Productive Environment Institute with Barbara Hemphill & Andrea Anderson is The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to "Organizing and Learning How to Organize". You can find complete information on Productive Environment Institute with Barbara Hemphill & Andrea Anderson and her products by visiting Tame Your Paper Tiger in the Digital Age.
One of the rooms that has a tendency to get disorganized and untidy is the home office. In many cases, the home office becomes a dumping ground for paperwork and other items that need a home. By following these simple organizing tips, however, you can regain control of your home office and ... Views: 617
You, like most people, probably have boxes filled with things that you probably didn't even realize were still in your possession! Using a label maker will allow you to quickly identify the contents of those mysterious boxes and containers.
There are so many handy uses for these gadgets. ... Views: 708
Now that you have de-cluttered your closets, it is time to decide how to keep those closets organized. There are very useful containers and gadgets on the market to help you with this task. Let’s look at several of these products that will help make your closets stay more organized. ... Views: 636
I just have to say I go all agog when I get to go to The Container Store. (We don't have one here in Utah). I know it's sad but true. I use containers all the time in every room. I can go so far as to say I love containers. They are great to store things in, contain things in, make things get ... Views: 729
So the time has come for you to declutter and organize your bathroom. These organizing tips make the job of decluttering and organizing a bathroom much easier and will save you time in your decision making process!
What do you throw away?
*Medicines with expired dates and any extra bottles ... Views: 720
Oh, how I hate wire hangers! No, I am not related to Joan Crawford, but at times I’d like to utter those famous words of hers. I think someone is playing a cruel joke on us all and wire hangers are actually meant to tangle together in an unruly mess when more than a few empties find themselves ... Views: 652
Do you know that we receive more mail in one day than our grandparents received in a month? These days, it seems as though the mail is an endless task.
The post office does a great job of delivering a pile of decisions to you everyday. On average, it takes ten minutes a day to sort through your ... Views: 525
Is your home office in disarray? Are you late paying bills because you can’t find them? Do you feel stressed when you are looking for an important paper and can’t find it? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your home office is undoubtedly in disarray. This might be because of the ... Views: 937
If your office desk is in disarray and you can seldom find what you need, it is time to set up a system that works for you. These easy office organizing tips are just the first steps to achieving a functional office.
Choose a Filing System
Choosing and setting up a filing system are key ... Views: 755
As we rush about frantically preparing for the holiday season we all have a sense of anticipation. Love Christmas or loathe it those of us who live in the Western world are affected by it.
Anticipation has many guises. For little children there is the wide eyed wonder as twinkly lights and ... Views: 4006
Organizing As A Spiritual Practice
“Organizing and spirituality?”, my clients query, “What does one have to do with the other?”
My response to this question is simple. Organizing brings order to the physical chaos and spiritual practice brings order to a chaotic mind or ... Views: 813
“Organizing and spirituality?”, my clients query, “What does one have to do with the other?”
My response to this question is simple. Organizing brings order to the physical chaos and spiritual practice brings order to a chaotic mind or calm to our inner life. The ancient Chinese proverb, “A ... Views: 1446
It is springtime and that means we will start with spring-cleaning and that includes your vehicles.
This is a great time of the year to get it shining and bright so the sun does not do any damage to your finish.
For this job, you will want to wash your vehicle, shine the bumpers and put a ... Views: 1350
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked ... Views: 592
With all of the things we have to remember these days, why entrust anything important to your memory alone? To help organize your life and keep stress at a minimum, always carry a paper and pen with you to jot down important items that you need to do or ideas you don’t want to forget. There ... Views: 738
Are you looking for ways to make your life run more smoothly? Making lists might be just what you are looking for since they help you focus on what needs to be done now and in the future. The following organizing tips are easy ways to incorporate the use of lists into your every day life.
The ... Views: 744
If organizing your home seems like a daunting task, ask yourself what bothers you the most. By starting with one problem area the task will seem less overwhelming. Put these organizing tips to work for you and in no time you will have an organized home with an ongoing plan to keep it that ... Views: 803
Once an afterthought, people who spend time at a desk have come to recognize the benefits of creating an ergonomic, efficient workspace. Whether you’re spending time at a desk at home or at an office, a comfortable, well thought out space can go a long way towards making you feel more ... Views: 794
Are you tired of asking your kids to put away their toys, clothes, and school books? If “clean up your room!” is a popular refrain in your household, there are some simple steps you can take to get your kids on the organizing bandwagon.
1. Give them control. You already know your ... Views: 662
We’ve got way to go to reach the paperless future shown in The Jetsons and Star Trek. During the course of daily life, many of us are faced with a deluge of paper, all of which needs to be dealt with in some way. Many people I’ve worked with are drowning in stacks, piles, and desks ... Views: 800
San Francisco living is great – many of us are fortunate to live in beautiful, historic buildings that are just bursting with character. Another thing that’s bursting is our closets. With more clothing and belongings than ever before, it can be a constant struggle to find places to ... Views: 603
When I was about 10 years old I was in a recreation program. I loved going there everyday because it was fun and it got me out of picking raspberries. We would get up at 4:30 in the morning and start picking as soon as it was light. We kids got to leave the field at 9:00 to walk the ¾ of a ... Views: 540
Vicki Norris
Restoring Order
Are you one of those people who panics when guests are scheduled to come to your house? Do you begin the frantic “dash and stash,” running around your house trying to conceal your piles of clutter? Do you slide your arm across surfaces, piled high with ... Views: 700
Did you spend any time today looking for something lost? Do you feel as though you never have time to sit down and relax? If this sounds familiar to you, it's time to get organized. Organizing is not going to bring about world peace. It's just going to make your day run more smoothly and maybe ... Views: 636
Containers are the answer to a clutter free world. Well, that may be over simplifying it, but containers go a long way when you have an organizing dilemma. Do not go out and just start buying containers thinking then you will be organized. Containers can become clutter too. Here are eleven ... Views: 661
My daughter who works for the Peace Corps was visiting three of the countries in Africa which she is country desk for. (I have no idea what that is other than it is a lot of responsibility and work which she loves). She wrote: "being in Burkina is awesome! I feel so far away! I feel like I've ... Views: 559
Does just the mention of the word 'spreadsheet' cause your mouth to go dry? Do you immediately think of sums, formulae, and figures?
Well fear not any more -- I'm here to tell you that spreadsheets aren't just for sums!
I'm going to share with you my favorite top five tips on how you can ... Views: 1284
Wait! Don’t “give that away!”
Do these words sound familiar? We’ve either said them or heard them from someone we know and love. It’s hard to let that old sweater go, even though we haven’t worn it in years. It used to be the “favorite” or it’s reminiscent of a happy time in our lives, or ... Views: 939
I was with my rug hooking group the other day working on our rug projects and because my friends know I am a professional organizer they started asking me how to organize various problem spots in their homes. One dilemma for several of them in new homes was what to do with linens when the ... Views: 1346
The days are getting warmer and longer. Spring is here! As the light shines in the windows we begin to see all of the dirt and clutter that has built up over the winter. It’s that time of year again - Spring Cleaning Time! But where to begin!
According to cleaning professionals, eliminating ... Views: 873
Pare down. Go through the things in your child's room and help them let go of things they have outgrown or no longer use. It can be overwhelming to find a pair of shorts from a drawer stuffed so full that it can barely close.
Give things a home. Go through your child's toys and determine which ... Views: 871
When you’re a first-time parent, the urge to buy tons of cute, new stuff for your baby is overwhelming. There are so many cool gadgets, products, clothes and more for your little one … not to mention all the already-parents telling you what you absolutely have to have in order to ... Views: 920
A first glimpse of a beautifully kept hardwood floor can evoke feelings of richness, warmth, and natural beauty. Hardwood floors also offer the perfect combination of strength and beauty for any indoor environment, and many consumers may be surprised by the limitless choices that wood flooring ... Views: 655
Would you like to use your garage for its intended purpose? If you open the garage door and see a wall of clutter, don’t despair. A little elbow grease and organization can free your car from its exile on the driveway.
We live in a world where more is - well, more. Our ... Views: 965
A To-Do list is a list of tasks to do and complete in a given time period usually by the end of the day. Such a list is only that, a list of tasks and nothing more. If you are having trouble completing your list, you may be overlooking why you don’t complete it.
A common mistake ... Views: 848
Feeling sick, stressed or fatigue may not be the result of your day. It may however be the result of the environment you are living in and working in. As a Professional Organizer, I always emphasize the importance of an uncluttered environment not solely for the joy of finding things when you ... Views: 6286
When it comes to time management you may think that there are techniques, and gadgets
that can help you focus better and get things done. The fact of the matter is time management has very little to do with time. It does however have a lot to do with self-awareness.
The more you know yourself ... Views: 905
Writing thank-you notes can be one of those annoying chores you always put off. Imagine having to write more than 100 of them for wedding guests. The more you’re nagged to
do it, the less motivated you feel. I rarely ask clients why they avoid doing something. Instead, I focus on
how many ... Views: 513
Garages seem to become the dumping ground for everything we want out of our homes but can't part with so we stick it in the garage. Clutter can pile up until there is no longer room to even park the car.
Here are some simple no cost solutions to clutter clearing the garage and keeping it that ... Views: 629
Sometimes inspiration hits us when we least expect it. It happened much the same way for me, what seems like a life time ago. Despite the fact that I’ve made a career of being a professional organizer, I make no secret of the fact that I was not always an organized person. In fact, throughout ... Views: 825
Do you go about your daily activities thinking how much better things would be if you were just more organized? But then, reality hits and you say to yourself, “Who am I kidding? I just don’t have an organized bone in my body!” Do you often think that some people, maybe including you, just ... Views: 642
Power of ElfActionTM Affirmations
Playing to Win with Bookkeeping!
I deposit all personal checks into my personal checking account.
I deposit all business checks into my business checking account.
I write myself a check from the business to pay myself.
I have a trusted, ethical tax ... Views: 819
1. Attitude…Enjoy being organized and look at it as a treat for yourself instead of a chore that you need to do!
2. Finances…Create a financial budget and follow it.
3. Time Management…Create a schedule for your time. Don’t forget to schedule time for family & friends and organizing ... Views: 969
1. Attitude…organizing is like planning, if you take the time to do it, it will save you time in the long run.
2. Time Management…whatever your calendar method, maintain it, and be sure to schedule time for family & friends and organizing maintenance!
3. Maintenance…spend some time each day ... Views: 1384
I was sitting on the beach and thinking about what really matters in life? I have no doubt that I am not alone in these thoughts, but what does really matter?
Relationships, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and other people that are strangers to us…
or possessions?
Why do so many ... Views: 830
Have you ever noticed how everyone's home smells different? I believe that your home scent is a comfort to you, and one of your basic instincts that let’s you know that you are safe and where you belong. When you move into a new place, you really won't feel comfortable until you rid your home ... Views: 910
About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child safety devices on the market today.
Any safety device you buy should be sturdy enough to prevent injury to your child, yet ... Views: 658
Seasons are changing and it is time to think about putting away your summer or winter clothing—depending on where you live---and getting out the clothes that have been stored away.
This is a good time to look at every article of clothing you have in your closet. Take out each one and ... Views: 1227
Have you been taught if a can of food is bulging then it is bad and that is all you know about the safety and quality of food on your shelf? If your milk in your fridge has passed the expiration date do you still drink it until it tastes bad?
Do you know if the food on your shelves is still ... Views: 1220
This time of year, it's important to clear out the clutter and start the year with a fresh approach.
I completely detoxed my own office over the break and couldn't believe how much stuff I had accumulated that I didn't need. I do my regular mini-clean-ups weekly and the major ones around 4 ... Views: 851