This month is National Get Organized Month. Every January the National Association of Professional Organizers and it’s member chapters endeavor to publicize the benefits of organization and the services that are provided by our industry. There are many areas of specialty within the Professional Organizer industry – from home staging to business productivity to move managers. There are specialized training courses for many different populations - seniors, hoarders, people with disabilities, and children.  Getting organized helps people with time management, productivity, family management, and relieves stress and anxiety. Here are some of the reasons why professional organizers are hired and which areas are most often organized. This information is found on the National Association of Professional Organizers website, www.napo.net:
Top reasons professional organizers are hired

1. Too much clutter
2. General disorganization
3. Difficulty determining what to keep and/or discard
4. Difficulty finding things
5. Selling a home or moving

Top areas in a home where organizing services are most often requested

1. Home Office or Den
2. Kitchen
3. Closet
4. Master Bedroom
5. Garage/Attic/Basement

I’m not a huge fan of making resolutions anymore; most people do not take resolutions made on New Year’s Day very seriously.  However, if you are ready to take the first steps to getting organized this year, then download my ebook, Project Simplify. It includes monthly goal sheets to help you plan the first steps to getting your organizing projects done.

Receive your free gift today!  Just go to the top right of this page and submit your name and email.  Then check your email!  You will have the link for your free download!   It’s my gift to you this month as you begin to get organized!

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I was having a crazy Monday yesterday; lots of things to accomplish for work, preparation for company arriving this weekend, setting up meetings with new clients, making more doctor appointments, etc.  I felt like I had a mountain of things to do and only a small amount of time to do it in.  I’m sure you have had one of those days.  In the moment, my anxiety level was increasing, I felt stressed, and everything seemed to be whirling out of control.  Well today is Tuesday, so I obviously survived.

Here are the 3 things I did that helped me to not only survive but have better control of my day and be more productive. I am sharing in hopes that they will be useful to you when you feel the way I did yesterday. READ MORE

For about a year now I have been putting something out there on the social media sites on Tuesdays.  So many people ask me  for recommendations of productivity and organizing tools. It occurred to me that I should be putting these tools here on the blog! So starting today…

Welcome to Tool Tuesdays!

Today’s tool spotlight is GripIt

GripIt is a flat organizer that has rubberized elastic bands designed to hold objects of all shapes and sizes in place.  Unlike a pencil case or accessory bag where your things get jumbled and you stab yourself trying to fumble around and find things, GripIt allows you easy access to your small objects.  Here are a few uses for the GripIt: READ MORE

Once a year at the Declutter Your Life Meetups, we have “The Great Tip Exchange”. Members bring in or tell us about neat organizing tools and strategies they use to stay better organized.  The ideas range from nifty little gadgets to whole processes.  Here is a sampling of ideas shared from this year’s tip exchange:

• As a caregiver, use a binder to keep important documents. Keep it in the car. Include things like medical power of attorney, advanced health care directives, list of doctors and medications, etc. Binder recommendation: Bindertek.

• Organize your tote bag or purse using a product called Purse To Go Pockets by PurseBling. 

• Keep a timer in your office and use it to curtail the time you spend surfing the net.  You can get timers right now at the Dollar Store – what a bargain!!

• Use a labeler to label your cords; those in use and those you have stored away. Can also use empty toilet rolls to keep extra cords organized and stored away.

• Card Reader to easy download things from SD cards into your computer via the USB port.

• When traveling, use a small purse to keep your money, passport, and boarding passes close to you and easily accessible. Travelon has a great product for this.

  

• Get a scanner to scan important documents onto a flash drive to keep in a safe deposit box. I have a video on my blog that shows the scanner in action!

When Rubbermaid contacted me to ask if I could review their latest product I was thrilled!  My mom and I are huge Rubbermaid fans.  We used to joke about wanting to run the company and/or own all the stock.  Their products are high quality and versatile. This latest product is no exception.

Glass with Easy Find Lids

The movement these days is to go green.  Plastic is filling up our landfills and we are trying to be smart and reduce our environmental footprint.  Now, thanks to Rubbermaid, we can reduce our plastic containers that are spilling out of our kitchen cabinets. And the lids for these containers are BPA free! Rubbermaid new glass containers are wonderful; I’ve tested them out in the Conrad Kitchen and here’s what I think are its best attributes: READ MORE

Okay, so maybe your car is not this bad, but I am sure that from time to time things can get a little disorganized in there.

And I know all the reasons why… I’ve been there.  Family vacations, mom’s taxi, soccer, little league, girl scouts, teen age drivers, fast food binges, you name it. Our cars can really get messy and fast! READ MORE

In Part I of  Time Savers for Social Media we looked at the advantages and disadvantages, now what can we do about it? How about findings ways to save time?

Set boundaries READ MORE

Address book, business card file, Rolodex®, Outlook™, cell phone… All places where we try (or have given up trying) to keep all of our contacts. There were only 2 times when I used to feel like kicking and screaming over my contact list.

1. When it was time to gather up the needed addresses to get the Christmas cards out.
2. When I got frustrated that I couldn’t lay my hands on a certain number I needed at that moment.

Can you relate?  READ MORE

Since I have not delivered any pearls of wisdom lately, I thought I would share a gem  I found today.  Take a look at: Free Ebook: Thriving on Less – Simplifying in a Tough Economy .  Everyone can use this insight, in fact – tell a friend about it.  After all, it’s a free ebook!

Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Today, Organize to Downsize: Preparing to Simplify Your Home, was officially and professionally published. This is my first book and I cannot tell you how excited I am! This is one of those life long goals and now I get to share it with you!

This workbook is a step by step guide for you, or anyone you know, to use whether downsizing as an empty nester, preparing to move, or simply wanting to reduce the clutter and create a harmonious home environment. You will find the answers on how to accomplish it here! The workbook starts with steps to creating your organizing plan, teaches you the principles of organization and guides you through the entire process, tackling everything from papers to possessions! Make the job of simplifying your life easier, by following a step by step strategy to help you achieve your organizing goals.

The workbook includes:

• Easy to understand steps to start your project
• Project planner & checklists
• Donation worksheets
• Tons of resources!

The workbook would make an excellent gift for that special someone! It is also available as a download e-book! Click here to purchase!

Thank you!