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Showing posts with label GO Month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GO Month. Show all posts

Monday, January 1, 2024

Get Organized this GO Month!

January is Get Organized & Be Productive (GO) Month and there’s no better time to consult an organizing or productivity professional.

Clutter and disorganization can drain your energy and contribute to unwarranted stress, frustration, and anxiety. Ready to start the new year off right by getting organized and increasing productivity? Here are our top tips:

·      *   Clear out your files to start the new year off right! Go through each file and get rid of any papers that are not needed for your taxes or are not for any items that you no longer own. Be sure to shred any documents that have identifying information.

·     *    Make a folder for Tax Information and put anything related to your taxes into this folder.

·      *   If you have backup documentation for your taxes – put all of that together into one folder and mark it for the tax year. Keep all of your documents with your taxes in a separate tax box.

·       *   If you have spreadsheets that you use to keep track of anything, like donations or medical expenses – make new spreadsheets for the new year.

*   To make life easier when you are pulling all of your tax information together – make a spreadsheet of everything that you need to give to your accountant. List all the forms that you are expecting – such as W9’s, investment account information, as well as any spreadsheets with donation or medical expense information or anything else that you usually give to your accountant. By having a spreadsheet (or list) – you won’t forget to include things and you will know at a glance what documents you are still waiting for.

As a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO), I work to improve my clients’ lives by helping them create environments that support productivity, general health, and well-being. After all, working with a Professional Organizer & Productivity Consultant is no different than choosing an accountant, personal trainer, doctor, or other service provider!

About NAPO

The National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO) was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit professional educational association for professional organizers. Today, NAPO has approximately 3,500 members worldwide, representing the full spectrum of the global industry:  professional organizers, productivity consultants, authors, educators, trainers, manufacturers, service providers and more. NAPO’s mission is to be the leading source for organizing and productivity professionals by providing exceptional education, enhancing business connections, advancing industry research, and increasing public awareness. Visit www.NAPO.net to learn more.

  

Karin E. Fried, CPC, EMT-B, CTACC

Professional Organizer & Productivity Consultant

Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life

Member: National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO)
Member: Institute For Challenging Disorganization (ICD)
Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization
Certificate of Study in Basic Hoarding Issues with the CD Client
Certificate of Study in Understanding the Needs of the Elderly CD Client
Certificate of Study in Basic ADD Issues with the CD Client

Certificate of Study in CD Client Administration
Certificate of Study in Life Transitions
Certificate of Study in Time Management and Productivity
Certificate of Study in Interpersonal Intelligence
Certificate of Study in Mental Health Conditions and Challenges Affecting the CD Client
CD Specialist - Level II Certificate

Hoarding Specialist - Level II Certificate

Certified Life & Business Coach

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, January 1, 2023

January is GO Month! It's time to Get Organized in 2023!

 

January is Get Organized & Be Productive (GO) Month and there’s no better time to consult an organizing or productivity professional.

Clutter and disorganization can drain your energy and contribute to unwarranted stress, frustration, and anxiety. Ready to start the new year off right by getting organized and increasing productivity? Here are our top 7 tips:

        Start with the area that bothers you the most!

        If a stranger took a tour of your home, what would you be the most embarrassed about? What would you find yourself apologizing for? What irritates you the most? This is the area you should start with first. If all of it bothers you, start with the space you see when you open your eyes in the morning.

 

        Go for a quick win!

        Choose a small area or topic that can be easily completed. By tackling a small, easy project first, you set yourself up for success and are further motivated to tackle the areas you struggle with emotionally.

 

        Gather supplies before diving in!

        Be sure to have trash bags or boxes on hand to sort items into. Suggested categories: Keep, Sell, Donate, Trash. Use black trash bags for trash and white trash bags for donate. Use trash bags to donate soft items and cardboard boxes for heavy, hard, or fragile items. Check the structural integrity of the boxes prior to filling them and always be sure to tape the bottom of the box first!

 

        Set retention guidelines for specific categories of items!

        Similar to keeping tax paperwork for 7 years, set guidelines for other items you own. For example, any magazines over 1 year old can be donated or recycled. Clothing in need of repair has a 1-month expiration date. If they are not repaired in a month, the item can go. If a dish is chipped, it can be donated or tossed. By deciding ahead of time, you relieve yourself of decision fatigue and/or emotional attachments.

 

        Create a home for temporary items!

        Create a space to store library books, store returns and items that belong to someone outside of your household. These items tend to live on countertops and tables and hinder you from using your space the way you want to. If you create space for items that will only be in your home for a little while, you cut down on the piles that interfere with your living spaces.

 

        Create positive habits & routines to maintain organization!

        Think through the areas you organized and how often you should touch them up. Think about ways you can be proactive in life, like packing lunches and setting out clothes the night before. Every day before you leave the office, clear off your desk and stack notes/papers in an empty drawer. Each time you get paid, go through your papers, pay bills, and file items that need to be retained.

 

        Get family members involved!

        Set a timer for 15 minutes before bedtime and play fun music while everyone tidies the house. Make a game of it - the person who finds the most items that are out of place and puts them back into their “homes” wins. You have heard the phrase: “Many hands make light work!” Even children as young as 2-3 years old can begin to learn how to match socks or put dirty clothing into the hamper. When the adults’ model good behavior and positive attitudes around organizing, the kids will pick up on it too.

As a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO), we improve our clients’ lives by helping them create environments that support productivity, general health, and well-being. When working with a NAPO member, you can be assured you are working with a dedicated professional who operates at the highest standards and has a passion for organizing and productivity.


Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

Thursday, December 31, 2020

January is GO Month! "Get Organized" in 2021

 Organizing and Productivity Professionals Celebrate January’s “GO Month” with Advice for 2021, Reveal their Most Unusual 2020 Client Requests


During 2020, our home and work lives saw a major shift as we turned our living space into workspace - and classrooms, and workout areas, and even quarantine zones – resulting in a call for help to organize, downsize and streamline to professional organizers and productivity experts.

“As we head into the new year, I have seen more people looking for organizing help to make the best of the difficulties around the pandemic,” says Karin E. Fried of Organizational Consulting Services and a member of the National Organization of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO).

“January is GO Month – get organized and be productive – with clients seeking a new or increased focus on being organized and starting fresh.”

NAPO conducted a national survey that found 64 percent saw an increased focus on organizational and productivity needs due to a new COVID-driven norm. The survey reveals that NAPO members, who routinely handle a wide range of client requests, were asked to take on some very unusual tasks in 2020. The most surprising tasks reported include:

  •     Organizing one client’s 387 pairs of shoes
  •     Overseeing the sale of a large collection of mounted animal heads and  stuffed animal bodies
  •     Arranging the sale of 400 Steiff teddy bears
  •     Staging a treehouse for a client putting their home on the market
  •     Packing up a client’s husband’s ashes to dispose of 
  •   Organizing a closet packed with hundreds of paper and plastic bags

Looking ahead to 2021 that is already showing promise to be as busy as 2020, NAPO professionals predict that the most requested services will be: decluttering and downsizing (35%); productivity coaching for an in-home work environment (17%); packing/unpacking for a move (16%); and creating a new space for work, home or hobby (13%).

“While we are all optimistic that the pandemic will come to an end this coming year, we are all still adapting to the lifestyle changes and new work-from-home norms,” said Karin E. Fried. “Hiring a NAPO professional to help with changes you want to make in life is the same as hiring a personal training or financial advisor. We abide by a strict code of ethics and discretion. We don’t judge – we help. Who wouldn’t want judgment-free support during this challenging time?”

A Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultant can do more than just organizer your closet (though we love closets!). As a Professional Organizer we can help our clients with not only organizing their space – but also organizing their business, their time, their estate and their lives! And so much more!

Reach out to a Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultant this month and start 2021 Organized and Clutter Free!

 

Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

Friday, January 26, 2018

GO Month 2018 - Get Organized in the New Year




 GO Month 2018


January is Get Organized (GO) MonthSM,  a month long campaign by the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) to promote the benefits of working with an organizing or productivity professional who is committed to professional development.

January is the ideal time for GO Month, since getting organized is a popular New Year’s resolution.  During GO Month, NAPO professional organizers and productivity consultants across the country host events in their communities to empower individuals, families, businesses and organizations to regain control over their surroundings, time and possessions. By sharing proven organizing and productivity techniques and principles, NAPO members help people save time, save money and reduce stress.

The History of GO Month:

In 2003, NAPO established the “Get Organized Week”  Community Service Project Program, where NAPO members held events to help promote organizing in their communities. The success of the program led NAPO to officially proclaim January as Get Organized (GO) Month in 2005, and
develop a public awareness campaign to focus national attention on how getting organized empowers people to regain control over their time, possessions, inboxes, and surroundings.

NAPO professional organizers and productivity consultants across the country once again will
share their knowledge and host community events to help individuals, families, businesses and organizations bring time management, organization, storage solutions and productivity into their lives, and start the year with systems and solutions to improve efficiency long term.

2018 Theme: Get Organized and Become More Productive!

The natural evolution of the organizing professional to productivity consultant is the focal point of this year’s campaign. How does the process of becoming organized yield greater productivity? During the month of January, NAPO will share tips, articles, research and member stories that focus on the basics of getting organized and the tools that help to provide organization. NAPO will also share success stories about how better organizational practices have yielded greater productivity! And finally, NAPO will educate members and the public about the growing field of Productivity Coaches and Consultants.

Organizational Consulting Services plans to participate in the national public awareness initiative by offering free organizing tips to help people start the new year off right by getting organized.  Just email a request to kefconsulting@gmail.com – put “free organizing tips” in the subject line.

About NAPO
The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit professional educational association for professional organizers. Today, NAPO has approximately 3,500 members worldwide, representing the full spectrum of the global industry:  professional organizers, productivity consultants, authors, educators, trainers, manufacturers, service providers and more. NAPO’s mission is to be the leading source for organizing and productivity professionals by providing exceptional education, enhancing business connections, advancing industry research, and increasing public awareness.

NAPO is headquartered in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, and is on the web at www.NAPO.net.

Organizational Consulting Services

 Less Clutter = Less Stress
SM     in your home, your business and your life

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

Thursday, January 5, 2017

JANUARY 2017 - GO MONTH: GET ORGANIZED MONTH

















 
January is GO Month! This month-long campaign by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) promotes the benefits of working with an organizing or productivity professional and highlights the educational opportunities for individuals looking to build a career in the profession. NAPO professional organizers and productivity specialists across the country host events in their communities to empower individuals, families and businesses to regain control over their surroundings, time and possessions.

GO Month 2017 will promote the benefits of working with a NAPO organizing or productivity professional who is committed to professional development. The 2017 campaign will also highlight the opportunities NAPO offers for those new to the profession and for those seasoned professionals seeking advanced educational opportunities.

GO Month History
In 2003, NAPO established the “Get Organized Week” Community Service Project Program, where NAPO members held events to help promote organizing in their communities. The success of the program led NAPO to officially proclaim January as Get Organized (GO) Month in 2005, and develop a public awareness campaign to focus national attention on how getting organized empowers people to regain control over their time, possessions, inboxes, and surroundings.

NAPO professional organizers and productivity specialists across the country once again will host community events to help individuals, families, businesses and organizations bring time management, organization, storage solutions and productivity into their lives, and start the year with systems and solutions to improve efficiency long-term.
 
About NAPO
The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit professional educational association for professional organizers. Today, NAPO has approximately 4,000 members worldwide, representing the full spectrum of the global industry: professional organizers, productivity specialists, authors, educators, trainers, manufacturers, service providers and more. NAPO’s mission is to be the leading source for organizing and productivity professionals by providing exceptional education, enhancing business connections, advancing industry research, and increasing public awareness.

NAPO is headquartered in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, and is on the web at www.NAPO.net.

Get ORGANIZED in 2017 with a Professional Organizer!

Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/