If you have small children, toddlers and below, then this post should be helpful in your attempt to babyproof your home.

Rather than write a lengthy article, I am going to opt for a list format.

• Get a top of the stairs gate. Evenflo seems to make a good one that we have used. By the way I assume no liability for your decision to purchase any of these items. It’s sad that our society has come to that point but that’s my disclaimer.
• Get a plastic type adjustable gate for the bottom of the stairs. Forgot about that part didn’t you. Yes once they start crawling they will try to head up the steps as well as down.
• Get a baby gate with an extension to block off any large cased openings. Again Evenflo is the one we have used.
• Use a dog gate, baby gate or plastic expandable gate to block regular size doorways.
• Buy lots of plug covers. When you take them out to plug something in make sure you put the plug covers in a place away from the children but close enough to remember to replace them. The plug covers themselves can present a whole new choking hazard. If you choose you can buy large boxes which enclose the entire outlet. We use both options in our home.
• Buy door knob covers. This will keep little hands from opening important doors like the door to the garage or basement. They learn to lock and unlock very early in life.
• Quick hide the cords. This means the lamps have to go too if you want to ever relax that is. If not leave them and you can clean up broken light bulbs weekly. Also try to position furniture so it will hide cords.
• Keep every liquid, tool, and hazardous material out of their reach. That goes without saying.
• Remember to switch babies from small cribs to larger ones and then to toddler beds. For toddlers we like to keep the beds closer to the ground in case they do roll out.
• Babies and Toddlers like phones, remote controls, cords, computers and basically everything they are not supposed to like.
• Watch sitting drinks or liquids next to electronic equipment. It’s bad enough to have accidents which involve bumps, bruises and cleaning carpets. When the iphone goes down with the spill, then it starts to cost you money.
• Find a way to block off your deck or patio using a large plastic play yard type gate. This has worked well for us on many occasions.
• I almost forgot about the cabinets. They make little plastic hinges that will restrict your bathroom or kitchen cabinets from opening all the way. These still work for our oldest two children at 4 and 2 1/2.

Again this is not very polished but since we have 3 small children we get these questions a lot and we have found our lives much most relaxing employing these little tricks.

Too many times in the past I’ve let my environment spiral out of control.

Too many times in the past I’ve failed to create and guard a good environment once it’s established.

I noticed these concepts this week after making a few quick adjustments to our home. We made the home office more of an office and the upstairs extra bedroom a full fledged study.

The office has every thing one needs to conduct business. I can keep records, concentrate on work, print, file and do everything else I need to do in running a business. However, it didn’t help me rise early and devote a few hours to working on me each morning. I like to get up and do a little writing, studying, motivational reading, bible study and prayer each morning.  The home office is in the basement with dim lighting and no natural light since there is only one small window. It works great if I’m making a call, working on a customer’s project, doing my accounting or preparing a proposal.

Of course some of these are all things I can do from a coffee shop with wireless. The basement home office didn’t work so well as a study. I never wanted to walk two flights of stairs in the morning. I wake like a bear who’s been in hibernation. I would find myself going to a different room daily or sleeping later than I wished. The problem? I had not created a good environment so I could trick myself into going there long enough to form a habit.

Since we had an extra room (however you could do this in separate corners of a one room-which is what I’d rather have anyway) we turned it into a study. It’s quite simple. There is a desk with nothing in it or on it except a lamp. There are two book shelves. The first holds books that I’ve read or use for reference. The second shelf holds books I’m reading or studying currently. There is good lighting and some natural light from the vaulted window. There are some inspirational pictures and awards on the wall and a simple little white board to record my thoughts early in the morning or late at night. That’s when I have some of the best ideas. Oh yeah and there’s a comfortable office chair.

Now I’m motivated to rise early again. I can walk right down the hall with no distractions. I can kick off the day the way I like.

• Is everything in your environment serving it’s purpose?
• Is everything in your home or office being utilized efficiently?
• If not then get rid of it or put it into practical use.
• Create a good environment- I think it’s easier and more effective than making yourself do something you’re not inclined to do.
  

Would you like to be able to move quickly on business decisions?

Would you like the be nimble enough to adapt to the ever changing marketplace?

Can you find the documents or files you need for the upcoming meeting?

Does your stuff work the way it’s supposed to?

Are you focused on the 20% or are you wasting time with the 80%?

Do you capture thoughts, tasks, projects, ideas, some-days, routine checklists and delegated to do’s in one place where you can review it, schedule it for action and check it done?

Do you have a mechanism for filtering information online and organizing it for it’s retrieval when you need it?

Do your customers receive service that makes them advocates?

Do you avoid duplication in your efforts when shopping, running errands or even talking on the phone?

Is your email box at zero?

Do you task switch 50 times per day and wonder why nothing you do is remarkable?

Get organized, it’s liberating.

• You shoes- do you really need 10 or 20 or 80 pair of shoes
• Your books – see my previous blog post
• Your DVD’s or CD’s (guilty here) major sign of procrastination
• Your stamp collection unless you’re Hercule Poirot
• Anything that doesn’t lead to an increase in productivity or a simplification of life

In all seriousness it’s OK to organize some of these things but you must stop and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is this really procrastination?
2. How will this lead to me saving time or adding measurable productivity to my life or work.
3. Even if this needs to be organized is it a priority to do it right now?

If you’re stuck, then sometimes action of any kind will help you get moving and achieve little successes. In that case pull out the books and clean out the pantry. Take the dog for a walk or mow the grass. Lift some boxes and sweat a little, then quickly get back to the things that matter today.

I am terrible at this and that’s exactly why I’m writing it.

This is something a little different. It’s basically me talking (and rocking unfortunately) while I discuss four ways I simplify my life. The surprise ending has one thing I don’t do which simplifies my life. For those who read this blog but don’t know me, this will give you a little glimpse on the goofy side of me. You can also learn more here.

The question is why simplify life? For me it means more time to focus on the meaningful things. It means more time to pursue creativity and passions. For me it means more time with family, more volunteering and more time with my Lord, Jesus Christ. It means more time to change the world of politics, or health or business. It means more time to build the BOC and KOG. It doesn’t mean more time to sit around and focus on me or to watch TV or to play video games. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that”-hat tip Seinfeld.

Simplify Your Life from Bryce Raley on Vimeo.

DON’T.

I am a self admitted obsessive compulsive person. I am into simple living and have a bent toward minimalism. I like to organize everything I touch. I’m talking my home, our routines, my business, my processes, my creativity, events, projects, fundraisers and anything I can. God created my mind in a unique way. I can literally tell you 95% of the items in our home and exactly where they are at any time. I have a picture in my head of a room and I know where things are especially when they’re out of place.

Lately though, I have begun to realize this isn’t always the best strategy. It’s a comforting strategy for someone who likes order and method. It’s a less stressful strategy when I know where everything is and I can access it immediately. However, what do I gain by organizing my books. Sometimes I have to ask myself that question. I mean after all, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million and even Amazon try to organize books and I don’t believe I’ve ever successfully found a book in Barnes and Noble without the assistance of a customer service rep. So I figure I’m going to let this one alone.

Plus it brings up too many options. Alphabetical by author or name? What about multiple authors and subtitles? What about breaking them up by subjects? What about books I’ve read versus ones I’d like to read? What about reference materials versus devotionals? NO THANKS! I’ll keep them all together on a couple different book shelves and call it a day.

Where do you store all of your memorabilia? If you’re like many, this could pass as your garage. Now amongst this mess of clutter surely there is more than just some keepsakes. The problem is that you fear losing the important because it is mixed in with the unimportant. So you do nothing.

My goal here is to give you a few tips to organize your memorabilia from a minimalist’s perspective.

Limit yourself to how much you can store away. If most of the items are small like books, framed pictures, binders, crafts or sports keepsakes; then pick too small Rubbermaid bins. You can either buy see-through ones or label them- your choice. I’m not splitting hairs here. If the items are larger get one large Rubbermaid bin, the kind people store Christmas trees in.

Take items like sports shirts, hats and jackets; cut out the emblem, logo or team name and give them all to someone who sews or knits. Have them create a blanket or throw rug. It doesn’t matter what, use your creativity.

Take items like papers, awards or certificates and capture them digitally; then have a backup strategy for your digital images. I’m not getting into this because there are a million ways- choose one and do it. Flickr, Picaso, backup with a flash drive, a second portable hard drive, just try something to start with and you can change it later.

My wife loves to scrapbook, so this helps us store lots of photos and purge down the rest. If you don’t like to scrapbook then people will do this for you for a fee.

I keep a file folder in our filing system and call it Posterity. I put golf score cards, pictures, travel information, kids art projects and many other things in there. Occasionally we go through and frame these things or scrapbook them.You could do the same.

As a minimalist type, I like to keep just the really neat memorabilia on the walls or out for decorations. The rest goes in the bins. The rest is sold or given away. If you put everything neat on the wall or the shelves then nothing gets noticed. Imagine walking into a room though with just one amazing mind blowing print. I bet your guests would mention it. Be hard not to.

Don’t have one unless you are without a garage or basement. If you need one, we have one and I’ll sell it to you.

It’s neat. It’s an Amish custom built shed with full electric and it’s empty. Well I lied. It has a couple items we’re selling that ended up there because my stewardship told me I needed to put something in there.

Things contract or expand based on the amount of time and space we allow for them. If you don’t have a basement, garage, or shed- you somehow still manage. If you do have all these things you somehow manage to fill them up.

So my advice- don’t buy a shed and then you won’t have to organize it. If you have to, then only keep outdoors items like gardening supplies or yard maintenance stuff in there. Mice, moths and rust will have their way with your good stuff should you choose to store it outside.

This should be a fun topic right after your children have opened a bunch of Christmas presents. Try taking them away now.

We have established some simple rules on the front end to cut down on the number of toys our children get.

1st) We ask everyone to only buy one gift per child. We have a big family so this still doesn’t cut it, but it helps.

2nd) We get rid of (give away or sell) one item for each new item that enters our home. This applies to toys just like everything else. It helps us curb the madness of materialism and consumerism that has run wild in this country. I’m not preaching as I have been guilty of this attitude in the past. No more though. We’ve decided for the simple life.

After applying these two rules, we can at least have a fighting chance to tame the clutter that is toys.

Will you occasionally sit down to a Dora doll in the middle of your back on the couch? Sure.

Will you step on a firetruck in the middle of the night on the way to the bathroom? Sure.

Will you reach for a newspaper or magazine and get clippings from a coloring book? Sure.

However, it will be much less often if you follow this checklist.

• Use the kindergarten model for setting up your home. This means each area of your home has a purpose and activity associated with it. I actually think this is easier with one floor than with two or three and I’ll explain why shortly. For example, our three children do crafts and play with play dough in the basement in my wife’s craft area.
• Rough housing toys like balls and big cars and the small trampoline are in the basement. Our children spend time here in the winter mornings when they can’t go outside and play with similar toys.
• Toys like puzzles, books, games and movies are upstairs in their bedroom/playroom. Our goal here is to get the kiddos bathed, let them unwind and then allow them to do something calm before bed.
• On the first floor in our home, they have toys like doll houses and castles and a jungle man play set for our son. While my wife prepares meals or feeds our 9 month old, these types of toys really engage the kids and don’t require someones assistance. Often they use their little imaginations and play for an hour before they even notice they don’t have mommy or daddies full attention.

Now this is just the way we arrange toys. The key is the Kindergarten model. When we leave one area, for example the craft area, we must clean up all the crafts and put them back in their home. When we leave the basement play area, we must pick up all the balls and cars and blocks. This way the children associate specific activities with each area and they learn the habit of putting things back which will serve them later.

To clarify, why could it be easier to do this on one floor? Well most classrooms are one room and may have 25 children. They manage. Less is more in this case. The more room you have the more you will fill. The less you have, the more creative you can be and the less clutter you can accumulate. Imagine one room where each corner had a specific task. No steps to climb with three children. No taking toys to different floors. Simple is much better. I have been on mission trips to the Dominican Republic several times and they have very little room and little to play with, but they are some of the most joyful children I’ve ever encountered.

Here is the rub. Your children would rather play with cardboard boxes, cooking utensils, bins, balloons and just about everything but the toys they have anyway.

Does your fridge resemble this when you open it up?

I can’t stand opening up the door and staring into a jam packed fridge. It doesn’t get much worse for me than this. I realize this is dramatic, but it’s the thoughts racing in my mind.

What’s in here? A bunch of spoiled out of date food- maybe this stems from my week long bout with food poisoning as a teenager.

Where is the salad dressing or ketchup or pickles? Hidden from sight without moving twelve things, spilling two drinks and dropping a Tupperware container of leftovers on the floor.

What do we need from the store? I have no idea. Just buy everything you think we might need and we’ll cram it in there with all the outdated, expired stuff we already have.

Here are 7 quick rules to keep your fridge tidy.

1. Buy less stuff at the store. Only stockpile things that can be frozen like meats, veggies or items that get stored in a pantry. Don’t go any farther out than a month or two. Don’t buy six months worth of crackers or coffee.
2. Only cook what you’ll eat, or eat the leftovers in the following day or two. After that throw them out. If this offends your stewardship then buy a dog and make the dog happy.
3. Give items in your fridge a home. How about: condiments on top shelf- milk, eggs, yogurt, cheeses and butter together in drawers and on their own shelf- leftovers and ingredients for today’s meal on there own shelf, fruits in one drawer, veggies in another, meats in another- frozen stuff sorted with like items in the freezer.
4. Take things out and put them back where they go. Don’t just look for the open space.
5. Clean your fridge out whenever you take out your garbage. Not every time. Whenever you take it for pickup. We only have to do this weekly but usually cook what we need or eat the leftovers quickly.
6. When you store things always consolidate- take a huge casserole dish with one serving left and put it into a small container. When you come home from the store- take things out of their boxes, bins, and containers to save room with storage in the fridge.
7. Be honest. With all things in organization, eliminate what you do not use regularly. By the time you use the 5th different type of cream or dip, odds are it will be green with mold. Save yourself the disgust of opening it and toss it now.