by Jayme Radomski | Jan 9, 2025 | Cleaning, Digital, Money & Paper Management, Organizing, Self Care, Bathroom, Work & Home Office
The new year is a great time to organize various aspects of your life and start fresh. Here’s a list of ideas to help you get started. Don’t expect to tackle the entire list in January, but maybe pick one topic for each month. At the beginning of each month, develop a plan on how you will organize one area.
Set Resolutions: Define specific, achievable goals for the year.
Health & Fitness: Plan routines, set fitness goals, and book annual health check-ups.
Hobbies & Skills: Schedule time to learn something new or pursue interests.
Budget: Review last year’s expenses and create a budget for the new year.
Savings & Investments: Set savings goals and review your investment portfolio.
Taxes: Prepare for tax season by gathering necessary documents.
Debt Management: Plan repayments and track your progress.
Decluttering: Go through closets, pantry, and other spaces to donate or discard unused items.
Cleaning Schedule: Create a weekly or monthly plan to maintain your space.
Repairs & Upgrades: List and prioritize home maintenance tasks.
Career Goals: Identify skills to improve or new responsibilities to take on.
Networking: Connect with colleagues and expand your professional network.
Workspace: Organize your desk and digital files for efficiency.
Calendar: Coordinate birthdays, anniversaries, and important events.
Vacations & Trips: Plan holidays or weekends away (e.g., your March family trip).
Traditions: Set plans for family rituals or start new ones.
Mental Health: Schedule self-care routines or therapy sessions if needed.
Mindfulness Practices: Start journaling, meditation, or gratitude exercises.
Time Management: Assess priorities and set boundaries to avoid burnout.
Photos & Files: Organize digital photos and documents, and back them up.
Unsubscribe: Clear out email clutter and cancel unused subscriptions.
Password Update: Update passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
Volunteer: Choose causes to support with time or donations.
Social Engagements: Join local groups or participate in community events.
Top Shelf Home Organizing takes pride in helping busy families get organized. Reach out to Jayme to see how Top Shelf can help you plan and get organized in 2025.
by Jayme Radomski | Dec 8, 2024 | Cleaning, Closets, Clutter, Cooking & Kitchen, Eating & Kitchen, Organizing, Pantry
Preparing your home for December holidays can make the season more joyful and stress-free. Having a plan can help you prepare and avoid procrastination and last minute, unnecessary purchases. Top Shelf Home Organizing has four areas to plan and focus on to keep you focused on the reasons for this busy season.
Sort and Declutter: Go through your holiday decorations and discard or donate broken or unused items.
Plan Placement: Decide where your tree, lights, and other decorations will go to avoid last-minute rearranging.
Store Smartly: Keep unused decor in labeled bins for easy access. Purge the décor you repeatedly decide not to use.
Clean and Stock: Clear out expired items and stock up on baking essentials and festive staples (e.g., spices, flour, and beverages).
Plan Serving Ware: Ensure you have enough plates, glasses, and serving dishes for guests.
Prep in Advance: Organize your recipes and ingredients for holiday meals to save time later.
Declutter Common Areas: Tidy up living rooms and clear surfaces for decorations or entertaining.
Guest Room Prep: If hosting guests, freshen up linens, clean closets, and add festive touches like candles or small gifts.
Seating Arrangement: Plan seating for larger gatherings to avoid scrambling for chairs.
Inventory: Take stock of gifts already purchased and make a list of remaining items to buy.
Set a Wrapping Station: Keep wrapping paper, tape, scissors, and tags in one area for easy access. Have a plan to use the wrapping supplies you already have. This will help avoid storing excess holiday wrap supplies the remainder of the year.
Hide Gifts: Choose designated hiding spots for gifts to avoid clutter or surprises being found too early.
Planning ahead and scheduling out all of your holiday preparations will help save you stress, time and money. If preparing for a holiday brings too much stress, Top Shelf Home Organizing can help. Reach out to Jayme to see how we can help you during these busy times.
by Jayme Radomski | Nov 12, 2024 | Bathroom, Cleaning, Closets, Clutter, Cooking & Kitchen, Eating & Kitchen, Organizing, Pantry
Getting your home ready for Thanksgiving can make the holiday feel more enjoyable and less stressful. Top Shelf Home Organizing has eight key areas to focus on:
Clear surfaces in the living room, kitchen, dining area, and entryway. Remove unnecessary items to create an inviting, open space for guests to gather.
This includes cleaning appliances like the oven, stove, fridge, and microwave. Make sure you have enough counter space and clean tools for all your cooking and serving needs.
Sort through your pantry to ensure you have the essentials like spices, flour, sugar, and canned goods. Toss out expired items to make room for Thanksgiving ingredients.
If you have a separate dining room, set the table with plates, napkins, and cutlery ahead of time. Consider adding a table centerpiece or festive decorations to bring a holiday feel.
If you have guests staying over, ensure the guest rooms are fresh and clean with extra towels, fresh sheets, and any essentials they may need.
Make sure bathrooms are well-stocked with essentials like toilet paper, soap, hand towels, and any air fresheners. A small basket with extra amenities can make guests feel welcome.
Clear any shoes, bags, or coats that might clutter the space where guests first arrive. You could also add hooks, a small rug, or a shoe rack to manage belongings.
Decide on a spot where guests can serve themselves food and drinks. It could be a kitchen counter, buffet table, or even a sideboard. Having this ready will make serving easier and keep the flow in the dining area relaxed.
Getting organized early will let you focus on enjoying the holiday and spending time with family and friends! If your busy schedule prevents you from organizing your home, Top Shelf Home Organizing is here to help. Reach out to Jayme to schedule a consultation.
by Jayme Radomski | May 21, 2024 | Cleaning, Clutter, Managing Time, Money & Paper Management, Organizing
We have crafted five areas to get your kids organized for the end of the school year. Get your kids involved for organizing and planning for summer break.
The end of the school year is an ideal time for kids to declutter their school supplies. Going through their backpacks, desks, and lockers to remove any old papers, broken items, and unused supplies helps create a fresh start for the next school year. Encourage kids to recycle or donate items they no longer need.
Sorting and storing school supplies for the summer can save time and money when the new school year begins. Labeling bins or boxes for different items such as notebooks, art supplies, and textbooks can make it easier to find them later. This also helps kids learn the importance of organization and responsibility.
Reviewing the school year’s work and reflecting on accomplishments and areas for improvement can be beneficial. This can involve going through graded assignments, reports, and projects to see what they did well and where they can improve. It’s a good opportunity for goal-setting for the next school year.
Keeping kids engaged in learning over the summer can prevent the “summer slide.” Planning educational activities, such as reading lists, science experiments, or museum visits, can keep their minds active. A summer schedule that balances learning with fun activities can help maintain a routine.
Establishing a summer routine can help kids transition smoothly from the structure of the school year to the more relaxed summer months. This routine can include set times for chores, reading, outdoor play, and family activities. A consistent routine helps kids feel secure and can make it easier to return to school in the fall.
These strategies can make the end of the school year a positive and organized experience for kids, setting them up for success in the coming year. Top Shelf Home Organizing is happy to help you organize your home for the summer.
by Jayme Radomski | Apr 8, 2024 | Cleaning, Closets, Clutter, Organizing, Wardrobe
Organizing your closet for spring can be a refreshing way to welcome the season and make it easier to find your favorite clothes. An organized closet will help you rediscover your spring and summer wardrobe, and help you plan for any new clothing purchases you may need to make. Here are six tips to help you get started:
Begin by going through your clothes and accessories to declutter. Get rid of items that you no longer wear or need. Consider donating or selling items that are in good condition but no longer serve you. This step will help create more space in your closet for the items you love.
As you transition from winter to spring, store away heavy coats, sweaters, and other winter-specific items that you won’t need for the warmer months. This will free up space for lighter clothing such as dresses, shorts, and T-shirts. Consider using storage bins or vacuum-sealed bags to keep off-season items organized and protected.
Organize your clothing by category to make it easier to find what you need. You can group items such as tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear together. Within each category, you can further organize by color or type (e.g., sleeveless tops, long-sleeve shirts). This system will help you quickly locate specific items when getting dressed.
Make the most of your closet space by using storage solutions such as hanging organizers, shelves, and shoe racks. Utilize vertical space by installing hooks or hanging rods for accessories like scarves, belts, and purses. Consider investing in slim hangers to save space and keep clothes from slipping off.
Establish a routine for maintaining your organized closet. Set aside time each month to go through your clothes and accessories, removing items that no longer serve you and tidying up the space. This will help prevent clutter from accumulating and make it easier to keep your closet organized year-round.
Make your closet feel inviting and inspiring by adding personal touches such as decorative bins, artwork, or motivational quotes. Consider incorporating elements that reflect your personal style and make you feel good when you enter the space. A visually appealing closet can make the process of getting dressed more enjoyable.
By following these spring closet organizing tips, you can create a functional and stylish space that makes it easy to access your favorite clothes and accessories throughout the season. If organizing your clothes closet brings anxiety, Top Shelf Home Organizing would love to help. Organizing closets is our favorite space. Contact Jayme to chat about your closet.
by Jayme Radomski | Feb 12, 2024 | Cleaning, Closets, Digital, Eating & Kitchen, Money & Paper Management, Office, Organizing
Getting organized in February is a great idea as it can set a positive tone for the rest of the year. We love the idea of resetting your home before the warm spring air returns. Here are eight areas to focus on in February:
Declutter and organize your home office. File away paperwork, clean up your desk, and declutter digital files.
Declutter your digital life by organizing your computer files, emails, and apps. Delete unnecessary files and create a system for better organization.
Start organizing your financial documents for tax season. Create a system for keeping track of receipts, invoices, and important documents.
If you decorate for Valentine’s Day, take the time to organize and store those decorations once the holiday is over. Purge the decorations you don’t use.
Check the expiration dates of food items in your pantry and refrigerator. Discard any expired items and organize your shelves.
Straighten up your linen closet. Fold and organize towels and sheets, and discard any worn-out or mismatched items.
Tidy up your bedroom closet by decluttering clothes, shoes, and accessories. Donate or sell items you no longer need.
Sort through your winter wardrobe and donate or store items you won’t be needing for the remainder of the season. Organize coats, scarves, and gloves in a designated area for easy access.
Remember to take it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to enlist the help of family members or roommates. Setting aside dedicated time each day or weekend can make the process more manageable and less overwhelming. The organizers at Top Shelf Home Organizing are happy to help. Reach out to Jayme for any questions you have on organizing your home and office.
