Celebrate National Sleep Awareness Week
March 10, 2019
Are you one of millions of Americans suffering from lack of sleep? Whether you are simply not getting enough sleep or if you’re not getting quality sleep, you wake up feeling tired and reaching for that double espresso to get your day started. While you should always consult your doctor for any health concerns, we can help you get started on forming a better bedtime routine so you can get a better night’s sleep.
Routine, Routine, Routine!
Staying on a routine is so important for everyone, not just your children! It helps your body and mind know what to expect, and that can help improve the quality of your sleep over time. Choose the same bedtime for every night of the week. No more staying up late on Friday nights and sleeping in on Saturday mornings. Doing this disrupts your sleep cycle and it will make it even harder to get up Monday morning in time for work or school.
Move Electronics Out of the Bedroom
If you are addicted to your phone, computer, or television, now is the time to kick the habit. Electronic devices give off a “blue light” that can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle. American’s are more plugged in than ever before, and it shows in the rising number of sleep problems people experience. So unplug! Read a book, play games with the kids, clean the house, work on crafts, or work on other projects around the home at least an hour before bed to help keep you on track. Place a charging station in the living room for your tablets and phones so you aren’t tempted to bring them into the bedroom.
Only Use the Bed for Sleep
This is one of the hardest rules to follow, especially for children and teenagers who spend a lot of time in the bedroom. When you go to bed, your mind should know exactly what is to take place, and that is not reading a book, watching a movie, or jumping up and down. Even if you have to place a chair in the corner, keep off the bed until you are ready to shut your eyes.
Get Rid of Clutter
Let’s get the root of the problem – or all evil for the super organized – clutter. At its core, clutter is simply procrastination. It’s the pile of clean clothes sitting on the dresser, the unmade bed, the overflowing clothes hamper, and other chores that are left undone. This does nothing but upset you as you crawl into bed at night, and it takes your focus away from a good nights sleep. This amounts to two things: keep the items in your bedroom at a minimum, and keep what you do have in your bedroom neat and tidy. Organize-It offers tons of products to organize bedroom clutter!
Clear Your Mind
Does your mind race when you turn off the lights? Decluttering your mind is as important as decluttering the bedroom. There are a couple of different methods you can try, depending on what works the best for you. Are you worried about events happening in your life? Try writing in a journal. Write down your thoughts, worries, and feelings so you can release them onto paper rather than let them run rampant through your mind when you’re trying to fall asleep.
Are you worried about what you need to do tomorrow? Create a to-do list before bed so you don’t forget about a thing in the morning, but you can forget about it before bedtime! Not a writer? Meditation may sound silly, but the practice goes back thousands of years and it helps people find peace within themselves. This in turn can help you find a peaceful sleep. Whatever works for you, make sure your mind is in the right space to get some much-needed sleep.
Accessorize Your Bed
Create a comfortable place to rest your head. Whether you need to replace your mattress, choose a different pillow (or two), or add a down comforter, make sure you literally create a cozy nest for you and your partner. Whether you prefer a hard mattress or pillows so thick you need a map to find your way out, make sure your body is as comfortable as possible.
You are not alone in the struggle against sleep deprivation. The good news is there are lots of things you can do at home to get a better night’s sleep, which will give you more energy and motivation to do the things that matter in your waking hours.
5 Ways to Organize Your Valuable Collections Without Getting Overwhelmed
March 4, 2019
Guest blog by Kacey Mya, the blogger behind The Drifter Collective
As a collector, you’re proud of the valuable pieces you’ve unearthed and gathered. Whether you’ve hunted down stamps, books, clothing, coins or photographs, you’ve invested time, energy and money into them, and they’re worth displaying.
But as the years have passed, you’ve accumulated many pieces, and now, your collection is disorganized and cluttered. How can you effectively gather everything to be able to get it under control? It might not be as daunting as you expect.
Sit down with your collection and use these five ways to organize your valuable and prized items.
1. Pick a Display Method
Before you start sorting through the collection, 
determine the level of visibility you want. If you have old and rare books, for example, do you want to display them on wooden shelves, or would they be better off in something like a glass display case? Deciding on a presentation in advance can create a smoother process.
Each type of collectible item has particular display options. For instance, you can exhibit fragile stamps in stock books, albums or plastic mounts, while trading cards might go in binders or boxes. Figure out if you’d rather look from a distance at your items or carefully handle them to help you determine the best display method.
2. Separate by Category
When you begin sifting through your valuables, consider your organizational strategy. What categories best separate your items? Categorizing pieces by the year they were made is helpful, but alphabetical sequence can work well for something like vinyl records.
Group items by color, material, grade, genre, sale price, model or size. You can establish sections based on personal significance or nostalgia, but pick categories that are sure to make locating an item simple. Place clear labels on the categories, too — you’ll make it easier to find what you’re looking for and help friends and family make sense of your collection when you share it with them.
3. Catalog as You Go
As you evaluate and organize your collection, construct a record of the items you have. If you’re planning on selling valuable collectibles, your taxes or your heirs’ can be affected based on your records. Proactively prepare for this by cataloging the collection.
You can document the items with a written record. Alternatively, you can use a spreadsheet to input the information on your valuables. Now, there are smartphone apps for cataloging assets to keep the task simple and accessible. For insurance purposes, these apps are also useful.
4. Research the Right Conditions for Storing Your Collection
Use an acid-free photograph box to safely store valuable items.
Many items, older ones in particular, can be damaged if they aren’t kept in the correct environment. Extreme temperatures are just one example of the conditions that can cause your collection to deteriorate — think stamps or photographs. Another potential threat is humidity. For coins, humidity is a substantial detriment to the metal. The coins can corrode when exposed to water vapor in the air. Other harmful environmental factors include acidic materials and pollution.
Protect your collection from improper handling, too. Your hands have oils, acids and dirt on them, and direct contact can produce premature wear and tear on valuables. Old photographs are especially susceptible to overhandling, so hold them by the edges.
The right lights also play a role in how well your collectible items hold up. Go for secure, dimly lit places, because direct light can cause fading, too.
5. Add Protective Accessories
Protective accessories can shield your collection from environmental threats and reduce the rate of decay.
You might place your sports cards or comic books in acid-free protective sleeves, for instances. Additionally, plastic bags and dividers can serve as functional protection for collectibles, keeping them protected from moisture, light and excessive handling. Plastic cases can hold items like coins, too.
No matter what, though, be sure to have a pair of gloves handy, so you can avoid transferring the oils from your hands to your collectibles.
Effortlessly Manage Your Collection
With a stress-free strategy, you can tidy up and display your valuable collection. Organizing your items doesn’t have to be overwhelming and frustrating.
After you’ve sorted through your valuables, you can confidently share your pieces with others. Achieve order with a helpful system, a thorough record and the right conditions.
Subscribe to the Organize-It blog for more organization tips and tricks. Learn more at Organize-It.com.
Use Cedar to Store Clothing
February 25, 2019
Keep clothing, bedding, and linens safely stored in the closet with help from a variety of cedar products. Make sure your everyday clothes smell fresh and clean with a natural cedar scent, and your stored clothing stays safe from mold, mildew, and moths. The distinctive smell of cedar keeps moths and other pests from infesting your storage place. Besides repelling pests, cedar also absorbs odors and moisture. Cedar is considered a safer alternative to chemical products.
1. Cedar Hangers
Add functional and stylish cedar hangers to 
your master or hall closet so you can easily hang up garments of all shapes and sizes. Cedar wood hangers are designed to naturally repel insects while offering a fresh scent. Organize-It offers a variety of cedar hangers in different sizes and styles.
From suit to coat hangers, you can easily store all of your garments. A couple of the hangers feature clips at the bottom so you can store a pair of slacks or trousers underneath a jacket. Cedar clamp hangers allow you to store pants on their own. Cedar tie and belt hangers are also offered, allowing you to keep your business attire safely stored next to your other garments.
2. Cedar Hang-Ups and Hanger Rings
Don’t want to replace all of your clothes hangers with cedar wood? No problem! Simply add a few cedar hang-ups to your closet rod to provide the aroma of cedar wood to your entire closet space. These hang-ups rest right on the closet rod next to your existing clothes hangers. To renew the cedar scent, lightly sand the wood once every few months.
Hanger cedar rings are another great alternative to purchasing all new hangers. These cedar wood rings slide over any standard hanger hook and rest on top of the hanger to transform any hanger into premium clothing care. You can also toss them into suitcases, dresser drawers, and even onto shelves.
3. Cedar Drawer Liners
Cedar is not limited to the closet! Use a cedar drawer liner 
to protect and freshen everything stored inside your bedroom dresser or chest of drawers. The drawer liner roll can be easily cut using household scissors or a razor knife. Once it has been cut to the correct size, place it inside the drawer to offer everyday protection and freshness to the clothing stored inside.
Tongue and groove cedar drawer liners are also available to line any household drawer. The pieces easily snap together to create a platform at the bottom of the drawer. The thick cedar wood repels moths and other insects while offering a woodsy cedar scent.
4. Cedar Shelf and Drawer Dividers
Add organization to your closet shelves and dresser drawers while offering the aroma of fresh cedar with shelf and drawer dividers. Use drawer dividers to effectively organize socks, underwear, bras, handkerchiefs, and more in your dresser drawers. The drawer dividers are fully adjustable to fit drawers of most any depth. Shelf dividers allow you to create the same organizational method for your closet shelves. This helps you organize blankets, jeans, linens, and other items right on the closet shelves above the closet rod. As with all cedar wood, lightly sand the wood to renew the fresh cedar scent.
5. Cedar Spray
Instantly add the fresh smell of cedar hardwood to any 
space with cedar spray. Cedar spray, pictured on the right, allows you to freshen, deodorize, and protect areas of the home without the need for harsh chemicals or oils. Cedar naturally repels insects, moths, and even moisture – ensuring your stored clothing stays safe from harm.
This deodorizing spray can be used on its own, or used to restore the aromatic scent of cedar wood products. While each bottle only contains 2 fluid ounces, one spray goes a long way – ensuring this small bottle lasts for a while. Simply spray your dresser drawers, closet shelves, and more to keep your storage space smelling fresh.
6. Cedar Shoe Care
If there is one smelly item in any closet – it’s shoes. Keep the inside of your shoes and boots smelling fresh and clean while ensuring footwear maintain their shape with help from these cedar shoe trees. These shoe trees are adjustable in length, and they are available in a variety of widths to fit in both men’s and women’s shoes.
Two cedar shoe trees are included in each set – one for each shoe. The wood construction offers reliable function while keeping unpleasant odors at bay.
Browse through a variety of cedar-scented products at Organize-It to find the perfect storage and organization product for your home.
Subscribe to the Organize-It blog for more organization tips and tricks. Learn more at Organize-It.com.