It’s been around for a while but just lately it seems to pop up in print media and on twitter. So I had a look what it actually was. First, don’t be distracted by the name, Pomodoro is Italian for tomato and it has to do with the one and only gadget you need for this productivity tool: a kitchen timer that ticks. It basically is about putting the focus...

Kids are messy, and kids need to have the freedom to be messy. But I believe that kids should also be given the responsibility for helping clean up their messes. By the end of the day, my house often looks like a Lego bomb went off – does yours? I remember the first play-date I hosted with my mother’s group. It was a memorable new mum experience because I later found...

Decluttering and organising your home and life is a very personal undertaking. You will come across items that evoke strong memories, both happy and sad. You may deal with documents holding intimate details of your business, health or finances. You will find things that you are just not sure what to do with. Often the sheer volume of 'stuff' that you want to sort can be overwhelming. Who can help? Relatives...

One of the most frustrating things about our homes can be that we spend time tidying and cleaning only to have them look like Cyclone Yasi has blown through within a few days. How can that be? The answer is that organising is very different to tidying and cleaning. Organising is not about being neat, it is about finding what we need for a specific task, when and where we need...

I had the privilege of working as a volunteer at Vinnies in Rozelle last week as part of N.O.W. Leslee Stroud, Presidents Award recipient for 2012, organised for a group of us to help out and learn a little more about what Vinnies do. Together with Susanne Thiebe & Angela Hunter, Leslee & I organised bric a brac, clothing, jewellery, blankets, curtains, rugs, glasses and crockery. We were delighted to learn...

Garages are built to protect cars – but more often than not they become a dumping ground for all manner of things from broken toys and sports equipment awaiting repair to old furniture not needed anymore. Just like your home, most garages can work more efficiently and benefit from a little organisational TLC. It is easy to roll that door down and write it off as ‘too hard’, but really the...

Your wardrobe is a unique challenge to get organised. This small space needs to fit so many things in to it. You need to be able to grab items at a moment’s notice so it can easily get messy and out of control. Closet space is usually at a premium, so the organisation of this space needs to be considered carefully. Rule of thumb is, if you can see it...

Children’s bedrooms are very much multipurpose spaces. They are a small persons living room, rumpus room, office and sleeping space all wrapped up in one so should take some special consideration in getting and keeping it organised to ensure it looks good (tidy) and functions well. Although a room strewn with toys, clothes and other kid-clutter may seem a little daunting and overwhelming, and you are tired of trying to get...

Chaos can rule in the kitchen pantry. Cans of exotic vegetables become lost between herbs and spices which in turn become mixed up with the snack packs for the kid’s lunch and you can never find the birthday candles when you need them. On day, two of National Organising Week take on the challenge and discover the five steps to organising your kitchen pantry. A properly organised kitchen pantry will save...

“An office is just a space; just another room with a few distinct pieces of furniture and equipment.” Nonsense, an office is the lifeblood of a business or family. When the office is in chaos almost all the aspects of modern life or a business can be at risk. A disorganised office can cost you an enormous amount - wasted time, money, productivity and will increase unnecessary stress. Whether corporate or...