neat-tips

Functioning home office

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:07:37 +0100

Home offices need a clear work area. You need to have enough space for computer and other related equipment. You also need to ensure that you have enough work space - writing, reading and filing. Make sure that your office furniture provides ample space for work and storage.

Kitchen cupboard clean up

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:12:52 +0100

Organise your cabinets into several categories such as plates, glasses, plastic containers, kid's plates etc. Place the plates on one shelf, the glasses on another, and so on.

This way, putting things away is child's play and when you empty the dishwasher, you or other family members will always know where everything goes.

Tame your hair product mess

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:17:02 +0100

Hair products take up a lot of space in a bathroom - there's gels, sprays, straighteners etc etc so they take up a lot of space.

To sort it out, use a plastic container (no lid) for under the sink and load it up with all that stuff. Then when it's time to make yourself beautiful, you simply take out the tub, use what you need and put the whole thing back.

No mess no fuss and it's easy to see what you need to buy when you run out of stock.

A quick space-saver in the kitchen

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:55:26 +0100

To save drawer space, hang your oven mitts in a hook inside a cabinet door near the oven, and hang your aprons on the pantry door or a wall hook.

These are very nifty from the online shop: http://www.neatfreakshop.co.za/pORG-0063/Door-Hook.aspx

Invest in appropriate, functional furniture

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:14:30 +0100

Home offices need a clear work area. You need to have enough space for computer and other related equipment. You also need to ensure that you have enough work space - writing, reading and filing.

Make sure that your office furniture provides ample space for work and storage.

Make signs to indicate your availibility

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:32:30 +0100

As a work-at-homer, I struggle with keeping the kids at bay. They often disturb me so before school started this year, I made some laminated signs that made it very clear if I was available or not.
Red = Do not disturb (NOT AVAILABLE)
Orange = Do not enter (KNOCK FIRST)
Green = You may enter (AVAILABLE)

Now I am simply placing these signs on my door so that my availability is not in dispute! It certainly has made things easier.

p.s. you can also do these signs and put it on the back of your laptop so that people walking in and out of your office aren't constantly disturbing you.

Invest in a proper support system

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:19:26 +0100

Join forces with co-workers who can cover for you and vice versa when family conflicts arise. At home, enlist trusted friends and loved ones to pitch in with child care or household responsibilities when you need to work overtime, travel or even when you just need a break!

Remember - as Barney says, "Sharing is caring".

Big decisions go first

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:57:55 +0100

Almost every client I have ever helped struggles with letting certain items go. I usually try to start off with items that aren't that difficult or the bigger items - like the large piano sitting in the corner that nobody plays but they feel 'bad' to get rid of.

Once these decisions are out of the way clearing out your clutter will seem much easier.

The ultimate sock-loss solution

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:49:08 +0100

If you are not all that fussed about the same old socks (and can bare to part with the mickey mouse ones) then a great solution is to buy loads of black and white socks. That way, you have one draw for each colour. When they've been washed, they just get dumped into the right coloured sock draw and voila.

No more missing socks.

Plan wisely to save your energy

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:46:06 +0100

With the demands of our busy lives, sometimes it truly is difficult to find routine and schedule our activities. What might help is chosing just one aspect of your life to start with. For example, plan routines for those VERY demanding and stressful times of the day like getting the family ready for school and work, or preparing the family meal.

If everything happens exactly the same way during that time of the day, it might lessen your stress levels.