Wow, it’s hard to believe the month of January is almost over. Where did it go?
Each year I start out with great intentions yet somehow time gets away from me. This year I decided to try something different to help keep me on track. I wrote out a monthly plan of goals I want to work on.
I know I won’t meet January’s goals. Of course that could be because I didn’t write them down until the middle of the month. Oh well, there’s still four days left to work on them! Continue reading
Posted in Calendar, Organizing, Paper Clutter, Planning, Taxes
Are you always scrambling to find a pen and paper when you need to take a message while on the phone? Do you have a place to put those messages so you or a family member can find them? Or do those messages end up getting lost and someone, maybe even you, gets mad because the important message didn’t get the person on time?
If the above happens too often in your home it’s time set up an organizing system that is easy enough for the whole family to following.
I have been going through my “Cut Out The Paper Clutter” free e-course on the Facebook Page by the same name. Lesson 3 is about how to control and organize all those little scrapes of paper we use to write messages on. Since I suggest several kinds of products I thought I would show you examples of what I’m talking about.
The products listed below can be purchased through Amazon. The links will take you directly to those products. You may also find similar products at your local office supply store and some discount stores. None are very expensive and would be well worth it if they work for your household.
The time, money, arguments, and embarrassments that will be saved when you are organized are priceless.
This bulletin board is the size of two standard pieces of copy paper put together. That makes it small enough to hang on a wall in the kitchen or near the main phone. If you have a large family or take a lot of phone or other messages than you might consider using a larger board. One side of my refrigerator is exposed in a good area so we always used that spot for messages when my son’s where growing up. Now that it’s just my husband and me, I use the top of the stove vent near the main phone.
If you are always looking for a piece of paper and a pen or pencil to write a note then a desk organizer can help a lot. I have one that is similar to this one near my main phone in the kitchen. It makes it easy to take phone messages or grab a piece of paper to make out a shopping list. Since I have a lousy memory and tend to forget things I write notes to myself a lot. I’ll put these reminders up on top of the stove vent so I see them.
These are just a few tools that can help you and your family stay organized. They are inexpensive enough that if they don’t work well for your household you haven’t spent too much money. Organizing tools can make a world of difference but one size doesn’t fit all. Think carefully about any these or other tools before you buy them. You don’t want to add to your clutter. If you feel these tools will work then give them a try. If not then research other tools to see if something else will work.
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
Posted in Clutter, home office, Organizing, Paper Clutter
This past week I decided to start a Facebook page devoted to paper clutter. I wrote an e-course last year that gives one short lesson from each chapter in the eBook, “Cut Out The Paper Clutter”. I figured the Facebook page would be a great place to discuss these lessons plus give even more tips on decluttering those paper piles.
I’m in the process of updating many of the links in the e-course. The first 3 lessons are already done and the rest should be completed in the next day or two. Since each lesson is sent every three days you can go ahead and sign up today and get the updated lessons.
I’m going to start discussing Lesson 1 (Junk mail) on Friday, January 20th (tomorrow). Since it will be on a Facebook page you can jump in anytime you want to. Here is a link to sign up for the e-course and to “like” the Facebook page.
Cut Out The Paper Clutter e-course.
Cut Out The Paper Clutter Facebook Page.
Cut Out The Paper Clutter eBook
Since I started setting up the Facebook page and editing the e-course lessons I’ve found myself motivated to work on some of my own paper clutter. Yesterday I went through some file folders that contained a lot of instructional articles about setting up a blog and website. Since mine has been set up for a few years now there was no reason to keep these printed articles. If I need help with some technical problem I can always look it up online again. A nice thick stack of papers went into the recycling bin!
Join me on theFacebook page and hopefully you too will get motivated to get rid of some of your paper clutter. Then once the clutter is gone it will be much easier to organize the important papers that are left.
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. ~Hans Hofmann
The e-course is free. TheFacebook page is free. What have you got to lose except some paper clutter.
Take the e-course first and if you still need more tips and help with decluttering and organizing your papers then invest in the eBook for only $9.99.
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
Posted in Clutter, Decluttering, home office, Organizing, Paper Clutter
I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and productive new year! This is the time where our hopes and dreams are in full bloom. Unfortunately our enthusiasm usually dies out when we don’t see results soon enough.
It’s important to have dreams and figure out what steps we have to take to make those dreams come true. I know…it’s easy to say but hard to do.
I’ve been reading a book called “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. It talks about how the little things can make a big difference. The problem is we may not see our efforts make much of a difference until they reach a tipping point. This means that all that exercising may not move the scale very fast but if you keep at it then one day you’ll notice your clothes are fitting a lot better.
The same is true with decluttering and organizing. You may feel that those few papers you filed or pitched didn’t even make a dent today. But keep at it and before you know it the desk will be cleaned off.
As the weeks and months go by and our hopes of having a great new year start to wane remind yourself that there will be a “tipping point” as long as you take care of the little things. Start each day this year with a list of small steps you can take that will move you closer to reaching your dreams of weight loss (seems to top most lists), organizing, decluttering, or any other dream you have.
There are a couple of quotes I taped up on my desk to remind me focus on the little steps.
Yard by yard, it’s very hard. But inch by inch, it’s a cinch. ~Anon
I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves. ~ Lord Chesterfield
Set your goals but focus on what you can do today to move you just a little closer to that tipping point.
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
Posted in Clutter, Decluttering, Organizing, Paper Clutter, Planning
School has been in session for most children for close to a month now. Are you overwhelmed with all the papers coming home?
There are the notices of events going on, the permission slips, homework, worksheets, and of course all the art work the younger children do. With so many papers coming in so fast it is easy to put them in a pile to go through later. But will you and/or your child go through them before the homework is due or the permission slip is too late?
If you didn’t set up a system to handle all these papers before school started then now is the time to do it! Below are some tips on a system I set up when my children where in school. Since everyone is different there is not one perfect system. You have to find what works best for you and your children. Sometimes it’s a matter of trial and error. I’ve also listed some websites below for you to check out their tips. The sooner you find one that works the smoother the school year will go for the whole family.
If you haven’t decluttered last years papers now is a good time to do it. This article will show you how.
http://cutclutterwithscissors.com/decluttering-childrens-school-papers/
Don’t forget to check out some of the links below for more ideas on how to organize children’s school papers.
Website links for controlling school papers.
http://www.onlineorganizing.com/NewslettersArticle.asp?newsletter=go&article=284
http://www.creativehomemaking.com/organizing/kids-artwork.shtml
http://www.familyhistorykids.com/organize_and_preserve_childrens_art_and_school_work.htm
http://www.marilynbohn.com/articles/back-to-school-and-the-agony-of-paperwork.html
Janice
Posted in Calendar, Decluttering, Organizing, Paper Clutter, Planning, school
This is the time of year where all those back-to-school and office supplies are on sale. Even if you don’t have school age children (mine are grown) it is easy to get caught up in believing that this organizing file solution or that 5 subject notebook will solve all our paper clutter or organizing problems.
Guess what – it might work and then again it might not. How many different products or solutions have you tried over the years with limited success? I know I’ve tried many.
What I have learned over the years is it’s not necessarily the product or idea that is bad it’s just that it didn’t work for me. I’m sure you have had the same result at times.
So besides trial and error plus lots of money spent how can you determine if a product will help you? That’s a hard question to answer. The best way is to take a look at what is currently working for you in any area of your home.
We all have some areas of our lives where we are relatively organized.
If you are organized when cooking in the kitchen pay attention to what kinds of organizing products and/or habits you are using that makes it work for you. Is your desk at work clean and organized but you desk at home is a disaster? Pay attention to what is working at the office and duplicate it at home if possible.
We are creatures of habit and each of us have different learning/organizing traits. Some we are born with and some we learned when growing up or as adults. Even if we were born missing the organizing gene we can still find the right kind of products and solutions to help us learn to get more organized.
So when you find yourself tempted to try yet another product in hope that it will solve all your organizing problems stop and think about it first. The questions below will help guide you towards one that might work for you.
Ask yourself:
As we are bombarded this time of year with all those ads for products to help get our children and ourselves organized we have to remember to stop and think before buying. Most products can help but one size does not fit all.
Figure out your style (or your child’s) so it will be easier to match the product or solution to it. That will increase your chance of success.
Janice
Keep up with the current month organizing tips by signing up to receive the blog posts in your email. http://organizebythemonth.com/sign-up-for-blog-posts/
Posted in Calendar, home office, Organizing, Paper Clutter, school, shopping
For the month of May I’m challenging myself to get my paper clutter under control. I’m going to use the information in the eBook “Cut Out The Paper Clutter” to guide me.
With all the tornados destroying homes in the Midwest and South this Spring I realized it was time to update my own inventory list. So that is where I’m starting.
Please join me in this challenge by following along. Be sure to leave a comment to let me know how you are doing.
Once completed this list will give me peace of mind in case of a disaster. It can also be used as a quick and clutter free reference for important information for warranty purposes. A second copy of this list should always be kept off premises preferably in a safe deposit box.
Creating this list can be overwhelming especially if you’ve accumulated many things over the years.
That’s why I suggest you start with taking a photo inventory first then work towards creating a written list.
Here are some great reasons for taking the time to create this list.
Week 1 Challenge
To keep from getting overwhelmed I’m only working on one floor at a time.
I’m happy to report that many of my pictures showed that at least some of my rooms, cabinets, and closets are under control. It will be easy to do the written inventory list later. Not everything needs to be on the written list.
The good dishes in the dinning room will be easy to inventory.
The kitchen cabinets aren’t too bad either. The photo will be all that I need. Nothing too valuable here.
The pantry may not have significant things to inventory but a picture speaks a thousand words. It needs some organizing!
Again not a significant area for a detail written list. However, a good decluttering and organizing will make it easier to know what is worth replacing in case of a disaster.
My next step in this challenge will be to take pictures of the upstairs bedrooms and the finished basement. Then I’ll start the written inventory list. Of course, the more I declutter the less I’ll have to write down.
Now that sounds like a good incentive to get rid of things!
Be sure to check back on this blog for the next report.
You can sign up to receive the updates through email on the right sidebar. ——>
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
The Home Inventory List is just one part of the eBook, “Cut Out The Paper Clutter”. You can see a list of the other chapters here. I’ve also extended the special sale price during the month of May while doing this paper clutter challenge.
Posted in Decluttering, Home, Organizing, Paper Clutter, Planning
I hope everyone had a good Passover or Easter holiday this past week. Last weekend was a wild one here in the mid-west with all the tornadoes and thunderstorms. Now we are looking at potential flooding.
Many people in the St. Louis area are labeling last Friday as “Miracle Friday” because despite a tornado that took a 25 mile path of destruction through the northern part of the area there weren’t any fatalities or even serious injuries.
People heeded the warning sirens and sought out proper shelter.
I can’t even image coming out of my basement to find my home completely destroyed like the one below.
You can view a lot more pictures of the damage on the KSDK news site.
When looking at these pictures I get a renewed sense of what is important in life. Sometimes we put an unrealistic importance on our material possessions. Most can be replaced, the lives of our loved ones can’t.
It’s something to think about when the clutter builds up in our homes and we continue to come up with excuses to keep it.
Of course if a disaster should occur to your home it would help to be prepared to handle the aftermath. That means having the important papers you need to expedite the insurance coverage and replacement of any other important things you may need.
I think it’s time for me to re-evaluate the precautions I have or have not taken regarding my household inventory (needs updating) and other important papers. I need to go over the chapters in my eBook again and make sure everything is ready in case of a disaster.
I have decide to make this a challenge for me during the month of May. I will work my way through my papers and household inventory and post about it on this blog. Why don’t you join me in this challenge?
Ways you can join me:
Follow this blog and post comments. You can receive updates through email here.
Follow the blog through my Facebook Page along with getting other tips there. http://www.facebook.com/CutClutterWithScissors
Take the free e-course on paper clutter: http://cutoutthepaperclutter.com/ecourse/
Purchase the eBook: http://cutoutthepaperclutter.com/
Together we can clean up our paper clutter and have peace of mind should a disaster ever happen. Of course we pray it never does, but just in case.
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
http://cutclutterwithscissors.com
Posted in Decluttering, Home, Organizing, Paper Clutter, Planning
Earth Day rolls around once a year to remind us to practice the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. Many of us take advantage of the convenient and local events to recycle those old electronics, athletic shoes, worn out books, burnt out light bulbs, and stacks of papers that need to be shredded.
You may have been collecting and storing these items since last Earth Day. After all, you don’t want to contribute any of them to the landfills.
It is a great and noble thing to take care of our earth. But if you are using your home as a temporary trash storage area while waiting for the once a year Earth Day events then that could be a big problem.
You don’t deserve to live in a trash dump!
Take advantage of this Earth Day to gather the information about places you can take items to be recycled year round. Newspapers (online and printed) are writing articles and listing websites and local addresses at this time. Create a folder, either on the computer or paper, to keep this information.
In August, when you take advantage of the back to school sales on computers you can look up where to recycle the old one. The same with all those outgrown rubber athletic shoes. Or those burnt out CFL light bulbs.
Many stores such as Best Buy now have bins to recycle small electronics year round. I know my local city has curbside recycling plus lots of schools now have the big metal bins for recycling. I’ve even noticed ones that are for recycling old clothes.
So there are lots of places to recycle your stuff everyday and feel good about taking care of the Earth. Just make sure you take as good as care of your own home. You deserve it!
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
P.S. Don’t forget that the eBook “Cut Out The Paper Clutter” is on sale right now for only $9.99. This eBook will help you get control of your paper clutter year round!
P.S.S. Join my Facebook page to get more tips on cutting out the clutter and organizing.
Posted in Going Green, Home, Organizing, Paper Clutter, Planning
I now have my new e-course on paper clutter up and running. If you’re stuck inside because of bad weather then take advantage of this time to get control of your junk mail.
In the first lesson I give you some websites that will help reduce all those ads, credit card applications, and unwanted catalogs that come in your home mailbox. It does take a few months to get your name off the lists so if you start today you’ll begin to see a big difference by this summer.
The e-course is free so go sign up now!
http://cutoutthepaperclutter.com/e-course/
Other lessons in the course deal with magazine clutter, phone messages, photos and other paper memories, plus plenty more. All the lessons come for the eBook; “Cut Out The Paper Clutter”.
So go sign up now for this free e-course. You’ve got nothing to lose but some of your paper clutter!
http://cutoutthepaperclutter.com/e-course/
Janice
P.S. Be sure to share this blog post with the link for the e-course with all your friends and family so they too can learn how to get rid of their paper clutter. Thanks.
http://cutclutterwithscissors.com
Facebook: http://bit.ly/99D10k
Posted in Decluttering, home office, Organizing, Paper Clutter
Have you ever found yourself thinking; "Wow, if I had a garage sale I could makes lots of money and get rid of all this stuff!" I know that thought has crossed my mind more than once. This eBook can help you make that happen.
