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Announcements:
Upcoming TV Appearance
Watch me on the Steven and Chris show, Thursday April 3rd at 2 pm on CBC. I will be sharing my top timesaving tips for busy parents.
Quick Tips on Organizing Your Home:
Make room for spring
It's that wonderful time of year again when we can put away the winter gear and lighten the load. Although there's never enough storage, there are creative ways to better utilize existing spaces when storing out-of-season items. Here are some ideas to consider: add another shelf above the existing one in all the closets; purchase under-the-bed organizers (if your bed is not high enough, you can get bed risers to lift it); and build in storage in the garage above your car. Consider creating a document on your computer that serves as an index to outline where you've stored what. When winter arrives, you won't have to rely on your memory to find what you need.
Create an inviting entrance way
Want to make your visitors feel welcome the minute they step into your home? Clear away any clutter in the entrance way, sweep off the stoop and clean the glass on the screen door. To revitalize the space, replace the door mat, put some flowers on a table and, as soon as the weather allows, put some potted flowers outside the door. Designate this space a 'no clutter zone' and you and everyone who enters your home will feel relaxed.
Try this no-cost storage solution
Recycle the clear plastic containers with lids that you buy your washed salad greens in. Get creative about what you store inside; the beauty of them is that you can see the contents clearly and they stack nicely on top of each other. If you purchase the large size, you can store shoes in them (size 7 or smaller); it keeps your shoes dust-free yet visible.
Quick Tips on Organizing Your Office:
Tax time doesn't have to be traumatic
If you make an appointment with the person who prepares your tax return now, you'll have a built-in deadline (before the 'real deadline'), which will motivate you to start gathering up all the documents you'll need. Spend just 15 minutes a day gathering up receipts and other papers you'll need and place them in a designated box or bin (one for each family member). This is one job that most of us procrastinate on and it can cause so much stress; breaking it down makes it less overwhelming so you can get it over with.
Get through your 'read' pile quickly
Designate a basket, magazine rack or tray to act as your 'to read' container. Put everything you want to read in that place as soon as it arrives. Always take something from this container to read when you go out and, before you know it you will have made a serious dent in the pile. It's amazing how quickly time passes when we have reading material to distract us from waiting, whether it's for an appointment at the doctor's office, for a friend in a restaurant or for the kids in the car.
Get your emails out of your inbox
Do you find yourself reading emails and then leaving them in your inbox because you have to do extensive research before responding? Non-urgent emails that will take time to answer should be dragged into a 'to do' or 'take action' folder in your email program and the task should be placed on your 'to do' list or calendar so you will remember to take action. If you use the Outlook calendar, you can quickly drag the email directly to your calendar. Remember, your inbox should be treated like a mailbox; would you put opened mail back in and leave it there for days or weeks?
Quick Tips on Organizing Your Life:
Failure is part of the model
Are you afraid to try new things or take any risks because you might fail? Think about how many times you had to fall off your bike before you learned how to ride it. If you ever participated in sports, think about how many times you had to kick the ball before you got it in the net. I remember how many times I fell on my tush before I learned how to skate. All these examples illustrate that failure is part of the learning model; without it, there is no way to succeed. Don't be afraid of failure; welcome it as part of the process. Consider this: if you never fail, you probably don't take enough risks.
Reach your goals faster
Do you need to renew your motivation to reach an important goal? Making the process easier will improve your chances of success. Ask yourself what you need to add (a part-time assistant, the right tools for the job, a 'how to' video, etc.) and what you need to eliminate from your life (obligations, time-wasters, draining relationships). Although you may experience some reluctance, consider feeling the discomfort and doing it anyways; it will set you free to focus on what's most important.
Help for Hoarders:
Are you struggling to overcome hoarding? If you are willing to share your personal story in a television documentary and are located in Washington State, Oregon or California, please contact Celia at (206) 763-3383 ext 205 or email at helpforhoarders@gmail.com. Participants will be provided with free professional counseling and free clean-up of their home.
Looking for a Speaker for your next Meeting?
If you are interested in having me speak to your
company, association or special group, please contact me about my
various programs and fees.
Hire an Organizer:
To hire the services of a We Organize U organizer, please send an inquiry email to: hellen@weorganizeu.com
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© Copyright 2008
by Hellen Buttigieg, We Organize U. Reprinted with permission from the
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