandpaper in the garage inside a tool box, glue sticks in the kitchen drunk drawer, and so on. You don’t want to keep getting up to find a small pair of scissors or a pen with green ink while in the middle of a crafting project.

3. Open System

Adopt a system where you place open containers to hold clips, colored pencils, pens and other basic crafting tools. It saves you time from having to open boxes to get just what you need.

4. Use the Right Shapes

Maybe you are using boxes that use more room than is necessary. The original containers that items come in can be inefficient for use in tight spaces. That’s because their packages are also designed to help market them from the shelves of retailers. Keep in mind that square or rectangle containers will store more than round containers.

5. Don’t Hoard Items

After you’ve been crafting for a while, chances are good that you have collected many more craft supplies and tools than you currently need. But each item takes up valuable space that you’ll want to reclaim. A good policy to follow is to only hold onto craft items that you use often. Get rid of older, unwanted craft items at least once a year, such as during spring cleaning.

6. Staying Organized Makes Crafting a More Rewarding Experience

Craft making is a rewarding activity that helps you relax and explore your creative side, with the result being beautiful and interesting items to display, give away or even sell, depending on your level of interest and skill.

Making sure you have your craft supplies neatly organized with everything in its own place will make for a less stressful environment. It’s also a way to do crafts more easily, since you aren’t wasting time looking for a tool or item for your project.

Paper clutter takes up space, creates stress and makes it harder to locate the documents you actually need. Excess paper also results in unnecessary environmental harm. It detracts from the appearance of your home or office as well. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to reduce, organize and avoid paper clutter.

1. Prevention

Try to limit the amount of paper that reaches your desk to prevent buildup. If you receive unwanted mailings, ask the organizations or companies to remove your address from their mailing lists. Think about switching to online statements, coupons, bills and publications whenever possible. Some retailers give customers the option to receive their receipts via email instead of printing them on paper. Only print documents when it’s absolutely necessary.

If you often write notes on pieces of paper, consider using a mobile app or an internet-based service like Evernote instead. Another option is to create a computer document file for notes and put a shortcut icon for it on your desktop. If you really prefer writing on paper or find it time-consuming to manage notes on an electronic device, consider writing everything in a weekly planner booklet.

2. Decluttering

Try not to allow paper documents like bank statements and receipts to accumulate. Process, sort or discard them as quickly as possible. Set aside a single place or container that you’ll use to store papers until you’ve processed them. Don’t hide them or leave them scattered in different parts of your home or business. Choose a visible location that reminds you to sort new documents regularly.

One way to eliminate existing papers is to scan them and store the images on a computer (or removable media). You’ll be able to print them out if you need them again. However, it’s vital to keep the equipment in a secure location and use up-to-date antivirus software to protect confidential data.

After you digitize a document or choose to discard it, you’ll have to decide what to do with the paper. If it doesn’t contain confidential information, put it in a recycling bin. Otherwise, strongly consider using a shredder or shredding service. Strip-cut shredders provide limited security; micro-cut and cross-cut models destroy documents far more thoroughly. Many recycling programs don’t accept shredded paper.

3. Organization

After you’ve banished the papers you don’t need, it’s best to store the remaining documents in an organized way. One option is to sort them into folders and keep them in a file cabinet. Consider looking for a cabinet that’s the same height as your desk; you can use the top surface to expand your work area. If you need a more affordable solution, shop for cardboard filing boxes.

While this process demands some effort and at least a little cash, it’s definitely worthwhile. You’ll be able to concentrate on tasks more easily, and it won’t be as hard to find specific documents. Likewise, you can feel good about reducing your environmental impact and having a more organized work area with greater visual appeal.

Each person faces different challenges when trying to organize or declutter spaces. Unfortunately, these problems sometimes have the power to discourage people and make them give up. If you recognize and acknowledge your biggest obstacle to success, it may help you overcome this barrier. Let’s take a look at some of the most common challenges and a few effective ways to tackle them.

1. More stuff than space

Someone with few belongings might be able to declutter simply by rearranging and storing things wisely. On the other hand, it’s more or less impossible to get organized if you live in a two-bedroom home but own enough stuff to fill a mansion. You can only succeed when you make an effort to decide what you truly need and let go of it or maybe throw it away.

2. Random placement of items

This might be your biggest challenge if you often leave outdoor clothing on various pieces of furniture instead of putting it on the same hanger or rack every day. When you establish places to keep each of your belongings, clutter won’t multiply as easily. Take the time to find specific locations to put things like bills, newspapers, batteries, footwear, tools and so on.

3. Feeling overwhelmed

If you have a huge amount of stuff to declutter, you might get overwhelmed and lose ambition. You can address this challenge by concentrating on one part of your home at a time. Accept that the outcome doesn’t need to be perfect or resemble a picture in a home decor magazine. Feel good about what you’ve accomplished rather than worrying about what you still need to do.

4. Too little spare time

Decluttering is certainly more challenging if your job, family or other responsibilities demand most of your time. Still, you can make some progress a few minutes at a time. Try to build decluttering into routine tasks. For example, when you check the mail and see an advertisement that doesn’t interest you, discard it right away instead of leaving it on your desk.

5. Little self-discipline

You must be persistent and determined to achieve any major goal. It’s hard to organize your home if you put it off because you want to watch TV or eat dinner at a restaurant. The same goes when you don’t resist the urge to purchase unnecessary things that will clutter your house (or at least let go of something equivalent after you buy them).

6. Keeping things for later

A major obstacle for many people is that they can’t give up anything they might potentially use or need in the future. This sort of thinking could persuade you to keep shirts in three different sizes and spare appliances of every kind. Try to think about each item and objectively decide if you’re genuinely likely to ever use it.

These challenges are understandable and few of us are immune to all of them. Even decluttering gurus can sometimes get tempted into buying superfluous things or keeping an extra coffee maker in the closet. Still, the great benefits of a well-organized home make it worthwhile to find solutions and stop allowing these obstacles to thwart you.