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Ever wake up in the middle of the night as sick as a dog and find yourself staggering around your home in search of a pill that may offer some relief?

Stagger no more! Organize your medicine supplies so that you can find your cold medicine, bandages, and vitamins when you need them.

Step 1: Get rid of expired and unused medications. Be sure to safely dispose of medication.  I recently learned that you can take expired/unexpired and opened/unopened (non-controlled) medication to the Costco Pharmacy and they will send it to those in need overseas or properly dispose of it.  If you don’t belong to a Costco, ask your local pharmacy if they participate in a similar program.
Step 2: Sort your supplies by type. Consider categories such as “Regular Use Medications/Vitamins”, “Cold & Flu”, “First Aid”, “Children’s Medications”. Use labeled shoe boxes or baskets to store each category.

Step 3: Reconsider where you store your medication. Keep your “Regular Use Medications” some place handy–perhaps in a kitchen cabinet or a medicine cabinet. Avoid creating medicine clutter on your kitchen counter. If you need to see your medication to remember to take it, store it in an attractive basket or container. Place infrequently used items, such as cold and flu medications in your linen closet or another storage area. Always make sure medications are not in reach of children.

Step 4: Re-stock. When you’re sick, you don’t want to have to run out in the middle of the night for supplies. Have a few medications on hand for when a cold descends on you.

Not sure where to start? Set Me Free! offers hands-on help.