Just 15 minutes

Date Posted: Jan 14, 2008

One of the problems of getting organized is simply not having big blocks of time to do it. That need not stop you, as there are many things you can organize with just 15 minutes most days. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish. Consider the following examples.

15 minutes while you are in the kitchen cooking:

• empty your junk drawer and begin getting rid of things that are broken, you no longer use, are expired, etc. Put things back in an organized fashion and you are done! Hint: use small containers you've purchased or even small box tops to corral the small items, such as pens and pencils or coupons.
• go through your stash of coupons. Throw out those that are expired or are for items you won't ever buy. Often a house brand is cheaper than a name brand even with a name-brand coupon.
• go through your recipe file and eliminate recipes you don't every, or won't ever use. If you have recipes that you have not put in your recipe box, do that now.
• organize just one shelf of your pantry or food cupboard. Not only will you improve your organization but you'll be more familiar with what you have so you won't buy more of the same when you go to the store.
• sort through any mail that you have not yet gone through. Throw out the junk mail and catalogs that you won't use.
  

15 minutes while watching TV

• do some filing. This is easy if your file drawer is located in the same room or if you have a rolling file cart.
• sort through your pile of magazines. Eliminate any that you have already read or won't ever read. Sometimes putting a magazine in a spot where you are most likely to read it helps.
• separate into piles those items you have clipped from magazines. Next put them into folders (clear ones work well) for each category: home decorating ideas, gardening tips, organizing articles, etc. Ask yourself where you will look if you want these and that will tell you where you should keep them. During a commercial put them away.

15 minutes whenever you can spare it:

• empty the contents of a dresser or chest and eliminate any clothing that is torn, badly worn, doesn't fit, or you just don't wear much anymore. Replace the contents in an organized fashion.
• empty the contents of a shelf or drawer in the bathroom; eliminate medicines that have expired, old makeup and other items that are past their usefulness and those that you don't use. Replace items, using small containers to corral the small items.

15 mintues while waiting at a doctor's office:

• go through your list of addresses on your electronic hand-held devices (cell phone and blackberry, for example). Delete phone numbers you don't need anymore. This will save you time the next time you are looking up a number
• go through your purse or pocketbook and throw out the trash.
• enjoy yourself and relax by reading something you've wanted to read. Just put the magazine or book with your keys so you won't forget to take it when you go to the appointment.