This Weeks 4 Day Challenge!

I am looking at my "viewed" stats for this week and a LOTT of you read my challenges this week! YAY!! I hope some of you took on the daily challenges and found them useful. Maybe you even see a change. 

Just to recap:

Pick Up ONE Thing Today!!

Do This ONE Thing Today!

Give Away This ONE Thing Today!

Two Things To Do Today

We were starting small this week. I challenge you to continue these four things. Also invite anyone else in your life to give these a try. Hopefully good habits will form and change will begin to happen.

Thank you for reading this week. More weekly challenges to come!!

Two Things To Do Today

In another post I asked you to pick up ONE thing that is not in its right place and put it IN its right place! That is to show that you can start small in your quest to get organized. YOU can get organized. Sometimes it is necessary to start small.

TODAY, I am asking you to pick up TWO things today!

The goal is to pick up two things and put them away. Then gradually pick up three things , then four, until you can start seeing change. Your space will get clean and organized.

Give Away This ONE Thing Today!

Go In Your closet today and pick out ONE article of clothing that is either:

• majorly torn
• discolored/stained
• stretched out
• too big
• too small
• outdated

If its torn or stained, you can possibly still use it as a rag.

If its too big or small, donate or give it away to someone who could wear it.

If its outdated, give it to a costume shop. HAHA!

Do This ONE Thing Today!

I have a suggestion for today and it involves doing ONE thing. Yes, just ONE thing!  Throw away ONE thing that is broken, torn, discolored, missing pieces, etc. It could be clothes or an object.

 Throw it out!!!

Pick Up ONE Thing Today!!

I invite every person who reads this to pick up ONE thing in your house, or office, or garage or car. It has to be one thing that is not in it's correct place.  Take that one thing and put it in its right place! That's all........for today.

Have Fun While Being Motivated

My free time is precious. I don't have lots of it! SO whatever I do during that time needs to be something enjoyable. Whether its organizing your house, taking yoga classes, or hanging with friends, you should have fun while doing it! You can take and apply it to a goal or task, any lifestyle change! Motivation is KEY in actually DOING but you should find FUN while DOING it!! 

For me, if I don't really like what I'm doing, then I lose the motivation to continue. That is with the knowledge that what I am doing is good for me! I want to lose weight, so i find ways to lose that weight that I will enjoy. I am not interested in lifting weights or joining Cross fit. I joined Planet Fitness and I like the low key nature there. I love doing the treadmill because I love to walk! I got my headphones on filled with my favorite music too. It has become a fun activity AND I am motivated to keep going. AND I am losing weight. My free time doesn't seem wasted. I don't dread doing it.

Clothes for Everyday Of the Week!

I tried this and I invite you to try this!!! I was having a particularly busy week coming up! it was mixture of work days and event days. It required a varied wardrobe and the hours were going to be long. SO this is what I did:

I used my bed as a large "table" and I put together 5 outfits, one for each day, then I put them all on ONE hanger and I took regular pieces of paper and wrote the day of the week on each one. I clipped the corresponding paper with the outfit. I hung each outfit in order in the front of the closet (and I had the shoes underneath.)

IT saved me headache. I gained time in the morning. I put together great outfits because I wasn't rushing in the morning. It really worked! I have done it from time to time, even on NON busy weeks.

Try it!!

MLK Day!

Live his dream.
Be the dream.

Serve others.
Give Back.

Create harmony.
Think locally.
Look at your community.

Let Go Of Yesterday

Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. More importantly today is a new chance. Don't worry about why you didn't start yesterday. Don't wallow in your position or place of your situation. You can ALWAYS change it. You can ALWAYS start.

If you have a bad day or fail at a project, leave it behind. Take some lessons out of it and move on! You CAN'T change it. Forgive and move forward.

The Good Kind OF Control!

And this can be a good thing. Being in control is not the same as being controlling. Being in control of you living space can be a wonderful thing! Being organized can be an amazing thing!

T is for Time Management

Time management is underrated!!! The right time management can really make your life wonderful!

Time management can get a bad rap! You don't need to be super anal about things but having a system can really make things smoother.

You can start right now. You can start tomorrow. You can start whenever you like but I encourage you to start! Get a system in place and working for you!

For example, you place is messy and you can't find anything.

Solution: Get an Organizer in there. We will listen to what you want and make it work in a way that will be natural to you. We will set up systems and times for things to be done. We will find places for your things and help you set up where to find them. We will set up systems for upkeep and regular maintenance and you will be happier!

A Tip To Getting Rid Of Stuff

I invite you to take look around in your room, or your house, or office, or your garage, or even your car....take a look...go ahead. I'll wait.....

How many things do you NOT use or wear?
How many things are broken and beyond repair?

Maybe its time to find another place for it..preferably outside of the space you are looking at!

When Do You Know When You Need A Professional Organizer?

When do you know when you need a professional organizer? When do I know if I need a professional organizer? When do we know that a professional organizer is needed?

I get asked those questions many times when I tell people that I am a Professional Organizer. I am going to give you a short and simple answer.

If you have to ask the question, chances are you need one. If you are asking the question about a particular person, they probably need one.

If you are organized already, then you would not ask the question. If the person you are thinking about is already neat and tidy, then you wouldn't need to ask the question.

YOU know if a professional organizer is needed. Please don't hesitate to reach out to a wonderful local Professional Organizer and get started on a path of success.

Some Quotes I Like: Happy Saturday

I REALLY like this one! The end can really be the beginning! 

After you begin, the rest will become easier.

B is for Before You Begin

Before you begin any project:

1. Make It A Part Of You- look at the project or task or lifestyle change as something that will become a part of you. That works by language, attitude and thinking. "I am a person who likes an organized house." That is a start. You want to believe in what you are doing. You don't want it so seem like a foreign or distant concept. "I am an organized person." Then you can work to make that true.
2. Make It Part of Your Routine- just like any bad habit, good habits can be formed by routine. I'd like to add that it doesn't have to be super specific, it can be a little loose. For example, you decide you are going to do a little straightening up everyday at home. You start out doing it every morning before you go to work. One morning you have to go to work early, you can still straighten up that day, just do it in the evening. The goal is to do it everyday!!
3. Markers and Milestones are Great- I do it here. I write blogs almost every day. When I see i'm coming up on a particular number, I celebrate it! I did it for my 100th blog post and 200th blog post. It can be fun. It can be helpful in the middle of a task or change.
4. Schedule The Time To Start- Then start!

Storage Benches For Bedroom Storage

Storage benches are great furniture pieces and good storage for blankets, pillows, and sheets!

Saw these storage benches on  Popsugar.com

This fuzzy one is cute! Saw it on pencilthingsinfo.

This nice leather one from brookstone.com


And there are many more! All different styles, prices and sizes and prints.

Help With Remembering Passwords

There are many password apps out there. Apps where you can store passwords and log-in information.Some are free,others cost, but here are a few of them you can find on iTunes, Google Play, Windows:

iPassword
Keeper Password Manager
aWallet Password

I'm an old fashion guy and use an actual password book similar to the one above.  They are alphabetized. Fill them out in PENCIL (you want to be able to erase whenever you change passwords) and store away in a locked cabinet or super safe place.

It is recommended that you have different passwords and log in's for your many sites. Its tough to remember all of them. Try one of the methods above and make your life easier!

What is A Professional Organizer.... Revisited

What is a Professional Organizer?

A Professional Organizer is someone that helps you to overcome clutter and disorganization.

Why hire a Professional Organizer?

A Professional Organizer not only helps you organize your situation, but they also create organized systems to help keep it that way. They are there to assist and help you through the entire process or do it for you. They are there to sit, sort, clean, file, de-clutter, de-stress and repurpose to help make your home or office a better place.

What are the benefits of getting organized?

 You will find yourself having more time and less stress. You will know where everything is located. And it will make your life easier and, more importantly, happier.  Disorganization effects many areas of your life.  

Will I have to Throw my stuff away?

My philosophy is that you always have the final say in what you would like to keep and what you would like to get rid of. I respect your stuff and it is up to you! My job is to make it fit in your space the best way possible.

Do I need to be there during the session?

It is best to have you there to sort through your belongings together and create organizing systems that are unique  for you. I can show you my decision making and give you insight.  However once I know what you would like to keep and what works for you, I can do the rest without your needing to be there.

How do I get started?

Simply contact me and tell me what needs to be addressed, what rooms/areas you’d like organized, and any other details you’d like to include. I will then get back with you and we can set up a time for our initial meeting.

Will I need to buy supplies?

I try and work with what you already have. I believe that many people aren’t maximizing their space or utilizing it to the best it can be.  Sometimes using different storage solutions  is the best way to go to get the best use of your space. I know where to shop for inexpensive items if that is a concern. WE will discuss that during the planning process.

Will my sessions be confidential?

YES. All meetings, conversations, and questions are confidential and between the client and I. If we need to go to an outside source for help, then we will agree what information is okay to share.

 What are your rates?

I rate on a sliding scale. I believe everything no matter of age, income, or size deserves a professional organizer.  It also depends on size of job. For example for small shredding jobs, I charge around $10 an hour.  For a large 3 bedroom home de-cluttering (non hoarding situation), I charge around $20 an hour. After my initial session with you, we will discuss a price and rate. ( We can do per hour or per project. )

What payments are accepted?

I accept cash check and credit cards, and payment is due at the end of each work session (each day). Unless otherwise discussed.

What takes place at the initial meeting?

I come and evaluate the space(s) as-is and formulate a plan of action. Then, we will discuss what problems you have with the space(s), what you would like to see change, and what is currently working for you.

Is there a time minimum that I am willing to work?

No! Whether its 30 minutes or 3 weeks, I'm here to help!