http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com/BlogList.asp Are you buried in clutter, wishing you had more time in your day, and behind in your paperwork? Are you looking for the tools and techniques to help you get and stay organized? Blog Central at www.OnlineOrganizing.com is the world’s largest organizing blog – with tips and tricks from dozens of Professional Organizers. Come back every day for new ideas for organizing your home or office! Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:45:01 EST en-us http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3806 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3806 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:30:00 EST Last month per The Washington Post article " Firms tell employees: avoid after-hours e-mails , " some recognized firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and Volkwagen are banning after-hours emails. As a professional organizer who consults on the topics of time management, I advise people to only check emails at designated times of the days. Do not check email 24/7, and do not check it in the bathroom like unfortunately 59% of people do. You can gain time in your day by changing your ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3784 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3784 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3740 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3740 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST I realize that homelessness might seem like a strange issue to address in a discussion of getting organized -- but I'm talking not talking about street people. I'm referring to homeless belongings -- those poor lost, wandering souls that clutter up your house because they don't have a set place to live. It's time to give these neglected treasures a roof over their heads! Giving Each Item A Place To Live If you glance around your home or office, I'll bet you see at ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3796 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3796 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST When it's time for the appointment with yourself, get ready for "The Test". The test is to walk around your home and analyze everything that's displayed. It should have a valid reason for taking up space and collecting dust, such as function or looks. Is it actually useful or is it simply decorative? You may be surprised when you go through this process at how much is for no purpose and only makes the room look more cluttered. A big offender is trinket gifts from friends. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3756 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3756 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST I have been working extensively with a coaching client who is trying to dig herself out of a black hole -- she's facing medical problems, unemployment, financial worries, and a claustrophobic sense of having too much stuff. Finding practical solutions for each of these issues is part of the solution, but the bigger challenge is trying to deal with the sense of overwhelm and inertia my client is experiencing. Regaining A Sense Of Perspective It's easy to become a little ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3804 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3804 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:30:00 EST Whether you're in the office or at home trying to raise responsible children to tackle chores, the following are the steps for successful delegation based on Julie Morgenstern's book Never Check Email in the Morning: Give Clear Instructions – The most important part is to describe the outcome you desire. Then provide the level of instruction you think is needed. The instruction steps of how to do the task can be more flexible. The more experienced they are, the less ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3783 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3783 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3770 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3770 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 08:30:00 EST Okay, so now you've organized your junk drawer, your closet or perhaps your garage. Are you done? Absolutely not! There is one more thing you forgot to do. You need to commit to "staying" organized. Getting organized is one thing; staying organized is another. Without commitment, you are likely to fall back into your old disorganized way. Before you know it, that drawer is a junk drawer again, your closet is a mess or you can't get your car back into the garage. All because you ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3739 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3739 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST You've heard the very old and very cliche saying "birds of a feather flock together?" Well, when it comes to space organizing, this idiom is only about half right. While it certainly makes sense to keep different classes of belongings with other similar belongings, don't expect those storage areas to magically re-arrange themselves -- first you've got to come up with your own definition of what a "flock" is, and then be the one to forcibly corral and contain your birds! Storing ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3795 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3795 Tue, 9 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST Can you put your hands on any paper requested of you within five minutes? If not, take time to get a file cabinet. One of the best clutter busters is "ye ole" file cabinet. They been solving office paper management problems for years and they can do the same on the home front. I believe they are so vital that every home, apartment, condo, dorm room, etc. needs one. I can't think of a better place for storing bills, important paper, warranty cards, instruction booklets, stamps, report ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3755 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3755 Tue, 9 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST I got into a lengthy discussion the other day with a coaching client about intelligence -- she was severely frustrated with her son, because he studies and studies for these standardized tests at school, and still does poorly. But I know this kid, I've worked with him, and he's not stupid -- he just has different kinds of intelligence than those required to memorize facts for a multiple choice test. What Is Intelligence Anyway? Memorizing facts is not the same thing as ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3802 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3802 Tue, 9 Oct 2012 10:30:00 EST Paper Doll is unreservedly delighted to learn of new products that improve the organizing experience. You might even say it's a highlight of my life as a professional organizer and blogger. So I was pleased when colleague Nanette Duffey, PDMM® told me about today's nifty find. THE HIGHLIGHT REEL Highlighters, of course, aren't exactly new, though they're more modern than you may have guessed. It's hard to imagine that prior to the mid-'60s, ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3801 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3801 Sun, 7 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST 800x600 Last week I was listening to one of my new clients as she explained why she had called. " I need help with my business! I'm just disorganized and overwhelmed, " she said. " There are so many things I need to do; just look at my to-do list! " Sure enough her to-do list was a couple of pages long. So I asked, " These items at the top -- how long have they been on here? " " They've been on there for weeks and I can't get them done! I just get more ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3782 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3782 Sat, 6 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3738 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3738 Thu, 4 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST When determining where to store something in your home or office, what's the first question you ask? Is it about the thing's size or whether it comes with attachments or the temperature of the storage area? If you're smart about your organizing, it will be something along the lines of, "How often will I need to get at it?" -- because frequency of use is one of the most important factors to consider when determining where something should live. How Often Do You Use It? Things ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3798 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3798 Wed, 3 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST As a productivity consultant, success coach, and business strategist, it is my "job" to ensure that my clients are being the most productive they can be in order to be successful. Or is it? It may come as a surprise that many of my clients seek me out not to be more productive, but to actually slow down and do less. So, does being more productive mean you have to do more, but being less productive means you are doing less? To be fair, they are not mutually exclusive. When a person learns and ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3794 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3794 Tue, 2 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST Are you one of the many people who keeps glass containers because you believe that mayonnaise or pickle jars are "just right" for storing something else? Jeff Campbell, in his book, Clutter Control, suggests time for recycling to free up your space. A better way to put those empties to good use is: recycle them and free up space for yourself. The same is true of clothes and shoes you no longer wear. Recycle them into the hands of someone who need them and will wear them. Give books ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3754 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3754 Tue, 2 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST I got into a rather lengthy discussion the other day with a woman I didn't even know (I do that a lot!) about our responsibility for leaving a legacy to future generations -- exactly what each individual on this planet should be giving back to the larger community in order to be considered a "contributing" member of society. Let me invite you to board my train of thought (now leaving on track 12), and then offer your opinions on this matter. What It Means To "Contribute" This ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3728 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3728 Tue, 2 Oct 2012 10:30:00 EST Reese's Peanut Butter Cups – "Two great tastes that taste great together." Toyota Prius – combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor Zedonk – a cross between a zebra and any other equine A hybrid takes two things that exist perfectly well independently and combines them to make something altogether more fabulous. Today, we'll look at how two great product brands have united to create something fascinating: The Evernote Smart Notebook By Moleskine . THE CLASSIC ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3780 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3780 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:30:00 EST Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3781 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3781 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:30:00 EST Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3769 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3769 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:30:00 EST I heard a story this week that I wanted to share with you, just to give you some perspective. There was a woman who needed to videotape some rooms in her house for insurance purposes. Having just cleaned her home from top to bottom, knowing that she was going to video tape it, she shot the tape and then watched it quickly before delivering it to her safety deposit box. When she watched the tape, something happened... She was astonished to see the amount of clutter and junk left on the ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3737 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3737 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST How many times a day do you hear the word "efficiency" in a conversation (especially at your workplace or during a professional meeting?) This has become one of the most overused and least understood organizing catchphrases of the decade! Why then is it that so many people who think they are being "efficient" by going 90 miles an hour are still stressed-out and overwhelmed? Because they're focusing their efforts in the wrong direction. Making Everything A Bit Easier Somewhere along ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3793 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3793 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST In Jeff Campbell's book, Clutter Control, he offers some rules to control the clutter in your life. One of them is: Use it or lose it. If you're not using something on a regular basis, get rid of it. Sounds simple, huh? If you haven't put up strawberry preserves since 1962, despite your conviction that you will do so next year, you can safely give away or sell your Mason jars. Another rule: Find the best place for everything. This, too, is simple: reduce clutter by storing ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3753 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3753 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST Matt and I recently visited my elderly in-laws -- and I was amazed at the completely ridiculous number of telemarketing solicitations they receive during the day. Their phone rings off the hook with calls from all kinds of sleazy and predatory companies trying to convince them they have won a free cruise or talk them into burial insurance or scam them with a reverse mortgage. I personally don't get these calls anymore, so I didn't realize this was even still going on! ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3788 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3788 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. ~Sir Winston Churchill Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt There's a piece of paper out there that allows you to actively participate in our democracy, but first you have to be organized and obtain it. It's a voter ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3792 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3792 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:30:00 EST Do you and your co-workers share electronic files? Do you constantly have to ask them…where is that file again? Or are people always asking you…where did you save that file? What happens if someone is out sick? Do you struggle to find the right file? A File Plan for the electronic files in your office could be the solution you need. A File Plan is an approach for organizing files based upon a certain structure, providing better control, maintenance and access. It provides the design ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3779 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3779 Sat, 22 Sep 2012 14:30:00 EST Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3736 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3736 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST A lot of people think that organizing is about the systems you set up -- having everything color-coded and alphabetized and stored by season. That's certainly part of it, but arranging your places and spaces comes later. You can't effectively organize when you're weighed down. To create order out of chaos, you must lighten the load -- but the tricky part is figuring out exactly what in your life qualifies as "clutter." Clearing Out Clutter Of All Kinds So ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3791 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3791 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:56:36 EST Today's special post is another installment of our ongoing series of reviews of products brought to us by our friends at Shoplet , operator of the nifty and prolific Shoplet blog . As we've discussed before, one of the reasons we develop desk clutter can be laid squarely at the feet (if they had feet) of our writing implements. Sure, lackluster paper management leads to desk pileups, but so too does acquisition of (and failure to cull) writing implements and other desk ...