Simple Tasks - Office Supplies Week - Comprehensive Checklist

This week I focused on office supplies so I could prepare for receiving a very special piece of furniture. I ordered a custom buffet for my dining room. It was originally an old dresser that was refinished in a lovely antiqued green with a dark stained top. How does a buffet relate to office supplies? I am using it for my homeschool center! I believe in organizing thing where they are used, not necessarily in their traditional storage spots, and we do most of our schooling at the kids' desks in the living room or at the dining table. And since these spaces are combined in a "great room," it makes sense to keep the supplies next to the dining table.

But back to office supplies.

I wanted to declutter my supplies before I received the buffet so that my decluttering was separated from my organizing. I needed to know what supplies I was keeping so I would know how to arrange them in the new storage space. And it worked out perfectly. I had just enough space with a little room for growth.

If you want to keep going with decluttering your office supplies, here is the comprehensive checklist I used to help me prepare my own supplies:

My new buffet that is housing my office supplies!

*Pens
*Pencils
*Markers
*Erasers
*White-Out
*Tape
*Paper Clips
*Binder Clips
*Staples/Stapler
*Tacks
*Rubber Bands
*Magnets
*Scissors
*Hole punches
*Rulers/measuring tapes
*Glues
*Label Maker
*Notepads/Notebooks
*Folders
*Envelopes
*Calendars

Some people may have additional categories, and some people may not have things for every category. Both are OK! The important thing to remember is that you keep what you need and use. If your lifestyle has changed since the last time you decluttered your office supplies,  you may not need to keep things for every category. I used to be a college English instructor who worked from home, so I needed many more office supplies than what I use now. Even though I teach homeschool everyday, I need fewer "adult" office supplies. So declutter for the life you have now.

And remember to donate usable supplies to the organization of your choice! Libraries, schools, nursing homes, boys and girls clubs, and more can benefit from your donation.

Next week I will be changing up how "Simple Tasks" are listed to make them more simple for everyone (including me!). And remember to keep simple, and be happy!

Simple Tasks - Bathroom Week - Comprehensive Checklist

This week we had 4 simple tasks to help us tidy up our bathroom spaces by decluttering towels, first aid items, decor, and makeup. While these four items may make up the majority of our bathroom clutter, they don't cover all the categories. For those of you who really want to feel like your bathroom is completely tidy, here is a checklist of categories to declutter. If this list overwhelms you, skip it! We will come back to our bathroom spaces and work more on them later. Decluttering is a personal journey, so do what makes you comfortable. You should never be stressed or risk suffering decluttering burnout.

Bathroom Items to Declutter:
*Towels, washcloths, and hand towels
*Shower curtains and bathmats
*First aid supplies, medications, and vitamins
*Expired toothpaste, old and excess toothbrushes, other dental care items
*Skin creams and facial masks
*Perfumes
*Makeup, makeup brushes and applicators, and vanity mirrors, metal tools (tweezers, eyelash curlers, nail files, etc)
*Nail polish nail creams, and polish remover, nail clippers
*Hair brushes, hair ties and clips, and electric hair tools
*Razors and blades, shaving creams and soaps, and shaving brushes
*Feminine hygiene products
*Traveling bag and products
*Bathtub toys and children's bath supplies
*Wall hangings, decorative figurines, toothbrush holders
*Excess organizing baskets
*Cleaning supplies

A bathroom space should be a place where you can care for your self in a peaceful and relaxing way. By decluttering, you will know what supplies you have on hand, and you will be able to find them quickly and easily. So keep your bathroom simple!

Simple Sundays - Planning Ahead

Sundays are days of rest. We need rest so we don't suffer from burnout, especially when we are working towards achieving a more simple lifestyle. In all honesty, transitioning to simple can be overwhelming! So today we take a break and lay out a simple plan for the new week ahead.

Sundays are the days that set the tone for the upcoming week. We want to greet Mondays looking ahead, not feeling like we are already behind. One way to do this is to set up lists to help us plan. They don't have to be fancy or on special paper. You can type them or hand-write them. You just have to commit to making them!

Using one notebook for lists can help keep you organized!

What lists should you be making? As always, let's start with something simple. Today we are going to start with simple activity and meal-planning lists. Activity lists are pretty easy to master - you just have to know where you will be in the coming week. And if you are unsure about some activities, you can jot down reminders about who you need to call in order to confirm your plans. Share your list with your family so they know what is coming even if they aren't involved in the activities!

Our other list is our meal plan for the week. Again, keep it simple! If you eat cereal every day for breakfast, just write down "Breakfasts - cereal." For lunches and dinners, don't feel obligated to assign a particular meal to a particular day. Life happens, and you may forget to thaw the chicken for Tuesday, or you may have a late meeting on Thursday, so you can't make lasagna. Always have a wildcard day for those emergencies.

The most important part of meal planning, besides making the list, is checking to see if you have what you need. If you write down cereal, make sure you have enough cereal. If you don't, add it to your shopping list. Shopping should be included in your activity list because it is something you know you will have to do during the week.

On Mondays, I will be sharing my meal plans for the blogging community's "Meal Plan Monday." This is just another way to share ideas about how to keep life simple and also share some new recipes. If you want a recipe and I haven't shared it yet, just ask!