January 10, 2008
Quick & Easy Organizing Tips to Start the New Year
‘Tis the season for New Year's resolutions and this year, like most years, millions of people will resolve to get organized. If you're one of them but too often find you make promises to yourself that you don't keep, take heart. Here are some quick, easy tips to help jump-start your “get organized” resolution this year.
TIP #1 - EXPIRED ITEMS: Now is the perfect time to toss anything expired. Out with the old; in with the new, including coupons, medicines, food, and warranties.
TIP #2 – PURGE YOUR PAPER FILES: Get rid of any empty file folders in your file cabinet and any information you no longer need or use. This can help you increase the available space by as much as 10 – 20%.
TIP #3 – HANGERS & DRY CLEANING BAGS: Remove the plastic your dry cleaner uses to protect your clothes. It’s bad for them. Also, remove any hangers not currently in use that are hanging on the rod in your closet; you’ll gain extra space if you do. Keep the extra hangers in a basket /bin in or near the closet. You can also buy hanger organizers at Bed, Bath & Beyond and the Container Store.
TIP #4 – REVIEW YOUR DECORATIONS: Cast a discriminating eye at items hanging on your walls and sitting on all your horizontal surfaces. If you don’t like what you see, take it away. If it doesn’t make you feel good when you see it, it’s creating negative energy and shouldn’t be on display.
TIP #5 – START SMALL: Start with one single drawer and organize it. If you have a “junk” drawer tackle that because it should be cleaned out at least once a year. Keep the things you need and love and get rid of everything else. You’ll get real pleasure every time you go into the drawer and can find what you’re looking for. It may even inspire you to do more!
TIP #6 – HEALTHY PLANTS: Replace plants that aren’t flourishing with new, healthy ones. In Feng Shui, plants represent the Wood element, which is the symbol for growth and upward movement.
TIP #7 – DROP THE “www.”: When typing a website name into your browser don’t type the www. part. It’s not necessary so you’ll spend less time typing and get to the information you want faster.
TIP #8 – “DO NOT CALL” REGISTRY: Still bothered by annoying telemarketers who waste your time? Go to donotcall.gov or call 888-382-1222 and get yourself off of their lists.
TIP #9 – LABEL, LABEL, LABEL: If you got new electronic devices as presents over the holidays, label their chargers before you forget what they went to!
TIP #10 – GET OFF OF CATALOG MAILING LISTS: No, I am not suggesting that you eliminate every catalog you get. Just the ones you truly don’t want, need or use. Catalog Choice - www.catalogchoice.org - is a great resource for removing yourself from the mailing lists of individual catalogs.
TIP #11 – SHORTER MEETINGS: Just as most people expand to fill their available physical space, meetings expand to fill the available time allotted. Try shorter meetings and see if you can’t get the same work done in less time.
TIP #12 – SNACK TIME: Designate a low shelf stocked with bowls, cups and snacks so that children can help themselves at snack time without having to depend on you for assistance.
TIP #13 – FOOD SHOPPING: Organize your shopping list and coupons in the same order the aisles are laid out in your local grocery store to save time.
TIP #14 – TRAVELING: Assemble a toiletries travel bag and leave it in your suitcase so it’s ready to go when you are. It will be one less thing you have to think about when it comes time to pack.
TIP #15 – PAPER SHREDDING: Don’t spend time shredding every sensitive document individually. Create a bin or folder for “to shred” items and do it periodically instead (unless others will have access to that information you would rather they not have).
TIP #16 – EMAIL: Set your email program to check for new email no more frequently than every half hour. Do that for a week or two and then set it to check for new email no more frequently than every hour for the next week or two. Continue doing this, increasing the length of the interval, until you are checking email no more than a few times a day. Checking email obsessively is a huge time waster and this is a good way to wean yourself off of it.
TIP #17 – BILL PAYING: Set-up automatic payments for as many bills as you can. It will save you a lot of time and add to your peace of mind, too.
Professional Organizer in New York City |
Professional Organizer in NYC Professional Organizer in New York | Professional Organizer in NY
Professional Organizer in Manhattan
C
o
p
y
r
i
g
h
t
©
2005 - 2010
MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009
MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009