Spring Organizing and Cleaning

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One of the most powerful parts of social networking is the connections and collaborations we make! I asked my social media peeps to share their small and big changes this year.  I loved learning a little more about each of them and what the new year holds for them. – See more at: https://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/2014/01/#sthash.eBR6JZUZ.dpuf
One of the most powerful parts of social networking is the connections and collaborations we make! I asked my social media peeps to share their small and big changes this year.  I loved learning a little more about each of them and what the new year holds for them. – See more at: https://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/2014/01/#sthash.eBR6JZUZ.dpuf

spring organizing

One of the most powerful parts of social media are the connections we make!  I asked my social media peeps what helps them get started on their spring organizing and cleaning.

As soon as the trees begin to bloom, I know that it’s spring cleaning season. Life is easier when my home is clean and organized, so it motivates me to get everything back in order as the season change. To get started, I begin at the front door and work my way through the house counter clockwise so I am sure to get the main living space of my home clean and organized first. 

 

I try my hardest to maintain a clean and organized home throughout the year using the one in, one out rule.  By maintaining some sort of order in my home throughout the year, life is easier for my family and me.

 

Kristi Reddell

 

Blogger 

 

Social Media: Twitter: @momsconfession, Pinterest: MomsConfession, Google+: Kristi Reddell

 

 

I work in the MathShack, an 8×8 outdoor office. It’s packed with math books, manipulatives, education catalogs, office equipment and of course the random toy Delorean. 

 

I’m usually motivated to clean by a new piece of equipment (“Where will THAT fit?!”) or a new function. When I started tutoring, I needed space for another human!

 

To clean, I put a folding table outside the MathShack on a warm day. Then I drag everything out and go through it. When I put the “keep” stuff back in, I rearrange it so it really feels like there’s a new start.

 

Bon Crowder

 

MathFour.com

 

 

spring organizing

I start spring organizing and cleaning in March. I am motivated by the change in weather. When it starts to get warmer, I feel the urge to do a major cleaning. I get started by going through everything I want to donate. I then go through my house, room by room, and make a big pile of things we no longer need or wear. Once I’ve cleared out all of that stuff, I start organizing and cleaning.

I get my daughter involved by making spring cleaning fun. I do this by turning on upbeat music. For us, it is always some sort of Disney or kid-friendly song list. We have so much fun getting our house ready for spring.

 

Jessica Wellington

 

Freelance Writer, Blogger

 

@famfunjournal; http://www.facebook.com/familyfunjournal; G+ Jessica Wellington

 

 

 

 

 Spring organizing starts when the trees start to bloom. It reminds me that there’s lots to do inside and outside. 

 

I like a team approach so I enlist my family in working in one space at a time.   It’s not hard because I work in one room and finish up, then move to the next. 

 

Of course all year long I work on decluttering too! I have a bag I drop donations into and take them off to local charities weekly.  

 

Ellen Delap

 

Professional organizer, productivity consultant and blogger

 

@TexasOrganizer, Pinterest Ellen Delap and Google + Ellen Delap

 

 spring organizing

 

 

When will you start your spring organizing and cleaning?

 

 

 

 

Set Yourself up for Success in the Spring

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Susan Brennan

Thanks to our guest blogger Susan Brennan for sharing ideas for spring organizing success!

Spring is just around the corner, and it’s so easy to dread the idea of “Spring cleaning!” Thankfully, I’ve got some tricks to get you looking forward to clearing out the clutter in time for Spring. Set yourself up for success this spring with spring organizing.

 

The biggest thing to focus on is WHY are you going to invest time in Spring cleaning? This answer is going to be different for everyone. Perhaps you’re preparing for an extended vacation and you want to come home to clutter-free home. Or, maybe you’re starting a new job and you want to feel on top of it when you start. Maybe you’re getting ready to start a big project at home and you want less stuff to be in the way. Whatever your reason, keep that as your focus and take small steps to achieve it.

 

My suggestions are simple:

1)       Start with one small space at a time, instead of getting overwhelmed with the idea of tackling everything at once.

2)      Celebrate each success you have along the way!

3)      Continue focusing on your WHY so you’re motivated to keep going!

4)      Make sure to define what it looks like when you’re “done” with this project (i.e. Will you be “done” when all of your papers are filed? Will you be “done” when you can finally see the floor of your closet?) – Make it concrete and measurable! Put a deadline on it so you finish!

 

As you move forward with your project(s), make sure to ask for help when needed, and tell people your goals so they can help keep you accountable. I’d love to hear from you about what your projects are and how you’re planning to keep yourself motivated!

 

Susan Brennan is an organizing enthusiast and artist. When she’s not working on her businesses, she can often be found reading a great book at a local coffee shop, or snuggling with her creatures (two cats and a dog). You can learn more about her and how she helps people bring calm to their chaos, by visiting her website at www.consideritdonepersonally.com.

 

31 Days to an Organized Home

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31 days to an organized home

  31 days to an organized home (click here for a printable checklist)

Spring time is organizing time! We have renewed energy, we look forward to creating and cleaning, and we want to freshen our home. We can cover all the territory in our home working in baby steps to keep from being overwhelmed. This list of 31 short projects gets you motivated, gets you started, and gets a lot done over 31 days.  Follow this list and do one project each day for 30 minutes to an hour.  First toss, then donate or recycle, group by categories, and create a routine that helps you stay organized.  In just 31 days you will have an organized home!

The 31 days project is grouped around rooms in your home. As you move forward, you will be breaking your organizing into small steps in order to finish in each space.  Clearing your clutter has a calming effect and you will enjoy the serenity in your home.

1.   Any 31 items.  Just walk around the house and choose any 31 items that are not useful, functional, or beautiful. 

2.   Kitchen junk drawer

3.   Under the Kitchen Sink

4.   Refrigerator

5.   Freezer

6.   Spice cabinet

7.   Laundry Room

8.   Laundry room sink area

organized

9.    Pantry medicine basket

10. Paper goods

11. Pantry

12. Extra bags around the house

13. Computer or home office desk

14. Warranty and instruction books

15. Bookshelves and books

16. Technology

organized home office

 

17. Under Bathroom Sink

18. Medicine Cabinet

19. Make up drawer

20. Undies, socks, jammies

21. Night stand drawers

22. Coat closet

23. Media cabinet

24. VHS movies

25. Linen Closet

26. Purses and bags

27. Tops, tee shirts and dresses

28. Pants and skirts

29. Shoes

organized closet

30. Car

31. Any 31 items.  Eliminating an additional 31 items will make your home even less cluttered!

 

Jump start your spring organizing this year! Keep me posted on how your work is progressing and how successful you are!

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Keep It Simple Sweetie Keep It Organized

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organized

 

Keeping your life organized can be summed up with the adage, Keep It Simple Sweetie.  Here’s how!

Keep it simple sweetie

  • Simple, easy, routine steps make your home and your life organized.
  • Keeping clear about what items, activities and connections are your priorities make life simpler.

Keep it sorted sweetie

  • Grouping like items together and sorted makes for easy organizing.
  • Choose categories that work for you, label the groups and do a small amount of sorting.
  • After sorting, distribute the items to where they belong.

Keep it short sweetie

  • Work in short bursts to get organized.
  • Work in small spaces to get motivated for more organizing.
  • Maintain your organization with a quick daily pick up time for yourself and your family.

Keep it silly sweetie

  • Add fun to your organizing.
  • Simple silliness makes it easier to organize.
  • Silly includes hosting a laundry party in the living room with music, cleaning the kitchen together while singing, or listening to Mary Poppins music “A Spoonful of Sugar helps the medicine go down” while picking up the toys.

Keep it successful sweetie

  • Keep it positive and think of your successes.
  • Each success leads you on to creating an organized lifestyle.

 

Organized and Stylish: Cute Counts with this versatile Kate Spade Zipper Pouch

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Disclosure: I am affiliate for many of the products and services that I recommend. When you click on the link on my site and purchase the product being offered I will receive a percentage of that purchase, at no extra cost to you. If you feel uncomfortable, please go directly to the site for purchase. 

 

Kate Spade Zipper Pouch

Staying organized on the go is easy with this versatile zipper pouch.  We are all busy with lots of travel, work away from the office, and other commitments.  The Kate Spade zipper pouch is functional and fun for a variety of purposes.

  • Keep organized on the go by filling your pouch with pens, pencils, scissors and tape for an anywhere office.
  • Travel with sample size toiletries in your overnight bag with this pouch.
  • Your zipper pouch can keep your cords and technology together between work sites.
  • The pouch is perfect for makeup in your purse.  Simply consolidate all your lipsticks, eye makeup and base to carry to and from work or play.

And what could be cuter!  I love the eyeglass theme because of its sophistication!  You are well prepared for any event with this.

being offered I will receive a percentage of that purchase, at no extra cost to you. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, please go directly to the site of the product. – See more at: https://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/2013/09/05/organized-and-stylish-cute-counts-with-this-file-tote-organizer-for-paper/#sthash.AJ8CIlvk.dpuf
Disclosure: I am an affiliate for many of the products and services that I recommend. When you click on the link on my site and purchase  the product or service being offered I will receive a percentage of that purchase, at no extra cost to you. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, please go directly to the site of the product. – See more at: https://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/2013/09/05/organized-and-stylish-cute-counts-with-this-file-tote-organizer-for-paper/#sthash.AJ8CIlvk.dpuf
Disclosure: I am an affiliate for many of the products and services that I recommend. When you click on the link on my site and purchase  the product or service being offered I will receive a percentage of that purchase, at no extra cost to you. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, please go directly to the site of the product. – See more at: https://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/2013/09/05/organized-and-stylish-cute-counts-with-this-file-tote-organizer-for-paper/#sthash.rwgkuqW0.dpuf

Share a Little (Organizing) Love

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organizing

 

The month of February is all about hearts, flowers, candy and love.  There’s a lot to love about organizing and productivity! Organizing is a gift you give yourself and a gift to others. In the book, The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman refers to as gifts of service and gifts of quality time. An “act of service” is doing something for another person as an expression of love.  A “gift of quality time” is spending time together.  A gift of organizing is a small act that makes a big emotional impact to us, to our colleagues and to our family.   Share a little (organizing) love this month. Here’s a small sampling of these ways to get organized and share some organizing love.

  • Family dinner time together is often a shared act of love. It’s a gift of service for those who prepare the meal and clean up and a gift of quality time together.  Start with an easy meal plan and use a list or grocery app.  Organize and label your pantry so everyone knows what’s available and it’s easy to make dinner. Partner with a family member to make dinner and clean up together.  I love the FamilyDinnerProject.org to find easy meals and table topics.
  • There are many acts of service as part of organizing. Here’s some gifts of love to do. Put away another family member’s laundry for them. Do one of your family chores for someone.  We all love it when we have one less thing to do and that someone has helped us do something hard to do. What small gift, like unloading the dishwasher or vacuuming the car, can you do that will make your family or friend feel loved?
  • Our blessing others with our goods is an act of love. In the book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo encourages us to keep only what “sparks joy.”  Marie is sharing to keep only what we love. Take donations to a local charity with your family and see together the impact it can make.  Our community is blessed to have so many ways to help others.
  • Organizing can be quality time together and lead to better productivity. Work together with a family member or friend to declutter a space. Listen to their ideas and help them make decisions and know what to let go.  Or you can work alongside your friend or family member as a “body double.” My clients share stories that when they are organizing, just having another person in the space tethers them to the task, helps them think through ideas and helps them get organized. Set aside time each day during homework time with your kids. While they are doing their work, you can work on your paper work and administrative tasks.
  • Share your gift of service by working on a family project together. Work together on a service project for a local philanthropy. When you model acts of service, you are sharing important values and giving back to our community.

 

The true gift of organizing is the connection you create with your family and friends. Just as important as words of love, these acts of love make an impact every day, not just on Valentine’s Day. Your little (organizing) love lasts all year!

 

 

What kind of (organizing) love do you share?

Organizing Your Paper: Annual File Organizing and Decluttering

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annual file and paper organizing

The new year is the best time to organize your paper. It’s a fresh start and it’s time to review your existing system.  Lot of my clients ask me what to keep and for how long.  Clients are keeping papers in archive longer than before just because “life happens.”

 

At this time of year I like to do an annual archive session for files.  Not only does it open up space in your files, it keeps your files from being out of date and unused.  Your files are meant for reference and retrieval.  Your archive files are for long term storage.  Files are kept in file drawers, while archive files can be kept in plastic file totes (affiliate link Tax time) and stored in less accessible spots (such as the back of a closet or the attic.)  It’s easiest to archive by year, so January is a great time for this annual file organizing.

 

  • Start with a plastic file box with hanging files.
  • Remove papers from your files and clip together with a binder clip.
  • Categories of papers to remove include:  credit card statements, utilities, and medical explanations of benefits.
  • Place tax related papers in folder and label it TAXES 20XX.  Place it in an easy to access spot for later this month.
  • Label the exterior of the bin with that year.
  • If you find papers from previous years, create a box for each and label it with the previous year, one year per box. For tax purposes you want to go back 7 years. For other records, you can decide what works best for your needs.

 

Voila! Your files have space and you can start the new year ready to file!

 

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– See more at: https://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/#sthash.ykHaCYDf.dpuf

Don’t miss out on upcoming organizing tips and techniques! Click here to subscribe to my monthly newsletter.

 

– See more at: https://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/#sthash.ykHaCYDf.dpuf

Organizing your Papers: Tax Time Tips

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tax tips

It’s that time again!  It’s easy to procrastinate.  Incoming mail shouts out “Important Tax Papers Enclosed.”  There’s no avoiding it, it’s time to get organized for your taxes.  It’s better in baby steps with these tax time tips.

Create a master file for all tax related papers
Even before your 1099 papers arrive, start a master file using an expanding accordion file (affiliate link) or file folders.  Label the files with the important tax categories –W-2 information, interest and dividend income, capital gains and losses, charitable donations, medical and dental expenses, deductible business expenses, and miscellaneous deductions (educational expenses, safe deposit boxes, financial planning). Even before your papers arrive, this file will be their “home” and papers will not get lost! And to prepare for the current year, begin a master file for incoming documents for the current year, so you will not have to search for them at this time next year.  Not sure what papers you will need? Turbo Tax has a list for you!

Set aside time on your calendar to collect tax related information
At the beginning of February, mark your calendar for a 2 hour tax session with yourself! Go through your checkbook, bank statement and files to find important items to copy for accounting purposes. Three weeks later, mark another 2 hour tax session to wrap up those loose ends and file your documents in your master file. If you use an accountant, you are ready to send in your papers.  If you file yourself, break your filing sessions into manageable chunks like 2 hour sessions too!  You can always break these sessions into one hour segments too.  Most importantly marking these on your calendar commits you to work.

Use technology as your assistant
So much has changed about paper and the IRS.   You can use scanned documents as records for your tax deductions. According to the IRS, “The electronic storage system must also index, store, preserve, retrieve, and reproduce the electronically stored books and records.”  You can scan any kind of paper and receipts as back up documentation. If you choose to scan, be sure you back up your documents and create an online file system that you can easily use and access.

There are lots of other ways technology can help.

  • Can’t find your most important tax papers? Look online for your property tax payments and mortgage interest expense.  It’s easy to locate these records on your mortgage or banking websites.
  • Medical expenses are easy to track online at your medical provider’s website.
  • Need values for your donations?  Click online at TurboTax Its deductible Online Charity Tracker.  It’s a free, easy to use online tracker for your donations throughout the year.
  • File electronically with the IRS is the way to go.  Upon receipt, you will receive confirmation. Keep the confirmation with your tax papers, just in case.

Tax time and tax preparation is much easier by being organized.   After you are done, treat yourself to a little reward!

Need help with your tax preparation?  Let me assist you.

Enjoy a little time away from your taxes.  Check out my pinterest pages Warm Winter Fun!

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5 Tips and Tricks for Time Management

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time management

 

Are you at a loss at the end of a busy day and feel like you have accomplished nothing? Feel distracted by interruptions including co-workers and email?   Whether you work at home or work outside the  home, it’s time to be proactive about your time.  It’s the distractions and interruptions that take away a lot of our time, as well as the last minute requirements from those around us.  Here are 5 tips and tricks for time management to get you started on difficult tasks and project.

 

Time assessment

It can be hard to know how long a project will take.  Mapping out a plan can help.   Write out each step and the amount of time it will take to complete.  Assign completion dates, including the final completion date.  Get started on your project by breaking this into manageable pieces on your calendar.  Start early to give yourself a buffer.

Time blocking

Setting a specific time can help you start or complete a project. Just like an appointment with a doctor,  setting an appointment with yourself helps you work on a specific task.  Block out the time and keep it sacred to use for a task that requires lots of brain power.  Start with the first time slot of the day so you can be sure nothing interrupts you too.

Day of the Week

Our jobs require so many different activities and focus.  Set a day of the week to do a certain task or project all day.  It might be Money Monday or Financial Friday.  By having a priority for the day, you can put aside other details and distractions.  Or leave Monday or Friday open just to close the loops and projects.

Timers

A time timer or kitchen timer can help you start or finish a task.  Set it for 15 minutes and just do it.  Set the timer three times like this and you have worked 45 minutes total.  If you need more time,  start this process again the next day.

Power periods

My favorite tip for starting and completing projects is a power period. It is a one hour slot of uninterrupted time to work on difficult and thoughtful projects. It works for me because in an hour I feel I have accomplished a great deal. Then I can give any project time to percolate and some back refreshed with a new perspective on the work.  I use as many power periods as I need to reach completion.  I start very early on projects so I have time to add at the end, just in case.

What tips and tricks do you use for  productivity and time management?

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