Sunday, February 17, 2019
Goals for 2019
A lot of people make New Years Resolutions and never keep them. But few people make goals.
Without goals - where will you end up? By having a roadmap for your life - by being organized and having a plan - you can get to where you want to be.
Being organized takes on a variety of roles.You can be organized with your time, your space and your life.
If you have goals, you need to be organized in how you are going to accomplish them. By having a list of goals, a timeline, a checklist for what needs to be done and how you are going to accomplish each item - you will be successful!
Don't let life's limitations - or your perception of limitations - stop you from setting goals.
Dream. Dream big!
Only by reaching for the stars can we get off the ground.
Sometimes we need a push to get there. By having an accountability partner to help you navigate the many challenges that life holds you can be one step ahead of the rest.
For more information on how coaching can help you - visit: North By Northwest
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, February 11, 2019
Getting Ready for Taxes - Get Organized!
Most people don't like to think about tax time - but now that January is over and W2's have been sent out - you might want to get a jump start on getting all of your tax information together!
Don't wait until April. That will just cause you a lot of stress!
First - get a folder or envelope so that you can put anything related to your taxes in one spot. Also, by keeping a folder marked "Taxes" - anything that comes in relating to taxes can be put into it throughout the year.
Second - get out your tax checklist and check off the items that you already have. If you don't have checklist - now is the time to make one. This will makes things easier next tax season.
Anything that you need for taxes, W2's, mortgage information, banking information, deduction information - should all be on your checklist. By doing this you won't have to remember everything that you need and you won't forget anything.
Third - make an appointment with your accountant as soon as possible - so that you aren't waiting until the last minute (and getting stressed out)
Fourth - after getting your completed tax forms back from your accountant - sign and send them out immediately
Fifth - be thankful that you are ahead of everyone else
Remember - being organized will save you time and reduce your stress
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Merry Christmas to you and yours....
I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. May your day be filled with joy and happiness.
Monday, December 24, 2018
Merry Christmas Eve.....
As in our German tradition we will eat a very special meal of German white sausage, sauerkraut and potatoes. I caved in one year and was talked into "doing something different" - and let's just say that I will never do that again! Tradition should not be messed with!
We will have some lovely desserts and then the best part.... opening our Christmas presents! We always open our presents on Christmas Eve.
Then off to midnight mass with Christmas songs to fill the air!
Wishing all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!
Monday, December 17, 2018
The Perfect Gift - Don't Get Stressed Out....
Giving the perfect Christmas gift is a challenge. Some people give
gifts just because they feel they have to. Others spend hours hunting
down the perfect gift.
Trying to find "the perfect gift" can be challenging and very stressful!
But as you shop - are you even thinking about the amount of room that your gift takes up in that person's home? Or the clutter that is will cause?
A lot of people buy gifts they think the recipient will like - but - they might not think about the effects - such as noise or damage - the gift might cause - especially if the gift is for a child.
A drum set sounds like a great gift for a child - when it's not yours and you don't have to listen to the constant noise. Paints and other messy items might be fun - but you don't have to clean up the mess.
Try to be sensitive to the parents when you are buying a child's gift. It might help to preserve your friendship.
Then there are the gifts that you might like - but if you never see a gift that you bought displayed - maybe you don't know that person as well as you think.
One idea might be to give gifts that don't last...... gifts that are consumed or turned in for things the person might actually like, need or use.
Christmas ideas that don't clutter:
* Gas cards
* Gift certificates to restaurants
* Gift certificates for babysitting services
* Gift certificates to a spa
* Fruit baskets or gourmet fruit (or chocolate or candy)
* Gift certificates for lawn care
* Gift certificates for house cleaning
* Gift certificates for books
* Gift certificates for a "special time" with you
* Gift certificates for a weekly home cooked meal
There are a lot of ideas out there - and I am sure that you can think of more. Don't let yourself get stressed out by trying to find the "perfect gift". That's not what the holidays are about.
The gift of time is the most precious of all!
Spend time with your loved ones in this special Holiday Season!
Happy Holidays!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Trying to find "the perfect gift" can be challenging and very stressful!
But as you shop - are you even thinking about the amount of room that your gift takes up in that person's home? Or the clutter that is will cause?
A lot of people buy gifts they think the recipient will like - but - they might not think about the effects - such as noise or damage - the gift might cause - especially if the gift is for a child.
A drum set sounds like a great gift for a child - when it's not yours and you don't have to listen to the constant noise. Paints and other messy items might be fun - but you don't have to clean up the mess.
Try to be sensitive to the parents when you are buying a child's gift. It might help to preserve your friendship.
Then there are the gifts that you might like - but if you never see a gift that you bought displayed - maybe you don't know that person as well as you think.
One idea might be to give gifts that don't last...... gifts that are consumed or turned in for things the person might actually like, need or use.
Christmas ideas that don't clutter:
* Gas cards
* Gift certificates to restaurants
* Gift certificates for babysitting services
* Gift certificates to a spa
* Fruit baskets or gourmet fruit (or chocolate or candy)
* Gift certificates for lawn care
* Gift certificates for house cleaning
* Gift certificates for books
* Gift certificates for a "special time" with you
* Gift certificates for a weekly home cooked meal
There are a lot of ideas out there - and I am sure that you can think of more. Don't let yourself get stressed out by trying to find the "perfect gift". That's not what the holidays are about.
The gift of time is the most precious of all!
Spend time with your loved ones in this special Holiday Season!
Happy Holidays!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Christmas is Coming.... Are You Ready ???
It's about two weeks until Christmas. Are you ready? Or are you starting to stress out?
The holidays should be joyful and fun. But the reality is - that's not the reality! There is too much pressure from retailers to buy, buy, buy...... The television bombards you with ads. The newspapers and stores send out ads and coupons and make you think that shopping is your idea. People will love you more if you buy them things!
The holidays aren't about family or friends or anything important anymore. It's about commercialism.
So be daring and "just say NO". Take a step back and remember what the holidays are supposed to be about. Appreciating your family and your life.
Allow yourself to enjoy the holidays by taking a step back and making a list and checking it twice. Write down all of the things that you think you need to get done before the holiday. Write down all of the things that you think you need to buy.
Grab your calendar and start planning on when you are going to do all of the things that you think you need to do. Write it down on your calendar (in pencil!). Be specific. Give yourself time limits on each item.
For example:
Going to the store for husbands gift - Wed - 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Kids Holiday concert - Thur - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Work party - Fri - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Taking kids shopping for holiday presents - Thur - 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
You get the idea - write it all down - so that you can see it in front of you. Then decide if there is overlap with some functions that you can't realistically get to. Or you can decide which functions you want to skip (yes, give yourself permission to skip things!). Don't stress yourself out about going to every single event. That takes all of the fun out of the holidays.
Next - make a list of all of the things that you have to do and buy.
Things to do:
Buying wrapping paper, gift tags and tape
Wrap presents - when kids and husband are not at home
Send presents to out of town family
Deciding on a holiday menu
Make a list of all of the ingredients needed for the holiday dinner
Make sure that you have all of the serving dishes that you need for the holiday dinner
Plan your holiday schedule of events for that big day
These are just some of the things that you want plan for. The more you plan - the better the chances that things will go smoothly (or as smoothly as they can). Even a professional organizer can't predict that her oven will stop working two days before the holiday! Stuff happens - but if most of the important things have been planned out - the little things won't get noticed as much.
And the most important thing - take time for yourself! Write that into your calendar of events. Take time to go to the coffee shop and sit and relax with a cup of coffee and watch all of the people hustling about. Enjoy the holiday music that is everywhere.
Knowing that your next few weeks have been planned out and that everything can get accomplished will help keep you de-stressed.
And a calming bath with some bath salts can't hurt!
Happy Holidays!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
The holidays should be joyful and fun. But the reality is - that's not the reality! There is too much pressure from retailers to buy, buy, buy...... The television bombards you with ads. The newspapers and stores send out ads and coupons and make you think that shopping is your idea. People will love you more if you buy them things!
The holidays aren't about family or friends or anything important anymore. It's about commercialism.
So be daring and "just say NO". Take a step back and remember what the holidays are supposed to be about. Appreciating your family and your life.
Allow yourself to enjoy the holidays by taking a step back and making a list and checking it twice. Write down all of the things that you think you need to get done before the holiday. Write down all of the things that you think you need to buy.
Grab your calendar and start planning on when you are going to do all of the things that you think you need to do. Write it down on your calendar (in pencil!). Be specific. Give yourself time limits on each item.
For example:
Going to the store for husbands gift - Wed - 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Kids Holiday concert - Thur - 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Work party - Fri - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Taking kids shopping for holiday presents - Thur - 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
You get the idea - write it all down - so that you can see it in front of you. Then decide if there is overlap with some functions that you can't realistically get to. Or you can decide which functions you want to skip (yes, give yourself permission to skip things!). Don't stress yourself out about going to every single event. That takes all of the fun out of the holidays.
Next - make a list of all of the things that you have to do and buy.
Things to do:
Buying wrapping paper, gift tags and tape
Wrap presents - when kids and husband are not at home
Send presents to out of town family
Deciding on a holiday menu
Make a list of all of the ingredients needed for the holiday dinner
Make sure that you have all of the serving dishes that you need for the holiday dinner
Plan your holiday schedule of events for that big day
These are just some of the things that you want plan for. The more you plan - the better the chances that things will go smoothly (or as smoothly as they can). Even a professional organizer can't predict that her oven will stop working two days before the holiday! Stuff happens - but if most of the important things have been planned out - the little things won't get noticed as much.
And the most important thing - take time for yourself! Write that into your calendar of events. Take time to go to the coffee shop and sit and relax with a cup of coffee and watch all of the people hustling about. Enjoy the holiday music that is everywhere.
Knowing that your next few weeks have been planned out and that everything can get accomplished will help keep you de-stressed.
And a calming bath with some bath salts can't hurt!
Happy Holidays!
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Happy St. Nicholas Day !!!
Growing up German, St. Nicholas Day was a very big deal for us. And still is. A boot is put outside the door on the night of the 5th of December. St. Nicholas fills the boot with candy, chocolate and small gifts. As kids we liked to use my Dad's shoes because they were obviously bigger, which meant more candy! In the morning, on December 6th, we would race to see what St. Nicholas brought us.
To me St. Nicholas Day is super special! It reminds me of my heritage. It is also the start of the Christmas season.
I want to wish all of you a very HAPPY ST. NICHOLAS DAY !!!!
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