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Health Corner

8 Simple Ways to Organize Your Life

Ø     Get a Day Planner: Keep a check-book-sized calendar with you always and write down your appointments. Consider writing in all of the important birthdays at the beginning of the year. Also, schedule time for yourself if you need a break.

Ø     Buy Single-Serving Foods: Is you kitchen and refrigerator a mess of leftovers and moldy items? Only buy food you know you’ll eat. If you have children, consider stocking a container with healthy foods they can reach and enjoy to minimize you preparation  and cleaning time (i.e., string cheese, fruit, cereal bars)

Ø     Be Prepared: Visiting the doctor or going to the carwash? If you have 10 minutes to kill, bring along your checkbook, work on your grocery list, return phone calls or enjoy a book.

Ø     Recycle: Don’t let newspaper, magazines or junk mail hang around. Teach your children, coworkers, or classmates that recyclable materials should be placed in a marked bin, not left around.

Ø     Write out important numbers: Give a list of important phone numbers to your family members and program them into you cell phone. Consider programming the numbers of patrons you regularly use, such as your dry cleaner, restaurants, and dog groomer. You could keep this list in your day planner.

Ø     Chores: If you live alone or with others, create a schedule of shores and stick to it. How often does laundry, vacuuming and yard work need to be done? Ask for help and reward yourself and other who participate.

Ø     Buy “Easy” products: Why purchase 12 types of cleaning solutions when vinegar and bleach will do? Minimize the number of products you purchase, store and then throw away by reading labels and simplifying.

Ø     Birthdays: Ask for gift cards to minimize wrapping paper waste and the time spent returning unwanted items. Also consider asking for donations to nonprofits. If you can’t come up with something you want, chances are you don’t need anything.

Resource: Arizona Health