Top 6 Tips to Increase Productivity 04/27/2010
 1. Set time to work and avoid distractions. If you work from home set office hours and talk to any family about respecting this time. Allowing oneself to get distracted by household chores or passing conversations can really take a bite at productivity. 2. Prioritize your tasks and make a 'To Do" list everyday. Break your tasks down based on their Value and Deadline so you can easier gage what your top priorities are. As well as having this To-Do list, take time to schedule your tasks into the calendar or planner. Getting real about time and when you will do it makes it more likely that you will get it done on time. 3. Plan your week on Sunday. When making your plan for the week, try to group 'like' tasks together. If you have errands and tasks that can be grouped together you can save a lot of time. Take up to a 1/2 hour on Sunday to review on paper what your obligations are for the week ahead, this is one of the best organizing strategies. 4. Create filing systems (Paper and Electronic) that suit your needs. Everyone is a little different in they way the process information. When it comes to file systems, although for the most part they can be similar, there are lots of variations in setting them up. There are even choices to be made when it comes to what you keep as 'paper' and what you keep 'electronically.' Regardless of the system you use, it must be easy to maintain and allow you to find what you need quickly. 5. Dedicate space for your business. If you have an actual office, a converted closet, a spare bedroom or an office nook in the kitchen, the space needs to be dedicated to business. A place where you can work on your tasks and have what you need close at hand, avoiding distractions. 6. Become a student of Organization. If you don't already have a file or a 'favorites' folder on organizing, maybe now is a good time to start one. Read articles and books on time management and organization. Attend seminars, telecasts and try to get your hands on as much good material on this subject as you can. To ingrain the material into your subconscious you should go over the materials 6-8 times. Too busy or overwhelmed to get started? Call me and we can work together hands on getting you going in the right direction. 778-866-6942 Add Comment This morning as I was putting my newsletter together I had time to enlist the help of my loving partner. On my request he carefully read over some of the material I wrote, helping me with a few corrections I needed to make. In turn, I helped to tidy up some of his recent paperwork. This nice exchange of ‘Proofreading’ for ‘Bookkeeping’ helps us a lot, not only to get things done, it also allows us more time to chat and be together. The thought I want to leave you with now is... We all have things we are good at, and tasks that we enjoy. As well, there are things we don’t know how to do, or just plain don’t like doing. Sometimes we have no choice but to do these things, as they are needed, yet other times we may be able to make a tradeoff with a friend, family member or co-worker. Talk to those around you and see if you can engage in a mutually beneficial arrangement to make both of your lives easier. Clear the Inside Clutter! 04/26/2010
It is my pleasure this week to include this insightful contribution from Regina at ‘Veracis Wellness Inc.’ Enjoy… “Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. Most people tidy their physical space first which creates an environment for inner contemplation. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to meditate with the nagging reminder of all the cleaning that still needs to be done, or opening you eyes to clutter!” Clear the clutter externally to experience inner calm. Be gentle with yourself, beginning with one area at a time. The same is true for your inner self. Every time you bring order and cleanliness into your surroundings, give yourself a few minutes to reflect on the clutter you’ve let go on the inside. The way you think and act today is different from who you were yesterday. The satisfaction you experience when things are in order will relate to your inner happiness. Be in the moment, smile and enjoy the freedom to touch truth from within. Light, Laughter & Love, Regina Kaiser To learn more about Veracis Wellness Inc. Call Regina at 604.461.5511, email regina@veraciswellness.com or visit www.veraciswellness.com today. Remember, Nobodys Perfect 04/20/2010
 Do you know anyone that is embarrassed by their clutter? In the course of my work I have met with many people that have at least some degree of shyness when it comes to any clutter that they are struggling with. It is only natural for people to have those feelings when they sense they are lacking some organizing skills. Yet, let me tell you, there is no need to be embarrassed about clutter. First of all, there is not one person I have met that is great at everything. I mean really, if someone you met was perfect, it would probably be annoying to be around them, wouldn't it? Clutter is more common than you think and in a society where we are encouraged to buy more than we need, where we are bombarded with paper, information, ideas and offers, who can keep up? Today I will just leave you with the thought that as an organizer, I get it! After all, I too have to keep my stuff, my papers and my tasks in order and minimized. Even I have to 'catch up' and 'let-go' from time to time. So if you or anyone you know is struggling with or embarrassed by clutter, know that it's ok, we can't all do everything purrrrfectly. 'Do what you do best, let others help with the rest!" Creating Space 04/19/2010
We all know that the Maple Leaf serves as a great symbol of national pride. Did you also know that the Maple Leaf also signifies a great Canadian Company that can help you create more space? Maple Leaf Self Storage has been in business for over 25 years, they have 10 great locations in the Lower Mainland and two in Calgary. I recently visited the Vancouver Location and it was not only the facilities that impressed me, the people really make the difference. I am very impressed with Maple Leaf Self Storage Inc as their facilities are clean, organized and secure. They offer clients a safe, dry, temperature controlled haven for valuable possessions and as an organizer I appreciate just how important good containment is. That is why today I thought I would mention them in Tidy Times. They even offer a no-charge "Business Centre" on site to assist clients. I highly recommend checking them out for your storage needs, even the needs you haven't even considered yet. Wouldn't off-site storage for your valuable yet less used items free up some floor space where it really counts? Learn more about Maple Leaf Self Storage and check out some great pictures from the recent Members Reception held for Vancouver Board of Trade. This fantastic networking event was hosted by PJ and Angelica, the proud managers of Maple Leaf Self Storage. Member's Reception at Maple Leaf Self Storage www.mapleleafstorage.com Strategies for Children 04/12/2010
You got me!! Other than occasionally acting like a big kid, or taking care of someone else’s on a temporary basis, I personally don't have any children and can only imagine the true experience of having to care for them full-time. Yet, what I do have to share is some tips and strategies that I have picked up during my quest to learn more about organizing. And since this week’s topic is residential solutions, I thought I would include a few strategies in helping to organize kids spaces too. Let’s talk strategy first, after all these little ‘Mini Me's’ learn fast and they learn from you so keep in mind five little tips:
As for making it easy for kids to stay organized, consider these tips:
Lastly, give the little ones a special hug for me! Michelle A Basket Case? A Case for Baskets. 04/12/2010
 Are you pulling your hair out trying to figure why you just can't seem to control the little things that keep piling up in corners and on shelves? Is your home an obstacle course? If your clutter is making you feel like a basket case, it may be a case for baskets. There are several organizing mistakes that are quite common; not having a place for things is definitely one of them. It really makes it a lot harder to know where to put something when it doesn’t have a home. Now baskets are not the answer to everything, for example you would not put your action files in them. Yet baskets can make great homes for a large variety of items, such as cables & game controllers, gloves & scarves, towels & linens, toiletries, pens & pencils, CD collections, kid’s toys, and many more. Baskets can be added to shelves to hold smaller items and give the room a less cluttered, more decorative look. They are also very easy to put things into. Remember; having things easier to put away than to take out, is a key principal to staying organized. Some great ideas for baskets include using plastic stackable ones to hold smaller toiletries under the bathroom sink or loose bags of spices and small items in the kitchen cupboard. For items like slippers, shoes, pet leashes, empty bottles and anything else that can leave dust behind, the larger baskets with washable cloth linings can be a great option to consider. Wire, plastic, cloth, cardboard or metal, baskets are inexpensive and easy to find. I would aslo suggest that you try to coordinate them in each area to keep a tidy and more consistent look. For baskets in view, it is preferable they fit into your décor and color scheme. You can even find great looking baskets with lids on them. For small items to keep at arms length, like keys, eyewear, wallets, and other daily used items try a little basket on the hallway table or kitchen counter to drop these into. They keep these types of things close, nicely contained, yet out of site. Remember to label baskets well. There is no such thing as too many labels. Labels make it easier to stay organized. They take a lot of the ‘thinking’ out of finding the right place, and serve to remind you that the container you’ve chosen has set limits on the amount of items in it, thus keeping you from building up clutter. Label, Label, Label! So if you’re feeling like a ‘Basket Case’ and want to be more organized, take a look around and consider how a few, well placed decorative or functional baskets can make your life easier. |  CategoriesAll ArchivesJanuary 2012 |
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