Finding Balance

A part of time management is finding balance in life: making time for self, family, work, and volunteer commitments.

Your entire day is booked with many activities: working, sleeping, cooking meals, exercising, volunteering, family time, relaxation time, etc. In order to add another commitment, something will need to be given up.

When considering involvement in a new activity, here are a couple of questions to ask:

1. Is the new activity of great interest to you?
2. What current activity will you be giving up or doing less of?
3. Is the new activity worth the loss of the current activity?

Considering your answers, make the decision that makes the most sense for you.

Organize Using Repurposed Household Items

Everyone is looking for ways to save money. Instead of purchasing containers to organize your home, here are some ideas of items that can be used.

1. Cardboard shoeboxes – for storing craft items, controllers & games for gaming systems, DVDs, food items such as mixes or seasonings that come in bags, small toys such as matchbox cars or Polly Pockets.

2. Coffee cans – for storing plastic bags: put a can in the kitchen and one near each wastebasket in bathrooms & bedrooms.

3. Egg cartons – for beads & small crafts, and earrings -hot glue a piece of fabric (I like velveteen) in the carton to give it a luxurious look.

4. Cereal boxes – from the bottom of the box, mark 2” up, cut along that line – this is a great size for organizing drawers: in a desk for pens, pencils & small office supplies, in the kitchen for utensils, and in the bathroom for toothpaste, floss, combs, makeup.

5. Printer paper boxes – if you have access to these, they are great for storing everything. Having uniform size boxes makes efficient use of the storage space.

*Remember to label your boxes!*

Repurposing everyday household items as organizing containers is a wonderful way to get organized and save money. (Plus, it’s good for the environment.)

Create a Portable Homework Station

Many children do their homework at the kitchen table. To be prepared, have school supplies in a portable workstation. When it’s homework time, all the needed equipment is there.

Items needed may include: pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser, paper, glue, and crayons. Older children may also need: pens, dictionary, calculator, and stapler.

A timer helps some children focus. Typically, have student work for 20 minutes; take a 5-10 minute break, then back to work for 20 minutes, etc.

Files, folders, or drawers for:
* Lined Paper
* Completed & Graded Work (to stay home) Look through these papers as
often as your child brings work home. Get rid of what is no longer wanted often. (See http://www.simplespacesorg.blogspot.com/search/label/school - End of the School Year, May 28, 2008, for ideas on saving your child’s work.)
* Important Information for parent – schedules, newsletters, field trip information
* Project Files – for projects that are to be completed over a period of time
when the majority of the work is done at home. (Have a separate file for each project.)

Younger children will need help sorting their papers. Work together, so as the child gets older, he/she is able to take responsibility for sorting papers as they are brought home.

What to use as a Portable Workstation:

- Plastic storage drawers with 3 drawers: one drawer for supplies, one for paper & projects, and one for completed work & important info, OR
- Basket: Use folders for paper items and smaller containers for supplies, OR
- Table top file: use files for paper items and containers for pencils, crayons, etc. (The containers should fit in the file so there is only one item to move when it’s work time.)

Have a storage spot close to the kitchen table for your portable workstation so set up and put away is fast and convenient.

When it’s suppertime, pack up the portable homework station and put it away. You’re got your table back for mealtime!