Being organized makes life so smooth!

Being organized and living your life in an orderly manner really does make your day so much easier!  I am getting married in a few weeks, and my fiance and I were discussing the things we have left to do.  From almost day one of the wedding preparation he and I used a time line and task list to remember everything we had to do.  

Having this tool was so helpful!  With it we were able to work on every task in a timely manner, always seeing where we were at and knowing where we were going.  This whole process has been more relaxing and less stressful then it would have been if we had left everything to the last minute, or didn't have a clear picture of what needed to be done.

This realization today was a nice, personal example of how approaching life in an organized fashion really does make everything easier.  Of course there are going to be little fires to put out...life always has a way of throwing those my way.  But at least I will be prepared!

Organize power adapters once and for all

My clients have some of the coolest organizational ideas!!  Especially my tech clients, the guys who deal with computers,wires and cables everyday.  I always enjoy learning about solutions other people create to make their lives easier.  This one is a simple but smart gem!

Every house seems to have an abundance of homeless and unclaimed power adapters.  It's easy to hold onto all of them because you are not sure what device belongs to which power adapter.  The last thing you want is to throw a way a power source to a machine you still use!  To avoid this problem it helps to label the adapters in some way.  But why invest in labels that peel off, don't work or cost money? 

My client took a fine tip permanent marker and simply wrote on the body of every adapter.  Brilliant!  He listed the device it powered and the voltage.  I was shocked to see that the red or black permanent marker would show up on black adapters as well.

Once you write on the adapters either store them with the device they belong to or put them all into a small container with the rest of your household utility items, labeing the bin “power adapters”.  Problem solved!

Jump start your tax preparation for 2011

So maybe your 2010 tax filing experience wasn't especially smooth.  Perhaps you found yourself gathering paperwork and data at the last minute, only to miss information and duplicate your efforts a few times.  Did you ever need something, like a letter or receipt to prove a deduction, and then spend precious time searching for it? Though the 2010 tax season is not quite over, now is a good time to get 2011 off to an organized start with some easy steps!

-Create a folder or binder for “Taxes 2011”.  Keep it accessible (but not out on the desk) so you can easily file without extra work

-Make sub categories within it, such as “Charity” for any non profit donations you make, “Medical Expenses” for any health related purchases you can claim, “Tax Documents”  for all end of the year statements you will receive, and/or whatever other headings your information would fall under.  For example, if you are renovating your home and some of the expenses are tax deductible, make a folder for that project

-You can store the paperwork a couple ways: Use a hanging folder labeled “Taxes” as the main file, then use manila folders to organize the interior categories.  If that isn't quite your style use a binder labeled “Taxes” and use dividers with pockets to keep the contents separate.  You could also use a colorful expanding file tote

However you do it, by creating a home for all your tax related paperwork you will save much energy and aggravation when 2011 arrives!

Disconnect to be more productive

We live in a culture and society where distractions abound.  Families sit down to have dinner and the TV is on.  People go to the theater to see a movie and spend a good portion of the movie texting a friend.  We often don't give others our undivided attention, continuing to work on the computer as they speak to us.  We are bombarded by distractions through out the day.

This carries over into every aspect of our life, including organization and managing our time.  Have you ever begun a project, only to have another task or person catch your attention?  When you finally remember what you were doing, all momentum is lost and you have made little progress on the original project.

When you are trying to accomplish a particular task, whether it is organizing your desk or working on a project, be sure to disconnect and limit the distractions you think will come.  Tell others around you that you will be unavailable for a half hour.  Put your phone on silent and do not answer it for a short time. 

Then, choose not to use distractions as a tool to procrastinate.  When a task or project becomes difficult it is easy to look for a diversion, something to take your attention so you feel justified in not continuing your work.  Many people check their email constantly, trying to delay and put off the work they know they need to accomplish.  Make an effort to focus, and do not look for ways to stall projects that are uncomfortable and hard. 

By limiting distractions from the outside and from the inside you will find yourself being much more productive and effective.  

Organize your makeup

Sometimes the organizing solutions I find are from an excited, creative client! A couple weeks ago I visited a woman to begin work on her disheveled closet. When I arrived, she was anxious to start and very excited about making her closet functional and beautiful.

Her enthusiasm about having an organized bedroom manifested itself while she went shopping for bins and baskets to use in the closet. She kept her eyes open for other items that might help her organize another part of her life and came across a small plastic tote. It was a great answer to her makeup issues! It was portable, see through, had divided sections and allowed you to expand the product if needed. I was hooked!

The product she found was the Medium 3 layer Craft Organizer by Snapware. She put all of her brushes in the top tray, large bulky cosmetics in the second tray and used the bottom divided section to house all her small lipsticks and other cosmetics. She was so excited and felt as though she had found the perfect solution to her former makeup woes.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find the exact product online. It is available in Target stores but I have not successfully located the exact tote on their website. So I am sharing a link I found on Amazon.Com for a very similar tote. The second link is for Target's generic version of the product.

Storage Tote at Amazon.Com.  

Storage Tote at Target.Com.

Try out this great product and think of other areas in your home it can be used!

You mean I can't organize just once?

It is a common assumption that once you put an organizing system in place it will always work and function exactly the way it did in the beginning indefinitely. Even more widespread is the thought that one is a failure if the system does not continue to serve the purpose for which it was intended. Both of the previous outlooks lead to a lot of frustration and and a sense of inability to rise to the task.

The reality is life varies constantly. When your schedule, routine or responsibilities change it is important to recognize that the organizing system supporting you must mold to the new development. Do not beat yourself up if your methods need to modify to fit the new dynamic you are facing.

The best approach is to take stock of what works in your current system. Then identify the changes you must make in your system to make it fit your current needs. For example, if you now take the kids out through the garage instead of the front door it is ok to move the coat and boot storage so it is convenient to your new point of exit and entry. What once worked may not be the best solution anymore.

When your system no longer feels as though it functions properly, take an honest assessment and see if there is a change that needs to be made.

Maintain your organizing system to prevent relapse

It is a common assumption that once you put an organizing system in place it will always work and function exactly the way it did in the beginning indefinitely.  Even more widespread is the thought that one is a failure if the system does not continue to serve the purpose for which it was intended.  Both of the previous outlooks lead to a lot of frustration and and a sense of inability to rise to the task.

The reality is life varies constantly.  When your schedule, routine or responsibilities change it is important to recognize that the organizing system supporting you must mold to the new development.  Do not beat yourself up if your methods need to modify to fit the new dynamic you are facing.

The best approach is to take stock of what works in your current system.  Then identify the changes you must make in your system to make it fit your current needs. For example, if you now take the kids out through the garage instead of the front door it is ok to move the coat and boot storage so it is convenient to your new point of exit and entry.  What once worked may not be the best solution anymore. 

When your system no longer feels as though it functions properly, take an honest assessment and see if there is a change that needs to be made.