Let’s face it, do you really want to wake up or go to sleep next to a dust-filled, cluttered nightstand?  It’s usually one of the first things you see when you open your eyes in the morning and one of the last things you see when you close them at night. Is there so much clutter, that you’ve become so used to looking at it that you’ve forgotten what is actually taking up space there?

What’s on your nightstand?
What’s taking up space on this nightstand and how much of it are you actually using? Does it really belong there? You are going to find medication, lotions, books, jewelry, money, memorabilia, electronics, hair accessories, gift cards, and I could list a hundred more things that I’ve found in this space when working with clients. You name it, I’ve probably found it!

Take inventory.
I want you to take everything off and out of this piece of furniture. As you touch each piece, make your piles of keep, toss, or move to another room. Categorize your keep items as you go. As you take inventory, really think about what needs to stay here and be honest about what you’re using on a daily or weekly basis.

Here’s a good gauge if you should keep it there: If it’s collecting dust, it’s been there too long and it’s either time to get rid of it or move it to another area in your home where it will get used.

Organize.
You’ll want this space to be as serene as possible, just like your bedroom. If you must keep small items here, keep them categorized and itemized in drawer organizers. Remember, that drawers in a nightstand are not supposed to be junk drawers or a catch all for things you don’t know what to do with. Really ask yourself, “How much do I need to keep here?” 

Remember, the least amount of distractions you have in the bedroom, the better you’ll sleep.

It’s time to tackle this quick project. It won’t be so overwhelming if you just schedule this one project on your calendar and commit to tackling it.  Block off ½ an hour for this project. It’s not going to take you that long, but give yourself some structure and a time frame.

​Take note to how you feel once you accomplished this project.

Column for Coastal Breeze News
February 16-22, 2023
Click here to read article

How much money do you think you’re wasting in the kitchen? I can tell you that in every kitchen I’ve organized; at least 3 full garbage bags of expired food get tossed. When was the last time you took everything out of your food pantry down to bare shelves? How many of you actually know what’s hiding in the dark corners of your food cabinets?

Here are 5 ways to save money by having an organized kitchen

Itemize and categorize food. There is a great sale at the market for buy two get two free. You get home and there isn’t enough room on one shelf for the items. You end up storing them all over the closet. You now have 4 of the same item floating in different areas.  Six months later, you clean out and organize your closet and find those bottles and they have expired. Initially, you thought you were saving money on this great deal but you have just wasted money and thrown it into the garbage along with the food. Keep like items categorized and stored together so it’s easy to find things.

Plan ahead. When going to the market, make meal plans ahead of time and then make your food shopping list from your organized food pantry. You’ll avoid purchasing duplicate items and wasting money on things you already have. Many people make the mistake of not checking their food cabinet before they head to the market. Not planning ahead will also allow you to make impulsepurchases and you’ll end up spending more than you planned.

Paper products. Don’t forget about paper products, dishes and utensils you keep stocked for casual events or outdoor parties. Keep all these items grouped together.  When you’re planning your party, you’ll know exactly what you need to purchase and you won’t be purchasing duplicate items and wasting money.

Junk drawers. Many people have junk drawers in the kitchen. Do you really need a junk drawer in the kitchen? Could you utilize that space better? Empty your junk drawer and you may be surprised at what you find. You spent $100 at Target last week but you just found a Target gift card in the back of your junk drawer. You may be wasting money if you are keeping a disorganized junk drawer.

Everything should have a home. Never again purchase a duplicate item because you forgot you had it or you couldn’t remember where you placed it. Keep items grouped and categorized together. Don’t scatter items all over the kitchen. When items are categorized together, you’ll know immediately where to find something and you won’t waste money purchasing duplicate items.

How are you functioning in your kitchen? Are you wasting time, money and energy in your kitchen? Create a kitchen where you can be efficient and productive.
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It’s time to give your kitchen an overhaul and have less stress, more free time and more money in your pocket.  

Disorganization is a distraction and will cause you to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and stuck. When you are trying to lose weight, these are the last things you want to feel. What happens when we are stressed and overwhelmed? We eat to feed our emotions. Being organized in your kitchen will help you in your weight loss journey.

Here are 6 steps to an organized kitchen

1. Take everything out of your food closets. Everything must come out!  If you want to really get organized, you must do this. You can’t just shift items around. You won’t know what is hiding in the back of the food closet until you take everything out! As you begin to empty, be sure you are looking at expiration dates and throw away food that is expired
2. Re-evaluate how you function.  What do you see that may not belong? Is it your children’s paperwork from school, tools, sports equipment, mail, or clothes?  My advice: If it is not related to appliances, cooking or food and you don't use it every day, get it out of the kitchen!
3. Transform your space. Once your food pantry is empty, you now have this empty space that you can transform to your liking. Take a minute to think about how you want to function in this space. Think about often you grab certain foods and which shelves you want your breakfast foods or snacks on.  Think about what your trigger foods are and where those are placed in your food closet.  
4. Maximize your space. Think about what you are storing in your kitchen that doesn’t need to be there, especially if you are short on space and have a small kitchen. If you are short on space, items need to fit like a puzzle in your space. Get the most out of your space!
5. Organize your containers. If you are preparing your food for the week, you will need containers to store the food in. Be sure this area in the kitchen is organized, because you want to be as efficient as possible in your kitchen.
6. Set up working systems. Getting organized is all about setting up working organized systems that will not only get you organized, but keep you organized. You want to be efficient and productive in your kitchen. Set up systems that will work for you and your family. The simpler the system, the easier it will be to maintain.  Streamline. Simplify.

Knowing what you have and where everything is will help avoid buying duplicate items at the market. Everything is categorized, labeled and you will be able to see everything in your closet. Having an organized kitchen will help you in your weight loss journey.