Tag Archives: Motivation/Getting Started

End Of The Year – File Purge!

Posted on December 8, 2010 by in Office Organizing, Paper Management, Productivity

I was working in my office the other day and I went to look for a receipt from a file folder and before I knew it I was going through the whole file getting rid of the old receipts!  Remember the “One Year Organizing Rule?”  We just talked about it on Monday.. Well this rule certainly applies to PAPER!

Did you know we only retrieve 20% of the paper we file…… that means 80% of the paper we file just sits there!

We are coming to the end of the year and there is no better time than now to go through file drawers and PURGE!  Take out the legal and tax documents you need for your taxes and start looking at the rest!

Top Three Questions to ask when going through your files:

1)  Is this paper important?  Do you need it anymore?

2)  What’s the worst thing that could happen if I got rid of this paper?

3)  Are there tax or legal reasons to keep the paper?

Extra Tip: Place a paper shredder nearby your file cabinet….. As you purge ….  you shred!

This is the first of many steps in getting your paper organized!

If you would like to learn more about the TCO Paper Management Plan for your home or office, send me an email @ nikki@takecontrolorganizing.com.

Happy Organizing!

“The One Year Rule”

Posted on December 6, 2010 by in Getting Started, Home Organizing

 

Recently within a 24 hour period of time, I was asked by two different people, “How long should you keep an unused item”?

The “Organizing Standard or Rule” is One Year.

This is a logical rule because if you have not used the item within the 4 seasons of a year, the chances of you using it in the next 4 seasons is very unlikely.  This is especially true with clothing.  We tend to hold onto to clothes because we think we may wear them again.   The reality is if you choose not to wear something this winter, you most likely will not wear it next winter.

Of course there are always exceptions to every “rule”.  But this one year standard really does give you a great guideline of where to start when you are sorting and making decisions on what items are staying and going in your home!

So the next time you are organizing and going through a closet, clothes or not, think about this rule and challenge yourself to get rid of the “stuff “you no longer need!

When you have less to organize, you stay organized more often!

Happy Organizing!

Reduce For The Holidays!

Posted on December 1, 2010 by in Getting Started, Holiday Organizing, Home Organizing

The Holiday Season is a busy one, there is always something to do, someone to see, places to go!  This season is also a great time to Reduce! Of course as a Professional Organizing Coach, I think anytime is a great time to reduce, but the Holidays do provide a great opportunity! There are a lot of items coming into the home that need places to live!  One of the best things you can do to make room is to reduce what you already have!

Honestly, when was the last time you went through your closets, kitchen cupboards, etc? Well if it’s been awhile, now is the time!  The best part of this exercise, it doesn’t have to take long… In a just few minutes you can quickly sort through what you no longer need.  I say quickly, because this is not the time where you are setting up new systems or even necessarily organizing the space, (unless of course you want to and have the time!)  This exercise is just about doing a quick sort and getting rid of items, you no longer need or want.

Here are some key questions to ask yourself when going reducing:

  • Have you used it in the last year?
  • Do you really have any intentions in using the item soon?
  • Do you like the item?
  • What benefit are you getting from keeping it?
  • Could someone use the item more than you?
  • Could something else that is being used, take the space this item is currently occupying?

These are just a few questions to get you started.  My challenge for you is to start today! Go through a closet or drawer and make those quick decisions and start reducing!

Take Back Your Space!

Happy Organizing!

Remember Your Priorities!

Posted on October 27, 2010 by in Getting Started, Productivity

Are you making a change in your life? Maybe it’s to get organized or to eat a more healthy diet.  Maybe it’s to be more available for your children.  We all want to improve our lives and the ones we love!  We want to do better, we want to be better.

However, what happens if you start to lose your motivation?  You begin to doubt yourself, you get tired.  You have to remember!

What are you going to remember you ask? Your priorities! Remember your motivation in making the change.  Why are you here and what got you here in the first place!

Here are a few simple ideas in reminding you of the “why”:

  • Keep a list of everything that is important to you, write down every reason why you want to make a change. Display this list, where you can see it everyday!
  • Share your reasons with someone you love and trust, and refer back to that person if you need to talk.  Talk openly about your successes and reach out when you are disappointed.
  • Take pictures of your priorities, display these and remember everyday of the why.  Include a picture of yourself.  Make yourself a priority!
  • Have a visual reminder of your dreams, what you expect your end result would look like. Clip out photos of what freedom looks like to you, maybe it’s a photo of the beach, or your favorite inspirational quote.  Place them together in a binder to refer back too or place a favorite photo on your bathroom mirror.

The point is to remember!

Happy Organizing!


“Stuck in the Mud!”

Posted on October 20, 2010 by in Getting Started, Home Organizing, Productivity

Do you ever feel like you are a pair of boots stuck in the mud? You need to take a step forward but as hard as you try, you just can’t… You are stuck in the mud!

I know many of my clients have felt this way, especially prior to working with a Professional Organizer.  They get stuck, almost to a point where it paralyzes them.  The beginning steps to any kind of change or challenge can be shocking to our systems.  We don’t know what to do first or second, so what do we end up doing?… Nothing!

Recently I had the feeling of getting stuck in my mud!  I am working on an upcoming project for TCO.  It’s a “Big” project! Soon, you will hear more about it…

For now, let me just tell you the little reminder I needed, to get back on track and out of the mud!

As in any major project you may be working on either for work or life, it takes organization to clearly know what steps need to be taken to complete the project.  A large project can suddenly get very overwhelming, very quickly.  You start looking at all the little pieces that need to be completed, all the details that need to be attended too, you may even start to doubt yourself.  Why am I doing this again?  Is it worth it?  Have you ever found yourself asking these questions?

When I was getting stuck, I called a friend… If you have ever listened to any of the podcasts, you know my friend… Pete!  I told Pete, I had come into my office to work, I actually had some quiet time with no interruptions.  But when I got here, I had no idea what I was going to do… Even though I had a million things to do!  I didn’t know where to start.

He simply reminded me of something I say to my clients all of the time.  Start Small.  I know this is not a new concept, I say it all the time.. But sometimes we all need to be reminded of even the most simple tips!  Start Small.  If you try to do it all, you won’t do anything.  If you break it down into simple steps, you’ll get each step completed and eventually you will get where you are going!

I am now looking at my “Big” Project in not so much of a “Big” way now… I am breaking the project into pieces that can I manage.  The key is taking each piece one by one, finish a piece and then move on to the next.

I hope you will find the same peace I did in this simple tip…

Start Small!

Happy Organizing!