Paper Control: Setting up a Household Information Center
If you said yes to more than one of the above, a household information center may be the answer. A well-organized information center can help you to deal with activities, information, and papers that come into your home.
Your information center should be set up in a central location, most often it is the kitchen-the hub of the home. Your command center can be a portable file box or it could be stationed in a desk drawer. Supplies, such as envelopes, tape, stapler, pens and pencils, and the telephone, should be near by.
Through your information center you will manage your mail, bill paying, calendar, events and projects. A very important component of your information center will be a Tickler File system, which consists of a dated accordion file (1-31 and January-December) and action files. Another important and very necessary component is a calendar or planner.
As paper and information come into your home, you must make decisions on each item. Use the F.A.T. principle: File it for future reference, Act on it now (or another time), or Toss it. Action items will go into your action folders. Typical files may include: to do, to pay, to call, school, computer entry, etc. If you can do a task in two minutes or less, do it! If you have a paper that you need to act on a specific date, put that paper in your dated accordion behind the appropriate date. Don't forget to also enter it in your planner.
Another useful tool is a household binder. This 3-ring binder can be used to keep regularly accessed information. Common things you would store in your household binder might be school calendars and directories, lunch menus, practice schedules, and frequently used telephone numbers.
Use your system on a regular basis. Get into the habit of consulting your Ticker File and calendar at the same time every day, preferably in the morning. You should be continually adding and taking out items. Setting up a household information center will help you eliminate the piles and reduce the stress.
Related Tags: home, children, organization, paper, control, filing, calendar
About the author: Paula Constable, professional organizer and speaker, works with families who want to make their daily lives easier through organization. She is the owner of Stuff 2b Organized, LLC and she brings understanding, support and solutions to help calm the busy lives of the families she works with.
To sign up for her free newsletter, visit http://www.stuff2borganized.com Copyright © 2007 Paula Constable and Stuff 2b Organized, LLC. All rights reserved.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Be Your Self Improvement Leader By Getting Organized
Being organized isn't hard to do because it only needs a matter of self discipline, patience and a p - Four Points To Consider When Choosing A Shed Plan
So you've decided to build a storage shed to get rid of all the clutter in the basement and garage, - Dry Erase Wall Decals Are Amazing
Back to school season is officially upon us, and it's time to get the kids (or yourself!) all set to - Spring Cleaning: Organize Your Closet To Live Hip, Healthy & Sexy Over 40
For better or worse, we spend time in our closets everyday. The state of your closet and clothes can - 5 Ways To Be More Organized Without Organizing Anything!
1. Get sleep! - Ever notice how the world looks different after a solid 8 hours? Consistent quality - Home Improvement Articles - Tasteful Kitchen Cabinets Storage Solutions
Kitchen storage is one of the biggest problems for a homemaker. With all the pots, pans, dishes and - Family & Parenting Articles - 8 Must-Have Tips For Holiday Clutter Clearing
I like the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town". It is upbeat and happy and something I can sing alo - Business Articles - Turn your Unwanted Car into Cash
Have a car sitting around doing nothing? Why not turn it into cash and help America's children at th - The Beginners Guide To Stay Home Moms Club Organization
Establishing a Stay Home Moms Club in your area is just like planning any other event. The only diff - Advice Articles - The Way the Law of Attraction Can Have for You an Organized Home
The law of attraction broadly says that what you focus on and put your purpose on will manifest in y
Most viewed articles in this category:
- 6 Survival Tips On How to Be A Working Mom
Do you remember the first time you left the house just after your first child was born? There were s - Organize Paper at Home With These Tips to Manage & Reduce Paper Clutter
If one of your biggest home organization challenges is how to organize paper, maintain incoming pape - Why are Some Organizational Meetings So Drab?
Recently I attended a couple of organizational meetings where the families of the members were also - The Fear of Filing
If we are in a society of emails, online banking, e-invoicing, and SPAM, why in the world do we have - Pantry Pandemonium
Cindy is at Sam's Club shopping with her two youngest children. She loves Sam's Club because the - Eliminate Procrastination - Now - Short Article
We have all heard the adage, "We all get the same 24 hours," and still wonder how some people are ab - Get Organized For Growth
Getting organized is one of those tasks that come naturally to some people, and equally unnaturally - Clutter Control Patrol - Tips to Clear Clutter in Your Home
Who's guarding against clutter growth in your home? Do a clutter control patrol to take back your ho - Chess, Soups and Life
What do chess and cooking have in common? Admittedly, not much. However, at the height of a hard-fou - Why Closet Organizers Could Help You
People accumulate a lot of junk around the house and the problem they often face is that they never