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By Geralin Thomas

Everyone has heard "First things first," but why not take that to a new level and set aside the first of each week, month and quarter to go over your calendar and use those times as planning days.

As you look at your calendar, try to bundle activities. For instance, weekly, on "Trash Eve" (the evening before trash pickup), I do the following:

• Water and deadhead plants
  
• Refill birdfeeders
  
• Wind watches and clocks
  
• Toss leftovers from the fridge
  
• Wipe out the wastebaskets
  
• Change the hand towels in the powder room
  
• Make a grocery list
  
• Wash out pet bowls
  
• Change light bulbs and batteries as needed

Try bundling these tasks daily:

• Return all phone calls once per day.
  
• Check e-mails at the same time rather than each time you hear the "mail" chimes.
  
• While making dinner each night, prep for breakfast and pack lunches for the next day. Set the coffee pot to start 10 minutes prior to your wake up time. (The smell of fresh coffee brewing is enough to lure some out of bed without an alarm.) It’s better to do these things while you are in the kitchen cooking and cleaning the evening dishes. It’ll save time during the morning dash out the door!

Annual calendaring tip: When booking yearly doctor and dentist appointments, request the first appointment after lunch. That is usually when professionals are "caught up" and not running late, allowing you to use your time most efficiently.

Learn more about Geralin Thomas at www.metropolitanorganizing.com.