Nip It In the Bug!

Contributed by Rita McGhee, Sort My Space, www.sortmyspace.com

Over the past several months I’ve had questions posed to me about the most recent viral explosion on the human population, H1N1, and how is the best way to clean and sanitize a home.  As a mom of elementary-age children, viruses and bacteria enter my house DAILY!  If my children bring something into the house, we all risk getting sick.  With flu season approaching, including the H1N1 virus, getting sick comes with a host of complications ranging from sore throats to death.

According to the CDC web site, www.cdc.org, Congressional update on May 4, 2009,  the H1N1 virus lives on a dry surface for minimum of “2-8 hours.”  My first line of defense is hand washing when entering the house.  As far as the children go, their school clothes are put in the laundry daily.  If clothes can’t be washed, steam them or put them through the dryer on at least the medium setting – cook the little bugs! Wipe down back-pack handles & folders with a disinfectant cloth every day.

Each time I clean a room, special consideration goes to areas of high use.  This is especially true at the first signs that a “bug” has entered the house – sneezing, coughing, fever or intestinal issues.  I use a disinfectant cleaner on a cloth or paper towel and clean these areas first:

* Bathroom – Handles, switches, sink, cabinet edges, toilet.
* Kitchen – Sink, countertops, appliance handles and controls, switches & knobs.
* Common Areas – Switches, knobs, controllers, phones & keyboards.

I’ve done this routine so often that I can sanitize each room within just a few minutes.  It has stopped many a bug in its tracks!

Rita McGhee is a professional organizer in Charleston, West Virginia and author of “Organize Your Home the Green Way.”

Jakoter Health Organizers

Jakoter Health Tag

When it comes to organizing your ever-lasting accumulation of medical documents do you wonder what should I keep, what can I throw or do I need to shred it? Medical information organizing is essential for being prepared for emergencies, as well as for doctor appointments and keeping track of medications and such.

Jakoter Health Organizers, www.jakoterhealthorganizers.com is the solution to getting all your medical information in one central location. These organizers will keep medical information organized, so when needed the information will be ready and available for all doctor appointments, surgeries, tests and those unexpected emergencies. And when you think about it…having your medical information organized and available for the emergency personnel could save yours or your loved ones life!

Jakoter Health Organizer

As well, they help caregivers and parents alike; keep track of medications, how the medications worked and/or if there was a reaction, appointments of all doctors (when, where, who, why, findings and follow up), bills & receipts, blood work, calendar charts, directions, doctor letters, immunizations, major events, and test results. They also include sections for notes, questions/answers, resources, baby milestones and two blank sections to use for whatever you need.

Jakoter Health Organizers offer Medical Information Organizing in many venues to fit your needs. We offer:

*Personal organizing to help you with your own personal medical information with the help of a Jakoter Health Consultant (JHC).

*Classes offered in small groups with hands-on organizing during a follow-up workshop.

*Webinars for those who prefer to learn virtually on how to organize their information. Also, available are webinars for those who would like to learn how to become a Jakoter Health Consultant or would like to teach others how to become a Jakoter Health Consultant.

Jakoter Medic Tag

*Speaking presentations are given to large groups on several different subjects, such as “The Ease and Power of the Health Tag”. Please contact us for more subjects offered.

*Companies who sell products for retail or online, we have great products for you to add to your line of retail and an opportunity for you to make a great profit.

Employers add a great benefit to your health insurance package by adding health organizing products for your employees. Give them the option to purchase at a discounted price or add the products in as a free benefit. Please contact us for details.

If you interested these products or as a small business owner are looking for something new to offer your clients and you would like more information about Jakoter Health Organizers, please contact me at Delight@jakoter.com or 952-297-2827.  I am confident you will be as thrilled about these products as I was the first time I heard about them.

Happy Healthy Living

Thanks to Organized A to Z partner Diana Fletcher, a stress-reducing expert, for contributing this week’s series – Six Steps to Happy, Healthy Living.

You want it all.  You want to look great, feel great, be great–and why not?  That would be wonderful!  But when you don’t feel good or accomplish everything you set out to do, it’s discouraging and stress-inducing.

I believe we have reached a saturation point.  We live in a busy world where things move very quickly.  In our multi-tasking madness, we have exhausted ourselves. The time has come to slow down.  We have to stop the constant moving, doing, and striving to be everything to everyone. We need to stop giving attention to everything and everyone that demands it.

Stop and Breathe. That’s right.  Right now, stop and breathe. Put your right hand on your abdomen and take a deep breath.  Breathe deep enough to see your hand rise.  This is how you want to breathe. But most of the time, we don’t breathe this way.  Some of us never breathe this way. When you are under stress, your breathing gets shallower.  Not enough oxygen gets to your brain and organs and you get tired or sick.  Is this how you want to live your life?

I believe it is time to create space in our lives for what is truly important. We have so much to do, and we want to do so much, that it is inevitable that all of it won’t get done.  So let’s stop driving ourselves crazy, and focus on what is truly important.

The most important step in your journey toward living a happy life lies in taking care of your health.  It doesn’t matter how much money you have because without good health, you cannot enjoy yourself or take care of the people and things that are most important to you.

We are meant to live happy, healthy lives. Take a few seconds to visualize that.  You are meant to move easily and breathe easily. You are meant to nourish yourself with healthy foods and healthy activities. You are meant to feel good and rested and healthy everyday. And no matter where you are on the continuum, you can get started today on living a happy, healthier life. Empower yourself.  Take control.  Make the decision that you are important and from now on, you are going to take care of yourself and your health before anything else. Your life and those lives you touch everyday will benefit from your good health.