Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - (Page 40) Information of interest to people with disabilities and other special needs and their families. Getting and Staying Organized – The Effort Pays Off in Many Ways Spending too much time looking for your keys… for a misplaced phone number… for socks that match? Ever missed a bill payment or forgotten a special occasion? Is your junk drawer so full you’ve started another? You aren’t alone. We all face stress-generating, time-eating, money-wasting nuisances every day. But that’s no reason to continue. After all, if you or someone in your family has special needs, isn’t life complicated enough? So before spring fever strikes, get motivated and get organized. HAVE A LOGICAL PLACE FOR EVERYTHING. Think of rooms—and sections of rooms—in terms of the purposes they serve, then organize them to maximally meet your needs. Decide what must be kept, then put each thing in its place. If there isn’t a place, create one in the most logical spot in the house, garage, basement, or attic (road maps in a drawer or cabinet near the most commonly used door, for example). FIND TIME TO GET ORGANIZED. Do a little at a time. Start developing good habits and build on them. Making a plan and setting goals will help you make the time to get it done. In the long run, getting and staying organized will give you more time to spend as you like. A simple way to begin It can seem overwhelming, and not knowing where to begin might cause you to never begin. So start out with something simple –a pencil, a piece of paper, and this three-step evaluation. 1. List the things that trigger stress. Some things on your list may seem unrelated to being organized, such as your health or the health of a loved one. That’s okay. This first step is simply to make your list. Think about all aspects of your daily life—home, work, school, doctor visits, social activities, shopping, and what have you. This step helps you see where trouble lies. 2. For each stress factor, list ways you could be better organized. Some solutions may be quick and easy to implement, while others will be more complicated and take more time. If you have no idea what to do for some items on your list, brainstorm with family members, friends, and others who can offer suggestions. This step helps you see the possible solutions. 3. Prioritize your solutions and begin to make changes in your life. Put the quick and easy things into practice immediately. Break out the more complicated ones into more manageable tasks and set deadlines for implementing them. Having a written plan helps motivate you to get things done. GET RID OF CLUTTER. Take it one room at a time, or one-quarter of a room at a time, or a drawer at a time. Delegate tasks to other family members. Keep focused. Get it done. CREATE AN OFFICE SPACE. Your kitchen or family room is a good location for a desk or family office space where mail is sorted, bills are kept and paid, and important documents and paperwork are stored. Make files for things such as utilities, bank accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, product warranties and instruction books, a list of items kept in safe deposit boxes, medical records, and rewards programs. File things as you get them and clean files periodically. Have a supply of folders always ready to keep your records under control. Financial Planning Update Supported by MassMutual Life Insurance Company END PILES OF JUNK MAIL. Tips and resolutions Getting organized means changing the way you think about things as well as how you do them. Here are some suggestions. Sort mail as it’s received. Open bills and correspondence, keeping only what you need. Toss/recycle the junk mail and reduce the amount you receive1 by sub- 40 February 2010 • EP MAGAZINE/www.eparent.com http://www.eparent.com Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Exceptional Parent - February 2010 Exceptional Parent - February 2010 Contents Ancora Imparo New Products Further Reading Movie Review Organizational Spotlight What's Happening Insight on Federal Policy. This Month's Focus: Section 504 Search & Respond The Feeding of Great Children: The Impact of Nutrition on Learning Jump with Jill - High-Energy "Rockstar Nutritionist" Jill Jayne Gets Kids Moving - And Eating Right From Diagnosis, to Life Saving Therapy, to Hollywood: The Journey of John Crowley Research Frontiers: Understanding Science, Unlocking Potential Talking Transition - An Interview with An Expert SpecialCare: Getting and Staying Organized - The Effort Pays Off in Many Ways What You Eat Can Make a Difference The Positive Impact of Specialized Diet Food Intervention: How Do I Get Started? American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) Who Gets to Be an Advocate? Special Needs Alliance Families Reaching Professionals Living With a Disability Exceptional Parent - February 2010 Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Exceptional Parent - February 2010 (Page Cover1) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Exceptional Parent - February 2010 (Page Cover2) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Exceptional Parent - February 2010 (Page 1) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Contents (Page 2) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Contents (Page 3) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Contents (Page 4) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Contents (Page 5) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Ancora Imparo (Page 6) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Ancora Imparo (Page 7) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - New Products (Page 8) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Further Reading (Page 9) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Movie Review (Page 10) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Organizational Spotlight (Page 11) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - What's Happening (Page 12) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - What's Happening (Page 13) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Insight on Federal Policy. This Month's Focus: Section 504 (Page 14) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Insight on Federal Policy. This Month's Focus: Section 504 (Page 15) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Search & Respond (Page 16) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Search & Respond (Page 17) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Search & Respond (Page 18) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Search & Respond (Page 19) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - The Feeding of Great Children: The Impact of Nutrition on Learning (Page 20) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - The Feeding of Great Children: The Impact of Nutrition on Learning (Page 21) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Jump with Jill - High-Energy "Rockstar Nutritionist" Jill Jayne Gets Kids Moving - And Eating Right (Page 22) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Jump with Jill - High-Energy "Rockstar Nutritionist" Jill Jayne Gets Kids Moving - And Eating Right (Page 23) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - From Diagnosis, to Life Saving Therapy, to Hollywood: The Journey of John Crowley (Page 24) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - From Diagnosis, to Life Saving Therapy, to Hollywood: The Journey of John Crowley (Page 25) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - From Diagnosis, to Life Saving Therapy, to Hollywood: The Journey of John Crowley (Page 26) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - From Diagnosis, to Life Saving Therapy, to Hollywood: The Journey of John Crowley (Page 27) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - From Diagnosis, to Life Saving Therapy, to Hollywood: The Journey of John Crowley (Page 28) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - From Diagnosis, to Life Saving Therapy, to Hollywood: The Journey of John Crowley (Page 29) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Research Frontiers: Understanding Science, Unlocking Potential (Page 30) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Research Frontiers: Understanding Science, Unlocking Potential (Page 31) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Research Frontiers: Understanding Science, Unlocking Potential (Page 32) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Research Frontiers: Understanding Science, Unlocking Potential (Page 33) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Research Frontiers: Understanding Science, Unlocking Potential (Page 34) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Research Frontiers: Understanding Science, Unlocking Potential (Page 35) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Research Frontiers: Understanding Science, Unlocking Potential (Page 36) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Talking Transition - An Interview with An Expert (Page 37) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Talking Transition - An Interview with An Expert (Page 38) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Talking Transition - An Interview with An Expert (Page 39) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - SpecialCare: Getting and Staying Organized - The Effort Pays Off in Many Ways (Page 40) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - SpecialCare: Getting and Staying Organized - The Effort Pays Off in Many Ways (Page 41) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - SpecialCare: Getting and Staying Organized - The Effort Pays Off in Many Ways (Page 42) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - SpecialCare: Getting and Staying Organized - The Effort Pays Off in Many Ways (Page 43) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - What You Eat Can Make a Difference (Page 44) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - What You Eat Can Make a Difference (Page 45) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - The Positive Impact of Specialized Diet (Page 46) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - The Positive Impact of Specialized Diet (Page 47) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - The Positive Impact of Specialized Diet (Page 48) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Food Intervention: How Do I Get Started? (Page 49) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Food Intervention: How Do I Get Started? (Page 50) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) (Page 51) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) (Page 52) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) (Page 53) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) (Page 54) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) (Page 55) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Who Gets to Be an Advocate? (Page 56) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Who Gets to Be an Advocate? (Page 57) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Special Needs Alliance (Page 58) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Special Needs Alliance (Page 59) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Special Needs Alliance (Page 60) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Special Needs Alliance (Page 61) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Families Reaching Professionals (Page 62) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Families Reaching Professionals (Page 63) Exceptional Parent - February 2010 - Living With a Disability (Page 64) http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201009 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201008 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201007 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201006 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201005 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201004 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201003 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201002 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/2010rg http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200912 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200911 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200910 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200909 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200908 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200907 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/200906 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com
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