How Much Is Enough ?

 

How much stuff do we really need? How much is enough?

Do we really need 50 pairs of jeans? Or 50 pairs of shoes? Or 100 shirts? Or every new toy that comes on the market?

How many toys can a child play with at once? How many of their toys do kids actually even play with - once the novelty wears off?

What percentage of your clothes do you actually wear? Be honest! Most people only wear about 20 % of their clothes. A lot of people have clothes in their closet that still have the tags on them. Or if the tags are off the clothes - they still haven't worn them.

For a lot of people it's the "thrill of the hunt" - the "high of the buy". And then they quickly forget about their purchase.

Look around your home. What percentage of the things in your home do you actually use - on a consistent basis?

How much of the stuff is just "taking up space"?

Try going from room to room - and quickly look at the items in the room - and if you haven't used the item in a long time (or don't even remember having it) - maybe it's time to move it into the "donate" box (everyone has one - right?).

You might be surprised how quickly that box fills up!

Before you take out your credit card and buy more "stuff" - take a step back and think "do I really need this" and "do I have a specific place to put this". If the answer is "not really" - put that credit card back in your wallet and walk out of that store!

Having too much stuff in your home doesn't create a sense of calm. Your home should feel peaceful.

Clutter is noisy - so don't add more clutter to your home! Enough is enough.

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

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

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5 Minute Organizing Ideas

5 Minute Organizing Ideas to Get You in the Habit

Pick one and ONLY one of the following challenges. Set a timer to see how much you can accomplish in just 5 minutes:

1.     Organize your sock drawer

2.     Organize your underwear drawer

3.     Organize your bra drawer

4.     Tidy up your scarves, ties, belts or caps

5.     Take all the shoes from the foyer and put them away

6.     Load the dishwasher

7.     Unload the dishwasher

8.     Start a load of laundry

9.     Put away the dry-cleaned clothes

10.   Put away toys outside (or in the play area)

11.   Put away stuffed animals

12.   Make your bed

13.   Organize one bathroom drawer

14.   Organize your skirts by color

15.   Organize your pants by color or style

16.   Organize your business shirts by color

17.   Organize your tank tops or sweaters

18.   Tidy up your bathroom

19.   Tidy up a bedroom

20.   Tidy up pillows around the house

21.   Organize one shelf in your pantry

22.   Organize one shelf in your freezer (toss expired items)

23.   Organize one shelf in your fridge (toss spoiled items)

24.   Tidy up your desk

25.   Tidy up your kitchen counters

26.   Tidy up your car

27.   Tidy up your garage counter

28.   Tidy up your tools

29.   Tidy up the shed

30.   Tidy up the front or backyard

31.   Prune a shrub

32.   Pick up some leaves

33.   Set up/take down holiday decorations

34.   Organize the mail on your desk (file, pay now, toss)

35.   File the mail in your ”To File” pile

36.   Pay your bills (online or write a few checks)

37.   Mail all your bills

38.   Empty your purse and reorganize it

39.   Organize and toss newspapers and magazines

40.   Organize your coupons (toss expired ones)

41.   Empty your Spam, Junk e-mail and Deleted folders

42.   Remove pictures from your digital camera

     43.   Plan meals for the week 

     44.   Organize your makeup – throw out old makeup

     45.   Organize your nail polish – throw out dried out bottles

     46.   Organize your coat closet – only current season coats should be in there

     47.   Organize your junk drawer

     48.   Organize under your kitchen sink

     49.   Organize one kitchen drawer

     50.   Clear off your coffee table

Congratulations! You have made your very first step toward a more organized home and a happier life. 

Sometimes, household organizing tasks seem so overwhelming that we don’t know where to begin. By breaking things down into 5-minute tasks, you will soon see how easy it is to make some real progress.

Be proud of yourself and celebrate how much clutter and disorganization you have tamed in just 5 minutes. Take a coffee break, go outside, write your accomplishments in your journal, and share with your friends. 

Happy Organizing!

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

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Unsubscribe and Clear Out Your Email Inbox

 

In todays world of technology and everyone being connected 24/7 - it can get a bit overwhelming with the hundreds of emails that can appear in your Inbox everyday.

Whether it's your business account or your personal account - sometimes it seems like the emails just won't stop coming! Keeping up with email is a never ending challenge. 

A lot of people like to enter contests so that they can win money or houses or all kinds of great prizes. Some people sign up to receive email from various Blogs. Some people sign up to receive notices from stores about new merchandise or sales. It all adds up to getting inundated with emails and special offers.

And once you sign up for one thing - it seems to multiple the amount of emails you get.

The take away for all of this is - "be careful what you sign up for".  If you just "have to" enter all of these contests and get on store mailing lists - maybe consider creating an email account specifically for that purpose. This will help separate out the "junk / store email list" emails - from personal emails.

If you are not interested in those contests / stores / Blogs - anymore - unsubscribe from their list.

Make it a habit to delete your emails after you have read them or dealt with them.

If you have hundreds (or thousands) of emails in your Inbox - try to set aside a 10 miinutes a day and delete as many emails as you can. Or set up a certain number of emails to delete each day - for example - "deleting 20 emails a day". It can be overwhelming to think about your hundreds (or thousands) of emails - but if you delete a few each day - your Inbox will be a lot less overwhelming.

And after you are done with that.....don't forget to delete the emails in your "Sent" box also!

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....   

Simplify Your Life

How Living Simply Can Improve Your Life

 

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the fast pace and complexity of modern life? Maybe it's time to embrace a simpler lifestyle. Adopting a minimalist approach offers numerous benefits for your mental and emotional wellbeing and your overall life satisfaction.

 

Studies show that simplifying your life is the key to leading a more content and fulfilled lifestyle. Living simply allows you to cultivate mindfulness. It also reduces distractions, provides mental clarity, and puts you back in touch with your authentic self without the clutter of external influences.

 

Let’s explore several compelling reasons why living simply can truly improve your life.

 

Boost Your Mental Clarity

 

When you declutter your living space and reduce the number of possessions you own, you also clear your mind. Less clutter in your surroundings leads to less chaos in your thoughts, allowing you to think more clearly and make better decisions.

 

Save Time and Energy

 

Simplifying your life means eliminating unnecessary tasks and focusing on what truly matters. By prioritizing your time and energy, you create more space for activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. This leads to a more efficient and satisfying daily routine.

 

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

 

A life full of clutter, commitments, and distractions is a breeding ground for stress and anxiety. Streamlining your life and focusing on what's essential reduces the sources of stress and anxiety, allowing you to find inner peace and tranquility.

 

Improve Your Financial Health

 

Embracing a simpler lifestyle often means cutting down on excessive spending and consumerism. With fewer material possessions to maintain and a focus on frugal living, you can save money, pay off debts, and create a more secure financial future.

 

Enhance Your Relationships

 

When you prioritize simplicity, you'll naturally have more time and energy to dedicate to the people you love. Focusing on meaningful connections instead of material possessions strengthens your relationships and creates lasting memories with your loved ones.

 

Promote Environmental Sustainability

 

Living simply goes hand in hand with being more eco-conscious. When you consume less, reusing and repurposing items while embracing a minimalist mindset, it significantly reduces your environmental footprint and contributes to a healthier planet.

 

Foster Personal Growth

 

Simplicity invites introspection and self-discovery. As you let go of unnecessary distractions, you create space for personal growth and self-improvement. As a result, you'll develop new skills, explore new passions, and evolve as an individual.

 

Now that you know the remarkable benefits of embracing a simpler lifestyle, why not give it a try? Will you take the first step towards transforming your life and experience the profound impact that living simply has on your wellbeing, relationships, and happiness?

 

Remember, the journey to simplicity starts with a single decision – prioritizing what truly matters in your life based on your principles, morals, values, and goals. So, what are you waiting for? Your journey begins now. To get started on the road to simplifying your life, ask yourself: “What can I do without?”

 

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

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

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2023 World Organizing Day

Organizational Consulting Services to Celebrate World Organizing Day on May 20th

Member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals Celebrates with Other Professionals from Around the World

 

May 20^th is World Organizing Day and Organizational Consulting Services, a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO), is celebrating the global initiative by offering a 10 % Discount on any One (1) Hour Virtual Organizing session during June and July.

 

World Organizing Day is a global initiative founded by the International Federation of Professional Organizing Associations (IFPOA) to celebrate the work of organizing and productivity professionals.

This designated day aims to increase public awareness of the benefits of getting organized. It highlights the work of organizing and productivity professionals who enrich the personal and professional lives of their clients.

 

It also recognizes the accomplishments of individuals and organizations in their efforts to become more organized and productive.

 

NAPO members improve the lives of their clients throughout the year by helping them create environments that support productivity, general health and well-being.

 

By becoming more organized you can reduce waste, save time and money and reduce your stress. A Professional Organizer will work with you to come up with the best solutions that work with the way your brain works. Everyone learns differently and everyone uses their home differently. There is no “one size fits all”.

 

Don’t be embarrassed because the organizing books or gadgets that you bought didn’t make your home more organized. A Professional Organizer will find the solution that works “for you”. And they will teach you organizing skills that you can use in the future.

 

Call or email for more information on how Organizational Consulting Services can help you become more organized.  Onsite or virtually.      (440) 666 – 9326   or   kefconsulting@gmail.com

 

To find a productivity or organizing professional in your area, visit www.napo.net.

 

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.

 

About IFPOA

The International Federation of Professional Organizing Associations (IFPOA) was founded in 2007 as a forum to foster communication and best practices amongst professional organizing and productivity associations worldwide in a collaborative effort to elevate our industry globally. Its 13 member associations span the globe. Visit www.ifpoa.wordpress.com to learn more.

 

                                          Watch the Video

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....   

Magazines, books, games.....oh my!

Clearing your clutter of stuff that you no longer want, need or "serves your purpose" is a great way to make your home look better and your spirit feel lighter. It makes people feel like they have accomplished an impossible task (for some it is) and it gives them the motivation to do things they never thought they could.

And then comes the question - "what to do with the stuff..."?

There are a lot of donation centers and resale shops in most cities. For some people, giving their donated items to the "right" organization - one they feel aligns with their values - is very important. For others, they just want it out of their home and the nearest donation center will do just fine. 

A question that came up in one of my classes was "what can I do with magazines, besides recycling them"? And then we expanded it to "books and board games".

So we made a list:

• Schools
• Hospitals
• Assisted living centers
• Nursing homes
• Senior centers
• Retirement homes
• Libraries
• YMCA
• Coffee shops
• Breweries
• Homeless shelters
• Churches

They could all use the magazines, books and board games - to keep people entertained and to have a reason to socialize. Bring out a board game and people will come together. Magazines and books will keep people from getting bored when you're waiting in the hospital. Being able to read magazines that you didn't have to pay for - priceless! 

So pass on the magazines, books and games - and let someone else enjoy them!

It's a win for everyone!

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....   

Organizing Ideas for your Kitchen

 

Organizing small spaces is always a challenge. Read the Redfin article to get some ideas on how to organize your kitchen to make the most use out of your space. We are listed in the article!

You can see the post here: 26 Small Kitchen Organization Ideas to Simplify Your Home

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....