Tag Archives: phone charger

Are you ready for a trip to the hospital?

Unfortunately, my husband and I had to make an unexpected trip to the hospital recently.  As to be expected when leaving the house under those circumstances, we were not thinking clearly.   Because we assumed we were coming back home within a few hours, we were woefully unprepared for an overnight stay.  Fortunately for us, we have an amazing support structure that stepped in to help, which further clarified how important home organization is, especially when we were not at home.

The launching pad:  Fortunately, my husband and I always put our wallet/handbag and keys in the same place every day.  I refer to this as our daily launching pad area.  Everything you need to take with you when you leave the house should be in this area.  Knowing where his launching pad was kept me from having to run around the house trying to find his wallet to ensure I had his driver’s license and insurance information.

Clothing:  Once it became apparent we were staying for a while, our friends offered to grab some clothes and bring them to the hospital.  Although we didn’t need to have them bring any clothing, having an organized wardrobe system would have allowed me to tell them exactly where everything was that we needed . . . socks in the upper right drawer, t-shirts in the middle right drawer, jeans hanging on the left side of the closet third hanger in, etc.

Personal items:  Again, because we have a system, I would have been able to let our friends know exactly where to find the travel toothbrush/toothpaste kit; my contact care kit; makeup remover pads; etc.  All things we would have needed if our stay had been extended past 24 hours.

Accessories: One of the most important things we can do in these situations is to stay in contact with our loved ones.  I didn’t have the foresight to bring a phone/iPad charger with me when I left the house, so having them bring chargers was a necessary.  It was nice to be able to say “The chargers are in the kitchen, center plug.  Please bring the 4-plug charger, two small Apple chargers, and the one large Apple charger.”  Because things were actually where they were supposed to be, it was much easier for our friends to help us out.

I hope to not have to do this again, but I feel better knowing the effort we put into organizing our home made it much easier for people to help us.

How would your current state of home organization work in a crisis?

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

Member Color - Web
National Association of Professional Organizers, Seattle Chapter Vice President
ICD_LogoTag_Horz_72 website
Institute for Challenging Disorganization:
Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.
Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.
Coach Approach for Organizers
Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration
Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies

Get ready to hit the road!

Memorial Day is the official kick of the summer driving season.  Some of us may just be taking a quick trip to the mountains or beach.  Others may be taking a long road trip to visit family and friends. No matter the distance or duration, it’s important to make sure your car is in tip-top shape and stocked with essentials before you hit the road.

As a family, we mainly vacationed by car.  We had a large station wagon we affectionately called the “Blue Racer.”  Yes, it was blue, but, trust me, it never, ever “raced.”  There were seven of us: Mom and Dad always in the front; the oldest three siblings nestled in the middle seat; and being the youngest, my brother and I rode facing backwards in the far back (ugh!).  The “Blue Racer” took us to the mountains, beach, sand dunes, Grand Canyon, and multiple trips to our grandparents’ homes.    Although my father was incredibly diligent about regular car maintenance both inside and out, he ALWAYS took it to the mechanic before we started any  family trips.  Because of his diligence, I don’t remember any car-related issues on any of our trips.  That wasn’t accidental, it took planning.

Here’s a short checklist to get you started:

1. Take your car to a trusted mechanic. Most have a multi-point checklist, but if not, ensure they perform at least the following services:

• Check the battery and plugs.
• Check the belts and coolant levels.
• Ensure the tires have plenty of tread and the appropriate tire pressure.
• Check the air filter to ensure maximum efficiency.
• Change the oil.
• Check wiper blades.

2. Clean your car.

• Get rid of what you don’t need. Summer road trips are much more enjoyable if you aren’t dealing with old food wrappers, outdated receipts, and hats and scarves from the winter season.
• Vacuum both the seats and floors thoroughly.
• Protect the interior with a good leather or vinyl protector
• Wash and wax your car. Be sure to check for and repair any scratches that may later result in rust or corrosion.

3. Make sure your car is stocked with essentials:

• Vehicle manual in case of breakdown.
• Jumper cables, tire pressure gauge, flares, warning triangle, and security vest.
• Extra windshield washer fluid, coolant, and a fire extinguisher.
• Small tool kit.
• First aid kit.
• Flashlight (be sure to check batteries).
• Cell phone charger.
• Pencil and notebook for games or just taking notes along the way.
• Snacks. Make sure the snacks won’t melt if the car gets warm.
• Water. Have enough water for however long you will be in the car on any particular day. Due to potential health risks, you don’t want to store disposable water bottles in your car for extended periods of time.

(I know it looks like a ton of stuff to carry around, but, just like good insurance . . . you hope you never need to use it, but if you do, you’re glad you have it.)

With careful planning and a positive attitude, your summer road trip will be safe and full of fond memories.

Now, go enjoy some summer fun!

Cindy Jobs

www.organizetosimplify.com

Member Color - Web
National Association of Professional Organizers, Seattle Chapter Vice President
ICD_LogoTag_Horz_72 website
Institute for Challenging Disorganization:
Level I Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization; ADD; Client Administration; Time Management; Mental Health; and Hoarding.
Level II Specialist Certificates earned in Chronic Disorganization and ADHD.
Coach Approach for Organizers
Graduate of the Comprehensive Training Program: Coaching Essentials; Strengths-Based Coaching; Brain-Based Coaching; Life and ADHD Coaching; and Organizer Coach Integration
Graduate-level training: Body-Based Coaching; ADHD Coaching Competencies