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Top 5 tips to getting and staying organized

organizedDo you wish you were more organized?

Do you wish you could get organized on your own?

Have you ever wondered why you cannot get organized on your own?

Well some people have the natural talent of getting and staying organized and some people do not have that natural talent.

The great news is that you can learn the skills it takes to get and stay organized.  It might mean working with a professional organizer for a period of  time. Below I am going to share with you the top 5 tips to getting and staying organized.

What area of your home is bugging you the most? Start with this area to de-clutter, purge and sort. Take 15 minutes and use these tips below to finally get organized and keep it that way!

Tip  #1: Purpose. Pick up one item and ask yourself this question ”what is the purpose of keeping this?”  If it is a teapot and you make and drink tea everyday then you know the purpose of keeping it.

If for example it is a T-shirt from high school all torn and the wrong size then what is the purpose of keeping it? I know what you are saying “well I loved high school, I had so much fun in high school…” Keep the memory and toss the T. (Take a photo of you wearing the T- shirt if you really must).

Tip #2: Value. What is the value of keeping that particular item?  Storage lockers are one of the fastest growing businesses in North America.

Do you have items in a storage locker?

Are the items taking on any value by being in there? Most people do not even know what is in their lockers. Yet they continue to pay the monthly bill.

Maybe it is time to sort through these items and ask yourself “what is the purpose and value of keeping them.” Once your locker is empty you could put that extra money towards a trip or home renovations.

 

Tip #3: Ruthless. It is so important to be ruthless while clearing the clutter and getting organized.

This is where lots of people get stuck, because everything you touch has a story attached to it. You have emotional attachment to your things. As a Professional Organizer I do not have the same attachment to your things. I have an attachment to the outcome. This is why I can support you in moving forward.

I know how much better you will feel once your home is organized. I know how much more time you will have. You’ll have less stress too!

Tip #4: Stop. This is where a new habit will be formed. You will need to stop bringing items into your home. Don’t buy items unless you really need them. Don’t buy because it is on sale. Or because you think you might need it “one day”.

Ask family and friends to please stop buying you things unless it is something you really need and will use.  The best gifts are consumable. Fancy teas, coffee, candles, spa packages, dinner gift certificates and so on. I made a deal with all of my friends and family members. We create memories together instead of buying things. It sure makes the Holiday season a lot less stressful.

 

Tip #5: Faith. Have faith in yourself. Have faith knowing that the things you need will always be around you when you need them. Have faith that if you pass something on you will not need it “someday”. Someday is not a day of the week.

 

It is so disempowering to think that you might need it, “what if I need it, maybe I will need it.” When you are clear on your future direction you will not want to live in the past.

Getting and staying organized takes time. The first time you start you might not be as ruthless as the second and third time. Remember, it took many years to get disorganized. It will not get organized overnight. It is like peeling back the layers of an onion. Each time you de-clutter you peel back another layer.

Please let me know how these tips worked for you below!

By |2020-06-07T20:52:50+00:00November 28th, 2011|Organizer|2 Comments
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Crawl Spaces part 2 by Rowena List Professional Organizer and Speaker

Do you have a crawl space?

What is in it? When was the last time you took something out of your crawl space? Come on be honest!

Check out this short video on crawl spaces………….you will see that I am not a crawl space kind of gal.

Has your crawl space turned into public storage for your friends and family?
I highly discourage this.

Most people keep things in their crawl space for so many years that in the end they do not even know what is in their crawl spaces.

I do not want you to be one of those people.

Please let me support you in moving forward with organizing and clearing out your “crawl spaces.” Contact me today for a FREE 30 minute phone consultation.

Do you have a great crawl space story?
Leave it in the comment box below.
In the mean time if you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends. And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By |2020-06-07T20:52:50+00:00November 22nd, 2011|Home Organization, Organizer|0 Comments
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How to properly store items in a crawl space by Rowena List Professional Organizer and Speaker

Have you ever had water damage in your crawl space? If you have you know full well how important it is to properly store items in your a crawl space.

What about some house guests………mice,rats or raccoons?

Check out this short video on how to properly store items in a crawl space.

 As you probably know things can get very musty smelling in a crawl space. Keep your precious items stored properly by using plactic containers.

Be mindful to only store items that you need,that you are going to use and that you love in your crawl space.

I’m going to encourage you to take ONE box from your crawl space today. Go through the contents.If you had to pay to store those items would you still be keeping them? Please leave your comments below.

If you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends. And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By |2020-06-07T20:52:50+00:00November 22nd, 2011|Organizer|1 Comment
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Organizing a crawl space by Rowena List Professional Organizer and Speaker

What is the most important item that you have in your crawl space?

Is it easy to get at? Easy to find? Properly stored?

Check out this short video on organizing a crawl space.

I’m sure you will get a tip or two that you can use right away.

I am not a fan of crawl spaces. They are usually dark,dusty and have spiders. Not that I am freaked out by spiders. I just like them better when they are outside my home instead of inside my home. How about you?

A crawl space can become a catch all.

Has yours?

Is it time to take action and clear it out. Discover what really is hiding in your “crawl space.” Please contact me and I will give you my top tip on how to move forward with getting started.

In the mean time if you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends.  And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list.  You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

 

By |2020-06-07T20:52:51+00:00November 22nd, 2011|Home Organization, Organizer|0 Comments
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4 Simple Rules to Staying Organized

Below are the TOP 4 Simple Rules to Staying Organized. It is quick and easy for the whole family to follow.

I suggest you print them off and put them on the fridge. Hopefully there is room on your fridge to showcase these. If not, well that is a whole other newsletter!

Rule #1 If you take it out put it back.

How many of you live with teenagers? Do they ever leave the milk jug on the kitchen counter? This rule will help them to get that jug back in the fridge…hopefully!

Do you have a place for your scissors?  Are they always there when you need them?  This rule will help your family members to get the scissors back in the right place once they are finished using them.

Rule#2  If you open it close it.

Organized

How many times have you bumped your head on an open kitchen cabinet door? How many times have you tripped on an open drawer?

I travel with a very good girlfriend of mine. I love her to pieces however she has a habit of leaving her clothes drawer open. This is a real hazard especially in a hotel room.  Just make it a habit of closing anything you open.

Rule#3 If you throw it down pick it up.

How many towels are lying on your bathroom floor? How many pairs of dirty socks are lying on your kid’s floor?

Getting into the habit of picking up items makes for a much neater, organized home. Once your place is organized it simply takes a few minutes at the end of each day to go around and pick the items up.

Unfortunately not all family members are going to follow these rules. I wish I had a magic wand to grant you this wish. With time they will start to follow your lead. You need to be the one to set the example.

That all being said I take a few minutes at the end of each day and pick up the odd coffee mug laying around or the newspaper.

Rule#4 If you take it off hang it up.

Organized

“If you don’t do it right the first time when will you have time to do it again?” I love this saying.

A perfect example of this is when you get home and just toss your coat on the chair.

When will you get back to hanging it up?

If you simply hung it up as soon as you took it off you would not need to worry about it again that day. It takes mere seconds to do it right, once.

When you get undressed for the night simply hang up your clothes. Trust me, by the end of the week you will not feel like hanging up 7 days worth of clothes. Not to mention they would be all wrinkled.

I hope your family finds these 4 simple rules useful and joyfully follows them.

Please share your comments below on how your household did with these tips, I would love to hear from you!

Here’s to a clutter-free home!

By |2020-06-07T20:52:51+00:00November 15th, 2011|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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How to Organize Your Fridge

Did you “organize your fridge” today?

Most people give their fridge a good clean out.( I do mine before putting the groceries away) However do you ever think of organizing it?

Check out this video on how to organize your fridge.

I’ll be curious as to your thoughts. Please leave them in the comment box below.

 Have you ever come across any “science projects” in your fridge? I know of people who put the smallest amounts of leftovers in their fridge. They forget that those leftovers are there. You guessed it. The science project is taking place as you sleep. Be sure to properly label items in your fridge. Have a meal plan as to when you will be using those leftovers. Say good-bye to waste and science projects.

Need a little help with how to organize your fridge and meal planning?

Contact me and I’ll give you a FREE 30 minute phone consultation. I’ll give you my top tips on the best meal planning to date.

If you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends.  And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list.  You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By |2020-06-07T20:52:51+00:00November 11th, 2011|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move|0 Comments
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How To Organize Make-up. How Long Can I Keep My Makeup?

Yes make-up does have an expiry date. How old are some of your make-up items?

If you can not remember when you bought them or last used them then it is time to TOSS!

Check ou this video on how to organize make-up.

You will find out how long is too long. What to toss and when.

Make-up styles change and so do we. I have met people who proudly tell me they still have eyeshadow from their high school days…….YUK!! This is way to long to be keeping make-up unless you graduated this past June.

If you do not use much make-up be sure to buy the smallest size of each item possible.

What I like about http://www.marykay.ca/rlist is the small sizes of eye shadows.I love how you can get refils of your most used colours. You do not have to buy a whole new compact.

When was the last time you treated yourself to a new look?

Please be my guest.

I will treat you to a new look and show you how to organize make-up so it is fresh and clean.

I know what to look for in old make-up. I’ll give you my secrets on what to keep and what to toss.

In the mean time if you like this video, click the “like” button and then share it with your friends.  And if you’re not in the “Getting it Together” community, head on over to gettingittogether.ca and get on the list.  You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By |2020-06-07T20:52:51+00:00November 9th, 2011|Home Organization|0 Comments
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