Organized Happy Helper “ Organization Ends Frustration “

Organizational Tips

January 1

Time Management

How long does it take to make up a queen-size bed with throw pillows?

Homework

It takes two minutes to make the bed—so make your bed every day, and it will make your room look neater! Get in the habit.

February 1

Organization

Did you know stuffed closets are bad for your health? It is hard to breathe or make air circulate due to the clutter.

According to research, four psychological effects of clutter are:

  • Stress and increased cortisol levels can become long-term
  • Feelings of shame or inadequacy that can lead to depression • Distraction from focus kills our productivity
  • Negative behavioral effects for ourselves and our children

Homework

Corresponding to these psychological effects, each time you look around and feel anxious that the mess is getting out of control, your body releases cortisol, one of the classic stress hormones.

The clutter could also be contributing to conditions like asthma. Start now to declutter your closet.

March 1

Charity

Many clients ask what you do with old prescription eyeglasses. Millions living in low and middle-income countries lack access to basic eye care services. Lions Clubs have recognized the urgent need for corrective lenses and collect usable glasses in their communities to support the Lions Recycle for Sight Program.

Homework

Send your collected eyeglasses to an official Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (LERC) for processing. There, the glasses are sorted to determine those that are usable or unusable, processed, and placed in inventory for distribution to optical missions around the world. Lions help to minimize landfill waste by supporting precious metal reclamation and scrap processing for damaged glasses that are unusable.

April 1

Laughter

April Fool’s Day is a joke day.

There is a tradition of playing practical jokes and hoaxes on others. Play a practical joke on someone today.

Homework

Watching or listening to their response will make you laugh. It’s my tradition to tell my husband that he has a flat tire every year! Every time he falls for it.

One time, when my granddaughter and I were in the vehicle, I told her to call her grandpa. Please tell him we just had two flat tires, and someone threw nails in the street. Two new tires were just purchased that had flat tires. He was surprised and was ready to pick us up. She responded, “April fools!” All of us laughed when we got him again!

May 1

Laughter

What does laughter do to your physical body?

  • It stimulates many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air; stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles; and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
  • It activates and relieves your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in a relaxed feeling.
  • It soothes tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce the physical symptoms of stress.

Homework

Laughing exercises: use your diaphragm. This muscle in the body is attached to other muscles—abdominal, facial, respiratory, back, and legs—so laughing affects your whole body.

Long-term effects:

  • Improve your immune system. Positive thoughts can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
  • Relieve Pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
  • Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations.
  • Improve your mood. Laughter can help lessen your stress, depression, anxiety, and improve self-esteem.

June 1

Spirituality

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

Homework

This is a favorite scripture with hope and promises for everyone. By inviting Jesus Christ into your heart, the Bible says, you now have eternal life.

July 1

Charity

Are you an impulsive buyer and like nice things even though you don’t need the items or can’t afford them?

Homework

Ask yourself these questions next time you go shopping and pick up an item you want to buy:

  • Do I need it or want it?
  • How many of these do I already have?
  • When was the last time I used it?
  • Where will I put it?

If you answered yes to even one of these questions, ask yourself if you should buy it. Maybe now is the time to make some serious changes.

August 1

Organization

Today, people receive an abundance of mail and often do not know how to sort it.

Homework

  • Bring in the stack from the mailbox. Separate junk mail from important mail.
  • Separate bills that need to be paid.
  • Place magazines and coupons in two piles.
  • Sort the remaining important mail by each person in the home. It’s their responsibility to pick up their mail and handle it.

September 1

Time Management

Do you talk on the phone but need to get your chores done?

Homework

You can wipe down a bathroom, fold a load of laundry, dust, or wash dishes while talking on the phone. Multitasking is a plus! Today earbuds are available, so you have hands free.

October 1

Laughter

Question: Do you know why Moses and his people were wandering in the desert for forty years?

Answer: Because even back then, the men would not stop and ask for directions.

Source: Debbie Tebbe

While watching “Mr. Rogers” with my three-year-old daughter Hannah one afternoon, I explained to her that Mr. Rogers went to live in Heaven. Hannah immediately said, “No Mama, he lives in the neighborhood!”

November 1

Organization

Organize crafts by categories, such as knitting, beading, scrapbooking, painting, woodworking, kits, and so forth.

Homework

For specific crafts, invest in storage containers. This will make it easier to find, work on, and store them for different projects. There are so many different types of containers for each craft! Find the best ones that suit your needs.

December 1

Time Management

Don’t wait until the last minute to wrap the Christmas gifts you bought.

Homework

To give a gift, put tissue paper inside gift bags. This will save you time wrapping. Of course, for children you should wrap a few gifts. Ask others to help you.