It’s only March… our coldest month is behind us!

February is typically the coldest month here in Ontario and the thought of going outside sounds something like – nope, no thanks, I don’t think so.

March has arrived so it’s the best time to start planning for spring and summer. Yep, that’s what I said – planning for spring and summer! With a bit more sunshine and temperatures creeping up (it doesn’t matter how slowly), Mother Nature is letting us know that it’s safe to start making warm-weather plans.

So, let’s start planning!

1. Outdoor Eating

I don’t know about you, but eating my meals al fresco is one of my favorite things to do when the weather warms up. There are just a few things to prepare for this.

Grill

Depending on your grilling habits, it may have been a few months since you last grilled out. Wipe it down, clean the grate, stock up on charcoal or propane, wheel it to its favorite spot, and get started.

Serving Trays

A serving tray or two will be your best friend. They’ll save you several trips back and forth into the house and back out to the grill or outdoor seating area. You can use them for food prep, condiments, side dishes, and drinks. You can also use them for plates, silverware, and cooking utensils.

Outdoor Furniture

Pull it out, dust it off, and set it up.

Easy-peasy – the basics are set up and ready to go. Now get outside, relax, grill something delicious, and enjoy. You can add ambiance with string lights, setting up portable firepits, and staking tiki torches as the season progresses.

2. Pantry Make-Over

Let’s face it, our eating habits change along with the seasons. In the warmer months, we’re often on-the-go, so it’s helpful to have a few more healthy options around that are quick and ready to grab-and-go.

Have fresh fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to grab. If they’re getting old, freeze them for smoothies later. Make sure your pantry is stocked with family staples – that way it’s easy to make something more healthy than fast-food before or after that baseball game or tennis match.

3. Car Essentials

With major season changes come major car essential changes as well. Most vehicle-related companies suggest the following:

Flashlight
Multi-tool/pocket knife
Water
Snacks (non-perishable, no melting chocolate)
Phone charger

If you’re a mom, dog-mom, or adventurer, these are a few more things you should have on-hand to be summer-ready:

Sunscreen
Bug repellant
First aid kit
Everything disinfectant-related
Baby wipes
Portable bowl
Extra dog treats/food
Poop bags

Some of these things need to be switched out so they don’t get stale or end up useless. Each season, swap the sunscreen and bug repellent.

4. Clothing & Accessories

It’s time to switch sweaters for tanks, pants for capris, and turtlenecks for sundresses.

It’s that time of year to ask the dreaded question – does it still fit? If not, donating it for someone else to enjoy is a charitable gesture.

Rearrange the items in your closet and place your most used items at eye level. As with your warm clothes, store your summer clothes with like items together in drawers. Keeping shorts, skirts, short sleeve shirts, tank tops, and work-out gear together makes it easier for you to see what options you have.

When storing your clothes, it helps the longevity of fabrics to store them clean and in plastic bins.

5. Mud Room / Entryways

This is one of the busiest places in a home where people are coming and going all the time. It is also the easiest place for things to get lost, covered up, or accidentally grabbed by someone else. Here are some trading tips for your busy entryway area:

Flip flops
Sandals
Sneakers, sports shoes
Sports equipment and shoes
Hats

All of these items can easily be stored in baskets and bins. They can be designated by each person or by item (hats, flip flops, sneakers, etc.).

6. Pool / Beach Bag

Depending on the ages and number of people you’re packing for, this list may vary. But regardless of that, this is a fun task to do. Here are some of the basics:

sunscreen (body, face, sweat-proof, baby)
towel/blanket
water or other hydrating beverages
umbrella if desired

If there are youngsters in your group, sand toys, floaties, snacks, baby wipes, and life vests, are helpful. A blue tooth speaker is nice to bring some life to the party. Teens and tweens may prefer earbuds so they can get lost in their own little world.

However you “do” the beach, be prepared ahead of time so you can soak up the rays in peace.

7. Garage / Shed

Similar to our clothes closets, our garages and sheds need a seasonal swap as well.

Swap snow shovels for rakes.

Swap snow blowers for lawnmowers.

Swap salt for fertilizer.

Swap winter activity items like fort-block-makers, skis, snow grips, and hockey sticks for warmer weather gear like bikes, chalk, bubbles, balls, jump ropes, and running gear.

Storing these items properly will ensure many more seasons of hockey, soccer, and other loved outdoor activities. Ensure you set aside time to do this.

8. Yard Sale

Many folks love yard/rummage/garage sales and they are prevalent during this time of the year. Families with young children who grow faster than they can wear out their clothes appreciate the deals they can get or the added income to keep growing wardrobes.

Sometimes hobbies change. Sometimes new hobbies develop. Unfortunately, our space doesn’t always grow to keep up with the changing of items related to this. Yard sales are a great way to share your past with new budding hobbyists while making space and a little extra cash to support your new activity. Win-win.

If the thought of having a sale is overwhelming, ask around to family, friends, and people in your neighborhood to see if they are having one. Join in with someone else – it will make it more enjoyable for everyone.

Make sure to check local rules regarding sales.

9. Gardening Supplies

If gardening is your hobby, eating your homegrown food makes you feel complete, or pulling up stubborn weeds is your stress-relief, then this season means everything to you. Make sure you have everything you need and that it is in tip-top shape to perform as needed.

Enjoy the Swap

Even though it isn’t explicitly spelled out, during all of these swaps, changes, and transitions, it’s the ideal time to clean out these spaces. Some areas are as simple as a sweeping or wipe-out. Others may take a bit more time and effort. Regardless of the effort, cleaning should become part of this routine if it isn’t already. This will give you more time during those warmer temperatures to enjoy doing what you love outdoors!

Not Sure Where to Start?

Organized MD is here to help! Any area that you dread looking at is an area that Dennise will be happy to help you declutter and organize. Are multiple summer schedules already making your head spin? Dennise is incredible at helping find a system that you can follow – no more missed activities, parties, or get-togethers. Your summer is in good hands with Organized MD!

Certified Virtual Professional Organizers Provide Powerful Services Every Day

Virtual meetings. Virtual classrooms. Virtual conferences. Virtual events. Virtual happy hours. Virtual book clubs. Virtual game nights. Virtual dinners. Virtual is a word we have used more in the past year than any other.

Whether it’s because of homeschooling and working from home or being in lockdown, we have become much more aware of our living space and its belongings. Many people have used this time to sort through closets, boxes, basements, and garages.

Some have wanted to or even tried to but came to the realization that this is a task that’s more than they can take on by themselves.

Enter Virtual Organizing.

What is Virtual Organizing?

Before we talk about virtual organizing, let’s define organizing. Simply put, organizing is arranging items in an order. Some synonyms are; structure, assemble, sort, group, order, classify, categorize, and systematize.

Virtual organizing is doing organizational things via technology or computer software. There are many different platforms with video chat capabilities, the most popular being Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Hangouts. This is the closest way people can be “together” without being in the same physical space.

This is just one of the benefits of virtual organizing as opposed to in-person organization. You can still get organized regardless of pandemic restrictions and protocols.

Another benefit of virtual organizing is that it promotes brain activity and development. Working in collaboration with an organizer is stimulating due to the thought process required for planning.

Virtually serving your needs is more flexible than in-person organizing. There is less travel required on the organizer’s part, creating more availability in their schedule.

How Does Virtual Organizing Work?

The first step to virtual organizing is to have a consultation with the organizer. Here you will discuss your needs, take a virtual tour of your space, and decide if you two are a good fit to work together.

From there, any other information will be gathered and the organizer will put together a plan for your space. If there are organization materials needed, those will be purchased and collected at this time. A date and time are scheduled to begin.

A schedule will be put in place depending on what you and your organizer have agreed will work best.

Many organizers include a follow-up meeting a month or so after the project has finished to help make tweaks or changes to best meet your needs.

Do You Know There Are Certified Virtual Professional Organizers?

There is a certification program for Professional Organizers who are committed to becoming educated in the different ways necessary to virtually support their clients.

“Certification as a Virtual Professional Organizer (CVPO™) indicates that you are committed to your work through continued learning and your support in sustaining the industry’s integrity through best practices.”
-The Certified Virtual Organizer

Not only is previous organizing experience required, but organizers must also pass an exam to prove their proficiency with higher-level training and skills to uphold the ethics of the profession of Virtual Organizing (VO).

CVPO’s have the most current research and theories to bring to your organizing project. Not to mention the continued support and community of other certified professionals.

When Do You Want to Get Started?

I proudly hold the title of Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Certified Virtual Professional Organizer (CVPO). I am certified to help you get decluttered, organized, create systems, increase your productivity, and improve your time management – all virtually! This can be quite an empowering experience for you to take ownership of your space.

Want a cost-effective way of working together with shorter organizing sessions? Are you still in lockdown? Do you want to take full advantage of your time while you are at home? Not quite comfortable having someone into your home?

Call Organized MD. I will help you get any (some, or all) of your spaces organized, find a time management system that works for you, and help increase your productivity – and I’m certified to do so virtually.

Organized MD – treating the ill elements of your time and spaces!

Tag: declutter

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