Spring Into Organization

Spring's rebirth of buds and leaves makes it a great time to get organized and breathe new life into our inner spaces. Taking on just a few tasks, such as getting rid of paper piles, organizing incoming mail, and bringing order to a closet, can lead to a more relaxing and stress-free spring.

With a chronic illness like lupus -- that can leave one achy and fatigued -- the idea of tackling home organization may seem quite challenging.

But professionals emphasize that organizing can be made easy by breaking down to-dos into short time installments and performing them during the time of day that you have the most energy.

Tips for Spring Tidying

• Break tasks into five- to 15-minute time segments
  
• Place cleaning items in every bathroom in your house
  
• Buy two vacuums if your house has a second story
  
• Have a running to-do list that gets re-prioritized daily
  
• Keep a calendar and bills in a central location
  
• Designate one place for keys, mail and cell phones
  
• Remove newspapers from your house within a week
  
• Keep two bright-colored file folders for important items on your desk and remove all unnecessary paper from the area
  
• Reduce confusion by keeping just one calendar
  
• Store files in open crates that are on wheels
  
• Get rid of sticky notes and keep a single notebook
  
• Replace hangers with hooks for quick clothes organization

* taken from the Spring 2007 issue of Lupus Now magazine. Written by Michelle Rogers Ponte.