The following simple organising tasks will help you to structure your day and create some sense of control.
Sort out picture frames and albums:
Do you have a stack of photos you have been meaning to put in frames or photo albums? If so, spend some time sorting out those stacks of photos and looking for display inspiration online. Depending on how long social distancing lasts, you might even have time to put those photos into the frames and albums.
Organise and minimise your inbox:
Spend 15 minutes deleting and filing emails. You’ll be amazed how much you can unburden your inbox in a short time. For bonus points, do this every day for a full week.
Wash and store summer items:
Winter is on its way. Wash dresses, shorts and T-shirts and pack away to be ready for next summer. Set aside for donation those items your family members have outgrown, and properly store the rest.
Meal planning:
The upside of not sending children to school and not going into an office is you don’t have to pack lunches. On the other hand, with everyone at home, you will have to make three meals a day.
Spend 20 minutes one day every week planning lunches and dinners. This will make mealtimes feel less stressful and rushed, and you can make sure you have everything you need in advance. With shops having uneven supplies, ensuring you can prepare what you want is important.
Wash backpacks and reusable bags:
When is the last time you washed your childrens’ backpacks and the reusable tote bags you take to the grocery store or on errands? For most people, the answer is “never”, but now you have time to get them cleaned and germ-free. Will this change your life? No. But it will feel good for you and your children to start fresh when normal life resumes after the lockdown.
Deep-clean your kitchen cabinets:
This is an activity you don’t have to do all at once, but it will keep you busy for 30 minutes each day for a few days. Take things out of drawers and cabinets and wipe down the insides. Put items you no longer want or use in a bag for donation and toss expired food. Put things back neatly.
Wipe down both the inside and outside of your cabinet doors and all the handles.
Move furniture in one room and clean:
Get help from family members to move your family room or living room furniture and clean underneath, either with a vacuum or a broom.
While you’re at it, take the cushions off the couches and chairs and clean them.
Refresh your bookcases:
Take all the books and items off one bookshelf in the house. Put books you no longer want in a bag to donate, wipe down the shelves and put everything back in a new configuration.
Write down goals for the rest of the year:
Some of us made a list of goals at the beginning of the year, but if you didn’t, now is a good time to make one. It will help you visualise life after the coronavirus, and help you prioritise in the coming months.
If you already have a list, revise as necessary. If you’re making a new list, be sure to include larger home projects you would like to complete, ideas for things you want to do with your children and professional goals.
Streamline paying bills:
If you’re still a holdout to paying bills online, this is the perfect time to get set up. If you’re just getting started, entering the information for all of your payees does take a while, but you don’t have to do it all at once, and the time you spend now will save you countless hours later. If you already pay online, take a look at your recipients to make sure they’re current, and add any new recipients.
Many of us have wished for more time at home to get things done and, well, now we have it.
Using this opportunity to do some cleaning and organising will not only make you feel more in control and save you time later, but it will also give you a sense of renewal and accomplishment.