Tips for Your Home | Tips for Your Office

Shop from your closet. In front of a mirror, try on 5 things you've not worn in many months. If you wouldn't "buy" them again, give them away.

Put things away after you use them. Developing this habit will eliminate clutter and save you time when you look for that item the next time you need it.

When buying gifts for others consider if you are adding to their clutter.

Write your bills' due dates on your calendar as soon as you receive them. Payments will never be late again.

Make a list of you favorite charities so when you are ready to part with something you already have a new home lined up.

Leave for all appointments at least 10 minutes before you think you need to leave.

An organized space will give you peace of mind and let you focus easier on what is important.

Expand your comfort zone by selecting a task you are uncomfortable doing or have been putting off. Schedule it on your calendar for tomorrow. Remember to acknowledge your accomplishments as you make progress.

Hang a wall-mounted organizer by your front door to drop your keys and cell phone if you do not have room for a small table.

Use your medicine cabinet to hide the items you use everyday and keep your vanity top clear.

Place all your cleaning supplies in a handled tote so you can carry easily them to where you need them.

Add some hooks to the wall or the back of the bathroom door, if you do not have enough towel racks for everyone in the family.

Regularly schedule time on your calendar to declutter. That will help to keep it from accumulating again.

Place a small basket or container in your laundry room to hold the items found in pockets of dirty clothes.

Hang a second rod in the back of an extra deep closet like under a staircase. You can use it for shorter out-of-season items.

Some ottomans have removable tops to reveal a storage compartment. It can come in handy to hide toys or a stack of magazines.

Before you make a purchase ask yourself "where will you put it". If you do not have a good answer, "liking" it is not a good enough reason to buy it.

A three compartment laundry sorter lets you separate darks, lights and whites. When one section is full -- it's time to do a load.

Group like items together in your closet. Selecting an outfit will be much easier.

Put items where you will need or use them next. Do not think of it as "putting items away".

Show off one or two substantial accessories rather than lots of little things.

Add dividers or drawer organizers to maximize the amount of storage space in your dresser drawers. It is especially useful for small items like socks.

Use a hanging shoe organizer to better utilize the space in your closet if you have more vertical space than floor space.

Keep only enough hangers for the clothes you have. When you buy something new, you will have to get rid of something you already have to free up a hanger.

Break projects into small doable tasks. You will accomplish more if the steps are manageable.

Put away or throw away five things on your desk before turning on your computer each day.

Rotate your collections. Store half or more of your pieces and display just a select few. Switching pieces every few months keeps the display looking fresh.

Go through your mail at least every two days. If you let it accumulate, it becomes overwhelming. Ideally sort it standing over the recycle bin so the uninvited mail is trashed.

Never misplace your keys again. Select one place to keep your keys. It could be a hook or basket near the front door, a pocket in your purse or a drawer near the entrance. Make it a habit to always put your keys in that designated location.

Sentimental writing paper. Use the backside of your children’s artwork to send a note to grandparents and other relatives.

Matched set. Store a set of sheets inside a matching pillow case. It keeps your linen closet neater and you will not spend time searching for a matching set of sheets.

Does that still fit? Keep a plastic container in your children’s closets for clothes they have outgrown. While putting away laundry add the outgrown clothing to the bin. When it is full give away the clothes or place them in long-term storage for a younger child.

Clean and tidy. Use a plastic caddy with a handle to store your cleaning supplies. Everything you need will be in one location and it is easy to carry from room to room.

Underutilized storage space. Take advantage of the space under your bed to store covered containers of out-of-season clothing, seasonal decorations and extra bedding. A bed skirt will conceal the extra storage space.

Picture perfect. Make a paper template from newspaper the size and shape of a picture or mirror you want to hang. Tape the template on the wall to decide where to hang the piece. You can even nail the hook right through the paper so it ends up in the perfect spot. This is especially helpful for groups of photos.

Reduce before you buy. Don't buy any storage containers until you go through your clutter and get rid of what you don't need or use. Then buy containers to organize what you are keeping.

Keep the memory not the item. Photograph your items before giving them away. In most cases it's not the object that is important. Rather it's the memory that it sparks. There is a reason that digital photos are stored on a "memory" card.

Get hooked. Attach small adhesive hooks inside kitchen cabinet doors to hold cooking utensils.

Chinese or pizza? Use a 3-ring binder with clear plastic sleeves to hold all your take-out menus.

Bright idea. Free up valuable surface space on your bedside table by installing a wall-mounted light.

OFFICE TIPS

An uncluttered desk will allow you to focus on your work and offer fewer distractions.

Confirm that the task still needs to be done. You do not want to finally finish a job that you have been putting off and then find out it did not have to be done at all.

Schedule specific times during the day to check your email. Having it open all day long will cause you to multitask and waste time.

Polish your self image. When you feel good about yourself, you focus on your strengths and talents rather than on your weaknesses.

Keep your desk neat and uncluttered and other will perceive you as getting work done.

Create a signature for your email that includes your name, company, job title, telephone number and any other pertinent information. This saves time. You do not have to type it each time and the recipient does not have to look up your number to call.

Always carry reading material with you, you will be prepared during unexpected waits.

Talk to others who have conquered challenges similar to yours. Learn from their accomplishments so that you can so you can make your own progress.

Your inbox is a temporary holding spot for emails. Once you reply, take action or decide to save for reference, move them to a separate folder.

Reduce your paper piles. Open your mail standing over a wastebasket or recycle bin. Junk mail should be tossed immediately before it has time to become clutter.

Tackle your highest priority tasks first when your energy is high.

A neat desktop will allow you to find what you are working on and make it less likely that something will be lost in a pile.