Monthly Organizing Checklist August, 2020 Our NEW August Organizing Checklist  provides an organizing TO DO for every day of the month. Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest checklist is available. For a PRINTABLE VERSION, click here ____ Aug 1 Trim any indoor or outdoors plants that are getting too big for their space. Get rid of any dead plants. ____ Aug 2 Stay in contact with friends and loved ones. It’s very easy to go through depression when navigating through this global pandemic, especially if you’re living alone. Call a friend. Do a Zoom conference with family members. Sit outside in your yard with a neighbor…you can still physically distance yourselves six or more feet apart, but you’ll enjoying the connection all of us humans need. ____ Aug 3 Schedule important appointments. As we near back-to-school, a lot of folks will be scheduling doctor, dentist, and vision appointments. Get a jump on any appointments that you, or a member of your family, may need to have scheduled before all appointment times get taken. ____ Aug 4 Are your flashlights stocked with working batteries? If not, replace them. Also, be sure you have a flashlight in several areas of your home. In case of a power-outage, you shouldn’t have to walk through your entire home “feeling through the darkness” to locate one. ____ Aug 5 Slowly begin stocking up (not hoarding) items that were difficult to get once COVID-19 caused store shelves to empty earlier this year. As you notice stores with enough inventory of toilet paper, disinfectant, hand soap, and such, buy “a little bit” more than you need, and stow it away just in case that same scenario happens again in the fall/winter months, which it likely will.  ____ Aug 6 Weed out a dresser drawer or two. .____ Aug 7 Are your emergency contacts up to date for school, work, your home alarm company, etc. It’s a good time to check and make any updates as needed. ____ Aug 8 Set aside 20 minutes. Start a timer when that scheduled time rolls around. Delete as much email as you can from your email inbox until the timer sounds. ____ Aug 9 Weed out outerwear, coats, jackets, shoes, etc. from your coat closet. Make a donation of them to your local charity. ____ Aug 10 Handle school-related TO DOs, including back-to- school shopping, being sure all forms are filled out and ready to go, adjusting any schedule conflicts with school administrators, get any known school event dates into the family calendar, etc. ____ Aug 11 Have your fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected. ____ Aug 12 When is the last time your shower had a good, old- fashioned scrubbing? If it needs it (built-up soap scum, hard water marks, etc.), get the job done today. ____ Aug 13 Clean out your refrigerator. If this is too big of a job to do at once, do one shelf a day until it’s done. Weed out old, expired, and/or unidentifiable foods, and put your “keepers” back in an organized fashion. ____ Aug 14 Sit on a bench, relax, and watch boats sailing on the water…or go for a boat ride if you have the opportunity. Be sure to bring your life jacket. ____ Aug 15 National Relaxation Day. Take the time to slow down, relax, unwind, and simply enjoy life today. ____ Aug 16 Begin organizing your crafting projects for the fall. Gather or purchase necessary supplies so you can begin prepared and organized. ____ Aug 17 Dust the TV screen. Televisions are famous for collecting dust like a magnet. Grab some screen cleaner and give the screen a good wipe down. ____ Aug 18 Replace something that needs to be replaced, like your vacuum bag, a light bulb, or a filter. ____ Aug 19 Clean out and organize your eating utensil drawer, your cooking utensil drawer…or both. ____ Aug 20 Organize one area of your clothes closet…or two if you’re feeling ambitious. ____ Aug 21 Take the time to think about your current cleaning routine and whether or not it’s working for you. If it needs streamlining, adjustments, or outside help, the only way to fix those challenges is to brainstorm possible solutions. ____ Aug 22 Check each family member’s toothbrushes. Replace any as needed. ____ Aug 23 Finish up outdoor projects…or get going on any outdoor projects you need to complete before summer is over. ____ Aug 24 Weed out your spice collection. ____ Aug 25 Weed out old and/or expired baking supplies. ____ Aug 26 Thoroughly clean the barbecue grill, especially if you’ve been getting a lot of use out of it this summer. ____ Aug 27 Donate one appliance that hardly ever, or never, gets used. ____ Aug 28 Shake out the rugs. Pick up any small rugs in your home, take them outside, and give them a good shake. ____ Aug 29 Vacuum and clean the rugs in your home’s entryways. ____ Aug 30 Clean your home’s windows inside and out. If you have too many to do at once, do one or two a day until they’re all done. ____ Aug 31 Begin making a list of fall goals and fun fall activities. The first day of fall is coming on September 22nd this year.