Optimized Home

At OptimizedHome, our goal is to provide you with tips, tools and inspiration to create an organized and efficient home. It’s not always easy to stay organized, so we recommend you put a few simple systems in place to stay on top of important tasks and projects. Here are a few of our favorite tools to help you stay organized.

1. Write it down. This is probably the single most important tool to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. Keep a notebook to capture your thoughts, to-do list items, and reminders.  Of course, any notepad will do, but I recommend a Moleskine notebook. They are an absolute pleasure to write in and they stay closed when not in use thanks to an elastic strap that is also perfect for holding a pen.

2. Use Google Calendar. You may already use Google Calendar for appointments and meetings, but it is also greatfor scheduling monthly, quarterly and annual maintenance. Add a color-coded tab for your organization and home improvement project reminders.

3. Use Jott to remind yourself. You might find yourself driving when a good idea about organizing comes to you or you might recall something that you really need to write down. No need to pull over and start writing, just call Jott and record a brief message. Your reminder message will be transcribed and sent to you as a mail.

4. Use  Days Since. Days Since is a simple widget that can be added to your iGoogle Homepage. It tracks the number of days that have passed since you last reset the timer for any activity you wish to add. There are a few great habits included by default:

• Changed house air filter
• Swapped in an energy-efficient lightbulb
• Unplugged appliances when not in use

5. Use sticky notes. Want to remember something prior to leaving your home? Just mark it down on a Post-It Note and stick it to the inside of your door. The bright, neon colors will be great to catch your eye as you are leaving. You will not likely miss it! Need to make an urgent call first thing in the morning? Leave a Post-It Note on your telephone. Be sure to trash any used notes once the task is complete. If you’ve captured important info on a sticky note (such as a date or phone number), be sure to transfer it to your notebook. Rather than re-writing, I just stick the note in my Moleskine to save time.

6. Use timers and alarms. Take advantage of alarm clocks and timers throughout your day. Have to take the clothes out of the dryer by 12 noon? Set your alarm clock to remind you. Most cell phones have a built in alarm clock that works great. Set your timer to beep a few minutes before it is time to start to get ready.