When You're Ready - Organize

Being organized is a great thing. It allows you to immediately locate anything that you are looking for and lets you see what you have - without having to search for it.

A lot of people say that they "want" to be organized - but they don't seem to be able to start the process. And pushing them does not work.

People need to be "ready" and "willing" to be organized.

And when that "aha" moment finally comes.... it's great! 

It may sound silly - to those people that are already organized - but for the people that aren't - and want to be - pushing and cajoling just doesn't work.

But once they understand all of the good things that come with being organized - like finding things they didn't know they had - or being able to do things because now they've found the things they couldn't locate before - it's amazing how easily they take to the organizing process.

And it is a process. One small space at a time. One small project at a time.

Progress will push them to the next step. When their face lights up with that  "I really did this - and it looks great" proudness  - I too am proud.

Organizing - one small step at a time.  One person at a time.  One room at a time.

I'm ready.  Are you ?


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New Years Resolutions - Reality Setting In

January is winding down. Most people have already put away all of their Christmas decorations. Everything is getting back to "normal".

And with "normal" comes a reality check. This promises that you made to yourself - and probably told a few people - have probably already gone out the window.

The "I am going to lose weight",  "I am going to start exercising" and my favorite "I am going to get more organized".

Good intentions - but follow through always seems to be a problem.

Everyone gets so caught up in everyone's enthusiasm that they make promises that are hard to keep. It's not that people are intentionally breaking their "promises" (or goals). It's just that it's hard - especially when you don't see immediate results and have no one around that is pushing you - being your cheerleader - telling you what a great job your doing.

Which is one reason those exercise tapes don't work. You can turn them off and ignore them. Not so much when you are at the gym and the trainer is pushing you to your limit.

It's for your own good!

That's why having a workout buddy is a good thing. You can each push the other person to give their "all".

Being organized - getting organized - is a process. And it's not always a fast process. Things get messier before they get neater and more organized. You don't always see results in the first hour or the first day.

You (your home or office) didn't get disorganized and cluttered in an hour - and it's going to take more than an hour to get organized.

It's one step at a time -  one small space at a time - one room at a time.

Progress will come. Maybe slowly for some. There could be some slight resistance - not intentional - but it's there. For some people it's a slow process to get to the point where they are "ready" to let go and get their space to be clutter free.

Being - and getting organized - is an ongoing process. One that you have to stick to - even when you don't feel like it.

As a certain sports company says "Just Do It"!

Now stick to your resolutions and get yourself organized!



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Clearing Your Clutter in the New Year

Some people are starting to put all of their holiday decorations away. So take it one step further and start the New Year off right by clearing all of the clutter throughout your home.

The easiest things to clutter - are flat surfaces!  People get into the habit of just putting things down wherever there is a surface. The problem is - they never pick it up and move it to where it's actually supposed to go.

As Professional Organizers like to say "everything should have a home".

So as you are putting away all of your holiday decorations - clear everything off of each surface (each coffee table, desk, dining room table, kitchen table, counters.....).

Then take a step back and decide what should go there - what actually belongs in that room and on that surface (table).

Keep out only what you actually need or use every single day. If it's an item that you only use once in a while - put it away (somewhere that makes sense).

The less that you have on the surface - the cleaner and less cluttered it will look.

It's a quick and easy fix that will transform a room instantly!

Go through each room of your home and do the same thing. Look at each surface and decide what you really use on a daily basis - and put the other things away. Your home will instantly be refreshed.

Then take it one step further - and for your New Years Resolution - resolve to put things where they belong immediately - so that you don't end up in the same boat a week from now. It's not easy to break a bad habit and it's harder to make a new one feel natural - but stick with it - and soon you too will live in a clutter free zone.

Happy Organizing !



Organizational Consulting Services

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January is GO Month ! (GET ORGANIZED)

Direct from NAPO:

January is GO Month! This month long national public awareness campaign by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) promotes the

benefits of getting organized, and offers strategies, suggestions and solutions to help the

public become more organized and productive at home and at work. 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 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, in boxes, 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) leads and advances the organizing and productivity industry. 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 is "The Organizing Authority".  NAPO serves its members and the public by

providing professional educational opportunities, industry leadership, productive partnerships and expert information and solutions to foster growth and

fulfillment for all who work within the organizing and productivity industry or benefit from its services. NAPO is headquartered in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, and is on the web at

www.NAPO.net.

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Let's celebrate GO Month by making a New Years Resolution to try and get ourselves MORE ORGANIZED in 2015!

Take the first step by contacting a Professional Organizer to help you in the process. You will be glad you did!

Remember our slogan  -    "Less Clutter = Less Stress"

Make 2015 the year you took the plunge !

Get Organized !

Organizational Consulting Services

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Happy NEW YEAR - 2015 !

Wishing all of you a very  HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!

May it be filled with joy.....  and no clutter ! 





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Happy Holiday.... Merry Christmas.....!

Wishing you and your family a very HAPPY HOLIDAY  and a very  MERRY CHRISTMAS !

May your days be filled with peace and joy......

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Clear Your Clutter For The Holidays

I wanted to share a great poem written by another Professional Organizer. This should inspire all of you to clear your clutter before the Holidays!

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'Twas just weeks before Christmas, when I looked 'round my house
And feelings were stirring that I couldn't douse.
The clutter was piled up in mounds all around,
And piles, dust and overwhelm all did abound.
 
No visions of sugarplums danced in my head,
Just feelings of angst and confusion and dread.
The papers were piled on the table so high
There's no chance of mealtime, I thought with a sigh.
 
I thought of the guests that would come all too soon
And started to panic and wish it was June.
Aackk! People are coming! Oh, where will they stay?
I must move this clutter. It's all in the way.
 
I want to have family and friends to enjoy,
To entertain, decorate, bake and…oh, boy.
"I meant to get to it", I heard myself whine,
But now it's December and I'm down to the line.
 
I thought I could do it myself if I tried,
But it was too much and my brain felt so fried.
I needed some help and I knew whom to call
A Professional Organizer who's on the ball.
 
My organizer friend was so lively and quick
Before I knew it I was ready for St. Nick!
She helped me to think in a rational way.
I still had some time; they're not coming today.

She settled me down and said, "You'll be alright.
Now take a deep breath and this clutter we'll fight.
We'll start in one room and just put things away
Stuff with no 'home' won't be able to stay."

We cleared and we sorted, we put things away
I was so glad I had not waited just one more day!
We purged and we sorted and made such a clatter
The donation bags just got fatter and fatter."
 
Soon tabletops showed up and floors all got cleared
There's so much more room now, it almost feels weird.
With Karen's help I got so much more done,
She's taught me the process, we even had fun.
 
I love it!  I said as I looked all around.
I couldn't believe all the lost stuff I'd found!
I'd managed quite well while the stuff was all lost
But realized I'd be fine if most just got tossed.
 
I could go on but I think I'll stop here
And wish every one of you holiday cheer.
Oh, and by the way, if your shopping's not done-
If you choose gifts that they'll want, need or use up, you've all won!

Karen here now, all done butchering this poem,
Wishing each of you joy and peace inside of your home.
And so I'll exclaim as I send my newsletter
Merry Christmas to all! Be a clutter go-getter!
 
© 2014 Karen Sheesley

Karen Sheesley

Straighten Up 

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