http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogList.asp?sort=organizer&schedule=24 The information age has completely changed the way we work and live – which means our approach to goal setting has to shift from the notion of doing more things to the concept of getting the right things done. The key to a POWERful life isn't what you add to it but what you eliminate from it. It's really pretty simple. You don't need any special education or training. In fact, a person of average intelligence will run circles around a genius who lacks focus and direction. You DO need what I call the 3D mindset: DECIDE what it is you want, DEVELOP a plan or blueprint to achieve it, and DISCIPLINE yourself to take action and stay focused. We become what we think about most of the time. So be careful to think about what you are thinking about! Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:45:29 EST en-us http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2720 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2720 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST In my career as a professional organizer and fitness trainer, I've had the opportunity to help busy professional women take stock of what's weighing them down and release the clutter in their spaces, schedules, minds, and bodies. I meet many professional women over 40 who ostensibly "have it all". A career they love, a great spouse, kids, home, and friends. But they're not happy. Somehow along the way they lost touch with themselves - physically and emotionally. Their ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2746 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2746 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:35:13 EST I got an excited phone call from a client this morning. Last week we unearthed over a dozen banker boxes full of old records from her basement. We stacked them up in a corner of her living room and her assignment was to go through them and shred or save the contents. This weekend's nasty rain storms (winter has arrived in Seattle!) motivated her to get started sorting - where she discovered a still active retirement account with a former employer worth over $9,000! I never ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2718 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2718 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:51:02 EST Seriously, your life is all about your choices. I'm going to dare you to take a look at how you're living right now and see how the Power of 3 is affecting your future health, energy, and confidence. The Power of 3 is the connection between: Physical - Mental/Emotional - Environmental You see unless you're aiming for balance among the 3 you don't get the whole picture. Your problem doesn't necessarily begin and end with what you eat or how often you work out. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2687 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2687 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST August 1st 2009 our family received the news that my mom had terminal liver cancer. September 29th she passed away. I spent the better part of August and all of September helping my sisters care for her - her fervent wish was to die at home, and we were able to honor that wish. Once she received the diagnosis, she immediately began to prepare to die. She stopped eating, refused any treatments to slow the growth of the golf ball sized tumor on her liver, and put the last of her affairs in ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2521 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2521 Tue, 1 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST Getting focused is largely about what you choose not to do , rather than what you choose to do. It's a matter of setting aside other work or projects to concentrate on a priority, a kind of temporary clearing the deck of distractions so you can reach a goal. Getting focused is how we get things done. Sometimes the sheer volume of what we have to do makes us freeze right in our tracks. Why multitasking doesn't work: A study by The Journal of Experimental Psychology study ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2520 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2520 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST Perfectionism is a major way the brain can hold your body hostage. You can't change your circumstances if you're busy engaging in self-abuse because you can't do it all perfectly. Detoxing your life – getting fit, organizing your schedule and environment so you relieve stress and have time for what juices you – will never follow a perfect path. And it's not about trying to make it so. Getting balanced and passionate about your life is about achieving a mental and physical ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2519 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2519 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST Approximately 44% of Americans set New Year's Resolutions. Only 15% or less of all resolutions are every fully realized. Over half of all resolutions made at the New Year are abandoned by Valentine's Day. Why? It's the difference between intention and resolution . Webster's defines them thus: Resolution: The decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner. Intention: An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions. I ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2438 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2438 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST Reason #3: Perfectionism and fear stop you cold. What kind of fear? Fear of failure. Fear of not being able to do a task properly and the real or imagined consequences. This quite often has its roots in perfectionism... not wanting to do anything that you can't do perfectly. But if you're doing something for the first time or even the first couple of times, you probably are going to make some mistakes. Heck, ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2437 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2437 Tue, 4 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST Continuing our discussion of procrastination, here's Reason #2: Your mind perceives the task as larger or more difficult than it is. For example, when you consider exercising, the only thing you can think about is how long it will take, how tired you are, how sore you'll be after your workout and you sabotage yourself from minute one. The perception that a task is larger or harder than it really is can totally overwhelm us and fool us into thinking we ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2436 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2436 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST There are actually thousands of situational reasons that make people put off doing important tasks... things that are very personal, but there are only four MAIN reasons I've noticed in almost ALL situations where important goals are put off over and over again. 1. You're in Victim Mentality mode. 2. You feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities. 3. Perfectionism and/or fear of failure/success stops you cold. 4. The ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2435 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2435 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST Approximately 44% of Americans set New Year's Resolutions. Only 15% or less of all resolutions are every fully realized. Over half of all resolutions made at the New Year are abandoned by Valentine's Day. Why? It's the difference between intention and resolution . Webster's defines them thus: Resolution: The decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner. Intention: An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2434 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2434 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST Whether you are redecorating or remodeling, interior designers know that to create a visually appealing, warm and inviting space you start with a focal point. It could be a beautiful piece of furniture, art or a dramatic view. Once you have your focal point, it's a relatively simple matter to design the room around it. Putting yourself at the top of your priority list by making YOU the focal point is a simple, positive way to design your life. When you are operating at peak ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2391 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2391 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EST So what do you do when you're caught in chaos – you get overwhelmed – you freeze. You don't know what to do first – everything is a crisis or a fire that needs to be put out. The point of the pyramid = your top priorities. The base = non-urgent, unimportant tasks. First you have to stop trying to get more done. We're already cramming more into our days than ever before. We've taken those seminars, read the books, bought the tee shirt. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2381 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2381 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EST Do you feel like you consistently sabotage your own good intentions and don't understand why? Welcome to the world. The road to you know where is paved with good intentions, yes? But there's a simple answer for this self-sabotage. For most of us, failing to actually follow through on our good intentions (like healthy eating and exercise) on a consistent basis can usually be traced to a certain style of thinking that many people use to explain to themselves why they do what they do ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2370 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2370 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EST Everybody uses time differently. Recognizing your particular personality style can help you overcome the obstacles that keep you from managing your time effectively and help you get on track. SAS (Short Attention Span) You start many tasks but get bored quickly and move on to something else. You have difficulty finishing projects. IDEA: Minimize distractions. Keep your office door closed, maybe even put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign. Break down projects into more manageable tasks that ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2348 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2348 Tue, 2 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EST The cost of disorganization is high. For instance? late fees on bills and credit card payments poor credit rating for late payments overnight fees for mailing time-sensitive information loss of early bird discounts time & money wasted on upkeep and maintenance of unnecessary stuff storage unit costs Time & money wasted looking for or replacing misplaced items stress-related health issues A recession is ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2343 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2343 Thu, 28 May 2009 11:31:46 EST Nothing saps your energy more than staring at a desk piled with work or bills to pay. Whether you believe in the principles of Feng Shui or not, these 4 simple steps from Marie Elena Rigo, a Los Angeles-based interior designer and feng shui consultant, will help make your office space -- at home or at work – an inviting and productive space. Step 1: Organize. Get rid of clutter and keep surface areas clear. "Clutter drains our energy because the eye and mind don't know ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2332 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2332 Tue, 19 May 2009 09:30:00 EST With our responsibilities constantly shifting and the amount of work we receive (personally and professionally) frequently exceeding our ability to produce; knowing what to do and when to do it becomes a task of monumental proportions. But you aren't here to spend your life checking off an endless To Do list. You're here to connect to your passion and purpose – and use it to enrich your life and others! When you're in tune with your important and top priorities – ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2282 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2282 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST I received this comment on my blog recently. "I am trying to become more organized and it is a daily awareness when I see papers piled, dust on the bureau, a messy area. I love to be organized and I love cleanliness...I have gotten lazy about staying on top of staying organized and keep waiting for the spirit to "move me". I am struggling with my energy to get organized and clean my house...which I know supports my life everyday." Disorganization is more than just piles of stuff without a ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2263 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2263 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST Living a healthy lifestyle takes a lot of self discipline. The good news is, the greater the challenge, the more reward you get! The premise is, if you can be successful in one area ofyour life, then you feel confident taking on other challenges. By living a healthy life you get a real sense that you can accomplish anything. Success breeds success in other words. You're more likely to set and reach your goals, and to rebound from failure. Living healthy also lowers your risk ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2251 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2251 Tue, 7 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST I don't need to tell you that the only person who can create your big adventure is you. You don't start any journey without a plan or a road map or itinerary. Otherwise you'll get lost. The starting point for the change your want to create is the vision you hold in your mind for your own personal Life Fitness. Every aspect of your life is interconnected – what you own, where you live, how you eat and take care of your body. You won't (or can't) ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2248 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2248 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST Stress manifests itself in all kinds of ways. It contributes to an increased risk for heart disease as you age and decreases your immune functioning. It can make you forego your otherwise healthy habits in favor of all kinds of bad behavior. Stress makes you eat poorly, decreases your motivation to exercise and cause you to gain weight. An American Psychological Association study revealed that 43% of the individuals polled succumbed to overeating or eating unhealthy foods in order to manage ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2246 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2246 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:42:45 EST I don't believe you can take control of your health and well being unless you make the place you dwell a happy, peaceful place. Winston Churchill said, "We shape our dwellings and afterward our dwellings shape us." Good health and a clutter free lifestyle go hand in hand. If you don't respect yourself enough to create a happy space to live, are you really going to treat your body any differently? Your home is the center of your life. It's a reflection of who ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2209 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2209 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST Believe it or not, when you are physically organized and good at managing your schedule, you make the most of your time, energy – and money! And in these challenging economic times, you want to maximize your resources in all 3 of those areas. Professional organizers know that the secret to organization isn't neatness or rigidity. It's function. We know that once we help the client identify his/her unique organizational system and custom design it to fit their natural ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2194 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2194 Tue, 3 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST Your treasures provide the most complete picture of who you are right now. They represent the authentic you, the one you may have lost touch with over time. When you are able to separate the "stuff" from the treasures, you are confident that you're moving forward in life knowing you have the best things right along with you. While some people regard everything as a treasure, and some have little regard for things - identifying treasures from clutter serves an ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2180 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2180 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:30:00 EST What I've found in my 10 years as a professional organizer is that no matter how intense the clutter, how big the piles, how enormous the job of digging out from under - the tipping point always comes when the client sees something on the other side of their mess that they REALLY want and they are ready to GET it. By then, my job is relatively easy. They already know what they want and where they want to go. I just help them navigate a way out of the woods to the path they can ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2152 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2152 Tue, 3 Feb 2009 09:30:00 EST I'm here this week in frosty Chicago where the temperature hasn't risen above 9 degrees for the past 5 days. Not one to break my workout routine, it was just too cold for me to run outdoors, although I did see several hardy joggers running along Lake Shore Drive. Brrrr! I opted for the relatively warm hotel gym and later relaxed with a yoga video in my room. One crystal afternoon, my friend and I visited the Field Museum of Natural History in downtown Chicago. While ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2122 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2122 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:22:42 EST Have you ever noticed how a lot of what you deal with on a daily basis is actually old stuff? You find yourself continually distracted by the old or unfinished projects and tasks. And they can really zap the life out of you. For instance: · The rising stack of magazines you ordered, but never have time to read? · The healthy eating plan you started but by now the healthy food is rotting in the fridge, the cans of black beans are way ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2105 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2105 Tue, 6 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST January is my organizing month, and I'm right now in the process of evaluating my goals, projects, and stuff with a professional eye. I'm asking myself the questions I pose to my clients like: · Is this project or task really important as it relates to my "gold plated" goals? · If yes, what steps are needed to get it done? · When would be the best time to do it—what time of day, what day of the week—to get the ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2079 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2079 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST Ready for the New Year? Right about now, you're thinking of how you can organize and plan better this year than last right? The stats show that getting organized and getting in shape top the list of resolutions every New Year. I can help you with both – but to get started, I've listed a few new organizers to help you get it all in order. A planner should not be your largest piece of wall art or a collection of Post-its. You want simplicity, portability, and, above ...