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4 Clear Your Clutter Tips For A Great Vacation

Thursday, June 30th, 2011 by admin

I am a partner with SMEAD products helping to keep you organized. Their last newsletter talked about preparing at work for your vacation. Here are some timely  tid-bits from Smead on how to clear your clutter before leaving the office for vacation.

Vacations are supposed to be fun but if you’re stressed about all the to-do’s you are leaving behind at the office then it’s not so fun.

Develop a set of procedures that you use every time you are going to be away from the office for an extended time. Then you don’t have to “reinvent the wheel”  every time you are going to be gone.

Take time to relax on vacation—Just say no to typing on your laptop while sitting at the airport, drafting letters on the plane, making cell phone calls in the taxi . Stop thinking about your job when you are away from your job.

They can live without you for awhile. ( Shocking but true) Prepare your co-workers or staff to deal with emergencies that might come up while you are gone. Type up instructions on how to handle specific situations during your absence.

Clear your clutter off your desk, assign urgent matters to a co-worker, and direct your voice mail to an appropriate person who can assist them. Emergencies do come up so if you must let one person in your office know how to reach you in case of a true emergency.

What do you do when you leave the office or your home to prepare others to take over so you can have a relaxing and fun vacation?

Posted in Clear Your Clutter, Office/Paper Work | 1 Comment »

Do Daydreams Encourage Clutter Control

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 by admin

“Everything starts as somebody’s daydream—Larry Niven

In the summer I used to lay out on a blanket on the side of my grandmother’s tiny house and look at the clouds forming different shapes and daydream about meeting a movie star.

Now my daydreams are more practical.  I think about what to have for dinner, writing a thank you note, clutter control for my clients and for my home.

I have been in Colorado as I was asked to give a presentation on “Simple steps to organizing your workspace”. The first thing I talked about was the importance of clutter control. Some people I have worked with in offices need to do a little less daydreaming and more clutter control. Immediately a few names came to your mind too didn’t they?

One tip I talked about was to only have a few personal items on their desks. Too many personal items give the wrong impression to others in the workplace. Also too many things makes the desk look cluttered.

What do you daydream about? Or don’t you daydream?

Posted in Clutter Control | 3 Comments »

Straight Talk About Clutter Control In The Freezer

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 by admin

Clutter Control Show ‘N Share Tuesday:

Freezer

Freezer Door

 What’s in your freezer? Do you know or is crying out for clutter control?  Could you hear mine crying?  It was crying loud and clear. I actually like to organize the freezer because it is a small space and doesn’t take a lot of time if I revisit it about every 3 months.  How about you? Do you like organizing your freezer?

Clutter Control Tips to organize a fridge freezer:

  • Keep likes together
  • Contain items in plastic containers (They may crack and break but it’s worth taking the chance).  Mine have but not enough that they aren’t still functional.  Do you have a good alternative?  I would love to hear it.
  • Label food with content, date and amount when putting it in the freezer.

What are secrets do you use to keep clutter under control in your freezer?

Are you ever inspired by Show ‘N Share Tuesday?

Posted in Clutter Control, Kitchen | 2 Comments »

Unhurried Clutter Clearing For The 4th Of July

Monday, June 27th, 2011 by admin

Clutter Clearing Monday Focus:  4th of July

Next Monday we celebrate the freedoms we have here in the United States. We have parades, get together’s with friends and family. Or it means a day off work to just chill out. For me it is a day to honor those who have fought for my freedom and to wave the flag and feel proud to be an American.

Since it is holiday time focus this week on clutter clearing where ever you need it. If you are having a picnic check to see if you have the paper products you need or do you have a box or picnic basket to carry your food in to the park? Are the sheets changed in the guest room if you’re having guests, are the meals planned and the food purchased?

Clutter clearing isn’t just about not having clutter it is also being able to see what you have and it being convenient to get to when you need it. Of course it is all the clutter clearing you have done that makes this possible.

Happy focusing on your own priority this week.

Posted in Challenge | 6 Comments »

Fetching Organizing Product

Friday, June 24th, 2011 by admin

This is an organizing product I use and love. It is a purse hanger. My daughter gave me one 2 years ago and I keep it in my purse at all times.

It is nifty to hang my purse on the table right next to me when I am at a restaurant.  I think it is safer than on the back of my chair and it certainly is cleaner than on the floor. I have had several conversations start from people seeing it as they pass our table.

Solutions. com sell them for $14.98.  I have found them in different shops on sale from time to time.  I even found one at a thrift store once for $5.00.  I was so excited—it is in the shape of a little purse.

Posted in Organizing Products | 3 Comments »

Pepsi Awarded Legos Project!

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 by admin

Do you remember a month ago I asked if you would vote for a Lego’s project for my friend who needed the Pepsi grant? It is a project to help her child and other children with developmental challenges. She won! Thank you to my blog readers who voted. They were awarded $1,000 which will cover the cost of the Lego’s and training.

After the voting was over she sent this email:

Thanks, Marilyn!  This is just amazing to me!  A local group just had a motorcycle ride fundraiser and they raised $3400 and are donating it to my group!  Can you believe it? I cannot get over how much support we are getting!  And so many parents are writing to me because they want their kids to join!  It’s going to be incredible and will help a lot of kids!

It all started with her applying for the Pepsi grant. I wanted to share with you that a little help goes a long way and to say  Thank you!

Posted in Children | 4 Comments »

Get Rid Of Clutter The Fashionable Way

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 by admin

 

 

 

 

Today’s thought comes from the book “Dream Big” starring Olivia (the pig if you don’t know who Olivia is).

 “You can have whatever you want if you dress for it”.—Edith Head

Edith was a famous costume designer who won 8 Oscars and was nominated for 35.

If this is indeed true then let’s dress for clutter control. I know one professional organizer who organizes in a long rope of pearls. That wouldn’t work for me because I do a lot of bending and lifting and they would get in the way.

How about wearing comfortable grubbies when we are getting rid of clutter? I wear Levis and a nice shirt when I organize. One day as I was organizing with a client and I was sticking half way out of a tall cupboard that I had reached by standing on a ladder. (Do you get the picture—it wasn’t pretty). The woman walked in the room and said, “Oh, now I see why you wear what you wear”.

Do you think it matters what we wear when we are getting rid of clutter?

Posted in Clutter Control, Getting Rid of Clutter | 4 Comments »

Clearing Clutter On The First Day Of Summer

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 by admin

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

  Show ‘N Share Clearing Clutter Tuesday:

Today is the first day of summer but I won’t be showing off my tan instead I have been clearing clutter and I am going to show ya.

This is my armoire that is just off my kitchen. My kitchen has never grown up so I have to put kitchen necessities here. It isn’t that I have too many things; it is that I don’t have enough space in the kitchen itself.

Clearing clutter started because there were several things that belonged in the armoire but they were cluttering the table nearby instead. (And I had finally gotten tired of them being out). I put away table runners (one was from Christmas—believe it or not—I didn’t), a tea pot, and a sandwich holder we had used for our royal party back in April.

I could have felt shame for this clutter being out on the table and the floor, but instead I felt happy! The clutter is all gone on the table and the floor. I rearranged things to make it more functional and I now know everything I have in this storage space.

Do you need to do some clutter clearing or it is just me?  I hope you have a fabulous and fun summer!

Posted in Clearing Clutter, Kitchen | 4 Comments »

Clutter Clearing Focus Pays Off

Monday, June 20th, 2011 by admin

Do you find it hard to complete a Focus every week?  Sometimes I think we move so fast that we don’t really get anything done, including clutter clearing—at least done like we want it to be done.

Airplanes travel at a high rate of speed to move passengers from A to B. However…speed isn’t the only important factor in getting us to our desired destination. I just learned that with even few degrees off the charted course a plane would not make its intended destination. I didn’t realize even a few degrees was so important.

It doesn’t matter how fast we are clutter clearing but it does matter if we know what our destination is. This Monday Focus look back and see if you have reached your destination on your clutter clearing goals.

Last week’s was on your address book. I still need time to complete this goal so that is the one I am still working on—how about you?

Posted in Clutter Clearing | 2 Comments »

DYMO LabelWriter Is A Hit for Clutter Control

Friday, June 17th, 2011 by admin

 Labeling can actually help with clutter control and keep you organized—isn’t that an appealing thought? You’ll have more time to do what you really want to do when you’re organized.

6 Office Organizing Tips Using My DYMO Labeler

1. Anne Marie from Get Buttoned Up has this clever idea on labeling if you use wire baskets to organize your supplies:  She uses her DYMO label writer: “I placed the label on construction paper, cut it to size, put a couple of hole punches at the top and hung from the shelf using twist ties. You can do this too – use twist ties, or small rings you can get from the hardware store to hang your label – and your wire shelves will look neat and tidy. You can even use different color construction paper to differentiate the different categories you store on wire shelves (products, cleaning supplies, equipment, etc.)”.

2. I like using the DYMO 450 to print postage without ever leaving my office. On hot summer days it is nice not to have to go to the post office and it saves me time.

3. Summer is typically when people take vacations.  When fewer people are using manuals, software and other equipment it is a great time to use the DYMO Label Writer and label all of these important things.

4. When I worked for the State our fiscal year ended June 30th. If this is the end of your fiscal year it is a good time for clutter control and to clear out old files and archive the files you need to keep. If you use file boxes be sure to label them so you don’t have to open them up to see what is inside. If the labels get wet they can smear but using the DYMO labels you won’t have that problem. I suggest using the larger label so they are easier to read.

5. Summer is a great time to go through your file cabinets. If the drawers aren’t labeled or when you change things around be sure to label the outside of each drawer then everyone in the office can find what they need in a jiffy—including you.

6. Another feature of the DYMO 450 Duo I find charming is with a push of a button a little drawer slides out to change the label tape.

“Oh, what do you do in the summertime”?  I label with the DYMO 450 LabelWriter. I was asked to give some office tips using this product and I am being compensated but as always I tell it as I see it.  This is a great product and I highly recommend it for an office.

Posted in Office/Paper Work | 5 Comments »

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