Organize with Articles

What happened to Spring? It’s certainly HOT in Florida. It started long before the first day of summer.

You did get your Spring cleaning done, right? Did you know you spent 40% more time cleaning because of your clutter? Ooops, someone told me you have clutter, sorry.

That’s OK. With the kids out of school now and all the company.....nobody will notice your clutter. They realize it’s just the way it is at ‘your’ house. But when little Johnny asks his Mom, with you standing there........Mommy, "WHAT IS ALL THAT STUFF?? " I’m scared Mommy."" Are there creatures or boogie men hiding in there?" Mom responds," shhhhhhh Johnny, it’s OK, we’ll talk about it later." But I’m scared Johnny keeps saying. You pretend you didn’t hear the bratty kid, right?

The problem however, is how many times have you overheard similar conversations & whispers.

I realize, you’re too busy to get to the clutter. Also have no idea how to begin.

It only gives you a headache when someone needs something out of that pile, or the other piles you have put in boxes. Then there’s daily stress it adds to your life. It’s tough, but just remember, you are not alone by any means.

There is a choice here. You can stop inviting the kids and your friends over. That would work. Of course the kids wouldn’t be happy, but they’d get over it after a while.

It doesn’t really matter nobody can put their car in the garage. With all the many, many boxes and piles out there. It’s better this way, nobody can hit anything in the garage backing out or in.

Remember the day Aunt Josie ran into the boxes and it took a week to get the pile off her car and get her out? THAT was the last day of using the garage. How embarrassing? Kind of a funny story. However, not one to be shared! For what my two cents is worth. You have some serious problems. Life’s not giving you enough time for yourself or your family. You can’t ever get time back.

Do you think anyone has an idea you have a storage unit? Just a couple of bucks a month....yeah right. It’s almost time to get another one. But instead you know you can get the mess cleaned up and get yourself organized. After all, you just read an organizing book. Not sure where it is now, but you think you can remember what it said.

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Here are a few statistics for you:

The average working person spends less than 30 seconds a day in meaningful communication with their children. OK now, this one can’t be reversed!!

In the last 20 years, working time has increased by 15% and leisure time has decreased by 33%.

Not looking good for you folks out there.

None of those worked? I bet there were some butterflies in someone’s tummy. That’s all right, cause now I’m going to hit you where it hurts....

Let’s look at this in terms of dollars and cents.

Are You Aware...

The Wall Street Journal reports that the average American business person loses six weeks a year searching for lost or misplaced articles from messy desks and files. Six weeks????? {Dr. Donald E. Wetmore}

That translates into a loss of $3,125 for each $25,000 employee, when an hour a day is spent unproductively. Multiply that toward your hourly rate, or by the number of employees in your office. This unproductive time amounts to a significant financial loss for a business. But if turned around organizing can make you a better profit. {Dr. Donald E. Wetmore}

Thinking about all this has reminded me how often I run across people like you. Just as embarrassed as you, with even more clutter.

Now tell me again why you don't hire Professional Organizer. We are there to help, not hinder. Work ‘with’ you and not make judgments. We’ll make you smile! Trust me.

Kyna Morrison Owner/author

June 2005

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How to Succeed in being Organized

Are you disorganized? Do you have piles of stuff? Is time wasted searching for missing items? Do you overlook appointments? Are you missing due dates for your bills? Do you work too many hours due to the disorganization? Is being disorganized keeping you from doing the things in life you truly love? As well as preventing you from spending more time with the people you love?

Agonize - Are you agonizing over your disorganized situation? Does this bring about tension and stress in your everyday life? Is your blood pressure out of control? Are you heading for a disaster? Are you agonizing over what to do and feeling overwhelmed and out of control of your circumstances? No clue where to begin?

Realize - Did you answer any, or all of the above questions with yes? If so, you may now be fully aware of your dilemma and are possibly ready to find answers to assist you.

Analyze - Let's begin to determine the nature of your issues. What precisely is it you are struggling with? Is it the mail? Paperwork? Managing your time efficiently? Make yourself a list.

Strategize - Now you must set your course of action. How will you incorporate your list effectively?

Familiarize - You need to acquaint yourself with your individual situation. Unique items on your list need to be analyzed thoroughly. Having done your familiarizing, now your goals need to be set . {sorry, another list} Which items need to be earmarked urgent? Rearrange your first list from the most significant to the least important. {the junk drawer probably doesn't need to be at the top}.

Organize - Start your process of getting organized, by taking a long hard look at the number one position on your second list. What exactly do you need to do to accomplish this task?

Let's practice with this example: a pile of papers. Have your shredder within arm's reach. Anything needed to be shredded goes directly there, not in a pile. Your garbage can is the next necessary item of use. All garbage goes in the garbage. NOW.

Arrange the papers by categories. For example, bills, how to manuals for appliances, insurance information, kids school papers, junk mail, etc. Don't touch that junk mail more than once. It's shredder or garbage material.

Number one, you now have less paper. Number two you have now begun to see what kind of files or systems you need.

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Personalize - Building a system that is personalized for you and your individual needs.

We all have different 'papers'. Therefore, we require distinctive systems personalized just for us. Believing firmly, keeping it simple is the best way to go. This way we eliminate a 'to be filed' pile. Utilizing simple a method does just that. It remains simple, therefore you are apt to apply the technique.

Optimize - your system making it as functional as possible. Denoting, it works for you and your situation. After all, if you didn't use a system before, how could a complicated structure work now? You may make changes as time goes on, that's OK.

Finalizing - finally! Do you need a file for insurance policies? Auto, home and life policies can all be in one file. Anything needed for tax purposes, together. Keeping it simple! Everything hinging now on your ability to follow through.

Stabilize - your system and utilize it to your fullest advantage. Open the mail at your garbage can and shredder. File, as papers arrive. Remember, you have a effortless system. You identify with it, you designed it!

Energized - by your accomplishment? More content and less anxious, as well. Those piles won't be staring you in the face! Your achievement is exhilarating. Be proud!

Capitalize - on your new found freedom. Utilize your time on other things in your life. Enjoy! Rejoice! YOU did this!

Generalizing - Remember, organizing takes time. You'll have a bigger mess during the process. Take baby steps. Organize one area at a time, by means of the above method.

August 2006

It won’t Hurt!

In today’s world we all appear to be rushed. As we all begin asking the same question of life as we know it... “What did we do prior to all this modern technology?” Knowing very well the world still revolved, just as it does at present.

The difference is in the speed. Not the rotations of the earth, but us as a human race, in general. We are rushing from the time our feet hit the floor in the morning.

There are deadlines which we truly believe are ‘dead’ lines. Our lifestyles are indeed our dead - lines, as that is where we are all headed, unless we take charge.

Think back before the stress, or are you even capable of recollecting?
It’s time to take charge! And, you know what? It won’t hurt! You won’t be caused financial distress, anguish, mental pain, be bruised or battered. You may become happier, less stressed, have time for your family and your friends!

Do you recall when you were happy to be having company? Having friends over for dinner or a barbeque? Clients in for a drink? The in-laws all gathering at your house, OK, let’s not go that far.
You get the picture.

Let’s clean it up and clear it out. From our environment, our heads and our hearts. {literally}
Paper, paper, paper. bills, junk mail, faxes, reports, charts, spreadsheets, kids school work, the in box, the out box. HELP!!! It’s overwhelming and it’s stressful. There is no doubt. OK, we can’t deal with the paperwork until we have systems in place which work for us individually. Obviously, whatever is in place now, is not working.

Now, on to the garage. You moved how long ago? How many boxes did you say have never been unpacked?

I know your kidding when you say you still have your high school clothes in your closet. Hey honey, a spring chicken you are NOT. Those pieces have been in and out of style more times than I can count. They are what size? {I won’t go there.}

We are riding this high speed roller coaster called life. It’s OK not to be Suzie homemaker and Ward Cleaver. Time is of the essence. We don’t get a second chance at any of this. The babies are growing, the parents are aging and we don’t have time for everything!

Get help everyone, get help.
There are cleaning services to clean your house. However, did you know, there is 40% less cleaning to be done if you’re organized?

It won’t hurt! Hire a Professional Organizer. We’re everywhere these days. We even do phone consultations.

What ever your ‘clutter’ might consist of, we’ve seen much worse.
It’s OK to be busy and behind on your work. Many of us have played the corporate game and worked 70 or 80 hours a week. While raising a family and struggling to keep a marriage together. We truly understand your needs and how these things can come about.

It’s not the end of the world......it’s the beginning of a new way of life. And.....it won’t hurt!

Kyna Morrison - August 2005

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Preparing to get organized

Actually the only thing you need to do to prepare yourself for a professional organizer visit is, contact them.

Here are two major misconceptions regarding the first visit.

#1 You do not need to clean up your disorganized area.

#2 There is no need to 'buy' anything for the first visit.

Many people think the organizer has never seen anything like their problem area. Whoa! They are so very wrong. We have seen it all.

One of our very first priorities is making you feel at ease. From the very beginning you will be reassured.

We will work together or not. This all depends on what exactly it is you need done.

If, for instance, you have piles of paper which are overwhelming you, we will need to decide together what needs to be purged or saved. While doing this everything will be put in specific piles for filing later. It's good to have a shredder for personal information or offers from credit card companies, etc. These items do not need to get in to the wrong hands! Identity theft is a major issue in today's world.

I believe in setting up a client specific structure. Everyone has different needs. In order to fulfill your needs we will work towards what works for you and you alone. Many clients end up with an extremely simple filing system. After all, if you've gone from 'nothing' to 'something' you don't need to be overwhelmed once again.

Other people need much more detailed systems, again, it's client specific.

Large corporations, for instance, are inevitably more complex than a working family.

We're not limited to filing systems by any means. For the family it could mean a closet, kitchen or garage. For which there is no need for filing.

For the corporation it could mean analyzing their systems for a more efficient work flow. Reevaluating specific job responsibilities as well as downsizing, if necessary. Not to mention seminars for the employees on organizing or time management. Or, possibly a particular employee is struggling with time management or disorganization. This situation often is impeding the company's profits.

As far as purchasing containers or some sort of filing cabinet, etc., before we arrive. There is no way to know what you will need, until your needs are evaluated. in some cases this may take numerous visits to narrow down.

Another issue often confronting an organizer is what exactly is it you the client want. Do you want to get ready for a move? Or, do you want to learn new techniques to help you be organized. There's a big difference and you will need to make this decision before the organizer arrives.

July 2006

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How can you afford NOT to hire a Professional Organizer

Want more free time to travel? Less stress? More money?

We can do this together!

What could be worse than waking up in the morning, knowing you still have a mess on your desk at work?
What a way to start the day! Stressing before you eat breakfast. Agonizing the ride to work as you wonder where the charts are, the boss wants on his desk by noon.
Do you really want to continue your life like this? Being disorganized causes stress, an added stress we do not need.
Hiring a Professional Organizer could be the best move you've ever made. Would saving money cause stress? Having free time cause stress? Or, time to get caught up on work & home projects cause stress? How about that weekend trip you haven't had time for? Stress? I don't think so!
We are a profession who can bring a smile to your face.
How about on the home front? Know where last month bills are? Did you pay all of them? Was that a late notice you saw as you skimmed through the mail. By the way, how high is that pile these days?
Filed all your medical bills with your insurance company? You mean they have your money & are drawing interest on it? Not good.
I bet you've read some of those 'Organizing' books. Have you had time to implement all the good ideas you read? OK, how about a few of them? Your life could run so much smoother.
To what extent are your parents organized? Are they still in the same house they've been in for many years? Are they organized? Maybe someone could help them? No, no, I bet that's on your list of things to do.
Kids are grown and gone but you still have their what??? Maybe a few trips to a charitable organization? A yard sale?
Imagine your closet organized?? By color? By style? By season?
Can you conceive the mail, bills etc., organized? Simple files where you can find everything & anything when you need it? That was such a good idea when you read it in that book, I know.
Do you still have friends over to visit? Has 'it' taken control of your life?
'It' can be worked on, giving you piece of mind, less stress, more time and just overall make you feel better!
Let's CHANGE your life!

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Holiday Organization

When I think of holiday organization I think of Santa. If you believe, that is......... He spends the entire year getting ready for just one night. Strategically delegating to all his elves. If each elf does their job as described, all is well of course. However, Santa must train these little people. By spending time training, he saves on turnover & is able to maintain his staff on an ongoing basis. Therefore, saving sleighs worth of toys.

Did you know, if an average elf making $37,500 a year was wasting just one hour per day, it would cost Santa $4,687.50 per year in paid for, but lost productivity. This does not include benefits (an additional $2,343.75), or overhead (an additional $1,171.88).

One lost hour of productive time could cost Santa $8,203.13 per elf. Multiply that by a few elves.

Then there's those reindeer too. Yikes! Wrapping, {that's a pun, did you notice?} it all up, he gets the job done with, obviously GREAT help & makes some people very happy on Christmas morning. I said 'some' because not everyone is happy during the holidays.

Keep this in mind, if you will & maybe we could all make a difference in someone's holiday. A phone call, a letter or even a smile.............can make a big difference, when we don't even realize it. Let's remember the Reason for the Season.

This is Kyna signing off sending warm thoughts for a safe, happy holiday season, from our house to yours.

December 2004

Author - Owner: Kyna Morrison

^{We're Apt to get you
Organized!}