4) If you are constantly stopping what you are doing to answer the phone, let the answering machine do the work for you.  Set aside a specific time each day when you will return call, catch up with friends, etc.  You will be able to accomplish more if you do not consistently stop tasks in order to answer the phone. 

5) Use clear plastic over-the-door shoe holders to eliminate “junk drawers.”  If you have a drawer in your house that tends to gather all the small items no one knows what to do with, place the shoe holder over a closet door and empty the drawer.  The clear plastic will allow you to see what is in each compartment.  Use these in the garage, in the kid’s rooms and next to a workbench to hold small tools, nails, screws and other small items.

6) If you are on the computer every day, consider signing up for an online calendar.  You can put in your events, reminders and everything else you need to remember.  Many of the online calendars will even send you an email reminder when something needs to be completed or an event is coming up.

7) Keep a container of cleaning wipes in your bathroom.  Your children can use one to quickly clean out the sink after they use it so it stays clean.  This also helps if you get unexpected company and you quickly want to wipe down surfaces to make your room sparkle.

8) Purchase an inexpensive plastic lazy-susan and recycle clear jars.  Use Velcro to attach the jars to the lazy-susan and use to keep pencils, pens, paper clips and other small items that tend to get lost.  You can keep this in a cabinet so that it is out of sight but easily accessible.

9) Create a family clean up time.  Write chores on pieces of paper: dusting, vacuuming, clearing clutter, sweeping, etc.  Place all in a jar.  When it is family clean up time, each person chooses one or two chores (depending on the amount of chores and the amount of people in your family.)  Turn off the television, turn up the music and get to work.  With everyone working together, the job gets done quickly, the music helps to keep everyone motivated and the family works together. 
 
10) Make a personal space for each person on your computer.  Does your computer have everyone’s information all stored in “my documents?”  Make a folder for each person and have them save their information into that folder.  When you are trying to retrieve something, it is much easier if you only need to go through your own files, rather than going through everyone’s.