Activity Centers Take Charge of Change

© 2005, Pam & Tom Hughes

 

Did you know that July is Take Charge of Change Month? Some of us are better at adapting to change than others. But, having well-organized activity centers in our home can help us if we have to suddenly adapt to a new baby, a change in our health or employment, a move, or even a change in our daily schedules.

As a professional organizer, I like to work on developing activity centers for my clients that will help them address needs such as bill-paying, family scheduling, gift-wrapping, entertaining, or an out-the-door center.

The important thing to remember in creating these centers is to make them as convenient and simple as possible. Gather everything you’ll need to support the activity. Find a location that makes sense to you and then select containers that speak to your particular personality.

If you are a “folder” who likes things neatly placed in lots of little cubbyholes and will maintain it, then by all means, divide things up and use lots of drawers or shelves or dividers. Then label everything well! However, if you are more of a “dumper” then look at containers that will allow you to broadly group the “tools” you need in each center and make it as easy as possible to put things away! Label those containers too though…It helps when you need to ask someone else to find something or put something away for you.

Once these activity centers are created, it’s easy to begin to trust that you’ll know where to find things when you need them. Then, should changes occur in your schedules or your home or your family, you may have to tweak the activity centers a little or develop a few new ones, but at least you’ll have a jumpstart on adapting to those changes.

 

“You make a living by what you get.
You make a life by what you give.”

- Winston Churchill

CHAOS Center for incoming mail, bill-paying and scheduling promotes efficiency.