“Spring into Action” – How to Organize Your Checklist!

Motivation – Check

TCO Spring Cleaning and Organizing Checklist - Check

It’s Spring – Check

Overwhelmed - Check

You have the list, and yes it can seem a bit overwhelming.  How do you get all of it done, and get it done within Spring!  They do call it Spring Cleaning not Summer Cleaning right!  The best advice I can give you is- set up a plan!  Knowing when and how you are going to do something helps you achieve your wanted results in more efficient way!

Here are some simple steps in organizing your checklist:

1) Set your priorities-  Using the TCO checklist as a guideline, go from room to room and decide on your priorities.  What needs to be done first?  What can be done quickly?  Every home is different and some of the items on the TCO checklist may not apply to you.  As well as you may need to add items for your own home.  The object here is to write down on your list what is going to happen first, second, and so on.

2) Schedule and set deadlines- In order to get your projects done, you have to schedule the time to do them.  Look at your schedule and plan ahead.  For example; Saturday, March 20th from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., working in garage, sorting, categorizing and making one trip to Goodwill. You are being clear of when you are working and what you will be doing during that time.

3)  Delegate- You do not have to do everything!  Have a family meeting and delegate cleaning and organizing tasks that are age appropriate to your family members.  When there are more hands involved, the work will get done faster.  If you can, consider hiring outside help.  There are lots of handyman and other services that can help clean out gutters, landscaping etc.

4)  Do a little each day- We’re on a timeline and not every weekend is going to be free for household projects.  So take a few minutes everyday, to do something!  The minutes will accumulate and eventually everything will be completed… and hopefully before summer starts!

5)  Make It Fun- I realize organizing is probably not on your top 10 things to don on a sunny spring day! However, you can make it fun!  Open your windows and put on your favorite music!  Make a game out of it.  Limit your distractions and make the most out of the time you have set aside.  When you have completed a project, celebrate and treat the family to something special like an ice cream date!

Happy Spring Organizing!