PRACTICE THE C.O.P.E METHOD

Do you feel overwhelmed? If you want good time management skills, practice the COPE method.

COPE is an acronym for Capitalize, Organize, Prioritize, and Energize.

* Capitalize on the ability of every child to help with household chores such as setting the table, clearing the dishes and vacuuming the floor. Train them very early to put away their toys and make their own beds. Put all of your perfectionist tendencies aside while the kids are growing up. Do more with your children and less for your children. If you do all of this, you will be blessed.

* Organize your home to make it easier to locate and store things. Large shelves or a huge toy chest and hangers placed where children can reach them are good examples. Keep things in see-through containers, hang an essential rack on the wall, keep storage bins on casters beneath the beds and then centrally locate a lost and found basket to stash items left lying around the house.

* Prioritize each of your tasks. You cannot do everything but you can do lots. Pick the most important activity and then concentrate on getting it done. If something falls through the cracks, let it be the laundry but not the family outing. Do what is really important, not simply the things that need to be done.

* Energize yourself by getting plenty of rest, eat all of the right foods and adhere to an exercise program. Being physically fit and mentally alert will allow you to handle those stressful situations, which always pop up. Do not do chores at the expense of sleep time. Let the house collapse all around you before you do.

Cynthia Cunningham is also the Program Director for POSA
Professional Organizers of San Antonio