Using a timer will improve productivity.  I have clients who think that everything will take longer than it really does, because they have never really assessed how long things take. I often recommend the Time Timer.

It has been a very cold and snowy winter here in New England as it has been in most of the country.  The forced days at home with the kids can be a golden opportunity to get some organizing projects done.

Kids love to play and have fun, so here is an idea to do with the kids today during the storm.

Well, here we are  January 2013.  How are you making out with your resolutions.  Have you had a slip?  Are you feeling like a failure?  Did you just give up? Too often we have an all or nothing attitude and the first time we sense failure we give up and walk away. For so many of the clients I have met, one missed deadline, one misplaced paper, one time late to an appointment and they give up thinking that things will never change or improve.

Just a little dose of inspiration for us all today! If you believe you can, you will make tremendous things come true! Enjoy!

Despite your best efforts to get and stay organized you have not been able to get yourself out from under.  Here are some familiar reasons why your efforts can fail and some strategies you can use to move forward.

Clutter Support Group Spring 2013

A New Session of the Clutter Support Group is forming now!  Spring is in the air!  Now is the perfect time to get you organized. Feel the benefits of more daylight and more energy for getting started on the road to organizing success.

I had a horrible nightmare last night. I was walking alone and was entering a tunnel. When I approached I could see the streetlight from the other side. Then, once in the tunnel, I lost sight of the light and I thought I was approaching a wall. I realized I was quickly being overtaken by a large individual who grabbed me and robbed me. When I finished screaming in my sleep and awoke fully it made me think about personal safety and I want to offer you these tips.

10. Evolve

Develop the mindset “I can be organized”. If you think, “I could never be organized”, you are setting yourself up for failure. To succeed, you must first believe that you can.

1. Be cool. Light and airy colors will help small spaces feel just a bit larger. Stick to cool colors like blue and green.
2. Go monochromatic. Think soothing tone-on-tone for paint techniques, fabrics, and patterns. Cream and white, icy blues, pale greens, and butter yellows are just a few of the combinations that can open up a small room.

Do you say to yourself, "I don't have time to get rid of clutter"? It is a misconception that removing clutter from your home or office must take hour upon hour of your time. If you can schedule a fifteen minute session at least once a week, you can complete many of the projects listed below in that time. After a few weeks, you will notice a significant reduction in your clutter.

1. You don’t have enough time or you over-schedule your time.  Be realistic when you are estimating how long a project will take, then add more time to account for unexpected delays.   Schedule 2 to 3 hour organizing sessions on your calendar and keep these appointments with yourself.

Last month the professional organizers at All Ways Organized talked about the use of three-ring binders to organize some of the papers in your home. This month, we will share with you creative ideas for using a variety of containers for storing your possessions, and decluttering your home.

Is your “IN” basket a dumping ground?  Do you know what is in your”IN” basket?  Do you find yourself saying…”I know it is in here somewhere, but I just can’t find it.”  We at All Ways Organized offer the following suggestions for how to manage your “IN” basket.

It’s a brand new year and you’ve made a resolution to get organized, a resolution you have made several times before.  You may have the best of intentions, but often, obstacles get in the way.

Now is a good time to assess your home record keeping systems to determine if they are effective or not.  If not, January is the perfect time to make a change.