We all love dramatic before and after photos. It's amazing to see all we can accomplish with enough time and resources. But the reality is that most of our lives isn't made up of a day or a half day spent on organizing projects. Our lives are made up of 5 minutes of availability squeezed in between work, changing diapers, getting out the door, folding laundry and watching Grey's Anatomy. And that's how we live organized... by taking advantage of those moments.
So the next time you have 5 minutes, step away from Facebook (where you know you'll spend way more than 5 minutes getting sucked into it) and try to do one of these things to make your life a little simpler, your home a little more organized and your heart a little happier.
- Check Voicemail
- Schedule an annual doctor visit for yourself (& write it on the calendar)
- Delete 25 out-dated emails from your inbox
- File a small stack of papers
- Shred a few old bills
- Repair a loose button
- Throw out expired or old condiments from the fridge
- Clean out your purse (or at least one section of it!)
- Download pictures from your camera to your computer
- Purge a stack of magazines
- Clear out the ice cubes that have collected in the bottom of the freezer
- Toss expired coupons
- Go through one file of photos on your computer and delete the duplicates and bad ones
- Cleanse your garbage disposal by running it with a cut up lemon, baking soda and ice cubes
- Clear one clutter "hot spot"
- Refill the soap dispensers in all the bathrooms
- Update your voicemail message
- Plan your dinner menu for the week
- Choose 3 things from the closet that you'll never wear again and put them in the donate box
- Update your Netflix queue
- Write a love note to your spouse or significant other
- Transfer the $5 you didn't spend on coffee this morning from your checking account to your savings account
- Schedule e-cards for friends with birthdays this month
- Update your child's baby book
- Throw out expired medications
- Clear out the containers of last week's leftovers from the fridge
- Answer 1 important email that you keep putting off
- Uninstall 3 apps from your phone that you never use
- Add critical numbers to your cell phone contact list - poison control, local sheriff department, doctor, dentist and other key doctors
- Move your donation bag/box to the trunk of your car so you can drop it off on your next trip out
- Restock your diaper bag with wipes, diapers, diaper cream, a small snack & a bottle of water
- Check your coat closet for out of season items that need to be moved
- Research options for your next vacation
- Search for a new recipe to try with ingredients you already have on Epicurious or All Recipes
- Clean off your doorbell and exterior door knob to make the welcome warmer for visitors
- Put away 5 things that are not in their correct home
- Dust the television & electronic components
- Clean the kid fingerprints off your DVDs with Windex and a soft cloth
- Clear out the unmatched socks from your drawer
- Sweep out the side of the garage without a car in it
- Empty your shredder and the bottom tray on your 3-hole punch
- Empty the crumb tray on the toaster and wipe off the finger prints from the outside
- Remove 3 outdated documents from the front of the fridge
- Delete 3 recurring timers from your DVR of shows that you never watch or that have been canceled
- Microwave a bowl of water with lemon juice for 3 minutes to loosen gunk then wipe down the microwave with a damp cloth
- Clear out the unnecessary receipts gathered in your George Costanza wallet
- Send a quick "thinking of you" email to 3 friends
- Unscrew the filters from your faucets and soak in a small bowl of white vinegar to clear the mineral deposits
- Update your to-do list. Eliminate one thing you don't really need to do and probably won't do anyway
- Read a Delightfully Organized blog post!
What do you do with 5 minutes to spare?
you are an incredibly dull individual
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