Unpack to Organize - The Office

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An office room can be made up of multiple parts and items will all need to be unpacked and placed in the right spot after moving. From computer cords and accessories to paper clips and pencils, unpacking an office may seem like a daunting task – but it doesn’t have to be!

-       First, take stock of all of the items you have, and make sure that each item is necessary and will have a place to go. This is your chance to purge old or damaged supplies, or donate unused items.

-       Next, plan out your office space. Before moving in desks and shelves, make sure you know where everything is going. Also, determine what drawers, shelves, and cupboards will store what items, what files and folders will go in what cabinet, and if any other shelving materials need to be purchased. This plan will help relieve a lot of stress when it comes time to put office supplies away!

-       Once all of the furniture and larger pieces are put in place, it’s time to tackle the electronics. Computers can have a lot of attachments and wires, so don’t rush this step. Make sure everything is connected properly, and that cables are kept neat and organized to prevent anything from catching on them. Other electronics like a phone, printer, and lamp, can also be set up.

-       Start unpacking your office supplies with the frequently used items first, like pens, pencils, paper, and calendar. Use drawer organizers to help keep all your office supplies organized. Try to tackle only one box at a time – don’t get overwhelmed!

-       Filing cabinets and bookcases can then be unpacked, because the items typically aren’t needed right away. Any paper weights or office decorations can be added too, but remember, try to keep the decorations to a minimum, because a lot of them only invite more clutter into your space.

Creating a plan for your office space, and knowing what items need to go where before you start unpacking your boxes will make unpacking into an organized space a lot more feasible. There are a lot of different components that go into an office, so unpack step by step until the space is complete!

Moving Tip - label your electronic cords Before you take them apart. It will help you know what cord goes with each device!

Emergency Preparedness – Getting Organized

In light of the devastating wildfires in Fort McMurray, it’s important to make sure that you and your family are prepared in the event of an emergency. It can be hard to get organized and come up with a plan in the moment, so it’s a good idea to be prepared and organized beforehand.

The Alberta Government has a fantastic document from the Emergency Management Preparedness Agency. It is a great resource for families, and will help you plan what to do in event of an emergency. Included are suggestions on establishing meeting places, creating emergency kits, and more. It is a great place to start when getting organized and prepared for an emergency situation.

First, determining what emergencies you should be prepared for is important. This will help determine the next steps, like establishing a meeting place and creating a plan of action in the event of an emergency. This plan should be made into a hard copy and stored with the emergency kit. Emergency kits with all the necessary items needed for each person in the family should be created. These kits, along with a hardcopy of the emergency plan, should be stored in a place that all members are aware of and can access easily.

The Alberta Emergency Management Agency encourages residents to prepare a 72 Hour Emergency kit that includes items such as food and water, bedding and clothing, light and fuel, personal supplies and medication, personal documents and money (stored in waterproof containers), and other necessary equipment like a radio (with extra batteries), rope, and basic tools. Small toys and games are also good items to include in an emergency kit to provide entertainment. For a more detailed list of recommended items, go here. It is also important to update the items in your emergency kit every few months.

The Alberta Emergency Alert App provides current information on any potential natural disasters or emergencies from communities in Alberta, and is a great resource for residents.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you! WE CARE#YYMFIRES #FortMcMurray Tweet that!

Essential Organizing Products for the Bathroom

Bathrooms never seem to have enough space or storage to properly organize all of a person’s toiletries and supplies. However, with the right products, one can maximize the limited space available in a bathroom and store all their items in a stylish and organized way! Below we’ve listed some “essentials,” and where you can get them for yourself:

1. Drawer unit

A three or four drawer unit is perfect for storing travel supplies, extra soaps, razors, or other smaller items. Most units like this can easily fit under a bathroom sink or in a bathroom vanity unit. Find this product here.

2. Pull out drawer unit

For larger bathroom tools and supplies, a pull out drawer unit can be attached inside a bathroom vanity or cabinet, or a shelf unit with pull out drawers can be placed under the sink. These units allow a person to see the items stored in the drawer and easily access them.

3. Drawer inserts

Drawers are often easily cluttered, because supplies can get thrown together when there is no way to separate them. A simple draw insert can easily keep makeup supplies, hair accessories, and other bathroom items separate and organized – and easy to find! Find this product here.

4. Over the door units

Doors can often be overlooked as storage places, but a simple hanging unit can store a lot of items. This one below is perfectly sized for a bathroom vanity or cabinet unit, and can easily fit hair tools and accessories as well as other assorted items. Find this product here.

5. Over the toilet storage

Another area that is often overlooked is over the toilet storage. Instead of having to mount a unit on the wall, this standalone unit easily fits over most toilets, and can store anything from washcloths, towels, soaps to extra toilet paper, Kleenex, and more! Find this product here.