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Mindset Mantras for an Organized Life

MINDSET MANTRAS FOR AN ORGANIZED LIFEmindset Mantras for an organized lifeIf you’ve decided it’s time to organize your house – or organize your life – and you don’t know where to start, this post is for you! Many people feel daunted or even paralyzed at the idea of taking on such a huge organizing job, but there’s no need to be overwhelmed. Like most things in life, your mindset is key. Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right”. Now, relate that to organizing. The reality of getting organized isn’t nearly as frightening as the idea of it. If you tell yourself it’s scary then it will be just that! Use our organizing mindset mantras, organizing tips and motivational ideas to get past your fears and get organized today.Organizing Mindset Mantra 1

Organizing Mindset Mantra #1.

I will not judge myself for where I am starting. Organizing is a learnable skill.

Keep it Moving

If you are aware of your tendency to get caught up in the stories behind and attachments to the things you are organizing, then you can avoid the time-suck and keep things moving along. By not lingering on each item you uncover, you’ll create a momentum that allows you to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time, and seeing quick results is often all the motivation you need to push through to the end.

To facilitate a speedy organizing effort, start with a list of rooms or problem areas that you want to attack and break it down into bite-sized chunks that you can check off one by one. Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes at the start of each task and let the ticking clock keep encouraging you to move ahead. These short time blocks work because you know there is an end in sight. Organizing Mindset Mantra 2

Organizing Mindset Mantra #2.

I am in control of my clutter, it will not control me. I am not powerless.

Don’t Overthink It

This is a huge challenge for many of us, but if you can manage not to overthink each organizing decision it will make the first item on this list that much easier. Making quick decisions is a key component in maintaining an organized life and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. If you find yourself getting caught up in whether to keep, donate, sell or recycle each item you handle, you’ve just identified one big reason you’ve been stuck in perpetual clutter. The more you practice this technique of deciding quickly what to hold on to and what to edit from your life, the easier and more freeing it becomes. Organizing Mindset Mantra 3

Organizing Mindset Mantra #3.

I do not need to be perfect. I need to take imperfect action.

Let It Go

One of the most common reasons people give when they’re struggling to get rid of their clutter is that they’re afraid they will get rid of something that they “may need” later on. This is the mentality of someone whose stuff is controlling them and not the other way around. More often than not, you will not even notice or remember the things that you no longer have, but what you will be keenly aware of is what you have gained by getting rid of things. The stress and discomfort that comes from living a disorganized, clutter-filled life will evaporate. Decluttering not only creates space in your home, it makes room for you to think and relax and to breathe…  and those are things you need now, not “someday.”Organizing Mindset Mantra 4

Organizing Mindset Mantra #4.

I can let go of things and not lose myself in the process. My belongings do not define me.

You’ve Got This

Freeing yourself from clutter may not come naturally, but it is a skill that anyone can acquire. You can learn to live an organized life. We give you permission to take small advancements. Just keep telling yourself: Baby steps are a fine way to move forward and there is no shame in asking for (or hiring!) help. With our guidance, support, expertise, and accountability – you will have success on your project.

Have you overcome a decluttering aversion? What would your motivating mantra be?

How to Pack A Suitcase for Vacation

How to Pack a Suitcase and Save Space for Vacation

10 Packing Tips & Common Mistakes to AvoidHow to Pack a Suitcase for Vacation 10 Packing Tips

Knowing how to pack a suitcase and save space for vacation is an art. Especially when you don’t know what to pack. Common mistakes can lead to the well known nightmare of arriving on vacation only to find that you have no use for anything you packed and not a thing to wear. Knowing how to pack your suitcase for vacation and having an organized packing plan will make for a more enjoyable vacation. The packing process will be so stress-free that you’ll feel like your vacation started early! Follow these 10 packing tips to master the art of packing a suitcase, or as we like to call it: packing nirvana.

How to Pack A Suitcase

1. No Overpacking. Period.

This directly contradicts an oft-shared piece of (terrible) packing advice: Be prepared for anything. “Anything” is a tall order! If you’re not planning any formal events, why bother dragging a fancy dress and heels around all week just in case you get a black tie invitation while you’re away? Highly unlikely.

If that one-in-a-million circumstance does come up, you can always find what you need close to where you’re staying. Rather than bring everything you own, allow a cushion in your travel budget for shopping, incase an unplanned need should arise.

Keep in mind, a 22” carry on will carry roughly two pairs of jeans, three sweaters, five shirts, and two dresses. Guys – you can substitute one more pair of jeans for those dresses.

2. Create a List – Yes, a list!

I can hear you moaning now – but a list will really help you think through the various activities you’ll be doing while away and you are less likely to miss something important. We created this ‘Summer Beach Vacation Packing List’ to help you get started. Simply click this link to get access to the checklist. If you’re a procrastinator, creating your own list is going to be a challenge for you. That’s why you should download the packing checklist we created. I promise you’ll thank me later. Bonus hack – when making your own checklist, review the weather report prior to departure. Click here to sign-up for the checklist.

3. Mix & Match With the Three W’s.

As you gather the outfits you need, consider items from the same color palette. This will allow you to mix and match through the trip. A good ratio to remember is 2:1 or 2 tops to 1 bottom. Cotton, knits and wools travel best – obviously wool is out during summer travel. The three W’s are a good mantra to remember – 1. Wrinkle-free 2. Washable. 3. Worn-Together. Stick with a simple color collection, cotton or knits, something you can wash/dry easily, and you’ll show up unwrinkled and looking good!

4. Three is the Magic Number

When packing shoes, it’s easy to go overboard and they take up considerable space. For a summer vacation here’s a guide for both women and men

Women – 1 pair of heeled sandals, 1 pair of flat sandals, 1 one pair of sneakers/walking shoes.

Men –  1 pair of loafers, 1 pair of sandals and 1 pair of sneakers.

You can save space by wearing the heaviest pair of shoes and stuffing the packed shoes with socks, chargers, or small items.

5. Leave Room for New Stuff

If you’re like me, you always shop while on vacation and having room in the suitcase to bring items home is key! Make sure you leave some room in your suitcase to accommodate your purchases and avoid extra baggage fees on the way home. Another trick is to pack a fold-up carry-on bag you can stash for the departure and fill up for the return home.

6. Stay in charge!

When traveling internationally, don’t forget to bring the appropriate converters or adapters so you are always able to charge your electronic devices. The sweetest vacation spot can quickly turn sour when your batteries are dying left and right. Make sure you’ve always got enough juice to take that next photo or GPS your way back to your hotel by picking up the right items ahead of time. You also avoid over-paying at airports or hotel gift shops.

7. One bag does not equal “traveling light” if that bag weighs a ton!

Perhaps the worst packing advice I’ve heard is grab a suitcase that’s large enough to carry everything, and stuff as much as you can into it. Wrong again, Internet.

Choose a suitcase that is easy to carry and maneuver, and you’ll have no choice but to pack light. And while packing in one bag may be an organizing dream of yours, you’ll always want to keep your most valuable items (think passports, jewelry, medications and other difficult to replace items) in a separate carry-on bag for safe-keeping. Unless you’re traveling with children or you’re planning to be away for weeks or months, you should be able to manage with a carry-on sized case and a good shoulder bag or purse or as the airline industry likes to call it, a personal item.

8. Roll, Don’t Fold.

Most experts agree, rolling is superior to folding when trying to maximize space – this holds true when you roll things tightly…which is key. The tight rolls also are less prone to having creases and deep folds set in during travel. I mix rolling and laying clothes around each other. To layer, alternate your hems and  waistbands in the suitcase and drape the ends over the edge of the suitcase. Once my layers are prepared (half in – half out), I layer or fold the items in one-at-a-time, into the center, working my way around all the suitcase one garment at a time. This creates one tight bundle.

9. Layer Like a Cake.

Pack your items in layers, which is essential for carry on bags subject to TSA screening. Here’s an example of your suitcase layers.

  1. Bottom Layer – Shoes & Tightly Rolled Items.
  2. Middle Layer – Slacks, Dresses, Shirts, Blouses.
  3. Top Layer – Electronics or Anything You’ll Need First

Belts can fit around the outside of the clothes. You can use the outside pocket of your suitcase for a lightweight sweater you might wear during travel. For extra packing goodness, use a dry cleaning bag between layers of clothes. The bag allows the items to slide preventing creases and can also be used to remove an entire suitcase layer at once.

10. Don’t Waste The Personal Item.

With the airlines charging for every checked back  and gate agents becoming more aggressive with catching people who break the carry-on rules, it is essential to not waste the opportunity provided to travelers with a carry on personal item. Women can place their smaller purse inside a larger tote. And guys, skip the laptop bag and find a larger backpack or man-bag where you can include more items.

Traveling light in the future doesn’t have to mean being unprepared. If you follow just a few of our 10 tips above you’ll be packing and vacationing with less stress and more fun! We’d love for you to share your best vacation packing tips in the comments below so our readers can learn to be organized and unburdened before their next getaway! What’s your best piece of advice?

Why Can’t I Get Organized? Part 3: Internal Obstacles

One of the unique aspects of my team of professional organizers is that we diagnose the cause of each individual client’s disorganization. We have learned from our most successful clients’ experiences that when we can get to the root of the challenge, we can build upon those opportunities as we create personalized organizing systems that work for each individual client we work with.Cant Get Organized

In two earlier posts I outlined the first two of the three most common reasons people are disorganized, Practical MisstepsTM and Situational ChallengesTM.. To end this series, I will explain the third category: Internal ObstaclesTM.

You may already be wondering – what’s an Internal Obstacle? We define Internal Obstacles as a wide array of emotional and psychological barriers that can often be the most difficult to identify. However, once an internal blockage is uncovered and subsequently removed, I’ve seen the most miraculous transformations occur in my clients’ lives.

Internal Obstacles most often stem from past experiences, relationships or traumas. These experiences may lead you straight into chaos, almost like a gravitational pull. These psychological barriers have a hidden purpose ultimately affecting your environment. In this case, a disorganized space is not about the ‘stuff’. Instead, it’s the conscious or subconscious ‘holding on’ to a past experience,  a need for distraction or abundance, sentimental attachments, perfectionism, fear of success or failure, or one of the many other psychological obstacles that create resistance in your life.

Working with a professional organizer can be an uncomfortable process for people who have struggled with getting or staying organized. If the irritation you experience when trying to get organized is severe, or if the reason for your irritation remains a mystery to you, you are very likely facing some long-standing Internal Obstacles stemming from past experiences, relationships or traumas. Any one of countless psychological snags can manifest as a difficulty in creating or maintaining order in your home or work life.

As organizers, we can work on the physical aspect of your clutter and resolve most of the Practical Missteps and provide guidance with most of the Situational Challenges. However, to begin the process to break down Internal Obstacles we recommend you enlist the help of appropriate support professionals. Recognizing the emotional response behind the accumulated clutter that has perpetuated a state of chaos in your home or work life may be a complicated process. It’s like peeling back the layers of an onion. As you begin the physical part of the organization with a professional organizer you will start to uncover numerous emotions, both positive and some adverse. This is one thing you should not take on alone. Having the courage to shine a light on those behavioral patterns can have healing aftereffects in every aspect of your life, including your organizational prowess.

So, if you have labeled yourself as a slob or resigned yourself to being a disorganized person, we hope you’ll reconsider!  Many of us, myself included, can benefit greatly from a little pointed introspection and perhaps a professionally guided look into the possible root of your not-so-innate traits of sustained disorder. Such patterns may not be in your nature at all, but rather learned behaviors you developed as a defense in life. Recognizing that is the first step to initiating change. You must identify what it is that you do not want and begin to ask yourself what it is that you do want. Once you change the conversation you have with yourself, you begin the shift of telling your new story.

We know that with dedication, guidance and hard work, existing poor habits and living with a lack of systems can be altered. Blockages begin to fall away, you increase your energy, your spirit is uplifted, you begin to elevate your relationships and life begins to go well for you. I know, that’s powerful stuff right?  It’s a fact that when you deal with your Internal Obstacles you become more organized  which will have dramatic ramifications in every aspect of your life. Freeing yourself from the confines of ingrained thought patterns can allow you to take control of your time, your environment and your relationships in ways you may not have imagined.

If you think you may be experiencing a deep-seated resistance to getting organized, feel free to be bold and share your thoughts in the comments below. If you prefer to send me a direct email, I’m here to listen. What specific obstacles have you been able to identify and where do you still feel stuck? We are here to help.

Read Part 2 – Situational Challenges

Read Part 1 – Practical Missteps

Why I Stopped Blogging

For the fifth or sixth time, I’ve been busted again and was called out from yet another client in the last month. She wanted to know why I stopped blogging and sending the bi-weekly organizing assignments that are delivered direct to your inbox, and the other content we freely share with our amazing audience (you). So, I guess it’s time to get real.Capitol Pup

This is personal, and I have tears in my eyes as I write this, but stick with me…

If I can be honest with you I have been feeling ‘off’ when I’ve been in the office. You wouldn’t have known it if I worked with you the last three months, but things have been quite different around our office, and my home.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you would have virtually met my incredibly cute dog, Newton. For the last three years, I have shared my joy of having this little guy in our lives and he had recurring appearances in our bi-weekly client email. He was a pup with lots of energy, was full of mischief, and a huge personality. Daily, Newton went with me to the office and was a  bright spot in our daily existence. I loved nothing more than coming back to the office, after working with clients, to his bounce and unbound pure joy.

Just over a year ago, Newton started having health issues and experienced health crisis after health crisis throughout 2015. But after much TLC, after each episode, he pulled through and we saw improvements in his health. This February, it happened again. It was as if a switch was flipped and he started struggling with the most aggressive downturn in his health to date. He fought hard for four days and on February 17th, he told us he was tired of fighting and he wanted to be free of the pain. Later that day, Newton crossed the Rainbow Bridge and found his external grassy knoll, the never-ending jar of peanut butter, and the squeaker that would not break.

For two and a half months I’ve sat in a quiet office, returned home to no pup, and missed him snuggling up to me each day. I’ve had a hard time getting outta that funk and didn’t feel in the right mindset to send you encouraging words about being organized or ideas on how to improve your productivity. Frankly, I didn’t feel like I wanted to be productive and I had let some of my own organizing systems ‘go’, while grieving. I truly miss this little guy and rest knowing that we gave him the best possible home for three years after rescuing him from the streets of DC.

You may be wondering why I, as a business owner, am sharing this personal story with you?

Believe it or not, it’s tied into the next “Organizing Assignment”. When we face “Internal Obstacles” or psychological barriers, it can affect everything we do, including organizing. An example in this case is a sentimental attachment. I attached being in my office with having Newton at my feet under my desk or his playful greeting when I returned to the office. I connected his spirit to the physical work-space and after his passing, it de-energized me when I was in the office. I needed a distraction and didn’t want to be here. Instead I filled my calendar with client work and spent little time in the office the last two and half months. Thankfully I have a team that kept everything else running like clockwork. Even then, I knew I had to get out of my funk.

So, I did some personal reflection and work around the Internal Obstacle created by this situation. See, this wasn’t about me not wanting to write to you or a lack of desire to share helpful ideas with you…. after all, that’s the part I love. Instead, it was about me missing my dog and associating his physical presence with the work space. It has taken me nearly three months to separate the two emotions and begin to feel re-energized about sharing my organizing passion with you. That’s why today I thought it most appropriate to share the last segment of a three part series on why people are disorganized. I wrote this over a year ago, but I’ve sat on it for a long time. I hope you’ll take a moment to read this important information. I know I’ve been long-winded but I hope this served you in one way or another.

With love for Newton,

Scott
PS – In honor of Newton, please feel free to share your own story about a pet who’s crossed the rainbow bridge in the comments below.

Read the next blog post for the full scoop on Internal Obstacles.

3 Places Clutter Is Hiding In Your Home

Organizing Tips to Combat Household Clutter:

Organizing can be tough when you’re blind to the clutter. A big reason clutter builds up around your home is that you have become accustomed to not seeing it. We walk past piles of papers or clothes so often that they morph into part of the furniture or blend in with the walls. In this post I will show you three places to look for clutter and how to get rid of clutter that’s been hiding in plain sight.

Organizing The Monsters in the ClosetOrganizing can be tough when you're blind to the clutter. A big reason clutter builds up around your home, is that you have become accustomed to not seeing it. We walk past piles of papers or clothes so often that they morph into part of the furniture or blend in with the walls. In this post I will show you three places to look for clutter and how to get rid of clutter that’s been hiding in plain sight.

Any large closet is susceptible to swallowing a fair amount of clutter, but the linen closet may be the worst offender. Collections of mismatched sheets, towels that are past their prime, musty blankets and clothes waiting to be repaired are all items that you likely push past every day to get to the linens you actually use. To organize your linen closet, start with 15 minutes and focus on one shelf. Pull everything out and short it into piles of similar items. Next, be brutally honest about what is truly useful to you. Move the sheets you’ll never put on your bed or the towels you’ll never use after a shower to a donation pile. We love taking towels, sheets and blankets to local pet shelters. If you’d like to do this, we recommend you call first to make sure they have room for more donations. Now that you’ve cleared the duds from this shelf, move on to the next shelf. We recommend you keep working until you have completely edited your entire linen closet. Once you’re finished, your linen closet will be organized and only the items you will use will remain.

Organizing The Highs and Lows of Clutter

Lower cabinets and top shelves can be the worst places for collecting clutter because we tend to hide things there intentionally. If you don’t know what to do with that giant TV stand you aren’t using but are hesitant to get rid of, you may have shoved it to the back of the top shelf in your closet and thought “I’ll deal with it later”… but ‘later’ has not yet come. The “out of sight, out of mind” mentality is faulty in that these items aren’t really out of sight. Every time you go into that closet, there is a subconscious sense of dread that comes from the clutter and disorganization that resides there. To organize these hiding spots, take some time – and a stepladder – and see what you can remove from top shelves and low cabinets around your house to reclaim your real estate, and your peace of mind. Use the same technique mentioned for the linen closet. Pull everything out and sort the items into “like with like” categories. Once all the clutter is sorted, now make decisions about what should go away and what should stay.

Organizing Junk in the Trunk 

Does the trunk of your car look like someone’s been living out of it for a few months? While it’s smart to keep some emergency items on hand in your car, they won’t do you any good if you can’t find them under all the clutter that lives in your trunk. Grab a box and a trash bag to begin organizing your car. Fill the bag with trash and put everything else in the box… yes, we mean everything! Next, only put back what belongs there and move everything else to its proper home –  likely in the house, garage, or the trash. Don’t have the time to do the entire car? Do the trunk today, back seats tomorrow, and the front seats the next day. 

Organizing Tips to Combat Clutter

Taking a few minutes each week is a great routine to uncover clutter that’s hiding around your home and to get organized. Remember, small efforts add up when it comes to decluttering so don’t pass up the opportunity to clear it out when you find it. So, where should you start? It may not be in the trunk of your car or your linen closet, but I bet you have a hiding spot. Please comment below and let me know where you’ll be starting. If you find anything funny, we’d love for you to post a photo on our Facebook page.

We’ll even help you if you get stuck with your declutter decision making.

professional organizer DC Maryland Virginia

 

 

Why Can’t I Get Organized? Part 2: Situational Challenges

Identifying the Real Reason You Can’t Get Organized

In a post last February, I let you in on a fundamental truth of professional organizing: 99% of the time a person’s disorganization can be traced back to one of three categories: Practical Missteps™, Situational Challenges™ and Internal Obstacles. You can read that original post here where I share the details of Practical Missteps™. In this post, I want to focus on the second category of “Why Can’t I get Organized: Situational Challenges. Although these Situational Challenges™ usually take the form of an annoying, possibly immovable roadblock, our ability to effectively divert our energy around them can keep our lives organized and on track. Read on if you want to discover organizing roadblocks that may exist in your life.

Why Can't I Get Organized: Part 2 - Situational Challenges. If you struggle with disorganization, Organization Expert, Scott Roewer shares with readers one of the three reasons most people can't get organized.Situational Challenges™ can be tricky because they often involve things that are beyond our control. If you believe that the problem lies in the circumstances that you are powerless to change, you may neglect to adjust the aspects of your routine at home or work that could keep things running smoothly amidst uncomfortable change. The problem then becomes more about your inability to adjust, than the situation to which you’re adjusting, and failing to recognize that could throw your life into a state of chaos.

Recognizing someone’s propensity toward getting caught up in their Situational Challenges™ is easy when you’re observing those traits in someone other than yourself. See if you recognize any of your own patterns in the examples below:

Why Can’t I Get Organized?

Pattern #1: You Don’t See the Connection Between What Happens at Work and at Home

Changes in employment that can call for a reorganization of one or more routines at home are countless. It could be anything from changing your commute schedule because of an office relocation or designating a proper workspace to accommodate the needs of a new telecommuter. The first step is to acknowledge that changes at the office will be successful only if you implement new routines at home to support them.

Pattern #2: You Struggle Against the Change Rather than Embracing It

Struggling against a changing reality is the default reaction for most of us. Unfortunately, when Situational Challenges™ arise and we have no choice but to address them – as in the worst case scenario of an illness or injury – our lives can suffer a ripple effect of upheaval and dysfunction. Don’t let everything fall apart. Identify areas where you need help (errands, cleaning, laundry, cooking, carpool, childcare or anything that may fall by the wayside) and make arrangements to get added support where you need it.

Pattern#3: Additional Examples of Other Situational Challenges

You have limited space at home or work which contributes to your organizing challenges. A solution is to consider off-site storage, reducing the volume, or moving to a larger space.

You’re constantly on the go and the speed of life and the constantly nose to your phone or computer is preventing you from being aware of your physical surroundings. When this occurs, it’s time to take a break, slow down, disconnect from work and set down the electronics. Take in your surroundings and be aware of how your ‘busy’ life is contributing to your disorganization.

Situational Challenges™ are often present when I assess why a client is disorganized. Becoming aware of what’s happening around you and adjusting to manage those things will help you be successful in living a more organized life.

Over the coming months, we’ll continue to delve into each of these behavioral patterns that create obstacles to organization to let you move past the impasses and live a more functional life. If you’ve struggled to adjust to changes in your circumstances at home or work, please share them with us in the comments below. We also invite you to visit our Facebook page where we love answering the questions of our readers. 

Six Strategies To Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

Success Strategies New Year's ResolutionsAs with everything else, when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, the key to your success is how you prepare and the organization that takes place before you start. Even though the majority of New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past mid-January, you can accomplish whatever changes you resolve to make in 2016, and if you follow our guide to six strategies to keep your new year’s resolution, you will greatly increase your chances for success.

Six Strategies To Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

#1 Create a Solid Plan

You already know that it isn’t enough to mull over the thought, “I’m going to lose weight this year.” You need a concrete strategy to make that happen. By declaring your intentions in detail and with specific terms, you are making a clear commitment to yourself, which makes it much harder to ignore. Just be sure your plan is realistic and actionable. Don’t try to take on too much, but rather focus on one important goal.

#2 Break it Down

Once you’ve created a solid plan, break it down into its simplest components to make sure it’s both measurable and time-sensitive. You need to be able to assess your progress in order to achieve your goal, so rather than declaring your intention to “lose weight,” determine what you can realistically accomplish in a set timeframe. For instance, resolve to lose one pound each week for ten weeks, and then lay out the plan to make it happen. This will allow you to monitor your results and feel your progress from the very beginning.

#3 Take Action Every Day

Since sticking to your resolutions comes down to doing something different, the most important element to your success is going to be DOING it! It’s not going to feel great at first because it’s new and uncomfortable behavior, but it’s going to be worth it. Whatever you have to do to carve out the time you need, make sure you schedule time daily to take steps toward your resolution. Being consistent will create momentum while your new behavior takes root and becomes habit.

#4 Take it Public

Whatever you intend to do, change, or accomplish, share the news with everyone you know. Tell your friends, call your mother, post it to Facebook. Not only will this help enlist your built-in support network, it will also make you accountable publicly if you falter. A public commitment is easier to stick to because the consequences of giving up will also be public.

#5 Install Penalties

If the idea of achieving your goal isn’t a sufficient incentive for you to stick to it, what about the idea of paying for it if you don’t succeed? If you give up and you don’t lose the weight, you’ll pay for it with your health… but what if it costs you some hard-earned cash, too? The guys behind the website stickK.com understand human behavior, and they’ve created a site where not keeping your resolution will cost you. You can decide how much to wager (with yourself), and build up the extra motivation you need to get it done. Or if putting cash on the line is too stressful for you, ask a friend to help exact an agreed upon “fee” should you skip an appointment with your resolution.

#6 Link Your Resolution to an Existing Habit

If your New Year’s resolution amounts to creating a new habit, try attaching it to something you already do regularly. If you want to drink more water, then make a list of times throughout the day when you can drink a glass, like right after you brush your teeth. The simpler it is for you to set your new task on autopilot, the faster it will take root and become a habit.

Take these steps to properly plan your resolution and you’ll be well on your way to beating the odds and making the changes you want to see in the New Year. And if you miss a day while you’re starting out, don’t get discouraged. Consistency is crucial to success, and the first days will have the biggest impact on your commitment, but nobody is perfect. For a good head start, why wait until New Year’s Day? Start now!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions this year? Tell us what you’re planning to change in 2016… and remember, if you share them publicly it’s that much harder to quit!

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We Stopped Sending Holiday Cards – Find Out Why

holiday card commentsThe past couple of weeks, a lot of our friends, family and clients have asked us when they’ll be receiving our annual holiday cards. They’ve been a big hit the last nine years , but unfortunately we have stopped sending holiday cards. holiday cardsSeriously. It’s not because we’ve #GoneGrinch on our friends, family and clients. For many years, our clients and friends looked forward to the holiday cards sent by our company. Holiday card comments. So why did we stop mailing cardsThey were not your typical cards from a business. Unlike the pre-printed, store-bought card, likely stuffed with a business card you probably receive from your real-estate agent, dentist, or interior designer – these cards were uniquely different.

Each envelope was personally hand-addressed, each had a special message crafted for the recipient, and the art work was unique and creative. We collaborated with an amazing artist who illustrated an image for us each year based on a general theme. I was always impressed with the final product when we received the box of cards from the printer. If you keep reading, we’ve shared a gallery of images from some of our favorite holiday cards.

So why did we stop sending holiday cards? After all, I love cards and I even wrote  a post in the past to help all our friends and clients make the process of sending cards easier. You can revisit that post here: Time Saving Tips to Mail Holiday Cards.

So, why did we stop sending holiday cards?

When we started sending cards in 2006 our mailing list was considerably smaller than it is now. We’ve seen a $.10 increase of postage from $.39 to $.49, which quickly adds up when our mailing list is now in the thousands. The overall cost for the holiday card project, including buying envelopes, postage, hiring the artist, and printing cards, has increased dramatically from around $500 in 2006 to over $3500 the last time we sent cards in 2013. If you know me well, you know I don’t mind spending money on my family, friends and clients! However, we’ve decided to spend the same amount of money and more, by helping others.Stopped mailing holiday cards - now we donate money to charity

The last two years, we’ve been contributing money to the Unstoppable Foundation, who we’ve partnered with to sponsor a village in sub-Saharan Africa, which includes building a schoolhouse. I’m a former teacher and believe there’s nothing more important than education. More than 53 million children don’t have easy access to education and over 47% of those children live in Africa.

To build the school requires $25,000. As a company we’ve donated over $15,000! We need your support to sponsor this village. With this financial commitment, Unstoppable will ensure that a schoolhouse is constructed, provide villagers access to clean water and sanitation, feed hot school lunches and support community gardens, and assure basic healthcare needs are met. Children will have a school provided to them to receive the education they need and adults will receive community education on basic skills, such as household budgeting. They will also train adults on specific skills, to help produce alternative income for their families.

We share all of this with you for two reasons:

First, like I said previously, we’ve been asked “where’s your card this year” countless times the last two years and we felt it was time to come clean on why we no longer send holiday cards. I’ve explained that I have redirected my focus on helping those less fortunate which has unfortunately taken from my budget of being able to provide our annual holiday cards to our family, friends and clients, which I’m certain you understand.

Second, we wanted to invite you to contribute to our efforts in building the school so together. You can donate online by clicking here. Please know, 100% of your donation goes to sponsor the village. Your donation would greatly be appreciated and you would be helping so many families! With the $15,000 we’ve donated, and a few additional donation, we’ve raised $17,329 – only $7,671 is needed to sponsor our first village.

In addition to you making that donation, we thought you might like to review our cards from 2007 – 2013 (which you can view larger by clicking on the images below). Please share in the comments section of this post which card is your favorite? Also, we want to know – do you support our decision in no longer sending holiday cards? If you were on the mailing list, does it make you think that we care about you less? Inquiring minds want to know!

Thank you so much for reading about all the good that we do and understanding why we no longer send our annual holiday cards. It has truly been a pleasure knowing and working with you all! All of us here at The Organizing Agency wishes you and all your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Cheers!

In addition to building a school with the sponsor a village program, we’re  being more ‘green’ by not using the ink, chemicals, and paper for the cards, polluting the air with the gas to deliver get the cards to us, and to you! So many positive reasons to not send holiday cards.

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How to Create the Perfect Holiday Party Tablescape

One of my favorite things to help clients with during the holidays is to create a festive holiday tablescape for their family gatherings or winter celebrations. Many consider creating a decorative holiday party tablescape is truly an art form  with an ultimate goal of wowing your guests. While many people spend a lot of money on professional floral displays and expensive decor, they’re not required to have a beautiful table. You can pull together a variety of things you already own to transform your empty dinner table into a main, eye-catching focal point for your gathering. To help kickstart your imagination, we’ve pulled together a few ideas to inspire you.

If you decorate your table for the holidays, would you please post a picture on our Facebook page? I’d love to see your creativity and your personal touches.

Here are Five Creative Holiday Party Tablescape Ideas

1. Use Festive Tableware – Instead of loading the table with decor, select beautiful plates and a simple napkin ring for each place setting. A few candles for lighting and a crisp tablecloth is beautiful and allows plenty of space on the table for food. Sometimes, simple is better when it comes to your holiday tablescape.

One of my favorite things to help clients with during the holidays is to create a festive holiday tablescape for their family gatherings or winter celebrations. Many consider creating decorative tablescapes is truly an art form, with an ultimate goal of wowing your guests. While many people spend a lot of money on professional floral displays and expensive decor, they’re not required to have a beautiful table. You can pull together a variety of things you already own to transform your empty dinner table into a main, eye-catching focal point for your gathering. To help kickstart your imagination, we’ve pulled together a few ideas to inspire you.

image source

2. Create a Color Scheme – Select a simple color scheme to simplify your table with a sleek, minimalist look for your tablescape. If you want modern and chic, try white and gold together. If you want something more Christmasy, stick with red and green. Festive with a touch of winter looks great with blue and white or blue and silver. We love this look of red and white. Clean, simple, very festive, and easy to pull together.

One of my favorite things to help clients with during the holidays is to create a festive holiday tablescape for their family gatherings or winter celebrations. Many consider creating decorative tablescapes is truly an art form, with an ultimate goal of wowing your guests. While many people spend a lot of money on professional floral displays and expensive decor, they’re not required to have a beautiful table. You can pull together a variety of things you already own to transform your empty dinner table into a main, eye-catching focal point for your gathering. To help kickstart your imagination, we’ve pulled together a few ideas to inspire you. image source

 3. Bottle Decor – At my house this time of year, we’re frequently emptying wine bottles. Who needs a refill? I digress. Consider using empty wine bottles as vases for floral picks or winter greenery, holiday-ready candleholders for your festive tapers (just soak off the label first), or for the DIY’er, grab some glitter spray paint and spray bottles of different shapes and sizes to create a unique tablescape center piece.

One of my favorite things to help clients with during the holidays is to create a festive holiday tablescape for their family gatherings or winter celebrations. Many consider creating decorative tablescapes is truly an art form, with an ultimate goal of wowing your guests. While many people spend a lot of money on professional floral displays and expensive decor, they’re not required to have a beautiful table. You can pull together a variety of things you already own to transform your empty dinner table into a main, eye-catching focal point for your gathering. To help kickstart your imagination, we’ve pulled together a few ideas to inspire you. image source

4. Bring The Outdoors In – Consider incorporating nature into your tablescape by using pine cones, simple branches, or seasonal flowers and berries into your design. Keep these items off the dinner plates and in the center of the table. If you want a little sparkle, add a touch of spray glitter to these items.

One of my favorite things to help clients with during the holidays is to create a festive holiday tablescape for their family gatherings or winter celebrations. Many consider creating decorative tablescapes is truly an art form, with an ultimate goal of wowing your guests. While many people spend a lot of money on professional floral displays and expensive decor, they’re not required to have a beautiful table. You can pull together a variety of things you already own to transform your empty dinner table into a main, eye-catching focal point for your gathering. To help kickstart your imagination, we’ve pulled together a few ideas to inspire you. image source

5. Wrapping Paper Napkin Rings – This is more for the DIY crafter – with a touch of mod podge, cut wrapping paper tubes into 1 – 1.5” sections using a bread knife. Cut a scrap of wrapping paper so it will fit around the tube. Brush the modge podge  onto the roll and immediately wrap the paper around the tube. Next, apply another top coat of glue and let dry. This is a great craft idea to do with your kids. While you’re at it, have them help create the entire tablescape.

One of my favorite things to help clients with during the holidays is to create a festive holiday tablescape for their family gatherings or winter celebrations. Many consider creating decorative tablescapes is truly an art form, with an ultimate goal of wowing your guests. While many people spend a lot of money on professional floral displays and expensive decor, they’re not required to have a beautiful table. You can pull together a variety of things you already own to transform your empty dinner table into a main, eye-catching focal point for your gathering. To help kickstart your imagination, we’ve pulled together a few ideas to inspire you.  image source

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