Thursday, January 30, 2014
Why Do You Think Our Homes Accumulate Clutter?
- Clutter may be caused be delayed decisions.
- You haven't taken the time to decide on appropriate areas to keep your specific items in your home.
- Procrastination: maybe you feel overwhelmed about organizing or decluttering your house.
- You may be experiencing that frustrating "all or nothing" feeling about home organization. For example: you may think to yourself, "I will never have enough time to get my organizing projects done. There is just too much to do. So, why should I even start?"
- Maybe, you have a very busy family schedule and you haven't been using a good weekly/monthly planner for routine chores/tasks in the home.
- Possibly, the family doesn't realize your home organization goals and you may get easily distracted with many interruptions throughout the day. It may be very helpful for you to communicate your short-term and long-term organizing goals with your family. You may decide to have family members participate in your plan. This may be especially important in helping to keep your home maintained after you have everything set up the way you like it.
- You may have felt the lack of energy or motivation to complete organizing projects in the past.
- Often times, a major lifestyle change may cause a change in the normal flow of organization in your home. Here are a few examples: a birth or a death in the family, new marriage or a divorce, job relocation, or health problems.
Clutter Can Affect Your Life in a Negative Way
- Clutter can take up lots of extra space in a home. Think of how much more additional space you may have available after you get rid of any unnecessary clutter.
- You may be using a lot of your valuable time to take care of all the material things in your house.
- You
could be spending extra money for duplicate items that you have been
purchasing because you haven't been able to find the things that you
were looking for in your house.
- Many people say they lack energy because they are tired of maintaining all the material things they have accumulated over the years.
- They don't have enough time to take good care of themselves or to enjoy their favorite hobbies and outlets.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Finding a Healthy Everyday Balance
Finding a healthy balance between work and relaxation isn't always easy. We exist in a modern world of technology which allows people to communicate via phone, computers, and tablets at almost any time. Information is coming at us from all directions, such as: television, radio, newspapers, internet resources, etc.
So many moms are juggling their professional careers, while trying to do their best to also raise a family. It is common for many people to feel somewhat overwhelmed and frustrated with their lives because they aren't achieving that comforting sense of balance. They are searching for solutions to decrease stress and chaos in their lives.
Time management and organizational skills can be a tremendous help in developing new habits and skills to get the work and home environment more controllable. Often times, there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done to satisfaction.
Taking the time to make positive, creative changes in your life can really mean the difference between simply making a living or living a healthy, balanced life. You can learn how to take control of your home environment. When your home is decluttered and organized, you will save time when doing your daily and weekly household chores. You will also save time because you will not need to run around searching for things.
The best bonus of becoming organized is that you will have more time for you, so you can do the things you truly enjoy in life, such as: hobbies, healthy cooking, exercise, writing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
When you begin to declutter and organize your home remember to prioritize what is needed and important to you. Use good judgement and be decisive about what you keep. You have a specific amount of useable space in your home, sometimes referred to as "prime real estate" by professional organizers for those material items you need and treasure.
Decide what you don't need. You can donate those items to a charitable organization or sell the items. If you aren't using the items, chances are someone else can enjoy and appreciate the items that you no longer need or want anymore.
Contain things in an organized manner. Many professional organizers use clear plastic containers that can be easily labeled. Try to store "like" items together. Find the perfect place or "home" for all your items, so you can easily find them and access them quickly when needed. Don't forget to schedule time to maintain your new organized environment.
So many moms are juggling their professional careers, while trying to do their best to also raise a family. It is common for many people to feel somewhat overwhelmed and frustrated with their lives because they aren't achieving that comforting sense of balance. They are searching for solutions to decrease stress and chaos in their lives.
Time management and organizational skills can be a tremendous help in developing new habits and skills to get the work and home environment more controllable. Often times, there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done to satisfaction.
Taking the time to make positive, creative changes in your life can really mean the difference between simply making a living or living a healthy, balanced life. You can learn how to take control of your home environment. When your home is decluttered and organized, you will save time when doing your daily and weekly household chores. You will also save time because you will not need to run around searching for things.
The best bonus of becoming organized is that you will have more time for you, so you can do the things you truly enjoy in life, such as: hobbies, healthy cooking, exercise, writing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
When you begin to declutter and organize your home remember to prioritize what is needed and important to you. Use good judgement and be decisive about what you keep. You have a specific amount of useable space in your home, sometimes referred to as "prime real estate" by professional organizers for those material items you need and treasure.
Decide what you don't need. You can donate those items to a charitable organization or sell the items. If you aren't using the items, chances are someone else can enjoy and appreciate the items that you no longer need or want anymore.
Contain things in an organized manner. Many professional organizers use clear plastic containers that can be easily labeled. Try to store "like" items together. Find the perfect place or "home" for all your items, so you can easily find them and access them quickly when needed. Don't forget to schedule time to maintain your new organized environment.
Monday, January 27, 2014
How to Declutter and Organize Your House
Photo Credits: By Rubbermaid Products
You will want to begin by planning your organizing or decluttering project.
Plan an appropriate amount of time for your individual projects. Four hours may be a great amount of time, but even if you have an hour or 30 minutes, you may accomplish a decent amount of work.
After you become accustomed to decluttering and organizing your house, you may easily find that even 15 minutes a day may be helpful if you are busy.
Get your supplies ready, such as: garbage bags, boxes for sorting, labels, etc. You will want to wait until you declutter to buy specific storage containers that you will need to use on a long-term basis.
It is helpful to decide in advance what you want to do with any items that you definitely decide to get rid of for sure. Some examples: local charity, local consignment store, junk removal service, or a future yard sale.
It is helpful to have items removed quickly after your organizing project is completed. It is always a good idea to completely finish one project before you begin another.
Remember to stick with one area that you are working on and do not jump into other rooms at the same time. Focus on one project at time to increase your efficiency.
Some people enjoy working with an accountable friend and they find that method to be motivating.
Others may have a need or desire to hire a Professional Organizer to help them develop specific organizing systems and storage solutions.
Get your supplies ready, such as: garbage bags, boxes for sorting, labels, etc. You will want to wait until you declutter to buy specific storage containers that you will need to use on a long-term basis.
It is helpful to decide in advance what you want to do with any items that you definitely decide to get rid of for sure. Some examples: local charity, local consignment store, junk removal service, or a future yard sale.
It is helpful to have items removed quickly after your organizing project is completed. It is always a good idea to completely finish one project before you begin another.
Remember to stick with one area that you are working on and do not jump into other rooms at the same time. Focus on one project at time to increase your efficiency.
Some people enjoy working with an accountable friend and they find that method to be motivating.
Others may have a need or desire to hire a Professional Organizer to help them develop specific organizing systems and storage solutions.
Helpful Organizing Principles
- When you purchase a new item in a certain category, you may decide to donate or sell another item that you already have in that category. This is sometimes referred to as "the one in - one out" principle. So, you won't have a tendency to accumulate too much again in the future.
- Before you decide to buy a new item for your home, try to visualize where it will " live" or be placed in your home. If you can't figure that out, it may be better to hold off on the purchase at this time, if possible.
- Buy containers after you declutter, so you know exactly how many you will need and the correct sizes.
- You can label your containers with name of the contents, so you and your family will be able to quickly find your items when needed.
- Focus on one specific area when you are organizing your home. If you happen to find certain items that belong in another room, you can collect them in a separate box and put them back where they belong when you are finished with your organizing project. This will save you some time and keep you from getting distracted.
- Finally, make sure you have a maintenance plan to keep your house organized.
Meal Planning
Many people follow recipes which are very complicated to follow. More Crock-Potters have started using the Crockpot Girls Recipe Collection and they love it because it's easy to follow and understand. Click here to get your Crockpot recipe cookbook now.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
10 Positive Benefits of Home Organization
Getting organized and maintaining order in your home may help you relax more. Hopefully, your life will be less chaotic and you should be able to focus better and be more productive with your household chores and work in general. Most people want their home environment to be peaceful and comforting.
You may find that you will have more time for yourself and your family after your house is decluttered and organized. You won't be wasting time looking for items because you will have decided on the proper "home" to store everything in your house.
You will increase your everyday efficiency. You can complete your daily chores quicker and have more time to do the things that you truly enjoy in life, such as: hobbies, exercising, writing, or cooking healthy meals.
You may even find it easier to make everyday decisions.
Once you are organized, you will learn how to specifically delegate the right tasks to certain family members.
You should develop positive feelings about your home environment. Instead of feeling embarrassed about a cluttered house, you can have confidence when friends or visitors come to your home. Instead of worrying and feeling anxious, you can feel relaxed and enjoy their company in your nice surroundings.
An organized person may find it easier to maintain a healthier lifestyle in general. By getting organized, you will gain the valuable time to exercise and cook healthy meals for yourself and your family. You will enjoy having a healthy everyday routine.
A person with good organizational skills may be more productive and efficient in their professional career. If you happen to be a business owner, you may easily provide a nice impression to your clients. Instead of having a cluttered office piled with papers, you can showcase an organized and functional work space conducive for a successful business. Now, you will have adequate time to be prompt for appointments, instead of being late.
An organized, efficient person may possibly save money. Instead of buying duplicate items at the store, you will know what you have at home and only buy exactly what you need.
You can realistically reach towards accomplishing your goals. You can streamline your organizational methods and have plenty of time to accomplish your "To-Do" list for short-term and long-term goals!
You may find that you will have more time for yourself and your family after your house is decluttered and organized. You won't be wasting time looking for items because you will have decided on the proper "home" to store everything in your house.
You will increase your everyday efficiency. You can complete your daily chores quicker and have more time to do the things that you truly enjoy in life, such as: hobbies, exercising, writing, or cooking healthy meals.
You may even find it easier to make everyday decisions.
Once you are organized, you will learn how to specifically delegate the right tasks to certain family members.
You should develop positive feelings about your home environment. Instead of feeling embarrassed about a cluttered house, you can have confidence when friends or visitors come to your home. Instead of worrying and feeling anxious, you can feel relaxed and enjoy their company in your nice surroundings.
An organized person may find it easier to maintain a healthier lifestyle in general. By getting organized, you will gain the valuable time to exercise and cook healthy meals for yourself and your family. You will enjoy having a healthy everyday routine.
A person with good organizational skills may be more productive and efficient in their professional career. If you happen to be a business owner, you may easily provide a nice impression to your clients. Instead of having a cluttered office piled with papers, you can showcase an organized and functional work space conducive for a successful business. Now, you will have adequate time to be prompt for appointments, instead of being late.
An organized, efficient person may possibly save money. Instead of buying duplicate items at the store, you will know what you have at home and only buy exactly what you need.
You can realistically reach towards accomplishing your goals. You can streamline your organizational methods and have plenty of time to accomplish your "To-Do" list for short-term and long-term goals!
Good Organizing Habits For Maintaining an Orderly Home
Many families are so busy these days. People may begin to feel disorganized and overwhelmed when their homes become cluttered. This type of situation can interfere with our daily lives.
Clutter can easily affect the function of a room in your home. This is especially true for dining room and kitchen areas in many busy households. Family members may put miscellaneous items on the tables, such as: mail, handbags, car keys, bags of groceries from the store, school books/homework papers, book-bags, bills, and coupons for the grocery store, etc.
The problem with this type of situation is the dining room table will be full of too much clutter and there won't be any room for family members to gather around as a family to eat, relax, and communicate during a meal. We may easily forget the importance of sitting down as a family together at the dinner table to have our meals everyday.
It may be helpful to get into the habit of routinely keeping your dining room or kitchen table clean and free of all clutter. It would be a nice idea to place a pretty tablecloth on your table. After dinner is finished, you can make sure the table is clean and the dishes are done.
If family members have snacks before bedtime, you can quickly tidy up the area once again. I have gotten into the habit of doing a quick walk through the rooms in my home in the evening to declutter anything that needs my attention. It is so much nicer to wake up to a clean kitchen and dining room area at breakfast time.
One helpful solution is to have a designated container, or a specific type of storage box for each individual family member located at a central location in your home. You could set up an organized section in the entrance area of your house, so each family member would have a suitable space to place some of their miscellaneous belongings. Maybe a nice bench with shelves would come in handy to help hold book-bags, umbrellas, or handbags.
If your children happen to have art or homework projects, you may also want to have special containers to keep their school supplies for their projects. You can label the containers. Encourage everyone to put away their supplies after they are done using them.
These are sensible organizational tips for easy and simple everyday clean-up; however, a few simple tips can help with maintaining an orderly home. Learning to organize your home may help you save time in the future while doing your daily chores in the house.
As you become more organized, you will be pleasantly surprised about how easy it will become to find specific items in your home. As you declutter areas in your home and stay organized, you may feel less stressed in general and more productive with work.
Clutter can easily affect the function of a room in your home. This is especially true for dining room and kitchen areas in many busy households. Family members may put miscellaneous items on the tables, such as: mail, handbags, car keys, bags of groceries from the store, school books/homework papers, book-bags, bills, and coupons for the grocery store, etc.
The problem with this type of situation is the dining room table will be full of too much clutter and there won't be any room for family members to gather around as a family to eat, relax, and communicate during a meal. We may easily forget the importance of sitting down as a family together at the dinner table to have our meals everyday.
It may be helpful to get into the habit of routinely keeping your dining room or kitchen table clean and free of all clutter. It would be a nice idea to place a pretty tablecloth on your table. After dinner is finished, you can make sure the table is clean and the dishes are done.
If family members have snacks before bedtime, you can quickly tidy up the area once again. I have gotten into the habit of doing a quick walk through the rooms in my home in the evening to declutter anything that needs my attention. It is so much nicer to wake up to a clean kitchen and dining room area at breakfast time.
One helpful solution is to have a designated container, or a specific type of storage box for each individual family member located at a central location in your home. You could set up an organized section in the entrance area of your house, so each family member would have a suitable space to place some of their miscellaneous belongings. Maybe a nice bench with shelves would come in handy to help hold book-bags, umbrellas, or handbags.
If your children happen to have art or homework projects, you may also want to have special containers to keep their school supplies for their projects. You can label the containers. Encourage everyone to put away their supplies after they are done using them.
These are sensible organizational tips for easy and simple everyday clean-up; however, a few simple tips can help with maintaining an orderly home. Learning to organize your home may help you save time in the future while doing your daily chores in the house.
As you become more organized, you will be pleasantly surprised about how easy it will become to find specific items in your home. As you declutter areas in your home and stay organized, you may feel less stressed in general and more productive with work.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
6 Fresh Tips For Saving Time
By Marilyn Bohn
Several years ago my aunt went back to school to become a nurse when she was in her 40's. Her husband was a farmer and he worked before sun up and after the sun was down out in the fields so the meal cooking and household chores were still her responsibility.
Because she was older it was harder for her going back to school and she had to work twice as hard as the younger students-at least that is how she felt. Her solution to finding time in the day to study, cook, and still get rid of clutter that somehow creeps into all homes was to not only use her time wisely but to find more time in the day.
One of her solutions to saving time was to mix her salt and pepper in one shaker. She figured this saved her a few seconds every morning while preparing breakfast before dashing out the door.
There are many ways we can save time and here are 5 tips to help you save time all the time:
1. Pay bills on line and opt out of paper bills coming to your home. It is safe to pay on line and you can keep a copy of every bill paid as your financial institution notifies you when it is paid. This also saves time not having to file the paper bill.
2. Opt out of junk mail. Get your name off junk mail lists by searching on line for a company you want to sign up with to get your name removed. This will save you a lot of time not having to sort through all the junk mail you may receive and have to recycle.
3. Set up a family calendar where everyone can see what activities everyone is doing and when they are happening so you don't miss appointments or double book. Be sure to write them in your own personal planner also. If you use an electronic planner you can send it to other family members also.
4. Get rid of clutter before it becomes clutter. If you don't read magazines, unsubscribe to them. This saves you time having to go through them about every 3 months and getting rid of the ones you don't read.
5. Get rid of clutter in your clothes closet. Clothes you don't wear donate to a thrift shop where someone else can benefit from your generosity. This will free up space in your closet so you can save time getting dressed as you can find your clothes easier and match outfits faster.
6. Organize the night before for the next day. Set out the children's clothes-or use a hanging sweater holder in the closet and plan out a week's worth of clothes on Sunday evening. Each separate 'pocket' holds one day's clothes. Check to see the cell phones are charged and anything you need to take with you in the morning is packed in your briefcase or bag. Hang this by the door you leave by so you can grab and go.
When there is less clutter in our homes in the cupboards, closets and living spaces it saves time sorting through it and looking for things we actually use and need.
Marilyn Bohn is the owner of Get it Together Organizing, a business dedicated to developing practical organizing solutions that help individuals and business professionals live clutter-free and productive lives. She is the author of "Go Organize! Conquer Clutter in Three Simple Steps" and is an experienced, enthusiastic public speaker, a member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and the author of hundreds of articles covering various organizing topics.
Marilyn takes the often stressful subject of organizing and breaks it down into her simple, easy to understand system. Her methods are both eye-opening and encouraging! She has a passion for helping others reach their personal goals and living a better, clutter-free life!
Marilyn offers personal, private consulting to assist in organizing and she invites you to sign up for free organizing tips at her website http://www.marilynbohn.com for easy organizing tips, videos, blog, workshops and more.
Get your free guide on what papers to keep and how long to keep them at http://www.facebook.com/marilynbohn1
Get your free guide on what papers to keep and how long to keep them at http://www.facebook.com/marilynbohn1
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Bohn
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
2 Honest-To-Goodness Ways To Get Rid Of Clutter
By Marilyn Bohn
When I think of my 82 year old grandma I think of her tiny yet beautiful garden with its straight rows of veggies. My cousins and I used to "sneak" (Now that I am older I suspect she was watching us from her kitchen window) into the lettuce patch and pick the luscious greens. We would take them into the house and after washing the leaves would smother them in mayonnaise and eat them with relish and delight. My grandma would fake scold us forgetting in her garden and we would laugh and giggle.
Another thing I remember her doing was twiddling her thumbs.I was reminded of this mannerism the other day when I was visiting with a friend and she was doing the same thing. It caught me off guard that someone who is not old was twiddling her thumbs.
Do you ever say to yourself "I sat around all day twiddling my thumbs"? It might be nice if we had that luxury but I know we are all busy and our time is at a premium with everything we have to do. One of the things I see a lot of in magazines at the newsstands are articles on getting rid of clutter and clutter clearing.
Just like thumb twiddling doesn't get us anywhere just being busy doesn't mean we are accomplishing getting rid of clutter. There are many easy things we can do every day that will help us to clutter clear in our homes and space.
1. Make lists
· Write your lists in a place where you can find them again. I don't recommend using sticky notes as they can pile up, get lost and buried. Write them in your daily planner. (If you don't have a planner get one and use it-either an electronic one or a paper one). I use a paper one because I like the tactile feeling of writing things in it and checking them off.
· Create a master list where you write everything that comes into your head that you want to do. Things as simple as sewing on a button, calling someone, exercising, working on a craft, or getting rid of clutter in a specific area in your home.
· Create a daily to do list. Prioritize this list by putting a number by each item in the order of the most important things to get done first down to things you want to get done but can be moved to another day if they aren't done that day. Caution: Don't always move 'get rid of clutter' to the next day.
2. Plan for tomorrow today
Years ago I was trained in the one minute manager system.The only thing I remember from that training which I have used for years and has proved to be very valuable is this: prepare for tomorrow the night before. When I worked in an office I would use the last 10 minutes of the day to straighten my desk and check my planner to see what was planned for the next day.
At home I do the same thing, at the end of every day I tidy up which is a way to get rid of clutter that has maybe accumulated during the day. Doing it daily prevents clutter from piling up. Piles always take a lot longer to get rid of.
Mornings are much easier and simpler when the cell phone has been recharged the night before and anything leaving the house has been placed by the door. (Things such as back packs, brief cases etc.) Also checking purses for lunch money or check to see if things needed to make lunches are on hand to make mornings run smoother.
These two simple tips: to make lists and plan ahead make getting rid of clutter easier as not always being in a big hurry and "scattered"help keep us focused and accomplishing our goals.
Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Organizer. Professionally she has been organizing homes and offices for two years. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.
Go to her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips and interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Bohn
Reduce Stress and Be More on Top of Things With One Change to Your to-Do List
By Michele S Christensen
Even I was a bit skeptical at that headline and I wrote it! However, it is true I promise! The one thing I'll tell you about is really simple too. It has to do with assigning priorities in your to-do list.
I recently switched over to an online to-do list manager called Remember The Milk. One of the many great features is that you can assign priorities to your to-do items with choices of 1, 2, 3 or none (priority 1 shows on top of your list if you set it that way). I hadn't been using priorities in my two most recent systems and didn't want to get too complicated so I stuck with just using priority 1 or no priority. My rule for deciding whether to prioritize something was either it had a fixed deadline with a high penalty for missing (e.g. paying a bill or sending my newsletter) or it was just something important to me (sweeping up the dog hair from the floors). What started to happen was that in my two levels of priority, many things got put in priority 1. So many items were in priority 1 that I began to fall behind and had to start triaging even my high-priority items. This is where stress comes in - it's very stressful to look at a big list of priority 1 items, know you can't get to all of them and have to start deciding which to do and which to leave undone for now. It's also a big waste to spend time and energy deciding what to do because you haven't maintained your to-do lists in a way that supports you getting things done.
What I did, and this is the big secret today, is to change my criteria for priority 1 into only things that carry a substantial penalty for not being done on time. To support this, I added a middle layer of priority for things that don't have to be done by a specific day but I that I don't want to leave indefinitely either. Sweeping up the dog hair falls in here - it doesn't have to be done today, but I can't let it go for too long and maintain a sanitary living space. In contrast, sending my newsletter is a priority 1 because it reflects badly on me and disappoints people who have placed trust in me to send it late. The big temptation is to load too many things into priority 1, which takes me back to the original problem. It's been helpful to have a rule to determine if something really belongs in priority 1.
The big stress relief comes from looking at my to-do list and seeing just 2-5 items that are priority 1 for today. It's a small universe, it feels do-able, and lets me know in a glance what has to be done today. Everything else is optional. Having things laid out this way is great for really busy days - I can crank through the "must do's" and even there's dozens of things that don't get done I know without a second glance I've done what has to be done today.
You can apply this with almost any system you use. Every electronic to-do list manager I've ever used allows you to assign priorities and you could even do this with paper so I encourage you to give it a try. It's done wonders for me, and less stress equals more and better quality work.
Do you have any to-do list tricks you use? Tell me about them in the comments.
If you're thinking of starting a creative solopreneur business or already have one, you can learn exactly what skills you need to make your business a success in my free e-course "5 Essential Skills for Solopreneur Success," Visit http://www.michelechristensen.com to sign up and you'll also get a free subscription to my Solopreneur Strategy Newsletter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michele_S_Christensen
Begin Your Day the Night Before
By Michele S Christensen
One of the biggest factors in whether or not I have an enjoyable, productive day is how I end the day before. As a solopreneur, your personal life and business life tend to blend together, so some of these ideas relate to non-work things.
Do a little planning
One of my biggest productivity killers is staring at my to-do list and trying to figure out what to work on before I've even gotten anything done. I have a hard time getting into gear when I have to wade through dozens of tasks just to figure out what to do before I can even do anything. To combat this, I get my tasks and priorities lined up the night before. It's the last work item I tackle for the day, so at whatever time I decide to quit for the day I spend 5-10 minutes making sure I can hit the ground running the next day.
Know when to quit
As a solopreneur, you to-do list is massive and never-ending. You'll never get it all done, so a big part of your time management has to be deciding what doesn't get done. Part of this is knowing when to stop working for the day. Quite literally, you could be up all night and not get it all done or even feel on top of things, so it's important to have a set time at which you stop working. When I work in the evenings I try to make sure I have a set quitting time that gives me time to end my day, relax and get to bed on time.
Park on a downhill slope
This means that you leave your work in a condition that makes restarting easy. In the time leading up to quitting time, try to find a good place to stop. If there is no good place to stop, make sure to leave yourself some notes so you can jump back in without figuring out where you were. You'd be surprised how much you can forget in one day, and spending 30 seconds leaving yourself well-positioned to restart can save many minutes of headaches later.
Have an end-of-day routine
Make a short list of what you need to do at the end of the day to start your next day off right. Once you've wrapped up work, consider what personal chores would make your next morning run smoothly. I like to set up my coffee the night before, and sometimes I set up a load of laundry so I can start it as soon as I get up. You might want to pack your lunch, lay out your clothes or pack your bag for an early meeting. Doing these tasks the day before can help you have less-hassled morning.
Sketch out a schedule
Be sure to peek at your schedule for the next day so you're not caught unaware of an early obligation. Create a rough outline of what you'll be working on during which time windows. You can always change your mind, but having a plan gives you something to work from.
What else?
What do you do at the end of the day to ensure a strong start to the next day? Share it in the comments.
If you're thinking of starting a creative solopreneur business or already have one, you can learn exactly what skills you need to make your business a success in my free e-course "5 Essential Skills for Solopreneur Success," Visit http://www.michelechristensen.com to sign up and you'll also get a free subscription to my Solopreneur Strategy Newsletter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michele_S_Christensen
How To Live A Clutter Free Life By Going Easier On Yourself
By Marilyn Bohn
I lift weights at the gym 5 days a week. My gym membership allows me to have a personal trainer who instructs me what to do for my weight routines. Usually he says to do "X" number of reps four or five times and then I go off to do what he told me to do. One day instead of giving me a certain amount of reps he said do them until I couldn't do anymore. That made it even harder. I kept saying to myself "listen to your muscles, listen to your muscles" you can do more. Without a definite goal to reach for I found myself getting tired quicker and actually doing fewer reps than I normally do.
On the other hand many times we set high expectations for ourselves which may not be realistic. We write lists of "things to do" and are encouraged by others to do more, do more, and push yourself harder and higher. My aunt was a great example of this thinking pattern. I remember as a little child when I would stay with her for a few weeks every summer she would get up before the sun was up. I would hear her in the kitchen well past midnight canning fruits and veggies. Burning the candle at both ends seemed to be her mantra as she was determined to complete everything on her "things to do" list every day and saw it as failure if she didn't.
Life happens and our situation changes from day to day. It is not a crime if we don't get everything done that we had planned on doing that day. Living a clutter free life is possible if we take it one step at a time. It is necessary and important to have goals as this gives us direction and actually makes life easier-as I found out the difference between having a certain weight lifting goal and not having a specific goal.
Its okay if we don't reach our goals every day, there is another day. Knowing what you want to accomplish every day however is key to a clutter free life. Sometimes it is important to give ourselves a break and not to be so hard on ourselves when we didn't get everything done we wanted on that day.
We are all busy women and men and we do have a lot of projects and responsibilities we need or want to accomplish each week. One organizing tool that is invaluable to getting organized and accomplishing tasks is to have and use a planner. Use a planner that works for you. It doesn't matter if it is electronic or paper.
Decide what type of planner you are more comfortable with and use it daily. A few years ago when palm pilots were just out I thought I had to have one. A friend of mine showed me how to use it and I tried it for 30 days all the while still writing in my paper planner. I found with my life style and what I was used to doing the electronic one did not work for me. I went back to my paper planner and I continue to use it successfully.
Make it a habit to write down appointments, set up a master to do list and a daily to do list in your planner. Random pieces of paper can get lost but if you have written it in your planner it won't be lost and the bonus is you can check it off when you have accomplished the task. Keep addresses and phone numbers in your planner so you can access them no matter where you are.
It is fun to make goals and strive to accomplish them. With a planner it is easier to do. But, there is another day so if you don't reach your goal on one day, don't be so hard on yourself, move it ahead to do it another day. It will be okay.
Get It Together Organizing is a dynamic organizing company providing both online and in home services. Marilyn specializes in organizing for women and seniors who want the organized home of their dreams.
Marilyn's product line includes cutting-edge on line video workshops that are one-of-a-kind. They give you instant access to solutions for your organizing needs for the home and everything in it. She gives visual step by step instruction on how to get rid of clutter to reach your organizing goals.
Click here for your free organizing newsletter at http://www.marilynbohn.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Bohn
5 Top-Ranked Organizing Tips To Get Rid Of Clutter in Your Home
By Marilyn Bohn
You know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare---The tortoise and the hare decided to have a race to see who could cross the finish line the first. The hare was racing along on the desert road huffing and puffing when he spotted a shade tree and decided to stop and rest. He sat under the tree and was soon fast asleep.
The tortoise came down the same road only much further behind. She did not stop to rest but just kept on slowly walking. She was probably going as fast as her legs could carry her and as she knew she was doing her best; she was as happy as could be. As you know the tortoise crossed the finish line first. The hare woke up with a start and came zipping across the finish line behind the tortoise.
Looking at this story from an organizing point of view the tortoise has shown that it doesn't matter how fast we organize, the important thing is to keep on keeping on until we are finished. It is not always the swift that wins the race.
Another way to look at this story is that it doesn't matter if we organize slow or fast, both the tortoise and the hare crossed the finish line. To be successful in getting rid of clutter do it fast or do it slow, but do it.
1. When starting a big project, set your timer for about twenty minutes. Give yourself permission to stop when the timer dings. You can always come back later; the important thing is that you do come back.
If you are in a good rhythm, then return to organizing after a little break, but don't do so much at one time that you become discouraged and overloaded. You will be happily surprised at how much you can accomplish by taking it slow and in small 15 to 20 minute "bites".
2. Keep a BE (belongs-elsewhere) basket or container in the room or space you are organizing. As you find items that belong in other rooms put those items in the basket. When you have finished organizing that space take the basket and put the items where they belong. This makes getting rid of clutter faster and more efficient.
3. Keep like items together. These are things that have something in common. They can be identical items (such as dishes) or similar items (such as DVD's). Or they can relate to each other because they have the same purpose (such as craft or hobby supplies).
4. Assign homes for everything you have in your home. This way it reduces clutter and you can find things quickly and easily. If you have a hard time finding homes for everything think about where you would look for it when you need it; then create a permanent home for it there.
5. Getting rid of clutter saves you time and energy. Organize things so they are easy to access, are visible, and are easy to put away after being used.
Whether you identify with the tortoise and slowly organize or you identify with the hare and organize quickly it doesn't matter. Both methods will help you get rid of clutter and save time and energy.
Get It Together Organizing is a dynamic organizing company providing both online and in home services. Professional Organizer Marilyn Bohn specializes in organizing for those who want the organized home of their dreams. She is the author of The Easy Organizer! Her product line includes cutting-edge video workshops for your organizing needs. Sign up for free organizing tips at http://www.marilynbohn.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Bohn
Friday, January 17, 2014
Make Every Day Your Most Productive Day
By Aby Garvey
Do you remember the most productive day of your life --- a day when all the pieces fit together perfectly, just like a jigsaw puzzle? You checked things off your to-do list in a fury, focusing on each task until it was complete, moving swiftly to the next task on your list. Ever had a day like that? If so, you're either a masterful time manager or you were getting ready to go on vacation!
The most productive day in my life was just like that. I was excited and enthusiastic, even though my to-do list had over twenty-one items on it. I was motivated and focused, even though all twenty-one plus items had to get done that day. I had a clear non-negotiable deadline --- the plane was leaving at 8:30 AM the next day whether I was on board or not. And I had the ultimate reward for getting it all done --- a four day get-away to Napa Valley with my dear husband. I checked more off my to-do list that day than in any other day up to then, and I'm talking about time consuming things. Take the dogs to the kennel forty-five minutes away from my home. Mow the front lawn (I did this running!) Pack -- myself and my two kids for their stay at Grandma and Grandpa's. Plus eighteen more!
So why was this day so productive? I've thought long and hard about this, knowing that by creating this on a regular basis, I'd have much more checked off my to do list in a day, week and month. I'd be happier and have more time to do fun things, which in turn would make me even happier. It's a wonderful upward spiral. You can create this, too! Read on to learn how.
Be in a Great Mood.
The day before my trip to Napa I was in a great mood. And who wouldn't be? So be in a great mood to get more done. I know what you're thinking, "how can I choose to be in a great mood?" I'll admit it, some days it's harder than others to be in a great mood. And sometimes a bit of a grumpy mood can work in our favor. But certainly, there are things you can do to be more likely to be in a good mood.
Think about days that get off on the right foot for you. What do they have in common? Maybe you feel better when you exercise in the morning. Maybe you need to start slow ... with a cup of coffee and some inspirational reading or a nice conversation with a significant other. Maybe you're in a better mood on days you meditate, do yoga, or go to Starbucks. Maybe for you, you can create a good mood simply by telling yourself "I'm in such a great mood today!" There certainly is a thing or two you do in the morning that makes you happier --- gets your day started on the right foot. Do these things more often and create a great mood.
Be Focused and Purposeful.
The day before leaving for Napa, I was very focused. If something came along that needed to get done, but didn't move me in the direction of pulling out of the driveway and heading to the airport, it didn't get done. There was no debate. No second thought given. If it could wait until after the trip --- it did. Easy call. Now imagine doing this everyday. You know exactly what must get done ... and you do it. Something else comes along and it's not in the plan ... it gets delayed. Most certainly this is easier to pull of if you work all by yourself in complete isolation free from coworkers and bosses (or kids and spouses), telephones and email. But you get your to-dos done in the real world with all of those built in distractions. I'm right there with you.
Let me ask you this: if you're getting ready to go on a vacation and have twenty-one things on your to do list, are your conversations with people shorter, more efficient and more focused than on regular days? Are you more likely to let voice mail pick up your calls until it's convenient for you to talk (or to see if it's something that can wait until you return from your vacation?) Are you less tempted to check email every single time that dinger dings? Yes, yes and yes ... because pulling out of the driveway on time depends on it. So how do you create this atmosphere on a regular day?
Have a Non-negotiable Deadline and a Carrot.
Oh, I'm not talking about the orange kind of carrot. Sure a healthy snack helps keep you productive but what I'm really talking about is an incentive. Something you'll reward yourself with only when you meet your deadline. Your carrot is something compelling, a treat. Something you wouldn't normally do for yourself if you didn't meet your deadline. In the case of my trip to Napa, the carrot was Napa. The deadline was the flight taking off at 8:30 in the morning. It's completely non-negotiable. Create a firm deadline with yourself, with a clear and defined carrot that you will reward yourself with when you meet your deadline.
Here's an example. I will send out my newsletter by 10 PM Central, June 29, 2006 at which time I will treat myself to an hour of complete relaxation doing whatever I want to do ... perhaps a bubble bath, catching up on reading, maybe some T.V! Whatever I decide, it's an hour just for me!
Gotta' run ... I have a deadline to meet!
Aby Garvey is a professional organizer who helps clients world-wide create space in their homes and lives for the things they love and value. She is the founder of simplify 101, a columnist for Organize Magazine, and the co-author of The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker. Visit Aby’s website http://www.simplify101.com for free resources to help you get organized and create space for what matters to you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aby_Garvey
Video Titled "11 Tips to Conquer Kid Clutter"
By Aby Garvey
November and December are by far the busiest months for my family and me. On top of the normal holiday merriment, BOTH my children have their birthdays. Not only does this test my time management abilities each year, it also challenges me organizationally. By the time December 26th (finally) arrives, my kids' rooms and closets are literally bursting at the seams, overflowing with birthday trinkets and Christmas treasures. Yes, it's an organizer's greatest nightmare!
On December 26th, while everyone else was flocking the Christmas sale isle, I was perusing the storage and organizing section of Wal-Mart looking for the perfect solutions for my kids' closets. I'm pleased to say I successfully conquered both closets (and lived to tell about it!) Here are some tips and strategies that worked great for my kids, Collin age 6 and Kailea age 4.
Tip #1: Have a goal for getting organized.
I've found with my kids, "Mommy's losing her mind with all this clutter" isn't a terribly compelling motivation to clean up. Create a goal your child can understand and relate to. For my kids, helping other children was very motivating. A local Children's Charity called to say they were going to be in our neighborhood just as we were getting ready to organize their rooms. (Lucky me!) My kids were both very excited about giving their things to children who didn't get many new toys for Christmas and kids who needed clothes to wear. By having a set time for the pick-up we had a deadline, fueling our motivation even further.
When you set out to tackle your kid's room or closet, call charities in your area to see if they'll pick up your items. Also, consider adding an incentive for your child by promising a special treat like a trip to the ice cream shop or a movie rental.
Tip #2: Use a simple sorting system.
One by one, I picked up items off the floor and cleared out the closet. I held up each thing and simply asked my kids "yes or no?" The "yes" items went into a keep pile, sorted by type. (Cars together, dolls together, etc.) We put "no" toys, books and clothes into a bag for charity. (Collin was so into giving his things away, he even wanted to wrap them!)
With your child, set a target number of "no" items. Get really excited when your child hits the magic number. Remember to keep the enthusiasm going during the process by saying things like "just ten more and we've reached our goal!"
Bonus Tip: Keep some sentimental items for yourself.
If your child really gets on a roll, he may put some things in the "donate" bin that you're not quite ready to part with. Get a keepsake box for yourself. Set a limit, either quantity (keeping only a certain number of items) or space (say to yourself "I'll keep things in this bin only and when it's full, I'm done") to make sure your keepsakes don't get out of control. It's best if your child doesn't catch you pulling things out of the donate bag. (We wouldn't want to stall progress, now would we?)
Tip #3: Tackle the project in steps.
If your child's room looks like Collin's did, you might be tempted to tackle it all at once. (Or not at all, in which case give me a call. ;) ) Unless you're willing to do a lot of the work yourself (or your child is an organizer in training), consider spreading the project out over several days. You might start with the floor on day one, the book shelf on day two, and one shelf of the closet on day three, and so on. Whether you organize your child's room in one step or over a series of days, be sure to take lots of fun-filled breaks with your little one. Play with some of those long lost toys you've found under the bed or have a nutritious snack to fuel your energy.
Tip #4: Group toys based on how your child plays.
In our house, Lego's are "toy garbage." Collin uses Lego's with his garbage truck so it makes sense to store these toys together or at least near each other. In a nutshell, ask your child what makes sense to him or her, then honor it (even if it doesn't make sense to you.)
Tip #5: Keep your child involved.
Collin was putting his matchbox cars into a car carrier with compartments for each car. This is great, but very time consuming. I asked him to imagine he had cars all over the floor of his room and it was time to clean up. Would he rather dump the cars into a large bin or put them one by one into the car carrier? He chose the bin. Having had a say in the decision, he'll be more likely to put his cars away.
Tip #6: Let your child do the tasks he enjoys most.
Collin is learning how to write, so he wanted to make his own labels for his bins. I resisted the temptation of "perfect" labels and instead let Collin make them. Involving your child in favorite tasks is another way to give him ownership in the process.
Tip #7: Focus on progress.
Make a big deal out of all the progress you make along the way. Try really hard not to focus on how much there is left to go through or do. Comment often on how much is done, all the great decisions your child has made and so on. You can also encourage him or her by saying things like "look what we found" or "look how much we've gotten done already." Keep it upbeat and fun!
Tip #8: Keep large items in the toy box.
Putting only larger items in your child's toy box prevents smaller toys from sinking to the bottom (a.k.a. never-never land.) Another option is to group smaller toys together in containers before storing in the toy box. Toy boxes seem great in theory, until you have to go on a hunt for your daughter's missing pink Barbie shoe. I can guarantee you it will be on the very bottom of the box. (And when you do finally find it, the shoe will be the only item left in the toy box.)
Tip #9: Label, label, label!
Once everything has a home, use labels to show where everything goes. I started to say, this will make clean up a breeze, but we are talking about kids and cleaning bedrooms. I will say this: by labeling where toys and clothes belong, it will disarm your child of the classic "I don't know where anything goes" excuse. Have you heard that one before?
Tip #10: Store toys strategically.
Keep favorite toys in reach, allowing your child easy access for play and clean up. On top shelves (those out of your child's reach), store things you'd like to supervise your child while using, such as:
- Games or puzzles requiring adult assembly.
- Fragile or keepsake items like china tea sets and collectible books.
- Toys with lots of tiny pieces you would rather not have mixed with other toys with tiny pieces.
Tip #11: Make sure your child understands the system.
You may have noticed I didn't mention Kailea much in the article. Well, truth be known, organizing isn't exactly her thing. I did a lot of her room on my own. This made it even more important for me to tell her exactly how I had organized everything and show her where her things go. Since she can't read, I labeled her toy containers using packaging from her toys. I showed her the labels and asked her what she thought went in each bin or drawer. By going through this process with her, she now knows exactly what goes where. The other day I asked Kailea to clean her room. She said "Mommy, I don't know where everything goes." I told her to get started on her own and put away everything she could by herself. When she got as far as she could, THEN I would help her finish up. Before she knew it, she had put EVERYTHING away, on her own. Talk about proud! She was absolutely beaming.
I hope you and your kids enjoy similar results! Just remember, have fun and don't forget the ice cream!
Aby Garvey is a professional organizer who specializes in helping clients create organized and inspiring spaces with a healthy dose of fun and creativity. She conducts organizing programs and tele-seminars that make it simple to get organized and create clutter-free and inspiring spaces in your home. She is the founder of simplify 101, a columnist for Organize Magazine, and the co-author of The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker. Visit Aby’s website http://www.simplify101.com for free resources to help you get organized.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aby_Garvey
7 Keys to Letting Go
By Aby Garvey
Do you crave the peace, calm and beauty greater organization would offer you? And yet, at the same time, dread the process of getting there? Here's the good news: you're not alone! For many, the mere thought of letting go creates an almost insurmountable obstacle for getting more organized. And yet ... letting go of excess possessions like supplies, shoes, unused gifts, clothing with the price tags still attached, and incomplete projects, along with letting go of old habits and beliefs about organizing is key to creating a future filled with greater calm, control, and organizational bliss.
So how to do it? There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. The trick is to figure out what works for you. What will motivate you to overcome "letting-go inertia" and move forward to the peace, calm and beauty you crave? The answer may be just words away! First, let's get into action write away --- yep, that is the kind of write I mean. Go grab a piece of paper and a pen, or better yet, download a handy-dandy worksheet here. Then, come right back here to get yourself ready for some good "letting go".
#1: Connect with the finished result.
The more clearly you can describe to yourself the benefits of letting go, the easier it will be to make any tough decisions that come up during the process. Write down your answers to these simple questions:
Why do you want to change or get more organized?
What are you making space for?
How will your space look, feel and function when you're finished?
Now ... list in vivid detail the benefits you will realize when you are more organized.
Don't forget to write down your answers in complete detail!
#2: Call upon past successes.
Do you remember the last time you really dug deep and let go of unwanted and unneeded things? Close your eyes and think for a minute. How did it feel afterward? Did you feel lighter? Did you feel more positive? Did you feel calm and yet energized at the same time? Were you more able to relax? Did you feel more motivated to do things you really love to do?
Add everything that comes to mind --- all those good and happy feelings --- on your handy-dandy worksheet.
#3: Prioritize
Decide up front which possessions and activities are priorities in your life --- before you ever step foot into the space to be organized.
Answer these questions on your worksheet:
Which belongings in your home are most important to you?
Which activities in your life do you want more time or space for?
#4: Decide how much is enough.
We all have things we love to have plenty of. For some it's tea. For others it's t-shirts. For you it may be shoes, scrapbook supplies or purses. For me ... it's magazines. I just can't seem to get enough! However, for everything you love to love, it's important to strike a balance between too much and not enough. When you have too much of a good thing you may start to feel bad about the excess or you may even forget what you have. On the other end of the continuum is the point where you feel deprived. Where is your comfort zone on the continuum? How much is enough and how much is too much?
For example, before you step into your closet, set a goal. How many t-shirts is enough --- ten, twenty or one-hundred? As long as you have the space for it, can find what you need and feel *good* about your answer --- that's what you strive for. Record your decisions on your worksheet.
#5: Anticipate and remove your obstacles.
Before entering your space of excess, the place you want to whittle down a bit, think about which items will be easy to let go of and which will be a challenge. Add the challenging items to your worksheet along with the reason they'll be difficult to let go of. The reasons are your obstacles. Now, let's figure out some simple strategies for removing common obstacles.
Obstacle 1: The "I might need it someday syndrome."
Strategy: Decide when someday is.
Here's how it works. You come across something and think "I might need this someday." Ask yourself, "realistically, *when* will I need this?" If you can't come up with a definite answer then assign an arbitrary date up to six months out in the future. Put the item in a box, write the date on the outside of the box, and move on. If the "someday" (the date on the box) comes and goes and you haven't needed the item ... you are now free to send it off to a happier place. Ah, doesn't that feel good?
Obstacle 2: The "I paid good money for this syndrome."
Strategy: Accept that the money is spent.
No amount of hanging-onto an item can bring your money back. Whether you keep it or not, the money is gone. Forever. Cut your losses and move on. If you look at something and feel guilty about what you paid for it, yet you're not using it, the guilt won't entice you to use the item. You'll continue to not use the item and continue to feel guilty about it. Why linger in the yuckiness? Let it go.
Obstacle 3: The "garage sale syndrome."
Strategy: Find an alternative happy home for your previously enjoyed items.
The garage sale syndrome sets in when you have decided to let go of some things and yet they continue to linger in your presence, waiting for the big garage sale. It's true; garage sales can be a way to turn some of your no longer needed items into cash. But not without a cost. If letting go of things is difficult for you, a garage sale simply extends the process. Instead, find a charity you'll feel good about donating your items to. Schedule a pick-up for the day after your letting go session. Or check out http://www.freecycle.org. In no time, you'll have treasure hunters lining up to relieve you of your things!
Obstacle 4: The "gift syndrome."
Strategy: Take the fact that the item was a gift out of the equation.
When you come across a gift, ask yourself "Do I need, use or love the item?" It the answer is no, you aren't obligated to keep the item. A gift doesn't come with strings attached. I know this one can be hard to swallow... but it's true.
There are ways you can honor the memory of the gift, without actually holding onto the actual item. For example, if you're a scrapbooker, you could take a photo of the gift and create a mini scrapbook or scrapbook page called "gifts of love." Record who gave you the gift and for what occasion, and then, why that person is special to you. This will allow you to focus on the person who gave you the gift, and their meaning to you, instead of feeling tied to the gift itself.
#6: Create results quickly.
If you're faced with a mound of things to go through, it's easy to become overwhelmed. Look for ways to create visual results quickly. For the things on your list that are easy to let go of, go on a scavenger hunt and collect a box or two full of "don't-need-it" items and start lightening your load right away. As you go through the process, take note of the positive feelings that come up for you. Add this to your handy-dandy worksheet ... and let those positive results fuel more positive results.
#7: Keep building on your successes.
Energized by your quick and easy results, keep moving in the direction of your goals. Set aside thirty minutes a day for tackling a corner, drawer or shelf. Or block out a couple of hours each Saturday to go through a small space in your home. Little by little you'll lighten your load and create peace, calm and beauty in your home and life!
Aby Garvey is a professional organizer who helps clients world-wide create space in their homes and lives for the things they love and value. She is the founder of simplify 101, a columnist for Organize Magazine, and the co-author of The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker. Visit Aby’s website http://www.simplify101.com for free resources to help you get organized and create space for what matters to you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aby_Garvey
Get Organized For Scrapbooking
By Aby Garvey
Simplify the other areas of your life.
Are you looking for ways to get more organized so you can make the most of your scrapbook time? You've come to the right place! Below are simple and doable ideas to help you get organized and get scrapbooking!
Find snippets of time to scrapbook. Browse through idea books while waiting for appointments. Sketch layouts during your lunch hour. Journal for a few minutes each night before bed. Sort photos while watching your favorite T.V. show.
Free up your schedule. Give up any activity you do out of habit or no longer enjoy in favor of scrapbooking.
Make an appointment with yourself. Set a recurring appointment on your calendar to scrapbook. Give this appointment the same priority as any other appointment on your calendar. If you have to miss it, reschedule it - just as you would a missed dentist appointment.
Combine scrapbook time with activities that support other goals and interests in your life. When you scrapbook with friends, you accomplish your scrapbook goals as well as social and relationship goals. Scrapbook while your kids do their homework. You'll be at the ready to answer questions.
Keep supplies convenient. Store your in-process projects and basic tools in a picnic basket or antique wooden box in your living area. By keeping your projects close at hand you'll be able to quickly and easily pull out your projects whenever you have a few spare minutes.
Simplify your approach to scrapbooking.
- 1. Find a page design you love and make multiples. Use the same basic layout for various types of scrapbook pages such as Christmas, birthday, and 4th of July. The different themes and embellishments will make each page unique! 2. Buy scrapbook kits. Kits save precious time on selecting supplies and making sure everything matches. 3. Invest in a layout idea book. Why spend hours arranging and rearranging your photos on your scrapbook pages? Use someone else's layout. Your personality and creativity will show through in your color selection, embellishment choice and photos! 4. Keep journaling simple. Record key information about the event or pictures. Simply list who, what, when, and where. 5. Take the guess work out of color coordination. Stick with color schemes created by the scrapbook supply manufacturers. Or invest in a color wheel and come up with your own tried and true color combos!
Simplify the other areas of your life.
1. Anything you do routinely, do less often. Buy doubles at the grocery store. Make doubles of favorite recipes and casseroles and freeze the second batch. Scrapbook on the evenings you enjoy your second batch.
2. Avoid last minute errands by buying essential household items in bulk. Keep an extra supply of shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, and so on. If you'd make a special trip to the store when you run out, stock up and save the trip!
3. Be on the lookout for ways to simplify your life! The simplify 101 newsletter is loaded with ideas and tips to help you get organized and save time... so you have time for the important things... like scrapbooking. It's free, so why not give it a test drive?
Organize your supplies. Pare down to those supplies you use and love! Then, contain your supplies in containers that inspire you and make it easy to know what you have and use what you have. Use your scrapbook supplies to create crafty labels --- you'll know where all your goods are and add a creative touch in the process.
Consistency counts. You'll find your supplies and tools faster if you maintain a consistent organizing scheme throughout your workspace and storage area. If you store your patterned paper by theme, why not store your stamps by theme as well? The fewer systems you use, the more likely you'll find what you need when you need it.
Know your scrapbook storage limitations when buying supplies. To make the most of your scrapbook time, it's critical that your tools and supplies are convenient. Buy what you have the space to store. It's far better to have fewer things that are easily accessible than to stock up and be unable to find what you're looking for.
Keep collections together. Once you decide on a sorting scheme for your scrapbook supplies, keep your whole collection of that item in a single container. This will make your supplies easier to find ... saving you time. For example, if you store your embellishments by color, keep ALL pink embellishments in a single container and all blue embellishments in another container.
Make it convenient. Store items as close to your work area as possible. Prioritize your storage accordingly. Keep frequently used tools and supplies at eye level and within arm's reach when you're sitting at your workstation. The less often you use an item, the further away from you it should be stored.
Keep track of your supplies. Here's a fun trick to help you keep track of your favorite papers and cardstock by making a cardstock swatch book. To make a swatch book, cut or punch squares of cardstock. In each square of cardstock, punch a round hole using a standard hole punch. On the back of each paper sample, note where you purchased the paper and any other information you have such as manufacturer, name of the color, etc. Secure the squares together using a loose-leaf ring, available from office supply stores.
Take one idea and make it happen! Organization is an ongoing process. Pick one idea from the list above and get busy making it happen. Then, come back to the list for more ideas.
Good luck and happy scrapbooking!
Aby Garvey is a professional organizer who helps clients create space in their homes and lives for the things they love and value. She specializes in helping scrapbookers organize their homes and scrapbook rooms so they are beautiful, inspiring and functional. She is the founder of simplify 101, a columnist for Organize Magazine and the co-author of The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker. Visit Aby’s websitehttp://www.simplify101.com for free organizing ideas just for scrapbookers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aby_Garvey
Unleash Your Inner Hoarder
By Erica Duran
Hoarding doesn't apply to just those people you see on TV that may have sadly lost a few pets in their piles of junk. We all have a mild case of hoarding in some form or other.
It could be in the form of physical things like a vast collection souvenir matchbooks, piles of books you will never "get to", VHS taps with no actual VHS player, or a garage or kitchen full of duplicate tools. Your hoard can be more mental in not letting go of relationships you have outgrown or relationships that are negatively affecting you. You may have a stash of really nice wedding gifts of linen and china that never gets enjoyed because you are waiting to use for that "special occasion". Whatever it is there is something you are holding onto.
Maybe we still have this mentality to hoard from the harsh times in history - to survive a famine or the Great Depression.
Maybe it is the never-ending marketing ads that encourage us to buy anything and everything and prey on our insecurities. Ads bombard us constantly on the internet, TV, junk mail, and even our neighbors flaunting or bragging.
Maybe your 'stuff' is covering up something deeper. Are you holding onto your college football uniform because that was the last time you felt appreciated and important - even though it hasn't fit in 20 years? Are you hanging around the same negative friends because it is comfortable and you are afraid of their backlash if you try to improve your situation? Do you keep stacks and stacks of mail and junk all over your kitchen counters so you have an excuse not to invite friends over? Do you head to the mall when you feel stressed by an argument with your spouse? Are stacks of gourmet cookbooks collecting dust and making you feel like an inferior chef?
Could be that we feel the need to fill up any open space? There is an ancient teaching that states that the universe abhors a vacuum. When you let go of the old, the universe will send you new energy, ideas, situations, and opportunities. We need to start getting comfortable with the open space around us and not try to clutter it up with things or stuff down our feelings by purchasing items we don't need.
You should be investing your daily energy into the pursuits that have meaning for you - not your peers or what your family things you should do. And, remember that as you proceed on through life there are people, places, activities and ideas that you outgrow. Gracefully, let them go so you can allow the universe to direct new opportunities and people to you.
Whew! Those were some deep concepts to think about.
Now, here are some practical tips to unleashing your inner hoarder:
1. Beware of Bins! Before you get inspired to finally get organized and run out to purchase all kinds of baskets and bins. Stop! There is a definitely a problem with our society and our level of consumption when there is a whole store devoted to just containing stuff that we purchased from other stores. First, let's try to get rid of as much as possible. The containers and organizing gadgets and products often become the clutter themselves and an excuse to keep items that are no longer serving you. Just because everything is neatly organized and labeled doesn't mean you need to continue to take up precious real estate in your home to store the items, take the time out your short life to continue to regularly take care of these items, spending even more money on bins to contain the items, or using up any more of your energy to keep track of what you have and looking for things.
2. Replace your Ritual. I often work with people trying to break old bad habits or start new good habits. Most times my client doesn't even really necessarily enjoy the bad habit anymore, it is the ritual surrounding the bad habit. For example, if a client wants to stop the bad habit of wasting time going to happy hour and gossiping with co-workers, we need to replace that with a ritual that is counter-intuitive. So, I would suggest the client pick a hobby or activity that they have always wanted to try but "didn't have the time for". By starting the new hobby activity after work they still have the ritual of going out to unwind after their work day but it is for a positive pastime. They will also start surrounding themselves automatically with new positive people that enjoy this same activity and probably not the gossiping and over consumption at happy hour.
3. Nobody cares. Let me explain, I always tell my clients "Why are you keeping this item just to impress someone - nobody cares that you have this." But Agnes Repplier, an American essayist, puts this idea a little more eloquently... "The pleasure of possession whether we possess trinkets or off-spring-or possibly books or chessmen, or postage stamps-lies in showing these things to friends, who are experiencing no immediate urge to look at them."
So you have the worlds best literary works lining your shelves that you've never really read but they make you feel like a superior intellectual. Or, you have 10 boxes of holiday decorations that you have to drag out every year, spend hours putting them all around the house and then take another whole day to take them down. Maybe it takes so much time that now you don't even take them out at all. All I am saying is that when you have these things... make sure you have them for you and you get joy out of them. We don't want to give things space in our homes or energy if it is purely for others to envy. Remember that everyone else is consumed about their own lives - not what you have.
4. Stop clutter at the source. Once we de-clutter and organize the small amount of items we are keeping, we then need to stop future clutter from invading our space. Take a look at the patterns of your past and present that may contribute to the clutter. An example, of this is if you have a fight with your spouse about debt and then ironically escape to the mall for some mindless shopping that could add even more debt to the situation. Try to be aware and catch yourself in the car driving to the mall and then turn the car in the direction of the gym to run off some of this frustration. Or, maybe you don't have a system set up for the mail and papers that creep into your home everyday so it ends up all over the counter causing you to feel stress and race around shoving all the paper in a drawer when an unexpected friend shows up on your doorstep for coffee. Instead of graciously welcoming your friend you act busy and uninterested. Take care of the little things everyday and your clutter control will become a habit.
In conclusion, all the "stuff" is just a symptom for something deeper going on in at all levels from those advanced cases of extreme hoarders down to the average woman with a full closet and "nothing to wear". When I work with my clients they discover that by letting go of physical things, they start letting go of ideas, activities, and people that no longer honor their desired lifestyle. Although silly, maybe clearing their overflowing closet or file cabinet was the portal to growth.
Erica Duran is a Productivity Expert and Certified Professional Organizer (CPO®). At Erica Duran International, she provides both virtual and in-person coaching around the globe through her programs, courses, and products. Erica mostly attracts women entrepreneurs and small business owners who want results fast! She helps them to clear the clutter in their lives at ALL levels, gets them out of just being "busy" and "overwhelmed" and into a calm, flowing, profitable and balanced lifestyle.
Learn more and claim your FREE gifts at http://www.EricaDuran.Co
Learn more and claim your FREE gifts at http://www.EricaDuran.Co
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Duran
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)