Blogs -- OnlineOrganizing.com

You Are Here: Home - Blogs

Simplify Your Life by Ramona Creel

One Day At A Time

The only way I know to describe this blog is to say "Get real, folks!" There are so many of us who are deluded by the idea that we can have it all, do it all, be everything to everyone, and not have a nervous breakdown in the process. Well, I'm here to slap you around a bit and remind you about how things really work -- one week at a time! This blog is dedicated to addressing the many ways that we complicate our own lives, and steps we can take to make things a bit easier. It's not meant to be an indictment or an accusation -- because I used to be right there with you! But as a Professional Organizer and full-time RVer, I've dedicated my life to radically simplifying -- clearing out the clutter, cutting back on the obligations, reducing my need for material possessions (and subsequently my footprint on this earth), and making space and time in my life for my true priorities. If I can do it, so can you...

Latest Posts:


My mother has passed and I ask for your help My mother has just died from a hideous disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) -– something causes your lungs to turn into a mass of scar tissue, they harden to the point that you can no longer absorb oxygen, and you suffocate. ... Read more... posted on: 7/19/2010 8:33:43 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Making Airport Security Easier We just flew for the first time in a while this past week -- and may I simply say how glad I am that Matt and I don't have to rely entirely upon the airlines for long-distance transportation any more? What a pain in the neck! The world has changed since 9/11, and it's a rare traveler that doesn't experience some level of delay or frustration. But there are some proactive steps you can take to make your trip through the screening line a bit faster. To Go In The Bins ... Read more... posted on: 7/13/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Vacation Transition Syndrome With all of the attention that syndromes and disorders are receiving these days (ADD, PMDD, chronic fatigue) I thought that we ought to take a few moments to discuss one of the most crippling and least-recognized conditions out there -- VTS. What Is VTS? ... Read more... posted on: 7/6/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Packing Lists For All Occasions Knowing what to pack is an important step in assuring a successful trip. A good packing list simplifies your trip planning as well -- no more guessing whether or not you brought everything you need, then realizing you forgot something important when you arrive at your destination. Being the kind and generous soul I am, I've created a number of generic packing lists that you might find useful -- feel free to customize to suit your particular needs... Travel Plans ... Read more... posted on: 6/29/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Simplified Travel Planning Using The Internet Travel planning can seem a bit overwhelming -- especially when you're visiting a new city and know nothing about the area. However, it's much easier for do-it-yourselfers to find both the fun activities and the deals by harnessing the power of the internet. Let's take a step-by-step look at everything that has to happen for you to plan a safe, successful, and technologically-advanced trip. Planning Your Itinerary ... Read more... posted on: 6/22/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Taking The Stress Out Of Travel It's vacation time again, and tons of you will be hitting the roads and airports to enjoy a little R and R this summer. Are you simultaneously looking forward to the trip, but dreading the stress of the actual travel? The frustrations of traffic jams, lost luggage, and packing? Avoiding Typical Travel Annoyances... Read more... posted on: 6/15/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Travel And Expectations -- Not A Good Mix Matt and I just had one of those day trips where nothing goes right -- things that should have been open were closed, other people kept getting in our way, we came across 3 different patches of road construction, you name it. I could have been irritated about getting off schedule, bit instead we went ahead and had a great day -- because we didn't let our expectations get in the way. It's all about going with the flow, Keeping It In Perspective ... Read more... posted on: 6/8/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Photography As A Metaphor For Being In The Moment For the past couple of years while we've been traveling, I have become a picture-taking fool (please check out my portfolio to see some of my work.) I carry my camera with me absolutely everywhere, and I am always stopping to snap a shot of a flower or bug, an interesting architectural detail or a child playing in the park. And what I love so much about photography is that it allows me to be even more in the moment as I go about my daily life. Kairos Versus Chronos ... Read more... posted on: 6/1/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Frugality Is A Way Of Life, Not A Temporary Quick Fix There has been a lot of talk in the media about "frugality" since the economic downturn. However, I'm disturbed by the way that magazines and newspapers seem to be treating the idea of saving more and spending less as some sort of a quick-fix, a temporary solution to tide us over until the economy bounces back again. True frugality is a way of life, it's a set of values which influence every spending decision you make. You're Not Going On A Fiscal Diet, Here ... Read more... posted on: 5/25/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

Do You Know What Your Stuff REALLY Costs? Someone recently introduced me to "The Story Of Stuff," a project that illustrates the true cost behind the goods that we buy. Simplifying is about more than controlling your own budget and cleaning out your own clutter. It also requires that we become aware of the global impact of American consumerism -- and this book does a great job of getting the point across. Spiraling Out Of Control ... Read more... posted on: 5/18/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel category: General Organizing Tips

View Earlier Posts...

Subscribe To This Blog

About Ramona:

I have been a Professional Organizer for more than 10 years, I am a NAPO Golden Circle member, and I was the original founder of OnlineOrganizing. I have worked one-on-one with scores of clients and have trained dozens of newbie organizers as they got started in the industry. I provide both hands-on and virtual coaching to help clients improve their organizing skills and simplify their lives. I invite you to visit my website at http://www.RamonaCreel.com, and I challenge you to find one new idea that you can put into practice in your life, to help you become better organized, starting TODAY! I am passionate about coaching folks toward a more balanced, productive, and enjoyable life -- and I firmly believe that if I can do it, so can you!

You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, check out my Facebook profile, and subscribe to my feeds.

Ramona's Website:

www.RamonaCreel.com

Ramona's Other Blogs: