However, beyond the obvious, there is something to be said for the added aesthetic component to organizing. We have never tracked this and have no scientific basis; however, we generally find that those who choose their space to be both functional and visually appealing tend to maintain the space longer.  The reasons could be varied. Maybe it’s about the personality of someone who prefers function and beauty or maybe they’re wired to maintain the space? Maybe the simplicity of the space inspires maintenance or the space is just too lovely not to maintain? My guess is that it’s a combination of all the above. Whatever the reason, it might be worth considering adding a little beauty to your function and see what happens.

Getting and staying organized is a process that changes as our lives change. You will have to adjust and adapt as you go through life. The more stuff you have the more expensive it is mentally, emotionally, physically and financially. And, one fact to bear in mind is that you can’t organize yourself out of too much stuff. If you have too much stuff for the space, maintenance is next to impossible. The good news is that there is help and you don’t have to organize alone. If you are local, give us a call or schedule a free consult. Otherwise, look up your local NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Professional Organizer) chapter to find an organizer in your area.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post Function vs Beauty appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

One of the most confusing parts of getting ready for tax time is knowing what documents you need to prepare your taxes.  Basically the documents break down into three categories.  Income statements, deductions and receipts.

The Challenge of Receipts

Receipts are the most challenging documents to store and organize. This is especially true if you are a small business owner. Receipts are your main protection if the IRS decides to audit and details are critical.  It’s imperative to keep all receipts pertaining to business and a very good idea to get into the habit of making notes on entertainment and dining expense receipts.

Simple Receipt Storage Solutions

I personally love a simple accordion file folder with 13 or more slots for filing my receipts. It’s important to make sure your file folder has enough slots to accommodate all the tax categories you need. At the end of the year I make sure all the receipts within a given category are organized by date, then I hand the entire folder over to my accountant. I actually have two of these that I rotate yearly, so I always have one working receipt folder available. I keep a designated area in my wallet for my business receipts and simply file the receipts in my file folder when the area in my wallet is full.

Consider Scanning for Added Protection

Scanning your receipts can help solve two problems. First, if IRS comes knocking, they won’t care that your receipts from four years ago have faded; so scanning receipts is a great way to give you that added layer of protection.  Secondly, if you set up a system to scan as you go using your phone, then you won’t have to wonder where all your receipts are stored and you won’t have to deal with that shoebox full of papers come tax time.  There are many smartphone apps dedicated to receipt scanning that are easy to use and can save you hours of searching, sorting and organizing papers during tax time.

List of Needed Tax Documents

Income Statements:

• W-2 – wages and salary
• W-2G – gambling winnings
• Form 1099-R – retirement income
• Form 1099-INT – interest
• Form 1099-DIV – dividends
• Form 1099-MISC – miscellaneous income, including self-employment
• Form 1099-G – government payments
• Form 1099-SA – MSA or HSA distributions
• Form 1099-B – broker or barter exchanges
• Form SSA-1099 – Social Security benefits
• Form RRB-1099 – railroad retirement
• Schedule K-1 – partnership income or loss
• Other sources of income, such as jury duty pay, gambling winnings and cancellation of debt
• Cryptocurrency transactions
• Alimony payments

Self-Employment and Business Records:

• Form 1099-NEC
• Form 1099-K
• All records of business income and expenses
• Mileage
• Business assets to be depreciated
• Home office expenses

Deductions:

• Form 1098 – mortgage interest
• Form 1098-E – student loan interest
• Form 1098-T – tuition
• Out of pocket medical expenses

Receipts & Records:

• Unreimbursed mileage related to work or volunteering
• Charitable donations
• Contributions to retirement plans
• Healthcare expenses
• Self-employment income and expenses, including any:
  • Home-office expenses
  • Health-insurance premiums paid
  • Transportation costs
  • Advertising fees
• Rental property
• Moving expenses, if you moved for a new job
• Expenses for energy-efficient home improvements
• Tuition or fees paid for education for you, spouse, or dependents
• Retirement account rollovers
• Child care and dependent care expenses, including the employer identification number (EIN) or SSN of the care provider

Additional Documents:

• Your Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (ITIN) and SSNs or ITINs for spouse and dependents (if any)
• Your birth date and birth date for spouse and dependents (if any)
• A copy of last year’s return

By Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

Documents List Source: IRS.gov, H&R Block & Forbes

The post The Challenge of Tax Receipts appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

You might ask, what is vertical organizing? It’s an organizing method that stands everything up so it’s easy to access and put away. Marie Kondo made this technique very popular; however, the method pre-dates Marie and can be used far beyond clothing. The trick is often in containerizing the items you want to stand vertically and working within the shape of the space you have for storage.

There are many ways to fold clothing and towels so they stand, but matching the fold to the space you actually have and therefore maximizing your space is the key to vertical organizing. For the purpose of this blog, we are going to focus on 3 different spaces that you may not have considered for vertical organizing.

As I have said many times over the years, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to organizing, so be creative and don’t forget that function comes first. All the items in a space should be easy to take out and put away. If the system falls apart the minute something is removed or it’s difficult to put an item away, then you may want to reconsider the system. Containers are often the key to vertical organizing, so picking the correct container is an important part of the process.

Office Drawers:

There are many items in office drawers that can easily stand and allow for much easier assess. My favorite is using colored file folders to file (stand up) colored tissue paper.

Post-it notes

Note pads & note books

Envelopes

Note cards

Wrapping/tissue paper in a file drawer

Comforters & Blankets:

There are many ways to fold blankets so they stand in your closet. Check out this video to get you started with lots of folding techniques. The beauty of standing them is that you can see what you have and don’t have to dig them out from under a pile of blankets.

Jeans:

If you have lots of jeans, you might consider standing them on a shelf. Using shelf dividers, about every 12 inches will help ensure they stay standing.

Vertical organizing is a functional way to organize your space for easy access.  If you would like to learn more or need help getting started, don’t hesitate to call or email to schedule your appointment today.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post The Benefits of Vertical Organizing appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

What is the Cost of Clutter?

Clutter can be expensive and the cost of clutter can be divided into 3 categories: financial, physical and emotional.

• The financial cost of clutter can result in lost or displaced money in the form of checks or fees. When unopened mail accumulates, it’s often followed by late fees that have accrued and missing tax records can lead to financial penalties.
• The physical cost of clutter includes stress and anxiety experienced by the inability to locate items when they are needed. Time wasted searching for items is frustrating and physically exhausting.
• The emotional cost of clutter frequently comes in the form of confusion and a sense that we have lost control of our circumstances.

How do we regain that sense of control?

Getting organized is one way we can take control of our daily lives and navigate through challenging transitions.  We often feel that if we achieve a certain goal or arrive at a particular milestone, life will suddenly be better. There may be some truth to this, however, it’s frequently the journey itself that transforms us. The journey involves change which can be difficult and frightening.  Even though we know that change is the only constant in life, we still resist it. We resist letting go of things, places and even people who are no longer a positive fit in our lives. Sometimes the act of “letting go” is the path to control.

De-clutter Your Mind, Body and Space

Let’s look at three organizing concepts to de-clutter your mind, body and space:

1. Create a schedule: Make sure the entire family is informed and involved. The most imperative tasks should be scheduled first and the remaining tasks in order of importance.
2. Make a list: This is the fastest way to physically reduce stress. This list can be created on paper, computer or dry erase board. The objective is to get the tasks out of your head, then use the list!
3. Sort, categorize and purge! For small jobs like a junk drawer, sort all the items into categories that are similar in order to determine how much of each category you own. Then purge what you don’t want or need. The left-over items will determine the type of storage container needed for proper organization. For larger piles or stacks, like clothes, it’s best to simply sort items into “keep” and “let go”. The goal is to quickly reduce the size of the “keep pile” and then categorize and organize the remaining items.

Embrace the Journey

We can choose to embrace the journey or we can avoid it as the world moves forward. Change can be difficult and we all occasionally need a little help and guidance to arrive at our destination.

If you are struggling and need a little assistance, we would love to help you embrace the journey. Give us a call at 610.847.5422 or schedule a free consultation.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post Is Clutter Robbing You of the Life You Deserve? appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Intentions are the bedrock of goals and desires.  When planning with intention you want to come from a place of authenticity.  Ask yourself what you genuinely want to achieve?  For those intentions to take form, it’s important to set goals.

Goals should be specific and measurable for them to powerful and effective.  That doesn’t mean that those goals must come from a place of stress and guilt, be competitive or full of pressure. Setting measurable goals gives you the clarity that is needed to help manifest tangible outcomes.

Actions support your goals and intentions and allow the goal to take form. Creating daily, weekly and monthly actions is the key to achievement and may include building or changing some habits.  Habits require practice to form or break, and the cessation of action is more about the loss of support and accountability than failure or weakness.

Sometimes we all fall short of our goals. This is when a shift in perspective can help us overcome feelings of defeat.  Be kind to yourself, practice focusing on what you accomplished and allow yourself to make mistakes. Enjoy the process and have fun along the journey.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post The Power of Intention appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Let’s put one myth to rest.  Being organized is not about perfection.  No one’s home is perfect every minute of the day.  Being organized is about putting a simple system into place that will work for you and your family and can be maintained on a consistent basis.

So how does one put a simple system into place that will balance the need for organization with ADHD?  First, think about which areas of your life need simplifying.  Is it your schedule, your paperwork, your home, or all of them?  Then identify ways you can make small changes that will have a big impact on you every day.

Many with ADHD have difficulty focusing on a given task for too long. We recommend starting with small chunks of time to accomplish tasks.  For example, set aside 30 minutes to tackle a task.  If 30 minutes leaves you feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, then allot 15 minutes for the next task.  Once you complete a task, take a short break (10-15 minutes) before you move on to the

next task. Apps like Time Timer can help track your time spent.  The key is to work in short bursts to stay alert. Begin with the easiest tasks first and work your way up to the more complicated ones.  Be sure to accomplish these tasks during your most productive time of the day for you.

For the larger or more complex projects, we recommend they be broken down into smaller tasks.  For example, you want to organize your home office, but you know it will take hours.  Break it down into 30-minute tasks.  One task could be purging and organizing the items on the desktop.  Another task could be organizing 1-2 drawers.  Another could be culling the books on the bookshelves.  By tackling one task at a time, the overall project becomes more achievable.

Now that we have talked about strategies for how to approach tasks, let’s discuss ideas that may help maintain attentiveness.

Schedule

All the appointments, calls, and errands we need to complete can be dizzying. It can be easy to lose focus if we don’t know what we want to accomplish each day. The best way to organize your schedule is to set goals and allot time to achieve those goals.

• To Do Lists – Daily lists help set your goals for the day. Keep your daily list short. No more than 5 items per day so the focus is on your top priorities. If you have more tasks than that, add the remaining items to a weekly or monthly list.
• Calendars – Use a calendar or planner to organize your day. For our tech savvy friends, use the calendar feature on your phone or device. Block out time on your schedule to complete each item on your Daily To-Do List.  Don’t forget to create reminders so you don’t miss tasks or appointments!
• Tickler Files – Let you keep track of time-sensitive documents that need action but at a future date. Use these in coordination with your To Do Lists and calendars.

We recommend creating your Daily To-Do List the night before and block out time on your calendar so you can hit the ground running in the morning.

Paperwork

Many people are bogged down by the sheer volume of papers that come into their home.  To cut down on the amount of paper so you can focus on more important things, consider these ideas:

• Purge your mail right away. Toss out junk mail immediately and only keep important items.
• Switch to online banking. No more statements to file, checks to write out, or forgetting to run to the post office.
• Request paperless bills. Mark down reminders on your calendar for when the bills are due.
• For those hard copy files that you must save … Keep your filing system simple. Use broad categories for your folders and only create subcategories when it is necessary.

Home

Your physical space can contribute to a lack of concentration. Set yourself up for success by considering these pointers:

• Simplify your wardrobe. Paring down to essential items can reduce the time and anxiety to get dressed every day.
• Purge excess possessions. The more items you must contend with daily, the more distraction you must overcome to gain focus. Keep the items you need and use but let go of the items that don’t bring value to your life.
• Use a landing zone for the important things that you need as you head out the door each day. Your keys, glasses, backpack, etc. should be in a place that you can quickly grab without thought.

And remember, you don’t have to go through this alone.  Reach out for support if you need it.  It can be a family member, friend, mentor, professional organizer, medical professional or life coach.  There are so many resources out there to guide you, support you and partner with you to help achieve your goals.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post How to Organize with ADHD appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

The good news is that many organizing projects can be tackled using the same method.  We use the STACK method for our clients because it’s simple, easy to follow and it works on almost any organizing project.

S – Sort: The first step is to sort your items into categories.  You’ll want to put like items with like items, (e.g. paints with paints, pencils with pencils).  This will tell you how much stuff you actually have in any one category.

T – Toss: Once you know how much stuff you have it’s time to take stock and toss any items that you don’t use, are outdated or unusable. I suggest that you keep only what you love or need. Tossing can be anything from throwing in the garbage to donating or selling an item.

A – Assign a Home: This part of the process can be accomplished by asking yourself a few questions.

How you use your items?

Where do you use your items?

How often you use your items?

C – Contain: Containerize any item/s that are possible and feasible to contain. It will help make items easier to find and store.

K – Keep It Up: This may involve building new habits if necessary and practicing putting items away after they’re used.

When the burden clutter is lifted from our shoulders, we may feel physically lighter, more energetic and less stressed. This relief can lead to increased work productivity, greater enthusiasm and better relationships.

Darla Pompilio

Professional Organizer

Your Tasks Our Time, LLC

The post How to Declutter and Organize Any Space appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

How many times has spring rolled around and you had every intention of de-cluttering and organizing your garage, basement or storage unit, only to find its fall again and it never got done? Organizing and de-cluttering is an arduous task and most of us have no idea how to even begin; however, there is a better way, just follow the simple steps below or schedule your consultation today!

Plan ahead.  Be sure to set enough time aside to allow you to get the job done correctly.

1) Sort & purge – create 2 separate piles (keep it simple). One for items you will keep and the other for items that need to go.

2) Decide the best way to store or contain the remaining items.  This may be bins, shelving, cabinets or peg boards.

•  Clear bins or containers work best because you can see what you’re storing
• Garbage cans work well for storing hockey and lacrosse sticks, oars or ski poles.  Be careful not to store any items that are twice the height of the container you’re using or they may tip over
•  Shelving units with wheels are great because you can move them where needed and they are easy to pull out for cleaning
• You may want to consider wall mounted specialty racks if you have significant amounts of sporting equipment, such as, skis, snow boards, fishing rods, bikes or golf bags
•  Be sure to select shelving units with wide adjustable shelves.  This way you will have enough room to store large bins and items of varying sizes
•  Be sure to label all bins, so all family members know where to store items

3) Sort the items you are keeping into different categories.  See example categories below.

•  Sports equipment
•  Seasonal clothes
•  Surplus beverages or dry goods
•  Tools
•  Household equipment
•  Lawn or garden tools
•  Chemicals

4) Once you have all of your items sorted into categories, you can store them in various zones based on your categories.

•  Use the clear bins to store loose items like sports equipment such as balls, mitts, etc.
•  Use peg boards to store hand tools, power tools, brooms, and garden tools.
•  Be sure to keep toxins locked away where children can’t gain access to them.
•  Be sure to keep dry goods and toxic chemicals in completely separate zones.
•  Do not store propane tanks inside of your garage.  If the tank leaks it only takes a spark of static electricity to create an explosion.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks Our Time

The post Quick and Easy Garage Organization appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

Even when you move into a new home that is the same size as your last, or even bigger, it can be a challenge to unpack and put everything into the appropriate place. The kitchen cabinets are not the same layout. The closets are configured differently. That’s when you need to think about what you use most frequently and where you use it.  The answer to these questions can help you to figure out the best location for your items.

Kitchen

The kitchen can be the most challenging room to tackle when moving into a new home.  Think about which items you use daily.  Those items should get the prime real estate space in your cabinets. Consider putting plates and glasses in a cabinet near the dish washer so you can easily unload them after being washed without having to walk across the entire kitchen multiple times. The pots and pans you use most often should go in the very front of the cabinet and the lesser used ones can go towards the back. That crock pot, or other small appliance, you use only once or twice a year can get stored on the very top shelf of your cabinet or your pantry.  Same thing applies to those oversized items you use for entertainment purposes.  Those giant platters and serving bowls can go on a higher shelf.

And here’s a little hack for you … For that awkward corner cabinet that’s difficult to reach the back, lazy Susan’s can be useful so you can spin it and access all the items easily.

Bedrooms

In bedrooms, clothes and shoes are the primary things that need to be stored and accessed regularly.  If you’re lucky enough to have very large closets, that’s great but you can still be mindful of have you organize it.  Consider grouping similar items together in the space.  For example, put all pants together and all short-sleeve shirts together. If you don’t need to access those party dresses every week, perhaps they can go towards the back of the closet.  Grouping items will help you locate a particular item faster than looking through your entire closet.  Consider doing the same for your dresser.

If you don’t have a large closet, you may consider only storing in-season clothing and putting the off-season items in a container and storing elsewhere (like the attic) until their season arrives.

Shoes can be a challenge for many.  If your shoes end up being a jumbled mess on the floor, you may consider buying a shoe rack that can help utilize vertical space in the closet, so they don’t take up as much floor space.  And, if your shoes never actually make their way back to the bedroom closet, it may make sense to store them by the front door or garage door where you tend to slide them on and off.

And for us ladies who have multiple handbags to contend with, using the upper shelf of the closet is a great place to store them so you can see them and easily access them.  If your handbags don’t want to stand up for you, you can use a shelf divider to help corral them in the space.

Bathrooms

Bathroom cabinets and vanities can easily become a chaotic space stuffed with bottles of lotions and potions.  Before you throw everything under your sink, consider if you really need all those items at your fingertips.  Can that wrist brace you used 2 years ago get stored elsewhere? What about that unused medicine that is probably expired? Most bathrooms have limited storage space. Try to keep it to the items you use most frequently and consider under the sink stackable bins or organizers to group items like hair products, facial products, body products, etc.

Basements/Garages

Basements and garages tend to get filled up with the items we don’t know what to do with.  It’s easy for these spaces to become overrun with boxes and bins and then become too overwhelming to organize.  If you must store items in these spaces, consider creating zones.  A zone for holiday items, tools, sporting equipment, gardening items, etc.

Moving to a new home can be stressful and settling into a new home can be challenging.  Hopefully, these tips will help lessen that challenge.  And, if it’s still too much to contend with on your own, you can always hire a professional organizer who can help through your transition.

Karen Kabara

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

The post Settling Into Your New Home appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

The costs of clutter are both tangible and intangible.  The tangible costs include financial loss from over spending, late fees on bills and diminished work productivity that can lead to depression and illness.  The intangible costs of clutter may include social embarrassment resulting from a cluttered home, distressed personal relationships and even loss of momentum and direction in pursuit of our goals. Detaching from clutter may be difficult, but it’s worth the time and effort if you truly wish to live a simplified and more fulfilling life.

Let’s begin this journey by asking some questions about the items you own:

• Do you need the items?  If not, let them go.
• Do you love the item? If not, let them go.
• Do you use the items on a regular basis or recently? If so, maintain those items but keep them at a minimum.
• How do you use these items? How you use an item can shed light on whether the item should be kept.
• Are the items in good working order? Items that work improperly or are difficult to use can cause frustration and should not be kept.
• What is your relationship to the item? If you feel emotionally attached to an item, ask yourself the following questions.
  • Does the item bring value to your current life style? If not, let them go.
  • Is the item contributing to the life you wish to lead? If not, let them go.
• Are you keeping the item because you think you should or because you want to? It’s okay to let go of those items that you have kept out of obligation and it’s fine to keep family items that you treasure.

Learning to detach is often a journey that includes creating new habits.  One of the best ways to avoid having to purge, is to ask yourself if it will fit in the space and if you really need or love the item before purchasing it?

Begin by consciously using this method for a month or so, and you will be surprised at how easily you can reduce the clutter in your home and simplify your surroundings.

Darla Pompilio

Your Tasks – Our Time, Inc

The post The Clutter Free Life – How to Detach appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

I think the biggest question that a lot of families will face this year for the holidays is … Whether or not to travel … and how that decision will impact you and your family.  The holidays have always been about spending time with family and friends especially those family members that you may not be able to see on a regular basis. Due to travel restrictions and quarantine guidelines, travel may not be feasible for some.  So, planning and preparation are going to be more important than ever to try and make the most out of our new reality.

If your family is one that typically travels during the holiday to see extended family, whether locally or long-distance, I recommend having a conversation early to assess the risk and manage family expectations.  If you decide you’re not going to travel, then you have to figure out how the decision to stay home this year is going to change your normal routine.

One aspect to consider is your holiday dinner.  If you plan on cooking, figure out what dishes you want to make and purchase all non-perishable items ahead of time.  Planning may allow you to take advantage of sales at your grocery stores and avoid items being sold out.  Make a list for all the perishables so, when it’s time to hit the store for the last-minute items, you’re set and ready to go.

If you’re not one for cooking, you may choose to dine out for the holiday.  Many states still have restrictions for restaurants.  Therefore, I suggest calling the restaurant you want to eat at and ask them about reservations for the holidays or any restrictions they may have in place for dining.  For example, you want to have 8 members of your family eat together but the restaurant can’t seat more than 6 people at each table.  Know these things beforehand to avoid any frustrations or disappointments once you arrive at the restaurant.

Another aspect that will be impacted is gifts.  For those who will be ordering gifts online, order early to ensure you get them on time. Delivery services are already experiencing extended delivery schedules. Recently, I had multiple deliveries get the delivery dates pushed back after the shipping process began.  I also had a package get completely lost in the system.  Calling customer service to understand what happened to my delivery was fruitless!  I say all this to let you know, if you plan to buy gifts online, you need to do that as early as possible.

If you’re not traveling to see family this year and need to ship gifts to family, then you need additional time to get the gift, wrap it and then ship it to your family members.  You may also want to check the retail website and see if they offer gift wrapping services.  There is usually a fee for such service.  However, it may be worth the money to have them wrap the gift and ship it directly to your family member to cut down on your shipping and delivery needs.

For those who plan to have gatherings at their homes, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to pull this off safely.  If you’re lucky enough to live in a mild climate, you may choose to host a small gathering outdoors either at your house or at a local park if permitted.

Another option is to have a virtual party. I know it’s not the same as being there in person with your loved ones.  But at least you get to experience the holiday with them in some way.  It may be the safest way for some grandparents to see their grandkids on the holiday.  You can also use the time to open gifts.  This would take pre-planning to gather any gifts that had been shipped or to take time to drop off gifts on your family’s doorstep if they live locally.

If your family is nearby, you may choose to do a gift hunt (think Easter egg hunt but with Christmas gifts).  You can hide the gifts in your family’s yard and then watch them come out and find their gifts from a safe distance.  Then they can do the same at your house.

Let’s be honest, this holiday season is going to be different and it may be difficult for some.  But there are steps we can take ahead of time to try and connect with loved ones even if we can’t be with them in person.  And it may be helpful to have a Plan B just in case Plan A goes bust!

Keep up to date on the CDC Guidelines for the Holidays to guide your decision-making process.

Karen Kabara

Your Tasks – Our Time. Inc

The post How to Organize for the Holidays appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.

You may want to create a trip board on Pinterest to pin informative websites or, if you’re still a pen and paper kind of person, jot down notes in one notebook so all your details are in one place.

We all research the typical topics related to travel – accommodations, travel method (by plane or car), places to eat and attractions.  But, this time around, you may need to add a subcategory to each of those topics – Restrictions.

Even though destinations are opening, that doesn’t mean that everything will go back to a pre-Covid state.  Many establishments are opening up with new guidelines and restrictions.  So how do you plan for this new reality?  The ideas below will hopefully help reduce the stress of planning your next getaway.

State/Country Restrictions

For domestic travel, each state is on a different timetable for easing corona-virus restrictions; therefore, if you are planning out of state travel, you will have to do your due diligence to research state and local websites for details on restrictions that may still be in place.  If you are traveling internationally, you should check your destination location for any travel advisories and restrictions.  There may be some locations that still expect people to self-isolate upon arrival.

Airlines/Cruise Lines

Now, more than ever, it will be important to read the fine print when booking travel reservations.  Be sure to check the cancellation policies for hotels, airlines, travel sites, etc.  Check airport websites to see what current procedures they are implementing for arrivals and departures.

Hotels

If you are concerned about the cleanliness of hotels, call them before booking and ask about their cleaning schedules and procedures.  If you are staying at the same hotel for multiple nights, you can ask to forego housekeeping services to limit the number of people entering your room during your stay.  Also ask about food service procedures.  Those continental breakfasts that many of us look forward to may not be offered.

Attractions/Dining Out

Most attractions and events are still closed or canceled.  So, when picking a specific destination, be sure to research the local events and attractions to see when they plan to reopen.  You should also ask them about any restrictions they will be enacting.  There’s nothing fun about spending time and money to travel to a great destination just to find out all the fun activities are closed or the experience is altered due to restrictions in place.

Due to social distancing guidelines, you may have to wait for seating at restaurants, so account for extra time to eat meals when planning out your day.

Packing for Trip

There are some essentials you might consider packing in addition to the normal items you throw in your suitcase.  You probably want hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes at the top of that list.  Some may choose to pack a mask, disposable gloves, and disposable plastic bags.  The disinfecting wipes will be helpful whether or on plane, a train, a bus or in a cab or hotel to wipe down “high touch” surfaces.

If you are opting to drive instead of fly, remember some rest areas are open for restroom facilities but not offering food sales.  So, be sure to pack food and drinks for the ride or take advantage of drive thru and take out dining.

As you are traveling to your destination, and even once you get there, you will want easy access to your hand sanitizer and wipes for frequent hand hygiene needs.  This is where a purse, tote or day pack with external pockets will come in handy, so you can grab the sanitizer before your son touches his face after running his hand all along that dirty handrail.

And finally, when you are ready and able to travel, be sure to have fun and know that a little extra planning up front may help keep you and your family safe!

By: Karen Kabara

Your Tasks – Our Time

The post How to Travel During Covid-19 appeared first on Your Tasks Our Time.