GETTING ORGANIZED…

Is what I’ve been trying to do, not because I’m going back to school but because I have a ton of stuff to blog. So while I sort through stacks on my desk–where I discover things like my driver’s license, occasionally, a check–let me share tips from Nancy Peham’s Helping Hands….

Helping Hands E-News, July, 2006
‘Creating Order, Relieving Stress, Improving Your Life’

Published by Nancy Peham, Professional Organizer

Offering organizing, home staging, and relocation services in Dallas and surrounding areas. I hope you find the tips, articles and promotions helpful.

Back to School With All Systems Go

Organizing and Caring For Photographic Memories

Odds & Ends

Back to School With All Systems Go

Another Summer vacation has flown by and kids all over the Metroplex will
be heading back to school soon. In order to get off to an organized start and
maintain your family’s sanity throughout the year here are some strategies you
can follow.

Start by designating a spot that will be the drop off point for all the things
your kids bring home from school including graded papers, completed
projects, forms, announcements, and correspondence.

While backpacks will probably be kept on a hook, in a cubby, or the spot
your child does homework, other information will be better off in an area
where a parent can maintain it such as a home office or the bill paying area.
For many this is the kitchen, the hub and command center of the home.

To keep track of the papers that fill your kids’ folders you might create a
stack of “in” trays, using one per child for all paperwork to rest until you
have a chance to go through it. If you prefer to keep your countertops
clear and you have file drawers nearby, label folders with each of your
children’s names and tuck the day’s take-homes out of sight.

To keep track of important dates such as upcoming events, meetings,
classes, practice sessions, ball games, concerts or other extracurricular
activities, keep a calendar or planner nearby and record the information
immediately.

If your children are old enough to participate, you can post a large
calendar on a wall or desktop and ask each child to write down -
in a color that’s different for each person, any events or due dates they
need to keep track of. This will help them become the organized adults
you want them to be.

Another folder or tray that may be helpful is one that holds school
lunch envelopes, release forms that need to be signed and returned,
medication forms for the school nurse, fundraising packets, action items
and any time-sensitive information that must be ready to grab at a moment’s
notice.

For memorabilia – drawings, 3D projects, A+ papers, original stories,
and other items you or your child is especially proud of, choose a container
to store them. Be careful not to save everything. For bulky or large items
take a photograph and then after a timeframe you choose, let the original go.

I suggest to my clients that they find a box of whatever size they feel
comfortable with (and have room to store) and vow not to save any more
than will fit in it. If you’re tempted to add to the box after it’s full you
must remove something else. By the end of the school year you will
only have kept the best of the best.

For extra school supplies like folders, tablets, spiral notebooks, pens,
pencils, crayons and markers set aside an area inside a closet, on a shelf
or in a cupboard to store them until they’re needed. This should reduce the
number of trips to the store when backup is required.

When it’s time for homework make sure your kids have a quiet spot
to work, plenty of light, and a table or desk big enough hold their
books and papers. Access to a parent or sibling who can help them
over rough spots, explain an assignment, or give them clues that will
help them master the material is also beneficial.

Each home and family is different, so if you have a special need I
haven’t addressed send me a note and I’ll help you with a solution.
On the other hand, if you want to share one of your own successful
strategies, I’m always eager to learn new things!

Organizing and Caring For Photographic Memories

Organizing photos. Just uttering those words can send a shiver down your
spine. Even if you love creating scrapbooks it can be one of the most
daunting and time consuming activities to undertake.

For suggestions on how to sort and organize your photos, I’ve put
together a set of basic guidelines I like to follow for organizing my own.
A good way to approach this task is to get several small boxes or
containers for the sorting process. Place a sticky note on each one
designating what type of picture goes in each box or write on the
container itself.

Once you’ve completed this task put the photos back in containers
which will keep them protected from temperature extremes, light,
moisture, chemical fumes (some of which are found in non-archival
storage boxes,) and critters.

Should negatives be kept with the pictures or in a separate spot?
If you choose to keep them separate, be sure to label the envelopes
otherwise you may never see the photo’s original again! Although
it is possible to reproduce photos from the print it’s preferable to
use the negative.

Here are some categories you may want to consider when organizing
your photos.

Heirloom photos of previous generations.
Your own pictures from childhood through your young adult, pre-marriage years. Baby and childhood photos of your children in which each child is photographed alone. School portraits, birthday parties, recitals and sports photography, by child. Holidays and family vacations sorted in chronological order. Photos sent by friends and relatives over the years. It’s a good idea to make note of who these people are and what year the photo was taken. Other. This would include all the photos in which multiple family members are present.

Since I’m not an expert on the topic of preserving photos I’ve included
links to several very helpful websites which will answer most, if not all
your preservation questions.

Just Black and White:
http://people.maine.com/photos/tip.htm

The American Museum of Photography:
http://www.photographymuseum.com/archival.html

Kansas State Historical Society (Includes information on preserving audio and video formats):
http://www.kshs.org/preserve/documents/preservephotos.htm

The Library of Congress, Preservation (Includes information of preserving books as well as photographs):

http://www.loc.gov/preserv/presfaq.html

Websites that sell archival materials for preserving photos:

Your Family Legacy: http://www.webyfl.com/

Century Photo Products: http://www.centuryphoto.com/servlet/OnlineShopping

Odds and Ends

Burning Questions
I’m always looking for new and relevant topics for future newsletter
articles. If you have a burning question or need help with a particular
organizing issue, please let me know and I’ll address it in an upcoming
newsletter.

Keep an eye out …
If you get The Dallas Morning News, check the Healthy Living “balance”
section in the next week or so and read the article by Dayle Shockley about
the importance of working in a harmonized workspace. www.dayleshockley.com

Feedback on last month’s article on TO DO lists
If you remember last months newsletter article on TO DO lists, I asked for
feedback and this is what I heard from Mariana V. “What an encouraging
article about To Do list’s. I already use this system and have for years.”

Are you a budding entrepreneur or business owner in need of group coaching,
accountability and support?
Then visit the Entrepreneur Leadership Center and sign up for the free
introductory program Tuesday, September 19, 2006 from
6:00 - 7:30 PM 12830 Hillcrest Road Suite 111, Dallas, TX 75230
Phone # 972/364-9031. Pauline Shirley and Judy Womak, the ELC’s
founders have helped me on my road to success and continue to support
me toward the future. http://www.entrepreneurleadershipcenter.com/events-01.html

I hope you find the e-newsletter helpful. If you have ideas for future
issues or have a question, please call or email me at (972) 208-4611 or
Nancy@HelpingHandsPS.com.

If you haven’t visited my website, please take a look!
www.HelpingHandsPS.com

Don’t forget that I’m available to speak to your group or association about
organizing, home staging, time management, or relocation topics.

Have a great month!