Googled... far too many for this column, so we asked Kate Weatherman, an organizational guru from the D.C.
area to share ten ways you can stay balanced in your home, and perhaps bring about the centered calm that we
place to enjoy. "I try to help my clients in big and small ways," she says.
explains Kate. "It could mean you need
less paper." She suggests monitoring your
mail. Each day take your mail directly from
your box to your recycle bin, leaving all
junk mail, catalogues, etc. to be recycled.
"Immediately," she says, "you have
eliminated probably 80% of that day's
mail, or incoming paper," as she likes to
call it.
would see in a catalogue you can see on
the Internet.
evaluating your clothing at least twice a
year at the change of seasons.
but you don't wear; one for throw away's
(stained not wearable) and one I am
not quite sure pile. Put that pile in a
paper shopping bag in the foot of your
closet. If, by the next clean-out, you have
not reached for any of those items then
that bag gets put into the charity pile.
"We purchase so many canned, bottled
and non-perishable goods, and they
never are used. They never get opened
and they move to the back of the pantry."
TiP: Once a year, go through all your
non-perishable foods and throw out the
expired items.
outdoor gear from mismatched mittens
to outgrown swimsuits. Kate says at the
through outdoor gear and leave the closet
ready for action.
check at the end of the season and purge
lost or outgrown clothing.
paid job, volunteering, or just the
business of running a household." She
encourages everyone to have a desk
area that is inviting and clear of clutter.
TiP: Categorize your areas of work and
make filing systems for each category.
DON'T revert to stacking piles on top of
your desk. If you have no space buy an
inexpensive stylish file that you can
sit nearby.
"This can be very daunting," explains
Kate. "We tend to receive the emails, read
them, and let them linger, hover and
that can create unnecessary stress..."
TiP: Make email folders... for example;
your children; work; bills; volunteer
activities. Use the folders and clear your
main email box weekly.
insurance files for each member of your
family and a separate medical folder for
each family member by year. This is
very important, especially if you need to
reference a medical claim. "Back tracking
to find medical information can be very
daunting," explains Kate. "Keep up with
it as you go."
a system all year. Slip your charitable
giving acknowledgements, expenses
and receipts into a file for easy access.
TiP: Designate one file drawer for all
household participants, easily separating
into categories that best fit your situation.
license (front and back) and all your
credit cards. Put them in a file in your file
drawer. "Your passport should be stored
in a bank box or in a fireproof safe," says
Kate. If any of these items or lost or stolen
you will have critical information at your
fingertips. Tip: Again, think about online
storage.
dinner," says Kate. "Use that time to
spend the evening with your family and
children, read a book, listen to music, and
watch a favorite television show. If we go
from the dinner table, to dinner cleanup
and then back to work, it makes for a long
day and our brains never turn off."
so you can relax and get a better night's
sleep. It makes for a Happy House.
in Maryland, with her husband, daughter,
three dogs and two cats. For more
information about making your house
happy and balanced she can be reached
at kateweatherman@mac.com.