Weekly Tip – Page 5

New Year? Resolutions? Fresh Start? A great time to get organized. Office supplies and filing supplies are on sale everywhere! Get started! In today’s cyber and digital world, we truly don’t need to keep paper like we used to. I had a client who insisted on keeping paper documents and tax returns that dated back to 1973. I couldn’t talk him out of it as he was afraid of the big bad auditor! So, with respect I organized all his boxes and files into bins safely in his garage.

The important part was moving forward. I organized all his receipts and supporting documents all year through so when it was time to file, it was easy and quick to package it up for his accountant. The accountant? Loved me. My client? Sadly, passed away this year. The bins in his garage entered the teeth of a shredder. The moral of this story? We don’t need to keep old paper documents forever. Don’t leave these for your children to sort through. Seek the advice of your accountant as to what to keep and what not to keep and how long. I promise you don’t need to keep the 1973 documents.

So, start fresh… clean out… the worn-out manila file folders can be replaced with colorful ones that will make you happy when opening that drawer… use a label maker to label the folders so they are consistent and readable… get some new pens and pencils… perhaps fun colorful desk accessories… most important… file the piles and keep up with it all year long! That is a worthy resolution!

This year while packing up Christmas, I decided to seriously sort and organize our decorations. We enjoy a collection of beautiful glass blown ornaments, some which have sentimental value and others that are simply pretty on the tree. As I carefully packed them away, I labeled the most precious boxes in which they sleep all year with the following:

~ Where or when we found the treasure

~ Which child gets this (you know, when they are cleaning out their parent’s belongings…)

Morbid thought? No! Organized preparation! Our daughter loves to cook, and we have several foodie ornaments. Our son loves color and unique art and he gets the ornaments that fit his personality.

Through the years, we will continue to adorn our tree with these baubles, but they are organized, labeled, and when the day comes, our kids will appreciate and continue to enjoy the same joy every Christmas.

Those extra pounds creep up, especially around the holidays. I’m not talking body fat. I’m talking clutter. Find those items you have stashed to “re-gift” and get them ready to wrap. While you are wrapping, sort through your leftovers… no, not the food, the old, recycled gift wrap, and bows. Are they crinkled and smooshed? Look like recycled? Then recycle them in that big bucket on the side of the house and start fresh. No one wants a gift in an extra loved gift bag. Sort through and organize ribbons, seriously? A 5” ribbon is going to help you?

This year while opening gifts, have a bag ready for the wrapping and if Aunt Betty wants to flatten, straighten, and save every piece of tissue, wrap and ribbon, let her. Then send it all home with her.

Ahhh… now that’s better. You’ve lost the weight!

Is your electronic device your ball & chain? Could be a compulsive behavior says Christine Carter, a sociologist. Schedule a small block of time several times a day to check, respond to and properly file those emails. Always check before heading into a big task or work project so you don’t break focus. Keep dinner and date night separate from emails and social media. Gaze into the eyes and listen intently to the words of the one you love.

Each time we go from one thing to the next, our brain has to go back three or four steps to reorganize before it can move forward. This is inefficient and stressful. We are much more effective when we focus on one thing at a time.

The act of writing a “to-do” list doesn’t really allow you to let it go. Your unconscious mind worries about unfinished tasks. Don’t spend valuable time writing a long list. Telling your brain when you are going to do something creates a sense of calm. Use a calendar for scheduling specific work tasks, personal time or meal planning.

A random square of extra space full of clutter and piles? With a nice bookshelf and some decor baskets or bins, a redo turns it into a cool, comfortable enclave for reading before bed. This goes for a child’s room as well… why clutter it with a pile of toys? Organize those wonderful classic and colorful stories into an inviting cozy corner.

Tip of the week… Time is precious! Especially in today’s world, so why allow a Time Robber into your life?

This desktop is a prime example of a Time Robber. Each time you need a phone number, business card or that little note on which you jotted something important? It’s here somewhere! How long does it take to sort through the mess to find it? Don’t let this burglar into your life, OrganiZare can help you get your Time back.

Want to tackle the clutter project but scratching your head? Where do you begin? How long will project take? Ugggh! Find a room in the house for your ground zero…a room or space that won’t matter if it’s messy for a short time. Empty out the space to be organized…clean it….and as you put it back together PURGE. Sort carefully as you go. Have you used item in last year? Will you use it? Time to put guilt aside…. this is where a professional organizer can help…no emotional ties, practical solutions and before you know it voila’! project done and you will feel so much better!