6 Productivity Tips and Hacks

Staying productive is such a hard thing to do for many people. We constantly coach productivity and organizing clients to help them be productive and stay on task. Everyone learns and does things differently. Here are 6 simple things you can do stay more productive. 

• Create to-do lists and break big tasks down into smaller, manageable tasks.
• Set daily goals of what you want to achieve. Start with your most important or difficult task first. Commit to achieving one goal a day.
• Use the Pomodoro technique where you set a timer and work for 25 minutes and then break for 5 minutes. 
• Use app & website blockers that blocks you from getting on certain social sites and apps while you are working. 
• Have an accountability partner or business mentor you can talk to about your goals and check in regularly. 
• Use iPhone's screen time controls to help you increase productivity. 

Photo by fauxels from Pexels

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How to Organize Your Bathroom

Bathrooms are areas that we use everyday and can often become a mess extremely quickly because they are areas we get ready in, brush our teeth, shower, get dressed, and the list goes on & on. Here are some ways that professional organizers like myself organize bathrooms.

• Take everything out of the bathroom: This way you can really see the space you have to work with.
• Get rid of old and expired items: No need to keep items you no longer need, use or that are expired. 
• Sort like items together: This way you can see if there are any duplicates and get rid of them or distribute them to other rooms of the house, see what you may need to replace, etc.
• Organize: Organize bathroom products so you know where you would like them to be placed. 
• Contain: Use organization products to help you contain your bathroom items.
• Buy product after you declutter: This way you are getting the proper containers to fit the items you actually have and use.

How do you organize your bathroom?

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6 Tips for Balancing Virtual Schooling

Are your kids still doing virtual schooling this year? If so, below are some tips that may be helpful. I know most kids are doing in person this year, but there are schools that are offering virtual school. I know some people already have virtual school down to a science, but others may need a little more help. It can be a hard and daunting thing to deal with as a parent and child. We have helped countless clients get organized for the new school year. 

• Set up a consistent routine. This is essential in staying on track and making sure you have a plan in place. 
• Plan the night before. If something is needed for school the next day make sure it is ready to go on your desk or work area, prep your meals the night before so you are not scrambling, set up clothes out, make sure your spaces are organized, tidy and ready to go for the next day, etc.
• Use apps or a physical calendar to keep track of important deadlines, meetings, due dates, etc. Having important tasks written in one area or designated areas is great so you can make sure everyone is on the same page. 
• Create systems and encourage sticking to them. Creating systems in all areas always helps, but especially when you have a lot going on. Taking the time to set up systems and processes will reduce future stress, amount of work, questions asked, and time it takes to get things done.
• Outsource. If you are feeling spread too thin hire help to help you be your most productive self. It reduces stress and can be a huge time saver. This could be hiring someone to come into your home, buying pre made meals for dinner, outsourcing various household tasks to get done, etc.
• Give yourself grace. Not all things will go as planned and be perfect. Give yourself and do the best you can. It’s probably not life threatening and everything tends to work out in the end. 

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5 Things to Purge This Weekend

 

• Take out menus. You can look everything up online and since COVID so many restaurants are still not fully open and have limited menu options. 
  
• Water bottles. We all get water bottles randomly, at free events, etc. and many of them we never use or don't like keep the ones you like and get rid of the rest. We often use these water bottle organizers in client's homes. 
  
• Organizers that don't fit properly in drawers. Lots of people often buy organizing solutions that are one big item with divided slots to put things like silverware and utensils in, in drawers, but they are often not the right size. I suggest buying individual drawer organizers so you can customize your drawer based on what you are putting in it. 
• Gifts from others you don't like. Most people get rid of gifts that others gave them because they think "what if they come over" and don't see it. Truth is most people NEVER ask that person about the gift they gave them. If you don't like it, donate it!
  
• Clothes that no longer fit that you are "saving" to fit in. Many people hold onto clothes for many, many years that never fit. By the time they do fit most of them have gone out of style. Many people want to go shopping for something new and fabulous when they loose weight and no longer care about the old clothes.

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Professional Closet Organizing Questions

Being a professional closet organizer there are various questions we often get asked when it comes to organizing closets, since it is one of our specialities. We are based in Houston, TX, but travel all over. Being a closet organizer in Houston is similar to other places, but some answers to questions may be different because of different regions and climates.

 -What are the benefits to getting your closet organized? Endless! But here are a few, less stressed, saves time because you are not constantly looking for items, saves money because you know what you have and are not going out and buying additional items, added storage because you can usually have more room in an organized, etc. 

-How often should people get their closets organized? Maintenance is key, really you should constantly be maintaining. Some clients we go to weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly.

-When is the best time to get your closet organized? From the moment you move into a new home and if you are already in your home or have been there for years there is no right time, you preferably just need to start!

-Who can benefit from getting their closet organized? Everyone. You reap the benefits immediately, your partner because unorganized closets can be a point of contention for many because everyone is stressed, late, etc. If you or a loved one in your household happen to pass having an organized closet can help you find certain items that are needed of sentimental value, etc.

-So you’ve organized my closet, what happens to the items I don’t want/need anymore? Personally at Eco Modern Concierge, as of right now, if you want them donated we donate them for free, if they can fit in our vehicle, on behalf of clients. Client's sometimes donate to their church, give to friends, family or coworkers, some try to sell online or at local resale shops. 

-What are some tips I should keep in mind after my closet is organized? Maintain, purge often, go through your closet seasonally, have a spot designated for repairs, dry clean and alterations.

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6 Tips for Balancing Virtual Work / School and Distractions At Home

Professional organizers often get called to help with time management & balance. Since this past year has been really challenging, we have gotten a lot of requests to help working from home and virtual learning at home. Balancing work / school and all the distractions that go along with it can be extremely frustrating and often times we do not know what the perfect balance is. Secret: there is no perfect balance. Here are some tips to help with the balance:

• Have a designated area where work and school takes place.
• Be upfront and honest with everyone in the household and include them in the decision making process. 
• Take breaks.
• Have designated times when things like TV & play can happen. 
• Have fun, educational activities planned that you will can all look forward to. 
• Have something to look forward to at the end of a long day like a hobby, favorite meal, sports, a movie, etc. 

What are some ways that you combat working from and learning from home and all the distractions that come with it?

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

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5 Things to Organize This Weekend

• Files. Go through all your files and get rid of ones that are outdated, you no longer need, or you no longer use. Recycle, shred and trash what you can.
• Cords. Does anyone else have a box of random box of cords that you have no idea what they go to? If yes, then it is time to go through them and get rid of what you haven't used in years, you have no idea what they belong to or what you no need. 
• Table linens. If you no longer entertain and have an overwhelming amount of linens then it may be time to get rid of some. Only keep the ones you love and use. 
• Office supplies. Do you have an excessive amount of office supplies? Go through them and donate ones you don't need or want to various organizations, schools or someone you know that could use them. 
• Exercise supplies. Who has unused exercise equipment and supplies? If you have a sweat suit that has never been used in 2 decades than it is time to get rid of it. 

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