Chaos Theory Blog | Dayna Brandoff | Professional Organizer | New York, NY

Get Organized for a Festive Meal

Dayna Brandoff — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:06:29 +0000

t’s November. You’re juggling end-of-year budget meetings, vacation plans and holiday gift lists. With all the other responsibilities you have to contend with this time of year, the thought of preparing the Thanksgiving meal can be overwhelming. It’s helpful to treat this holiday like any other project and to combat the stress by getting all those to-dos down on paper and asking for help when you need it.

Chances are, if you’re cooking this type of meal, you know about it well in advance, which is fortunate, because the key is planning ahead and sharing the work. Get my list, which will help you get organized for the most wonderful time of the year at Affluent Magazine.

Relocating? Make Your Move Stress Free!

Dayna Brandoff — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:45:06 +0000

Even though the season falls smack dab in the middle of the calendar year, autumn is a time for new beginnings. The cooler air seems to be ushered in by a parade of school buses and moving trucks. Maybe you’re just starting out in your very first apartment; maybe you’ve outgrown your old space and are on to bigger and better. Whatever the case may be, I’m sure you could use a little help with the moving process. Once you’ve found the place, here’s what you do:

Check out my moving tips at Affluent Magazine!

Getting Organized to Get Away

Dayna Brandoff — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:56:58 +0000

Summertime has me thinking about weekends away. But before you get to your destination of choice, it’s easy to stress about the getting there. It’s not just the packing, it’s the feeling that you’ve forgotten to take care of something around the house. Let’s put your mind at ease:

Check out my Countdown to Vacation at Affluent Magazine!

Speed Organizing: Surmountable Tasks

Dayna Brandoff — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:21:28 +0000

Does the idea of getting organized leave you feeling overwhelmed? It’s easy to think of each project as a multi-day affair – and really, who has that kind of time? Each day you don’t address the issue, the area continues to collect more and more clutter, and the project feels even more insurmountable in your mind. Here’s a secret – you don’t need days or even hours to take control! Here are 7 things you can do RIGHT NOW to get organized, enjoy peace-of-mind and prevent clutter from piling up in the future.

Read more at Affluent Magazine!

Getting Organized for a New Addition

Dayna Brandoff — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:02:22 +0000

Preparing for a new baby can be very exciting – but it can also feel overwhelming. Hormones and anxieties aside, it’s hard to wrap your head around the growing to-do list and the seemingly endless amount of stuff you need for your baby-to-be. And how on earth is it all going to fit in your apartment?! Don’t beat yourself up if you’re feeling overwhelmed – even Professional Organizers can feel this way

Never fear! Using your nesting instincts and these tips, you’ll be ready (and organized!) for the baby.

For tips on how to get ready for baby, read my article at Big City Moms!

Spring Cleaning Your Wardrobe

Dayna Brandoff — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:23:04 +0000

Spring is just around the corner! Frigid temperatures and grey skies will soon make way for cheerier blue skies and colorful blooms. In anticipation of the perfect sunshine days ahead, why not take these last few weeks of winter to do a thorough closet clean-out?

For tips on how to attack your closet, read my article at Affluent Magazine!

Getting the New Year Off to an Organized Start

Dayna Brandoff — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:07:57 +0000

I absolutely love the beginning of a new year – there are so many possibilities – and the feeling of freshness just radiates from that first clean calendar page. When the clock struck midnight on January 1st, I know that many of you resolved to get organized in 2011.

For tips to help you get the results you want, read my article at Affluent Magazine!

Planning Your Holiday Meal… With Your Tween

Dayna Brandoff — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:18:18 +0000

It’s November. You’re juggling parent-teacher conferences, PTA meetings, report cards, and a changing after-school schedule for your preteen now that winter sports have begun. With all the other responsibilities you have to contend with this time of year, the thought of preparing the Thanksgiving meal can be overwhelming. It’s helpful to treat this holiday like any project and to combat the stress by getting all those to-dos down on paper and asking for help when you need it. Why not recruit your family, especially your preteen(s), to take care of tasks that don’t need your personal touch (or supervision in the kitchen!)?

Chances are, if you’re cooking this type of meal, you know about it well in advance, which is fortunate, because the key is planning ahead and sharing the work. Following is a list, which will help you organize your family.

For an in-depth timeline on how to approach the Holiday Meal, visit TweenParent.com!

Get Your Family Organized for the School Year

Dayna Brandoff — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:28:35 +0000

The start of the school year is a great time to adopt new, organized habits. Here are some ideas to help you keep tabs on your family’s whereabouts, allow you to see what arrangements need to be made, eliminate some of that morning pressure and to stay on top of school-generated paperwork.

Create a master calendar for your family.

So much of being organized is knowing what preparations you need to make in order to get organized. That’s why it’s so important to have a color-coded master calendar for your family. This calendar should include everything – family plans, after-school activities, field trips, vacation days, school assignments and Mom & Dad time. If you’re technologically savvy, you can create this in a calendar program like Outlook or iCal. If you prefer paper, choose a wall calendar large enough to accommodate all of your family’s activities – then assign each family member a different color. Display the calendar in a central location and hang colored markers from strings on the same hook. This way, family members can add new items (in their color) as they come up.

On a particularly hectic day, you should be able to look at the calendar and immediately know where everyone is and what they’re up to. Most important, you’ll be able to see what arrangements need to be made – booking a babysitter, arranging for a carpool or baking cupcakes for the PTA bake sale. Knowing these things ahead of time will allow you to take care of them when your schedule allows – rather than feeling the pressure at the last minute.

Hungry for more? Check out the full article at TweenParent.com!

A Tool for Academic Success: The Student Planner

Dayna Brandoff — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:36:00 +0000

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the approach of the school year. As a parent, there is a lot to juggle to get your child back into his regularly scheduled program – carpool coordination, school supply shopping and the reinstatement of pre-summer routines. As a student, it can feel just as overwhelming. Your preteen may be feeling anxious about a whole different set of responsibilities – in some cases, it’s the first time he’ll have a locker, the first time he’ll be changing classroom between subjects and the first time he’ll have to navigate a new school building. One way to help your child feel more in control is to encourage him to develop organizational skills through the proper use of a student planner.