You gotta be in it, to win it!

I know, I know...that's the lottery's slogan, but it applies to getting organized too! So...with that said, by "in it", I am referring to making the decision to get organized and "win it", to reap the rewards of a more functional and organized home and/or workspace. The next time you're in doubt about getting organized, I want you to think about a lottery ticket -- if you don't buy one -- you can't win the reward...BUT...if you do buy it (make an investment)-- you could win big! Here's my challenge to you today- make a small goal, set the timer for 15 minutes and see how you can win by investing just 15 minutes of your day. You CAN do it!

Baby steps...

One of my favorite movies is "What about Bob". Bob is a unique individual with many quirks and limitations. He seeks counseling from Richard Dreyfus' character and his therapist encourages him to take "baby steps" or in his words "baby stepping". What might this look like for getting organized you ask? One baby step in getting organized is to make a list of goals (I recommend 10 to start) you'd like to work on. For 1 week, select 1 of your goals and tackle it! Take a "baby step" in writing your goals and you will reap the benefits of encouragement, motivation and inspiration. As a dear friend would remind me, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step".

Free at last!

What comes to mind when you hear, "free at last"? I know for me, it means, that I am free to pursue whatever opportunity presents itself. I want to encourage you to find 1-3 ways to gain "organizational freedom" in your life. For instance, maybe you've been meaning to do some "spring cleaning"...and now you can because SPRING has arrived! :) Or, maybe you've wanted to purge some old files or go through that staff of paper on your desk. Set aside just 15 minutes a day to start tackling your organizational goals. And...after you do this each day for 1 week...treat yourself! You deserve it!

"downsize", "minimize" and "de-clutter"

I've been hearing the words "downsize", "minimize" and "de-clutter" for the past few years and wanted to encourage you to make a date with yourself to do just that! Set aside 15-20 minutes each day to tackle a small project (e.g. go thru a stack of mail) or larger project (e.g. sorting through a kitchen drawer). Taking time out to tackle a "task" on your "to do list" will keep you encouraged and motivated to continue setting small organizational goals & accomplishing them! It's a win, win!

Tis the season....to get organized!

During the past few weeks, I've been hearing different conversations from people saying, "I want to get organized this year". My advice to them is, "you can"! You just need to take some time to make a plan for how to do this. For instance, if you're swamped in paperwork, here's a a possible "game" plan for you:

(1) Set the timer for 30 minutes
(2) Sort thru the first pile and make three "new piles": (1) to file (2) to shred and (3) take action.
(3) I recommend putting a date on the corner of the "take action" pile so that you can prioritize when you need to accomplish the task at hand. If it's paying a bill, allow a 1 week window so that you won't incur late charges.
(4) Once you have your piles, decide what you want to do first. If it's filing, get out your folders, pens, labels and go to town. If you already have a system in place, than filing will be as easy as 1-2-3.
(5) Follow the same plan for the 2nd and 3rd piles.
(6) If your timer goes off while you're still sorting, set it for another 30 minutes. Setting a timer helps one to say focused and on task. If you want to try for longer periods of time, go for it!
(7) By the end of 2 hrs, you should be well on your way to being more organized!

Happy New Year!

Seeing is believing...

Happy Fall!

Yesterday, I decided to buy a shelf @ Home Depot to hold all of my clear, plastic storage bins. What a significant difference it makes in saving time & space, having everything in 1 place. "Seeing...really is believing!"

My recommendation when storing away items, whether it be holiday decorations, clothing, or special keepsakes - make sure to label each storage box & keep an inventory of your items close by.

I haven't finished my project just yet, but when I do, I hope to see 6 clear, well organized & labeled storage boxes sitting neatly on my new shelf! I encourage you to create a storage system that will serve you and your needs too.

Enjoy the process...remember, persistence is key when you're beginning to get organized. Encourage yourself in the small tasks & the bigger ones will be easier to handle. You can do it!

Summertime Fun...Minus the Fuss!

Happy 1st Day of Summer! If you're like me, you've been counting down the days to Summer! In order to get ready for the many outdoor activities summer has in store, here's a quick list of things to do to prepare for a fun day at the beach:

-- Grab your beach bag & fill it with sunscreen, chapstick, tissues, beach towels, reading materials, hat and anything else that will make your beach experience more enjoyable.
-- Hose off the beach chairs & cooler(s)
-- Wash the beach blanket
-- Plan your beach day! (or day at the park, zoo, picnic, etc)

Hint: Load up your car the night before (minus the cooler)so that's one less thing you need to think about.

Being prepared ahead of time will cut down on unnecessary delays in getting yourself ready & out the door to enjoy the sunshine!

Enjoy!