Thankfully I am only situationally disorganized… this is a short term state of disorganization due to a specific activity that is not deeply undermining my overall quality of life. I am coping fairly well let my friends tell it. I mainly owe my calmness to a couple of approaches:

1. Simpler systems and routines
2. Temporarily lower expectation of order

Cutting back on the number of items you use or the steps in getting things done will save you time and frustration. Think about how you would respond to losing an often used space in your home or if you went camping and didn’t have access to all the same accommodations.

I am using a single set of microwaveable dishes. This reduces the time spent looking for new clean dishes. Another alternative may be getting disposal dishes but they would have to be stored and create more trash… I have no cabinets and other cubbies are already otherwise occupied.

My meals include more items which do not require a lot of prep or cleanup. I have a standard set of groceries I am rotating every week or so. I also have menus saved for some good take- out options to add variety.

My house is usually in great shape. The common areas are free of clutter. Everyday items are close to their point of use. This is not currently the case. The way I am used to my home looking is my personally held standard that I established for myself therefore naturally I am the harshest critic. Once I reconciled the renovation goal with the fact that things would not be back to my normal for a while it greatly reduced my anxiety about the disorder. Sometimes you have to give yourself a break. If you catch the flu and are bedridden, no one else would expect you to do everything as if you were completely well. During times of illness in your space the same exclusions should temporarily apply.

Little by little thing are returning to normal. I am very much looking forward to my home returning to normal. Until then, I’ll be focusing on the bright spots that work well for me and maybe go get some extra Zs. At least the bed is still clear

1. Make a list of all your current projects. Which ones have been outstanding the longest? Are they still really essential? If the answer is, “Not really,” then take them off your list. For some of the remaining tasks, delegate to family, friends, or co-workers if possible.

2. If a project seems too big and overwhelming, start with something small. Clear out the old magazines from the rack. Tidy up the scraps of paper on the fridge or bulletin board. Clean out your purse or briefcase.

3. If you are simply overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, break it down into small steps. Assign each step to a different day on your calendar, and make yourself accountable. Even if you can grab ten minutes here and there, you’ll see progress toward completing a large project.

4. If there is a project that you absolutely must get done today, do whatever it takes to forge on. Spend a little money to hire a babysitter or order take-out if that will keep you working.

5. Work with your daily rhythms and habits. If you’re a morning person, take advantage of the early hours to tackle your most difficult jobs. Likewise, nightowls might accomplish more after the rest of the house is quiet and asleep.

6. If you can’t seem to motivate yourself, grab a partner. Sometimes just the camaraderie of a friend can push you through a tough job. If you need a really neutral, non-judgmental assistant to guide you through, consider contacting your professional organizer for project, paper, or time management help.

1. Is it beautiful? A stunning piece of artwork enriches your life because it brings joy each time you see it. A gorgeous vase full of fresh flowers reduces stress and energizes your spirit.

2. Is it useful? You use your 12-cup coffee maker every day. You couldn’t make it through the week without it. (Don’t confuse this question with, “Will it be useful someday?”)

3. Is it loved? The antique pocket watch from your grandfather is a precious reminder of him. Your favorite cashmere sweater makes you feel fabulous.

You’ll find that as you inventory your possessions, you may be able to answer “yes” to two or even three of the questions above. Those are the things that are most valuable to you. Remember, the goal of decluttering is not to get rid of everything. It’s simply to keep only things that you truly appreciate and use.

To stop clutter, prevent it from accumulating in the first place. Don’t give clutter a chance to form. As you’ve probably experienced, once clutter occupies a space, it has a way of multiplying. Always remember to place your emphasis on quality over quantity. In other words, it’s not important to have a lot of things, many of which you never use. It’s more beneficial to have fewer things, all of which you use and/or enjoy.

Think before you buy. Try to look beyond the initial “thrill of the purchase” and see what provides deeper moments of meaning. Before you buy, think about the time you’ll spend in cleaning, storing, and maintaining that item after you bring it home. If you must buy, establish a “new item in, old item out” system where some purging takes place before shopping.

Once you rid yourself of clutter and make space only for what’s special, you’ll find it’s easier to get — and stay — organized! You’ll soon reap the benefits of a clutter-free life: more energy, happier relationships, a well-organized home or office, new opportunities, and a better outlook on life.

tt

© 2011 Articles on Demand™

Credit Card Offers

If you decide that you don’t want to receive pre-screened offers of credit cards and insurance, you may opt out of receiving them permanently.

If you have access to the internet, go to www.optoutprescreen.com. You must, however complete your request by returning the signed Permanent Opt-Out Election Form, which will be provided after submitting your online request.  You will be asked to provide personal information such as, full name, telephone number, Social Security number and date of birth.  This information is kept confidential and will only be used to process you opt out request.

If you do not have access to the internet, or if you are not comfortable putting your personal information online, you can submit a written request to opt out to each of the four major consumer reporting companies listed below:

Experian                            TransUnion

Opt Out                               Name Removal Option

P.O. Box 919                      P.O. Box 505

Allen, TX  75013                Woodlyn, PA  19094

 Equifax, Inc.                      Innovis Consumer

Options                               Assistance

P.O. Box 740123                P.O. Box 495

Atlanta , GA  30374           Pittsburgh, PA  15230

Telemarketers

The National Do Not Call Registry is a free, easy way to reduce the telemarketing calls you get at home and on your cell phone.  To register your phone numbers visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register.  You will get fewer calls from telemarketers within 30 days of registering your numbers.

Additionally if you do receive calls, stay on the line and inform the person calling that you are on the register and to immediately remove you or they will be reported.

Snail Mail

The Direct Marketing Associations (DMA) mail preference Service (MPS) lets you opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from many national companies for five years.  When you register with this service your name will be put on a delete file and made available to direct marketers and organizations.  This will reduce  the majority of your unsolicited mail.  However this service only stops mailing from organizations that do not use the MPS.  To register go to www.dmachoice.org, or mail your request with a $1 processing fee to:

 DMA Choice

Direct Marketing Association

P.O. Box 643

Carmel, NY  10512

 Email

DMA also offers an email Preference Service (eMPS) to help you reduce unsolicited commercial emails.  To opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial email from DMA members, visit www.dmachoice.org.  Registration if free and good for six years.

Others that may share your information

DMV- The Drivers Privacy Protection Act gives law enforcement agencies permission to distribute personal information only to other law enforcement officials, courts, government agencies, private investigators, insurance underwriters and similar businesses.  They cannot provide your personal information to direct marketers

Current Credit Account Holders and Financial Institutions- Companies with which you already do business are permitted to share your personal information for the purposes of managing your account and collecting payment and surveying your satisfaction with your account services.  These companies routinely send out statements telling you what information they share and what sharing you may opt out of.  There should be direct contact information to the company via phone and internet for you to opt out.  If you do not receive paper statements go to the company  and search for privacy preferences.  The length of opting out varies with each company.

 Filing Complaints

The Federal Trade Commission works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them.  To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll free 1-877-382-4357.  All complaints are entered into the Consumer Sentinel Network , a secure online database  used by civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide to aid in investigations.

The tips and tools provided above will help to free up your time and space and allow you to make room for the information that is really important for managing your life.

tt

Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it

This phrase is so appropriate right now because  January is Get Organized (GO) Month.  Along with so many others you may dream of having a home or office space that appears orderly, functions properly and helps you be productive.  New Year’s is the perfect time to work towards making your dream a reality.  Here are a 5 steps to get you there.

Define Your Goal

A discrete project that can be completed in a short amount of time will give you practice and build confidence.   Your target space may be the office desk or the linen closet… there is no right or wrong.  Defining what you want the space to be gives you an endpoint to work towards.

Write It Down

Write your goal down then make a plan for what should happen in each step of the organizing process (sort, purge, assign, containerize, equalize).  Placing the plan in a prominent place will keep the project in the front of your mind. 

Schedule time to do the work and protect that time.  If you don’t other tasks will creep in and keep you from progressing your plan.

Share Your Goal

Tell family and friends your goal and target date to complete it.  This helps you to set up a support system for encouragement.  It also builds a few different points of accountability.  These folks will ask you how it’s going and challenge you when they see you straying.

Do The Work

If you make a plan, set aside time, get asked about it by your friends and do not do the work you will not reach your goal.  John Kennedy said “There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”  Push aside any fears of failure and take action.

Measure your Progress

You achieve the goals you measure.  Tracking progress against your plan clearly shows you how much you have achieved, how far you have to go and if any adjustments are needed. 

Resolve to get organized and succeed with a plan of action.

Happy New Year and Happy GO Month!

tt

Four things “to-don’t” that can simplify your life

1. Don’t add to your list of activities = Decommit

Let go of one commitment. Pick the one that doesn’t add much value or the one that you really don’t want to do. Call the appropriate person and tell them that you will no longer be working on this item. It will help you get rid of any negative feelings associated with this task and free up time for what you really want to do.

2. Don’t try to do everything = Do Less

Shorten your to-do list to just 10 items then choose 2 that can be delegated, automated, outsourced or ignored. Ensure that tasks on your list align to your priorities, interests and skills to increase the likelihood of them getting done.

3. Don’t try to finish things faster = Move Slower

Life is so fast paced these days you may fee l if you go to slow then life may pass you by. You can choose to opt out of that mentality and still have a full life in which you achieve those things which are most important to you. Practice eating slower, driving slower, talking slower, working slower. By being more thoughtful and deliberate in your actions you can be safer, improve your interactions with others and increase the quality of your outputs.

4. Don’t juggle multiple activities, thoughts, tasks at once = Single Task

Instead of trying to do many things all at the same time, focus on one thing. Clear a space on your desk or in your mind, remove any outside distractions and stick to that one task until it is complete.

If you are not ready to apply these concepts, don’t worry. Saying no is often hard; changing habits is very hard. To-don’t is a different way of thinking and acting that can lead to a simpler way of living. Just think how much better this holiday season could be if you change one thing that reduced stress or gave you more quality time with family.
Take one small step towards making room for the life you want to live by adding to-don’t to your list today.

tt

Adapted from www.zenhabits.net “Ten things to do to simplify your life”

CLUTTER!

Girls, you have the right to life, liberty and a purse you can find your keys in.

Guys, let your clothes assume their equal stations not on the floor but in drawers and on hangers.

 Make a resolution and take that first step towards making your place everything you want it to be.  Clutter does not just take up space at times it can seem to take over your life.  If you are ready to be free from the stress of all that stuff try these decluttering tips.

 Stop clutter at the door

• Keep a recycle box to dispose of junk mail instead of piling it with important mail
• Install an entryway organizer to hold the family’s bags and outerwear
• Decline give-a-ways of stuff you do not need, will not use or do not love
• Set a rule of flow:  before 1 new thing comes in 2 old things have to go out.

 Work one project at a time

Working through everything at once can be overwhelming.  Start with one space then move on to the next:  computer desk this week and file cabinet next week.  Breaking the room down into smaller areas allows you to see progress in a shorter span of time.  Whatever is causing you the most stress or irritation would be a great place to start.

 Make the time to stay organized

Staying organizing does not have to be a huge drawn-out ordeal. Once a room is in order, 15 minutes is enough time to pick up and keep a room neat.  Make it a habit to purge as you see an item is damaged or unwanted.  Clean up right after you use project supplies.  If you change bags, dispose of trash and put aside items you won’t need that week.  Give the kids a weekend morning challenge:  Whoever can get their room the neatest in 5 minutes wins.  Be creative and be consistent.  

You deserve to enjoy all of the spaces you worked so hard to have.  Your things should not add stress to your life they should make it better.  If you put in the effort now to get that space organized you will soon be celebrating you own independence day!

 tt

Quickly my mind goes to all that there is to do work, family, etc. and how little time there seems to be… Everyone in fact has the same amount of time in each day, in each week. The difference in those who do more is how the time is viewed, prioritized and spent. The next time you feel that you are not making good use of your time ask yourself these questions:

How do you view your time?
Do you know where the time is being spent? Do you believe that you can get more done? Are you in control of what to do with your time?

What are the priorities for your time?
What things do you say are most important to you and do those priorities drive how you spend your time. Do others know your priorities and respect them? Do you have a list of dreams or a bucket list that you want to work on?

How do you spend the time available to you?
Do your priorities show up in how you spend your time? Do you spend any time evaluating tasks and deciding when you are not the best person to complete certain tasks? Are you actively improving your skills and work processes to be more efficient?

A quote that always makes me smile is “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away”.  For all the waking hours of each day you can have something planned but think about the questions above and try to decide if that something is the best thing to fill your time. Busy is great if you are busy making time for the life you really want to live.

tt

11 STEPS TO ORGANIZE FOR EMERGENCIES

1. Know what types of emergencies can occur in your area
2. Record and access the sources of information on emergency alerts
3. Prepare your home for the impacts of emergencies
4. Assemble and record your vital documents and contacts
5. List your supplies and begin stocking them
6. Plan for shelter-in-place, evacuation and separation
7. Share plans with family members and neighbors
8. Hold a talk/walk-through drill of the plan
9. Respond per your plan if an emergency occurs
10. Maintain records of communications and actions during your recovery
11. Refresh your information and plan as needed!

Hopefully you will not have to deal with any devastating emergency situation. By making efforts now to prepare for emergencies you will have the confidence and resources to respond later if needed.

Be Safe
Be Prepared
tt

This Valentine’s Day give yourself a gift.  Organizing is a gift that keeps on giving.  It can help you achieve lasting balance!  When you know who you have to call or when you have to be somewhere it reduces anxiety and frees up time to complete tasks rather than just thinking about them over and over.  Having a clear floor and orderly desk is like having a clear open mind.  You are less stressed, can quickly find what you need and get to enjoy the things you have in your space. 

Organizing helps you gain control over your time and things so you can live a more peaceful, balanced and fulfilling life.  It’s like having Valentine’s Day every day. 

tt