#29 - Bathroom Counter Clearing

Today's task is in a room everyone visits many times in a day, but one or two visits are more important than the others. So, I ask you, if there is a place that you visit every day and do virtually the exact same thing every day, shouldn't it be one of the most organized places in your world?

I think so!

It is the place that everyone takes morning time to whisk away the nighttime slumber and prepare for the day. And equally in the evening to wash away the day's residue.
Joyfully,
Brenda

Day Way # 29 Clear off your bathroom counter and organize the products you use everyday.

While I could request that you take on the whole bathroom, we are going to focus on the bathroom counter and you can take it as far as you would like from there. Suggestions

* Your bathroom counter should be 90% clear. Keep basic items like hand soap, ring holder, and a decorative item or two on the counter.
* Have quick access to products with a specific task. For example, I have a basket with my brushes, combs, hair dryer and clips. I pull out the whole basket, put it on the counter, do my task, then put the whole basket away. I also have all my make up in one plastic drawer from an organizer under the sink. I pull out the whole drawer, set it on the counter, do my task, then put the whole drawer away. Gives access without the constant clutter for the other 23 hours and 45 minutes of the day.

*An important aspect of having a clutter free and organized bathroom counter is that you spend less time doing the daily routinues. You get out what you need, use it and put it away. No hunting and searching through the mass of products that are on the counter. You also don't have to shift things around on the counter to make space for the items for the next task.

* When it is cleaning time, you don't have 14 splattered bottles on the counter to move before you can wipe down the counter. AND you don't have 14 bottles that look horrible because they've been splattered with toothpaste and various personal care products.

* For those that use heating elements on your hair, fewer melted bottle edges from a curling iron!

#26 Nightstand Refresh

What's the last thing you see before you go to sleep and what's the first thing you see when you wake up? There is a correlation between what we see and the message that gets planted in our brain.

Does that message send you off to slumberland with positive thoughts, ready to dream about your goals and joys? When you wake up, does that message start your day with empowerment, joy and the confidence we all need to take on these challenging days?

Joyfully,
Brenda

Day Way # 26 Organize your nightstand/bedside table.

Create the space to be not only functional, but one that gives you a positive message.

Make sure that if you wake up in the middle of the night, you can easily reach what you need.
I also find it interesting that many times when someone is being interviewed or profiled, they ask, "What's on your nightstand right now?" They are generally referring to what reading material, but since it's a popular question, there tends to be some meaning in what IS on your nightstand.

#22 Kitchen Storage Containers

If you can't stand the lids, get out of the kitchen!

Nobody likes to spend more time in the kitchen then they have to, especially when it's clean up time.

Do you like or dislike leftovers? They tend to be a great solution for a quick bite in the days after the initial meal, but most people tell me they dislike them because of the chore of putting the leftovers away. It can be a real frustrating process if you have to search for containers and lids.

Let's streamline meal cleanup time because you have better things to do!

Joyfully,
Brenda

Day Way # 22 Storage Container Cleanup!

Pretty simple - pull out all the containers and lids,
then match them up.

For the ones you are keeping
First, group by size. Makes it easier to pull from a short stack then your entire supply.

Second, watch the how many different sizes you stack together. Fewer is better.

Put lids in their own space.

Put lids in a holding container where they can stand on their side.

For the extra pieces?
Verify the other part isn't being used somewhere else temporarily. If it's gone on to another permanent task, decide if you need to keep the other part. Keep it if it matches other pieces you are keeping.

If it's a container without a lid, there are many repurposing options.

If it's just the lid, see if it can be used to go under a plant pot!

#17- "That" Drawer

Before we start on the day, I must make a few comments about this month's project. I've had people so excited about the kickstart to their year for getting things moving and accomplished. I've also had people apologize. Apologize?

Let's get something straight. My intention of sending out 31 days of tasks is that you have an opportunity to jump on most of them and make an impact on your life. If you are not getting to every single day, that's OK. Give yourself a little room to breathe. The most important factor is that you are moving forward. You are making progress. You are improving your environment and systems.

Back to today. Today is about "that" drawer. Yes, you all know exactly which one I'm talking about! It's that drawer that causes you the most frustration, the one that you spend the most amount of time at because it takes you so long to find something in it, and yes, cover your ears, the drawer that you swear at.

Today is the day to take it on and make a change! Joyfully,
Brenda

Day Way # 17 Organize the most frustrating drawer!

Suggestions:
Why have things collected here? Do they actually belong some place else and this was an easy dump?

Do you need to divide the drawer into groups or categories? Do you need little trays or baskets for those different groups?

Is this the best purpose for this drawer?

Is this the best place for the items in the drawer? If the drawer wasn't there, where would those items land or live?