One of the things that causes a disorganized and messy home is the state of mind of the people living in that home.  You may have noticed that the most disorganized homes tend to have either children or teenagers living there.  Kids and teenagers often act out of impulse.  What you need to do is to teach children how to plan and schedule their activities.

The cause of many arguments between parents and teenagers today is the fact that teenagers often go out without properly requesting permission.  This is simply because most of their ventures out have not been planned beforehand.  When you teach teenagers how to plan properly, you will be able to eliminate the problem.  How?  Well, if a teen has plans for a certain date, then you will know beforehand.  This will help you to properly schedule various tasks, and will avoid the situation in which you have no idea where your teen is going.

Another reason planning is important is that planning prevents impulsive actions.  Planning takes a bit of time and effort.  This means that your teen will be less likely to act on impulses and let any plans go.  When your teen has a plan for a certain night, he or she will not be as likely to act on impulse and go do something of which you are not aware.  In this way, having a schedule can actually help keep teens out of trouble.

So how do you teach kids how to plan?  Well, you should start small, such as keeping a schedule or a routine.  Let them schedule any activities they may want to do.  Even if it is as simple as going out, they should be able to inform you beforehand and not just as they are about to leave.  When they know how to schedule activities, you can teach them how to plan with money.  You can teach them how to budget a set amount of cash on whatever they want to do.  This eliminates the problem of you having to shell out money for unplanned expenses.

You can then combine the two and have your teen plan a road trip for the family.  This will definitely be a fun activity, as well as teach your children all about responsibility and proper planning.  It will also give your kids a sense of achievement.  When you teach teens how to plan, you are practically preparing them for life.

Related:

• Bookshelving Your Clutter
• 5 lies we tell ourselves concerning our own messy home
• Clearing up Children’s Closets
• Get the Kids Involved
• The Mess Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
• Responsible Children: Your Ticket to an Organized Household

When trying to get rid of clutter and maintain organization, many people find themselves wondering what to do with all the books they have accumulated over the years. Old college textbooks, fantasy novels, and encyclopedias litter many of our homes and make our rooms feel cluttered and messy.

Of course, the best thing to do with your miscellaneous collection of books is to shelve them. Shelving books, however, isn’t as simple as tossing them up on your nearest book shelf. Putting thought and care into shelving your books can be a time-saving way to organize your home.

To start, organize your books by category. For instance, try to keep easy reading novels in a separate row from the complex college materials you look to once every other year. Organizing your books in this way will allow you to quickly find a book you are looking for based on the type of book it is.

You might find that you are able to dedicate an entire shelf to each category of books you have. Otherwise, you might have to split one row into two sections of books, or even let one category of books run over onto the next shelf. Whatever you decide, it is wise to put in separators that will allow you to easily determine the boundaries of each of your book categories.

If you have children in the house, let them organize books too. Many families find it a great exercise to give their children their own place to keep their books. This gives them a sense of responsibility and organization, and makes them feel “bigger” by keeping their books next to yours.

For very young children, you might find it ideal to keep a basket of children’s books on the floor near your bookshelf. When you head to the bookshelf to grab your favorite nightly read, invite your child to come with you and pick out a book for themselves, giving you the opportunity to “read” together and share quality family time.

Related:

• Teach Teens to Plan
• 5 lies we tell ourselves concerning our own messy home
• Things to consider in keeping a book
• Clearing up Children’s Closets
• Get the Kids Involved
• The Mess Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
• Responsible Children: Your Ticket to an Organized Household