VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED during the Recycling Bonanza on Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Dedman Foundation Animal Shelter parking area at 2400 High St in Fort Benton. Any amount of time you could be there would be greatly appreciated.
With the annual Recycling Bonanza coming up, the theme of decluttering and organization comes to mind. With the weather having been as nice as it has been, this probably does not feel like the time to be Spring cleaning inside. However, when those spare moments arise or the weather forces you indoors, here is some information to get the process started.
Before we go any further, it is important to make the decision to commit to getting organized and staying organized. To do this, you will need to also commit to purging items. Once you make that decision, hold yourself accountable and stick to it.
Start by making a list of areas in your home and prioritize them in the order that need to be completed first. It will be important to finish one area before beginning another.
Next, the purging begins. One suggestion is to use the four-box method by taking three large boxes and a large trash can and labeling each of the boxes “Put Away,” “Give Away/Sell” and “Storage.” Obviously, the items you throw away will go directly in the trash can. Sort your items accordingly into the boxes. Keep in mind, if you have not used the item for an extended period of time (set your own time span like six months or one year), you are likely not going to miss it. On the other hand, if it is more easily accessible, you may end up using it much more than when it was amongst other things. You will need to decide the extent to which you want to purge. Even if it is a minimal amount, it is still less than before as long as you do not add something new. Try the OCI-OGO (one comes in – one goes out) rule.
Other ways to get organized include:
- Everything should have its own spot where it belongs.
- Label boxes and containers on all sides so you can easily locate items and know where to put items away.
- Place trash cans in every room.
- Place the “Give Away” box in your vehicle and deliver it as soon as you can.
- For items you decide to sell, plan to have the sale or place the ads in the very near future to get rid of them as soon as possible.
- Turn all your clothes hangers so the hooks are going the same direction. As you wear an item, turn the clothes hanger in the opposite direction when you place it back in the closet. At the end of the season, those hangers that did not get turned around are the clothing items that you did not wear and should be removed.
- Keep a toy basket in every room for quick clean ups—for pets too.
- Open and sort mail immediately after bringing it in the house. Shred junk mail the same day you received it. Keep an accordion file in an easy-to-access location and place bills and receipts in it daily.
Be intentional about organization and when you have found the system that works for you, make it part of your daily routine. Try committing 10 minutes each day to putting things where they belong.
To learn more, please contact Janell at the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3036, janellb@montana.edu or in the Chouteau County Courthouse at 1308 Franklin St in Fort Benton with any questions or for more information.
Montana State University, US Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.
