The holiday season is upon us again. We often find this time of year tiring, stressful and hectic. However, we can reclaim the joy and good cheer of the season by implementing some organizing and time management systems.
Organize your Gift Purchasing If you are able to buy gifts ahead of time, it will save you from long lines that occur during the holiday season. As you buy items, be sure to keep a list of what you purchased, who the gift is for and how much you spent on the item. If you are working with a budget, this practice will not only help you keep tabs of your purchases, but will also help keep track of your spending. As you purchase gifts, store them in one location so you know where they are and can find them when you need them. If you need to ship gifts to family and friends, consider buying them online or through catalogs and have them shipped directly to the location. This will save you a trip to the post office and the hassle of having to pack them up.
Methods to Manage your Holiday Greeting Cards
Holiday cards are a great way to keep in touch with friends and family that live out of town. To make card sending easier, consider taking these steps:
1) Make a list of recipients. Limit your list to those people who live out of town and you don’t get to see often. Create a database of names that you can easily update each year.
2) Purchase your cards after you’ve created the list so you know how many you need.
3) Go online at www.usps.com to buy your stamps online and you can choose from a large selection. They will ship the stamps to you for only $1 and you can avoid the long wait at the post office.
4) Draft a message that you would like to send so you don’t have to re-create the wheel each time you write a card.
5) Write your cards in advance and have them addressed, stamped and ready to go early. Select a date when you want them to go out and quickly drop them in the mail without much fuss. By taking this project step-by-step, you will be sure to get your cards out on time.
Celebrate on your Time! Holiday parties and events become a big part of the holiday season. Don’t feel as though you have to attend them all. Only go to the events that you truly enjoy and that really will let you celebrate the holidays. If you feel as though you should throw a party of your own, consider changing the date to a less hectic time of year. Be original and have a bash in January or February when the attendance will be better and party-goers are more relaxed.
The holidays should be a time to celebrate with family and friends. By utilizing organizing and time management techniques, we can enjoy the holidays once again!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Astounding Results
I recently came across a quote from Thomas Edison "If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves." As I thought more about his insightful words, I understand how important it is to spend our time living our lives and fulfilling our dreams.
I have found nothing in life gets done without intention. We all have things we want to accomplish in our lives. You can say "I want to", "I'm thinking about" and "I hope", but to make it happen you need a foundation. That foundation is intention. We have to stand behind our dreams to push them along, but how do you get started? Goals are the fuel for your intention. By setting goals you bring awareness and a start to your ideal life.
When writing goals consider all aspects of your life including: health, spiritual, professional, personal growth, family and friends. Goals can provide immediate results if they are are written well. To write substantial goals you must include five essential elements:
I have found nothing in life gets done without intention. We all have things we want to accomplish in our lives. You can say "I want to", "I'm thinking about" and "I hope", but to make it happen you need a foundation. That foundation is intention. We have to stand behind our dreams to push them along, but how do you get started? Goals are the fuel for your intention. By setting goals you bring awareness and a start to your ideal life.
When writing goals consider all aspects of your life including: health, spiritual, professional, personal growth, family and friends. Goals can provide immediate results if they are are written well. To write substantial goals you must include five essential elements:
- Be specific. I cannot stress how important it is to write very specific goals that detail everything exactly how you envision it. Sometimes we reach our goals and don't know it because our goal as written has come true, but that is not necessarily what we wanted. Don't let yourself be disappointed, be as specific as you can. This also helps you to better define what it is you really want.
- Set a deadline. Give yourself a date to work towards. This will put a little fire under your goal and make it real.
- Make your goals measurable. If you want to lose weight, identify how much weight you want to lose. If you want to spend more time with your family, decide is that one day a week or an entire weekend. Use quantifiable numbers to help you make the goal happen.
- Be realistic. Goals that are too big or that are too easy can be frustrating. Sometimes it is necessary to take a big goal and break it down into smaller goals. Make your goals achievable and challenging at the same time.
- Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm generates excitement about our goals and enforces our passion for the things that we are trying to accomplish. Use words like fantastic, mind-blowing, heart racing, and amazing when writing about your dreams. These words give life to your dreams and will make you smile every time.
Here is an example of how we use these steps to write a significant goal. We start with a common goal like losing weight.
- I want to lose weight.
- I want to lose weight so I can fit into my clothes again. (specific)
- I want to lose weight so I can fit into my clothes by December 31, 2009. (deadline)
- I want to lose 25 pounds by December 31, 2009 so I can fit into my clothes. (measurable)
- I want to lose 15 pounds by December 31, 2009 so I can fit into my clothes. (realistic)
- I want to lose 15 pounds by December 31, 2009 so I feel fantastic and look amazing in my my favorite clothes. (enthusiasm)
You can see how adding these elements when writing our goal makes it achievable and specific. If you just put down I want to lose weight, you will never do it. Now the goal has teeth, it challenges you to make better choices each day and it motivates you to get to that place where you feel fantastic.
I promise if done correctly, goal setting can be a powerful thing. you will be "astounded" by what you can accomplish. Take a few minutes today and think about what you want. Set 3-5 goals for yourself, write them down and review them everyday. Now sit back and watch the magic begin. What are you waiting for?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Procrastination Disguised
I'm a pretty motivated person. If I decide to do something then I typically do it without much hesitation. Although last month I found myself stuck. I had one of those "to-do" items on my list that would not go away. Finally, last week it all became clear.
My struggle was replacing my carpeting in the living room. It is desperately needed and I had already received my quote for the job, picked out the carpet I wanted and just needed to schedule the appointment. Months went by and I did not make the appointment. Friends inquired about my new carpeting and asked how I liked it. Well, I didn't have new carpeting after months of talking about it because I was procrastinating.
As I avoided this task on my list I went about redecorating my living room instead. I purchased a new sofa and found some great tables to coordinate with it. The furniture was finally delivered last week and within 15 minutes of seeing my new furniture in the living room, I knew that I didn't want carpeting, I wanted wood floors. What a huge relief to have made this decision. It quickly became clear, it wasn't me procrastinating per se, I needed a new viewpoint to determine the right choice.
Procrastination is something we all suffer from at times in our lives. It drains us of our mental energy and wastes a lot of our time as we worry about not getting things done. With procrastination, there are several causes both physical and psychological that keep us from getting things done and several easy solutions to get the work completed.
1) Like me I wasn't ready to take the next step although I was prepared. By stepping back and trying another angle on your project or task, the appropriate solution will be clear and the task can be quickly accomplished.
2) Often times an item on our "to-do" list is the goal, not the action steps needed to reach the goal. To make these items actionable, you must break them down into small manageable tasks. For example, "get new carpeting" on a to-do list is actually a goal. The actionable items are: a) have the store measure the space b) choose carpeting brand & color and order it c) schedule installation appointment d) move valuables for installation. As you move through the progression of steps, you can cross off each action item allowing you to reach your goal.
3) Many tasks that we put off are things we don't like to do or want to do. By combining that task with something enjoyable, you are more likely to get it done. If you don't like to iron, watch your favorite show or movie or call a friend and catch up on the latest. The time will fly by and so will your dreaded task.
4) Sometimes it takes just getting started on a project to get over our procrastination. You may not be sure what to expect, don't have a good game plan or are fearing the unknown. Assign a short time frame, like 15 minutes, to dedicate yourself to begin the task. Once you get started you may quickly determine the steps needed to get the job done giving you the confidence to move forward.
Take a look at your to-do list and see what has been hanging on for too long. Identify the problem or initiate one of these strategies to get the task done. You will have more positive energy and your list will be more manageable each day!
My struggle was replacing my carpeting in the living room. It is desperately needed and I had already received my quote for the job, picked out the carpet I wanted and just needed to schedule the appointment. Months went by and I did not make the appointment. Friends inquired about my new carpeting and asked how I liked it. Well, I didn't have new carpeting after months of talking about it because I was procrastinating.
As I avoided this task on my list I went about redecorating my living room instead. I purchased a new sofa and found some great tables to coordinate with it. The furniture was finally delivered last week and within 15 minutes of seeing my new furniture in the living room, I knew that I didn't want carpeting, I wanted wood floors. What a huge relief to have made this decision. It quickly became clear, it wasn't me procrastinating per se, I needed a new viewpoint to determine the right choice.
Procrastination is something we all suffer from at times in our lives. It drains us of our mental energy and wastes a lot of our time as we worry about not getting things done. With procrastination, there are several causes both physical and psychological that keep us from getting things done and several easy solutions to get the work completed.
1) Like me I wasn't ready to take the next step although I was prepared. By stepping back and trying another angle on your project or task, the appropriate solution will be clear and the task can be quickly accomplished.
2) Often times an item on our "to-do" list is the goal, not the action steps needed to reach the goal. To make these items actionable, you must break them down into small manageable tasks. For example, "get new carpeting" on a to-do list is actually a goal. The actionable items are: a) have the store measure the space b) choose carpeting brand & color and order it c) schedule installation appointment d) move valuables for installation. As you move through the progression of steps, you can cross off each action item allowing you to reach your goal.
3) Many tasks that we put off are things we don't like to do or want to do. By combining that task with something enjoyable, you are more likely to get it done. If you don't like to iron, watch your favorite show or movie or call a friend and catch up on the latest. The time will fly by and so will your dreaded task.
4) Sometimes it takes just getting started on a project to get over our procrastination. You may not be sure what to expect, don't have a good game plan or are fearing the unknown. Assign a short time frame, like 15 minutes, to dedicate yourself to begin the task. Once you get started you may quickly determine the steps needed to get the job done giving you the confidence to move forward.
Take a look at your to-do list and see what has been hanging on for too long. Identify the problem or initiate one of these strategies to get the task done. You will have more positive energy and your list will be more manageable each day!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Aesthetics vs. Function
I love organizing. Organizing as an industry has become popular over the last six years. As a result, several magazines have popped up that provide organizing information and photos. These magazines provide a visually stunning view of organizing that is often a minimalist display of beautiful boxes and deep containers. Although beautiful, these pictures display your belongings without much consideration for the day-to-day function that is needed to maintain a well organized space.
In the real world of your home and office, function rules. For most people, we are lucky to get an item to its proper home let alone have a spot for everything. I have witnessed many of my clients running out to buy containers without much thought to its design. Ultimately, a beautiful container that does not properly store your items is just another object in your room. I suggest the following three rules for buying containers:
1. The material of the container must match the items your are storing. (Wet items need plastic, small pieces need solid walls, and fabrics need smooth surfaces)
2. Deep is not good. The only exception to that rule is if the item you are storing is also deep and it fits into the container well. Otherwise items get lost in the bottom and they become out of sight or damaged.
3. Measure and measure. Be sure the items you want to store will fit into the container (sometimes with room to grow) and the container itself fits the space where it is being housed.
After these three things are fulfilled we then consider the aesthetics of the container. Of course we want our spaces to be beautiful & workable; and yes indeed it can be done! The key to having it all is to prioritize the function and fashion and create an appropriate balance between the two.
A picture is worth a thousand words but can it stay organized? With a little creativity and measuring you can have a beautifully organized space that satisfies both ends of the organizing continuum.
In the real world of your home and office, function rules. For most people, we are lucky to get an item to its proper home let alone have a spot for everything. I have witnessed many of my clients running out to buy containers without much thought to its design. Ultimately, a beautiful container that does not properly store your items is just another object in your room. I suggest the following three rules for buying containers:
1. The material of the container must match the items your are storing. (Wet items need plastic, small pieces need solid walls, and fabrics need smooth surfaces)
2. Deep is not good. The only exception to that rule is if the item you are storing is also deep and it fits into the container well. Otherwise items get lost in the bottom and they become out of sight or damaged.
3. Measure and measure. Be sure the items you want to store will fit into the container (sometimes with room to grow) and the container itself fits the space where it is being housed.
After these three things are fulfilled we then consider the aesthetics of the container. Of course we want our spaces to be beautiful & workable; and yes indeed it can be done! The key to having it all is to prioritize the function and fashion and create an appropriate balance between the two.
A picture is worth a thousand words but can it stay organized? With a little creativity and measuring you can have a beautifully organized space that satisfies both ends of the organizing continuum.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Preparing for After
June is the start of our hurricane season in the South. So many organizations stress how important it is to have an escape route planned, as well as supplies to help you get through the escape period. Rarely do they talk about preparing for after the event. I recently found myself facing a small disaster in which I was not fully prepared. My house was struck by lightning which caught the roof on fire filling the attic with smoke. We were fortunate that someone was home and caught the fire early. There was minimal damage to the house itself, but we found it took down our electrical system and the things attached to it.
After contacting our insurance company, I quickly realized how important it is to have good documentation on our belongings. Before the incident, I had taken pictures of all of our belongings to prove what items we owned. Although I discovered, the important information to file a claim was the value, the serial numbers, and model numbers of each item. Most of the items were intact so I could find the necessary information. My computer, although, was completely dismantled and all of the information and serial numbers went with it. The insurance company continued to request more information about the computer although it no longer existed. It took several days of looking for information and contacting the computer manufacturer to satisfy the insurance company so we could file our claim. Although our disaster was a small one, I think of those who lose an entire household of goods from fire or floods.
We all think ‘it will never happen to me’ until it does. Not only is it critical to have an escape plan and the necessary supplies to feed our families, but it is just as important to have a home inventory of our belongings so we can claim our goods afterwards. I have discovered free home inventory software located at www.knowyourstuff.com that allows you to upload pictures of each room in addition to itemization of your goods including their value, make, model, and purchase date. The information is stored online so it can be accessed from anywhere. If I had completed a home inventory prior to the fire, my insurance claim would have been quick and easy. Learn from my experience and complete a home inventory today. If the task is too daunting, Personalized Solutions can complete a home inventory for you. For more information contact Jill Weaver at jill@organizebeaufort.com or 843-521-7099.
After contacting our insurance company, I quickly realized how important it is to have good documentation on our belongings. Before the incident, I had taken pictures of all of our belongings to prove what items we owned. Although I discovered, the important information to file a claim was the value, the serial numbers, and model numbers of each item. Most of the items were intact so I could find the necessary information. My computer, although, was completely dismantled and all of the information and serial numbers went with it. The insurance company continued to request more information about the computer although it no longer existed. It took several days of looking for information and contacting the computer manufacturer to satisfy the insurance company so we could file our claim. Although our disaster was a small one, I think of those who lose an entire household of goods from fire or floods.
We all think ‘it will never happen to me’ until it does. Not only is it critical to have an escape plan and the necessary supplies to feed our families, but it is just as important to have a home inventory of our belongings so we can claim our goods afterwards. I have discovered free home inventory software located at www.knowyourstuff.com that allows you to upload pictures of each room in addition to itemization of your goods including their value, make, model, and purchase date. The information is stored online so it can be accessed from anywhere. If I had completed a home inventory prior to the fire, my insurance claim would have been quick and easy. Learn from my experience and complete a home inventory today. If the task is too daunting, Personalized Solutions can complete a home inventory for you. For more information contact Jill Weaver at jill@organizebeaufort.com or 843-521-7099.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sharing Can Help Us Let Go
If I have one area in which I struggle in getting rid of things it would be clothing. I always think “maybe I'll wear that next year”, “it's still is in great shape”, or “maybe I'll lose weight and it will fit me next year”. Yet, I have found that my closet was starting to feel stuffed. It was hard to find clothes as they were shoved together tight, they would get wrinkled within the crunch and later I discovered that I had some great pieces that were hidden amongst the masses.
I started my task of culling my closet by sitting down with a pad of paper. Without going into my closet, I wrote down my favorite items for that season. I knew that my staple items would top the list and would remain in the closet. Next, I gathered all the items that I knew that did not fit and tried on a few other suspicious characters to check their fit as well. Everything that did not fit properly, did not flatter my figure or was not comfortable, immediately went into the 'get rid' pile. I then went one shelf at a time around the closet looking at each piece of clothing, accessories and shoes. My ultimate check for each piece of clothing was "do I love it"? If I didn't love it then out it went.
As I got rid of items I placed them in three piles – donate, consign and give to a friend. As I chose pieces that I no longer wanted, it helped me to know that they would have a great home in one of these places. In turn I was more motivated to get rid of more items. Additionally, as I continued to get rid of clothing I found I could suddenly see the clothing in my closet. It felt like I had so many more options than before, even though I had reduced my clothing options.
I decided to try consigning some of my better pieces. This allowed me to get money back for my clothes which I reinvested into pieces that I loved. Clothing that did not fit was the obvious choice to send to consignment. Most consignment stores are only looking for pieces that are today's fashion trends and all pieces need to be in good condition, clean and pressed. Also keep in mind that consignment stores are looking for items early in the season. Fall items need to be taken in August and summer items in February. Check with your local store to determine their clothing requirements.
Now as I am flip through my closet, if I see an item that I don't love, I am quick to determine where it goes and take it out of my closet immediately. This continual purging will allow my closet to stay current and each piece loved. To complete my wardrobe, I did an inventory of my pieces to be sure each item had a coordinating piece. Having complete outfits makes pieces more wearable and it takes less time to get dressed. Although this is a lengthy process, I found it to be a change of attitude within my closet. Never again will my closet be stuffed and now I love every piece of my clothing in my closet.
I started my task of culling my closet by sitting down with a pad of paper. Without going into my closet, I wrote down my favorite items for that season. I knew that my staple items would top the list and would remain in the closet. Next, I gathered all the items that I knew that did not fit and tried on a few other suspicious characters to check their fit as well. Everything that did not fit properly, did not flatter my figure or was not comfortable, immediately went into the 'get rid' pile. I then went one shelf at a time around the closet looking at each piece of clothing, accessories and shoes. My ultimate check for each piece of clothing was "do I love it"? If I didn't love it then out it went.
As I got rid of items I placed them in three piles – donate, consign and give to a friend. As I chose pieces that I no longer wanted, it helped me to know that they would have a great home in one of these places. In turn I was more motivated to get rid of more items. Additionally, as I continued to get rid of clothing I found I could suddenly see the clothing in my closet. It felt like I had so many more options than before, even though I had reduced my clothing options.
I decided to try consigning some of my better pieces. This allowed me to get money back for my clothes which I reinvested into pieces that I loved. Clothing that did not fit was the obvious choice to send to consignment. Most consignment stores are only looking for pieces that are today's fashion trends and all pieces need to be in good condition, clean and pressed. Also keep in mind that consignment stores are looking for items early in the season. Fall items need to be taken in August and summer items in February. Check with your local store to determine their clothing requirements.
Now as I am flip through my closet, if I see an item that I don't love, I am quick to determine where it goes and take it out of my closet immediately. This continual purging will allow my closet to stay current and each piece loved. To complete my wardrobe, I did an inventory of my pieces to be sure each item had a coordinating piece. Having complete outfits makes pieces more wearable and it takes less time to get dressed. Although this is a lengthy process, I found it to be a change of attitude within my closet. Never again will my closet be stuffed and now I love every piece of my clothing in my closet.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Organizing Can Be Pro-"Found"
Organizing has gained tremendous popularity over the last few years. You see it everywhere you go - in the newspaper, magazines, stores and on TV. So what’s the big fuss?
I was recently asked by a client why I like my job and my answer was easy. “I get to help my clients create the life they want to live.” By setting up simple organizing solutions, my clients are able to pursue other things in their lives that make them happy.
Many benefits come from being organized. Conversely, a lot of opportunities are missed by not being organized. While helping my clients declutter I find three themes that continuously get uncovered or found in the process.
Money is one area directly affected by being organized. Often when sorting through personal belongings and paperwork, I come upon cash, checks and valuable items. I have found as much as $2500 in a single organizing session. Secondly, it is important to have an efficient bill paying system so you can avoid late fees and charges as they can add up quickly. Finally, being organized helps us to eliminate excess. Expensive storage units, costing $200-$500 per month, can really add up over the years. As well, the act of purchasing multiple items when you own them already often occurs when we are disorganized.
In addition to money we lose so much more. Major opportunities, both personally and professionally, are often lost due to disorganization. After organizing a client’s office she emailed me the next day to say she gained a huge piece of business due to her office being organized. She was sure she would not have had that opportunity had she not gone through the organizing process.
Business is just one area where organizing helps us, we also find big personal life events are greatly affected. I have had couples get married, singles create opportunities to meet their soul mate and entertaining among friends has occured after going through the organizing process. Now, this is not a promise that these results will work for everyone, but we see the dramatic impact being organized can have on your life personally and professionally.
Last, but certainly not least, I find that my clients have more fun as a result of being organized. If you are organized you are spending less time managing your household, paperwork, bills and you are spending less mental energy thinking about clutter. As a result, you have more time, space, energy and money to do the things you really enjoy.
So if you like to have fun, if you would like to save money or you would like to be open to opportunities available to you, getting organized is the perfect place to start. Get organized today so you can start living your life!
I was recently asked by a client why I like my job and my answer was easy. “I get to help my clients create the life they want to live.” By setting up simple organizing solutions, my clients are able to pursue other things in their lives that make them happy.
Many benefits come from being organized. Conversely, a lot of opportunities are missed by not being organized. While helping my clients declutter I find three themes that continuously get uncovered or found in the process.
Money is one area directly affected by being organized. Often when sorting through personal belongings and paperwork, I come upon cash, checks and valuable items. I have found as much as $2500 in a single organizing session. Secondly, it is important to have an efficient bill paying system so you can avoid late fees and charges as they can add up quickly. Finally, being organized helps us to eliminate excess. Expensive storage units, costing $200-$500 per month, can really add up over the years. As well, the act of purchasing multiple items when you own them already often occurs when we are disorganized.
In addition to money we lose so much more. Major opportunities, both personally and professionally, are often lost due to disorganization. After organizing a client’s office she emailed me the next day to say she gained a huge piece of business due to her office being organized. She was sure she would not have had that opportunity had she not gone through the organizing process.
Business is just one area where organizing helps us, we also find big personal life events are greatly affected. I have had couples get married, singles create opportunities to meet their soul mate and entertaining among friends has occured after going through the organizing process. Now, this is not a promise that these results will work for everyone, but we see the dramatic impact being organized can have on your life personally and professionally.
Last, but certainly not least, I find that my clients have more fun as a result of being organized. If you are organized you are spending less time managing your household, paperwork, bills and you are spending less mental energy thinking about clutter. As a result, you have more time, space, energy and money to do the things you really enjoy.
So if you like to have fun, if you would like to save money or you would like to be open to opportunities available to you, getting organized is the perfect place to start. Get organized today so you can start living your life!
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