Filed under: Time Management
Clutter Rescue Course
One of Organized A to Z’s newest products is professional oganizer Diane Hatcher’s organizing tool, the Clutter Rescue Course. If you have clutter, you owe it to yourself to take this course!
This course offers a comprehensive approach to taking back control of your home and your life. You’ll develop a state of mind that produces results, not upset. Peace, not craziness. And power, not powerlessness. Pretty soon, you’ll find that the clutter will actually begin to take care of itself.
The Clutter Rescue Course™ is made up of two 10-week segments (and a 5-week bonus course) that cover personal and work clutter, organization and time management issues. Here’s how it works:
- Lessons are delivered by e-mail weekly beginning immediately after you register.
- Inside each email, there’ll be a link to a short video that I created to introduce you to the week’s topic and activities.
- Each lesson has an exercise that should take no more than a half-hour a week.
The 148-page companion workbook provides you with tons of more instruction and information! If you have Internet access, an e-mail account and a half hour each week, then you have the right stuff to be organized and simplify your life!
The Clutter Rescue Course is perfect for you if:
- you want the best, time-tested information that will have you be organized once and for all
- you want to know what clutter really is, because it’s not the sign of a cluttered, disorganized or creative mind!
- you like to learn things a little at a time, because you’ll have an easier time implementing the material
- you like a support system, because you want to stay on track
- you have problems focusing on things for too long, because your lessons will be short and to the point
- you want a simpler, much more enjoyable life, because you and the people around you deserve it!
Clutter Rescue Course creator Patty Kreamer is a Certified Professional Organizer and author of “…But I Might Need It Someday” and The Power of Simplicity. Since 1999, she has been involved in hands-on organizing every day to help her clients live an organized, clutter-free life. She’s also worked with corporate clients all across North America to help them become more productive and perform at an optimum level. Patty is also a consultant, coach, professional speaker, and media subject matter expert, and has served as President of the National Association of Professional Organizers – Pittsburgh chapter and of the National Speakers Association – Pittsburgh chapter.
April 27, 2009
Today, Organized A to Z partner Sherry Lee Denton of The Orderly Touch, Inc offers these tips for decluttering your life and regaining control of stuff, time, and life.
Remember that old TV commercial advertising a while fizzy tablet that when taken would take away heartburn and bloating from overeating or eating the wrong foods? A professional organizer can provide that same effervescent feeling by guiding and consulting you to a calmer more orderly environment.
Whether it is your office, home, or home office, clearing the environment of visual clutter, excess accumulation of needed items, and things that take our focus away from the task will help you function much better and with more grace and peace.
Depending on the level of crisis, you can start small with just a desktop or tackle the monster filing system with these three simple steps and asking some questions:
1. Prepare: Set aside some time. This can be a small amount each day if you are nibbling at the organizing project or can be a large span of time if determined to complete the task all at once. Get equipment. Be certain to have a shredder on hand (if that is appropriate for the task), recycle containers, trash containers, and a “keep” box. Deter detractors. Try to get a babysitter, turn off the phone, put away the pets so that interruptions are kept at a minimum and your productivity can be at a high level.
2. Perform: Sort it all out. Put the disposables into the correct containers (recycle, trash, shredder). Fill the “keep” containers putting items to be repaired in the next two weeks aside. Asking yourself these questions along the way will make this part of the task easier: a) Have I used this in the last 3 months? b) Is this item critical to my/others daily functioning? c) What’s the worst thing that could happen if this were no longer in my life? d) Is this something I love, cherish, treasure to the point it adds beauty and meaning to my existence? Remove the trash/recyclables at the end of the work session. Shred documents in one sitting later or take to a document handling company for shredding. Contain the “Keepers” appropriate to the location of storage, frequency of use, and need for protection.
3. Place: Take all the contained “Keepers” and place them within the zone where they are to be used. Again, a professional organizer can help set up the systems needed to assist you in maintaining the order you so desire in your space.
With everything restored, you too will effervesce with enthusiasm about your space. Work will be easier and more enjoyable knowing 1. YOU DID IT!!, 2. Finding things is easier, 3. Your environment is more peaceful and calm because you have the knowledge that a system is in place for maintaining and using your environment efficiently.
Organizers can be found at www.napo.net (and http://www.organizedatoz.com/Partner-Links-s/34.htm). Each may take a different approach than the one listed above but each will have your best interest at heart and have a desire to make your life more peaceful and calm.
April 17, 2009
Get Organized, Get Revitalized
Organized A to Z is happy to announce one of our newest products is the book, “Get Organized, Get Revitalized,” by professional organizer Stacey Anderson of Organized Innovations. In this book, Stacey offers simple, easy to follow tips that don’t add guilt to your current clutter situation. She is committed to helping you put solutions in place to help you reach your goals.
Organized A to Z knows it’s hard to know where to start when it comes to organizing and decluttering, but we also know how rewarding and satisfying it can be to accomplish your organizing goals. This 88 page book is a full of great tips to help you jump start your organizing process. It is fun and easy to read and full of helpful pictures. This will continue to be a book that you enjoy while using it as a quick and easy reference guide.
Use this book to help you declutter your life and find the peace and comfort in your home that you deserve.
April 15, 2009
How are your organizing efforts going? Hopefully you are making some progress, no matter how small it may be. If not, feel free to send me an e-mail or give me a call. We can talk about some ideas that might help you organize a space more quickly and efficiently.
I want to encourage you along in your efforts. By now, it’s easy to get frustrated and wonder why you’re working so hard. Your efforts will be rewarded – keep that in mind. You are working towards an overall goal of simplifying your space, your time, and your life, and you will find much more enjoyment once you have an organizing system in place.
Remember the three D’s: delegate, don’t get discouraged and don’t forget to celebrate. Delegate those tasks that are so unpleasant you just know you will never do them or those that will keep you from reaching your goals. Don’t get discouraged when you look around after an organizing session and it doesn’t look like much has been done. The bottom line is that you are doing something and in time all of your hard work will shine through. Most importantly, don’t forget to celebrate. Organizing is hard work and you deserve to reward yourself for a job well done.
I have a couple of organizing products that might help you delegate tasks to others. Check them out!
Family Life Organizer & Planner 2009
This handy organizer includes tear-out lists that you can give to someone else. Send your husband to the grocery store or leave a list of cleaning chores for your kids!
BusyBodyBook Weekly Fridge Grid Pad
This handy calendar helps you write down not only everyone’s schedule, but everyone’s household responsibilities as well.
January 23, 2009
If time and paper are your organizational challenges, start with goals, a calendar, and a tickler and filing system. As you set your goals, make sure they take priority when scheduling activities on your calendar. The calendar will keep you on track with your commitments, birthdays, events, etc. Make sure you keep it in a place that is accessible by the whole family. You want to get everyone in the habit of using it. The tickler and filing systems are to help you regain and maintain control of all the paper in your life.
Sometimes it helps to use products made just for this purpose. Organized A to Z has many that can help. Consider how these products can help you reach your time management and paper organizing goals:
2009 Family Facts Family Activities Calendar
My VitalFiles
WoodWorx Reference Organizer Starter Combination V
Mesh Post Master Express
Family Life Organizer & Planner 2009
Family Life Organizer & Planner 2009
There are lots more! Go to www.organizedatoz.com to check out all of our paper and time management products.
January 19, 2009
Should old acquaintance be forgot… no – and neither should your New Year’s resolution to get organized. Resolutions are so easy to make as you sip champagne and kiss your loved one, but then the harsh reality of a fast-paced life hits you. But don’t give up on those resolutions so fast. Try to remember the reason for making it in the first place. And start by enlisting help from the people who share your space.
First and foremost, let your spouse, significant other, family or roommate know that you are going to begin to take the necessary steps to getting and staying organized. Ask for their support and cooperation as you point out the many benefits to being organized (saving money, saving time and less stress). But remember even if you don’t get their buy-in immediately you should press forward and lead by example.
It may not be easy at first, working around the other people in your life. You’ll probably feel like you’re always picking up after them and spending more time organizing their stuff when you’d rather be doing something else. But helping them get on track and giving them an “organized” place to start will ultimately make it easier for them to participate and help you out.
It will take some time, but by incorporating some simply systems and procedures, you’ll soon reap the benefits. If you keep up the good work, you family or roommate will soon recognize and respect your efforts and perhaps even find the inspiration to take some of the organizing responsibility upon themselves.
Of course, there’s always the option of working with a professional organizer! If you are in the Richmond, Virginia, area, I’d love to work with you to implement some great organizing systems into your life. If your not in my area, check out the Organized A to Z Partners. You’re sure to find one that will support you in your organizing efforts.
Good luck!
January 10, 2009
It’s hard to believe it’s November already, and Thanksgiving is just 3 weeks away! It’s definitely time to start organizing for the holidays. If you are hosting the Thanksgiving feast this year, it’s time to make a plan and start putting it in motion.
Start by designating a specific notebook for all of your notes, or find a party planner to help guide you. (Try our Recipe Organizer and Party Planner!) Create a plan for every aspect of the day, if possible, such as Invites/RVPS, Menu, Shopping, Seating, Timetable, Decorations, and House Cleaning.
Once you have everything down on paper, you’ll have a better idea of how much time it will take you to complete all of these tasks. Here are a few tips to help you save time:
- Prioritize your cleaning. If you’re kids rooms don’t get dusted and vacuumed before the big day, it won’t matter all that much, since there likely to get a little messy again anyway. But if you’re worried about mopping your kitchen floors or dusting your china hutch, start working on those projects. If you do a deeper cleaning early, you can just touch up areas of your house a day or two before company arrives.
- Keep decorations simple. Your family and friends are coming for the food and fellowship, and your table will probably be too full of food to accommodate a huge centerpiece. Fall accents around your home will make a nice touch, but too many decorations will look cluttered and get in the way.
- Prepare food ahead of time. You may not be able to cook the turkey until your party, but you can certainly make some of your side dishes and desserts ahead of time. You’ll probably need to rotate through pots, pans, bowls, and casserole dishes anyway, so by preparing in advance, you’ll free up those kitchen tools.
- On the other hand, you can let your guests share the cooking and baking duties and ask them to bring their favorite Thanksgiving dishes. This can eliminate some of the chaos in your kitchen and maybe even give your meal more variety.
- Set your table the day before. This way, you can ensure you have enough dishes, silverware, glasses, and napkins for each guest. This is a great job for the kids, so make sure to involve them in the planning and cleaning!
If you’d like a day-by-day planning guide to help you prepare, check out this one at http://entertaining.about.com/cs/thanksgiving/a/thanksgivcount.htm.
November 5, 2008
Getting the kids back in school will probably require more structure in your busy schedules compared to your summer routine. Ease the transition by planning meals ahead of time. This will help you save time in the kitchen, save money at the grocery store, and keep help you prepare more nutritious meals.
Try planning just one week at a time to get you started. Look at your weekly schedule. Which evenings will you be rushed by activities or meetings? Plan meals that require little prep time for those nights. Which evenings are a little calmer, allowing you a little more time in the kitchen? These nights are good for meals that might be a family favorite, but require a little more time to make.
Once you have your menu set, you are ready to go grocery shopping. First check for ingredients that you have on hand, and then list the items you will need to purchase, along with any staples that are running low (milk, eggs, bread, etc.).
While meal planning is intended to help you shop efficiently, don’t bypass a good sale if it’s something that you frequently purchase. You can always freeze the food you won’t use right away.
Keep your menu handy so the rest our your household knows the plan. This makes it easier for them to help prepare the kitchen or organize ingredients for you.
Need a little guidance? Organized A to Z has some great, pre-printed lists that will help you organize your menu and shopping trips. Here are a few to try:
Menu & Shopping Pad Planner
Shopping.pad
Recipe Organizer & Party Planner
August 22, 2008
Going back to school doesn’t just affect your kids – it will change the daily schedule for everyone in the house! Work together as a family. Create and discuss new rules and schedules together. and make sure you listen to and consider feedback from other family members. They might just have something to contribute that you hadn’t thought of.
Now is the time to start establishing good habits that will help your mornings and evenings go smoother. In addition to those listed in an earlier post this week, here are a few more:
Clothing. Before going school shopping with your children discuss what types of clothing will and will not be allowed. Try getting into the habit of having outfits prepared the night before to eliminate some of the last minute, frantic rushing around. Have older kids take responsibility for laundering, ironing and caring for their clothing. If you have younger kids, keep in mind that they will be wearing these clothes all day. Going to the bathroom may be a problem for very young kids if they are forced to contend with zippers and difficult buttons and snaps.
Lunches. If your children bring their lunches, spend some time planning meals that are healthy and easy to pack. Let your kids help you shop for groceries and repsect their likes and dislikes. Remember that you will want to prepare meals the night before so you’re not rushing around packing lunches while trying to make breakfast.
Storage. Where will coats, shoes, and backpacks go when your kids get home from school? Designate a place for each child and get in the habit of using that area now. This will help them keep track of their things and make it easier to get them out the door every morning.
Remember; once a rule or schedule is accepted and decided upon enforce it. Discuss the consequences for not following the rules so your kids know what’s expected of them every day, and what will happen when they get off track. By setting these guidelines ahead of time, you’ll be well on your way to a successful and happy school year!
August 7, 2008
It seems that summertime gets shorter and shorter every year – especially if you’re a kid – or the parent of a kid. The transition into a new school year is annually greeted with mixed feelings of anticipation, excitement, fear and regret. Summer is over and it’s time to go back to the grind.
The whole ritual does not only affect the children, but the entire family as a whole. Sleep schedules have to be put into place and strictly adhered to, eating schedules redefined, homework and curfew rules, television, clothing…the list seems endless. As a parent myself I must admit that in my family summer is a time to be lazy – literally bringing meaning to the phrase, “enjoy the lazy days of summer.” But, when school time comes around, we all have to work as a family unit to make the transition smooth and as pleasant as possible. Here are a few suggestions to get your schedules in order and on track for school:
1. Bedtimes. Establish a “school bedtime routine” two to three weeks prior to the beginning of a new school year.
2. Eating schedules. With the hectic schedules we sometimes have, a family style meal is a wonderful way to find out what is going on with the kids – to give praise for the great things that happened that day and find out where they may need some help.
3. Homework and curfew rules. Before school starts plan a homework and curfew schedule. Sit down and discuss the rules with your children. Be sure that they know these rules are not to be broken. Is the television allowed on? When is homework to be done? How late is the telephone allowed? What is the school night curfew?
August 3, 2008
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