Twelve Organizing Tips, Tricks and Tools

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I am often asked for “my” organizing ideas, including tips, tricks and tools.  Here are the top 12 for me! 

1.  Always shop with a list.

2. Know where an item will be located in your home, before you purchase it.

3.  Set up specific spots for specific items, such as only clothes in your master closet or only paper in your office.

4. Commit to tasks and responsibilities only after checking your calendar.

5. Anything that is really going to happen, has to be listed on a date on your calendar.

6. Go through your paper for 5 minutes every day. Spend one hour once a week paying bills and working on admin tasks.

7. Know what papers to keep, and how long to keep them. Ask your accountant or lawyer for your personal dates and details.

8.  Always keep a list of tasks, not matter how small the task or how short the list. 

9. Use versatile organizing products in many different places, such as the back of the door shoe holder used in the craft room for crafts, toy room for matchbox cars, or back door for bug spray.

10.  Find organizing products that you love, that match the decor of the space they will be used, and that have ways to separate and categorize your items. 

11.  Any big project is best done in baby steps, one hour at a time. 

12.  Keep it simple sweetie! The simpler, the better!

How to Un-do the Over-done

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There are many ways we go over the top!  It may be over purchasing, over eating or over committing.  But there are a few small ways we can un-do the over the top.

1.  Start with an awareness of where we go over the top.  It is when we are sad, mad or lonely. It is when we are bored or just need something new.  With this awareness comes the power to change. It is when we next feel that emotion that we can stop going over board.

2.  Un-doing something needs to start with a baby step.  It can be just knowing that we can have a slice of pie, but not the whole pie. We can order one new blouse online, but not every color.  We don’t have to be on every committee on the PTA, just one what we are really strong.  Paring down and establishing a minimum are ways to move away from over the top.

3.  Creating loving accountability can help us reign in our over the moon behaviours.   Loving accountability is trusting someone to help you stay on track.  It is sharing what your goal is, then having that trusted someone be there for you.

4.  Know what is enough by setting good limits and boundaries for yourself.   Is enough a number? Like a budget? Is it a feeling? Like being full after dinner? Is it an emotion? Like satisfaction?  Start learning what your “enough” is so that you can put it into practice.

Do you know what “enough” is for you? Share your way of knowing!

Fido and Fifi need organizing

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Fido your pooch and Fifi your cat need your help! They are happy in your home, but they need a little TLC with regard to organizing.

  • Healthy pets need routine care.  Keep your pet medicines in the kitchen in easy to access spot. Mark your calendar for monthly medicines and annual shots that keep your pets in great health.  Use your recurring events feature on your phone or your paper planner to mark in these important dates.  
  • Daily walks with your pet enhance your and their lives.  Make it easy with a pretty hook for the leashes by the door.  Assign a time, once a day, that you get out and enjoy the fresh air with them.   
  • Share the responsibilities of pet care with your family members.  Post a community chart with your kids’ assignments for feeding, walking, and bathing your pets. 
  • Keep your pet foods in air tight containers on the floor of  your pantry.  Having a measuring cup in the container dedicated to feeding makes it easier too!  

Our pets are our family! What do you do to remain organized with your furry family members?

Collaboration

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I love my new shiny status as Superstar!  It is a collaboration I participate in just about every month, with other organizers throughout the country. But to me it is really a shining star about collaboration in general. I love to find partners that are a great fit for what I don’t do well.  As a member of this collaboration, I am prompted monthly to submit.  The topic is already chosen, so in many ways it is just following up on a great idea. 

How do I use this collaboration process throughout my work and life?  I find having partners who give you enough information to get started on whatever the task, either with a template or not, and then move forward.  It can be when I want to give a speech, add a new aspect to my business, or even make dinner for our family.  It is always more fun when you work together!

How can collaboration help you get started, get finished or get moving on a goal?

Decluttering and Your Passions

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Donating and decluttering requre *LOVE*!  It is your passion that fuels sharing your stuff and more.

 

There is an endless list of philanthropies in our area.  Here are just a few.

  • Dress for Success. Share your work attire with those re-entering the work place.
  • FamilyTime Humble Thrift Shop
  • Humble Area Assitance Ministries Thrift Shop (2 locations)
  • Cellphones for Soldiers
  • Goodwill. Its where people get jobs!
  • Volunteers for Animal Protection Thrift Shop

What are you passionate about? Add to the list!

How To Get Rid of Practically Anything!

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Not sure where to turn to eliminate stuff at your home or office?  Use this list to get your stuff moving!

  • šElectronics: Best Buy.com, earth911.com
  • šCDs: Swap.com
  • šJunk mail: www.catalogchoice.org
  • šBooks: cash4books.net, BookScouter.com
  • šBeanies: beaniesforbagdad.com, fire station
  • šAppliances: GotJunk
  • šShredding:theshredguy.net

Conquering a To Do List by the Wall Street Journal

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Is it really this simple?  Thanks to the Wall Street Journal!

More from this article! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204296804577124742529431640.html

Dress for Success Send One Suit Drive

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It’s that time again!

Kingwood professional organizer Ellen Delap and her company Professional – Organizer.com will be participating in this year’s Dress For Success Houston’s S.O.S. (Send One Suit) Drive.  The effort provides interview suits, confidence boosts and career development to more than 45,000 women in over 75 cities each year.  Dress for Success is a not-for-profit organization that helps low-income women make tailored transitions into the workforce. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and a second suit when she gets the job.

 If you would like to contribute, please bring your interview appropriate suit in excellent condition, cleaned, pressed and on a hanger to Kingwood Country Club on March 6, 2012 from 5:00  – 6:30 p.m.  Don’t have suit to donate?  Dress For Success Houston suggests donating $75 toward the cost of a suit for clients over size 14. Receipts for donations will be sent directly by Dress For Success Houston.  For more information call 281-360-3928 or email edelap@professional-organizer.com.

Fire Up Your Biz – Enrich Your Life

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I am honored to be a part of an amazing group of presenters, sharing information and more.  Get ready to stop constantly riding the brake on your business and shift into OVERDRIVE!  Listen in for free from your computer, phone or skype!

  • Fire up your personal performance.
  • Unleash your profit potential™.
  • Discover new strategies to manage the demands of running your own business.
  • Get a handle on the minutia and details that prevent you from doing the ‘heavy lifting’ to move your business to the next level.
  • Quiet the ‘fear voices’ and manifest a larger vision for your company.
  • Have a profitable business and time for what’s important to you!
  • Live a richer, more fulfilling life
  • Have powerful support systems that allow you to free up time and grow your business at the same time.
  • And lots more!!  Check out the session descriptions below.

Fire Up Your Biz – Enrich Your Life was born from the 1000s of conversations that we have had with business owners just like you about what holds them back from really going where they want to go with their business.

Join us for the fun and learning!  https://war91778.infusionsoft.com/go/FireUp/EDelap

Important Documents

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important papers and vital documents

 

Not long ago, life proceeded smoothly on a regular basis. In the past few years, that’s not the case. Emergencies seem to occur “regularly.”
Life’s emergencies require organization. Whether it’s a natural disaster, the death of a loved one, or evacuation from your home, it’s important to be prepared with your important documents. Gathering these together before an emergency gives you peace of mind.

 

Use this list for a reference to get your important papers in order. Remember, every family and every situation is different. Check with your lawyer and accountant to be sure you include all pertinent papers.

 

There are several ways to keep up with these papers.

  • Keep these papers in a notebook with tabbed slash pockets. No need to punch holes. Label the tabs with the name of the document. There are notebook systems like Life.doc to set up your system.
  • Keep these papers in a fireproof home safe in labeled folders. Your safe is portable, so it can be taken along with you.
  • Scan these papers. You can scan in your papers and keep them safe regardless of your location. Then the information is kept in the cloud. There are no worries about having all the papers with you all the time this way as you can access them wherever and whenever. By scanning, you can digitally share with family, friends and others.

 

 

 Legal

Will, Durable Power of Attorney

Medical Power of Attorney, Living Will/Directive to Physicians/HIPPA release form

Declaration of Guardian and Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains

Revocable Living Trust

Driver’s license

Safe Deposit Keys and Bank address

Social Security Cards

Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificate, Adoption papers, Divorce papers, Military discharge

Passports

Home

Copies of home and auto insurance, with Insurance Agent name and phone number

Home closing documents

Home Title, Car titles and other Vehicle Titles

Utilities phone numbers and account numbers

Medical

Medical and prescription insurance cards

Allergies

Prescription names and amounts

Doctors names and phone numbers

Financial

Bank names and account numbers

Name of financial adviser and phone number

Investment account numbers

Copy of taxes

Original life insurance policies

Loans and outstanding debts

Credit card copies

Credit reports

Royalties, Certificates of Deposit, Stock Certificates, and other investments

Emergency Contacts

Family and Friends

Home helpers and neighbors that have access to your home

“To be contacted” in case of death or illness

 Miscellaneous

Passwords to all online accounts, as well as answers to security questions

Burial policies, Pre-paid funeral arrangements

 

 

Get started today on gathering your important documents.  You will be so glad you did!