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 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! Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:45:05 EST en-us http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2934 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2934 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST Only one month left until Tax Day 2009… For many of us, preparing our income tax returns – or even gathering the documents and giving them to someone else to prepare – is the most postponed of all our household tasks. We know it's important, but we procrastinate until the last minute (or even beyond the last minute) to get started. If that is true for you this year, read on. I am NOT an accountant, and I'm not giving you tax advice. I am a professional organizer and daily ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2930 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2930 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST For the past three and half years A New View has been a coaching and organizing business. I have enjoyed every minute of being The Effortless Organizing Coach, too! However, as I grow and change A New View is growing and changing right along with me. Last month was a time of deep reflection. My heart was calling me to be of service to a wider range of people. Now I will not only be using all the tools I've acquired to coach people to overcome their challenges around disorganization, ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2881 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2881 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST Packing is more than just shoving everything you own onto a truck and hitting the road. While I don't believe you HAVE to hire a professional for a successful move, you do need to know what you are doing before you start loading up all of your belongings. Without some advance preparation, you could find yourself sorting through dozens of unlabeled boxes, desperately searching for a lost frying pan -- or worse yet, filling out damage claims, instead of enjoying your new home! ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2918 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2918 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST Recording the details of your quest for a healthy lifestyle – eating clean, reducing your stress, working out, organizing your life – is incredibly valuable as your own personal teaching tool as well as vastly increasing your chances for success. Many of us (myself included!) choose to ignore or strenuously avoid journaling because we don't understand the need for it. So often we launch ourselves into effort without knowing where we're going or where we started from. Putting pen to ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2925 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2925 Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2893 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2893 Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST I have a client who is trying to simplify her life, and she would be succeeding at it beautifully, if it weren't for her family! Sometimes, it can seem like your housemates are hell-bent on making your life more complicated -- bringing in tons of unnecessary clutter, expecting you to pick up after them, and creating chaos in your schedule. For a simplicity strategy to really work, the whole team has to be on board... Learn Where To Draw The Line ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2919 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2919 Tue, 9 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST Allstate Insurance runs a commercial where the deep baritone of Dennis Haysbert (yes, the former president on 24 ) intones, "In the last year, we've learned a lot. We've learned that meatloaf and Jenga can be more fun than reservations and box seats, and who's around your TV is more important than how big it is..." Sure, he's selling insurance, but Dennis is not entirely wrong about Jenga, or games in general. Media outlets like the Hartford Courant tout Board Games Up ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2910 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2910 Tue, 9 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Last week we talked about how limiting beliefs can keep us stuck and stressed – and eventually our calendar, to list and our life don't reflect how we really want to live. Now I'd like to address how you can move yourself out of that syndrome and toward a day to day life of meaning and joy. When I began this process – it was life changing for me! It lifted me up out of a drab daily existence of just slicing tasks off an endless to do and appointment list and into a realm where I felt ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2914 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2914 Mon, 8 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST Have you ever needed a "virtual or digital" notebook or filing system? Well, I know I'm constantly looking for ways to keep paper to a minimum without losing valuable information or time. Sometimes you need more than a sticky note to remember ideas or information too. Evernote ( http://www.evernote.com ) is an online electronic storage solution that doesn't just keep track of all the notes you create, it keeps them organized, electronic and easily searchable in one "digital file ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2922 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2922 Mon, 8 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST Normal.dotm 0 0 1 210 1197 Not From a Box, Inc. 9 2 1470 12.256 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2921 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2921 Mon, 8 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST I filed my tax return today! And all 2009 documents are filed safely away with my tax return. Because of my organized filing system, it took less than an hour to gather everything together. This is a huge improvement over past years when I didn't have any system in place. Every year I procrastinated until the last minute because it was such a chore to find everything and organize it before I could even begin working on the return. Are you guilty of procrastinating when it comes ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2923 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2923 Mon, 8 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST Some Professional Organizers are known for running after their clients with label makers and applying white stickers everywhere; I think it would make a funny cartoon. Why are Professional Organizers good spokeswomen for label makers? We understand the value of labeling. Using labels helps you to place items in their proper homes. Once you set-up a new organizing system it takes a little while to grow accustom to it. Labels help you put things back consistently and find items quickly. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2920 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2920 Sun, 7 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST The very thought of being audited by the IRS sends chills down our spines. Mary McClung, a professional organizer and my friend and colleague, was recently the lucky winner of an audit. She lived to survive it, and she gave me permission to share her "lessons learned" with you. · Do issue 1099s if you are required to do so. This year, if you paid $600 or more in compensation for services rendered by a nonemployee to your trade or business, you need to give a 1099 to each of ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2912 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2912 Sun, 7 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2916 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2916 Fri, 5 Mar 2010 12:09:07 EST If you're just starting a professional organizing business or a new 1 person "solopreneur" venture, it's critically important that you take time at the very beginning to assess your business and personal goals and construct an outline for a comprehensive plan. I discovered the hard way that there's much more to running a successful business than just hanging out your shingle and waiting for the clients to roll on in. Managing the nuts and bolts of running a business and being good ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2760 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2760 Fri, 5 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST We all have good intentions, donft we? We want to make sure we send out greeting cards to family and friends for their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. However, life gets in the way. We remember one day and forget the next and before we know it, that special occasion just passes us by. As a result, we might find ourselves sending out a lot of belated wishes. There is a solution. By creating an organized system for sending out those cards, you will never be late again. One way to resolve this ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2913 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2913 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST For almost every family the scenario is the same. Regardless of age group or content, children's toys seem unmanageable to just about everyone. Whether it is the Lego piece you are tired of stepping on or it is the rest of Polly Pocket's accessories that cannot be found that keep your family in turmoil. They seem to always have a long list ready of what is coming up next. So, take an opportunity to streamline what toys you have on hand. They key to success is simplifying. Unless a ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2908 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2908 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST It's not quite so dark in the morning lately, and with the advent of a little more daylight, getting up a little earlier each day is becoming easier for me. And the benefits are tremendous - it allows me precious time for myself before the phone calls and emails start rolling in and the day picks up its pace. Running a business means there's always something that needs to be done. Giving yourself the gift of a little "me" time in the morning can get your day off to a great start. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2737 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2737 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST So you're planning on relocating to another area -- very exciting! Unfortunately, these days you can't just pack up the car and take off. You will need to settle all of your old business before starting fresh in a new community. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make the transition to your new home and new life a bit easier. Changing Accounts And Addresses Shutting off your old utilities and turning on the new ones is a lot easier ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2907 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2907 Wed, 3 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST Exercise and fitness gives your self-esteem a real boost. Studies have shown that the simple act of working out can improve body image, regardless of whether or not your body actually changes. This may be due in part to the effort spent on getting in shape (which researchers say could convince people to think they look better). Improved body image extends to all areas of your life too - from career advancement, attitude, motivation, energy levels and increased self confidence. So ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2911 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2911 Tue, 2 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2742 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2742 Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST I posted a great quote of the day this week -- "If you experience stress, you're doing it wrong." (Jay Conrad Levinson) A friend of mine thanked me for reminding her of this concept, and it made me think about how complicated our lives become without us even realizing it. So let me take a second today to remind you to K.I.S.S. Asking The Big Questions In everything that you do throughout the next 24 hours, take a second to ask yourself "why." For example, as I was ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2878 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2878 Tue, 2 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST I confess--I love greeting cards. While shopping for my sister's birthday card in February, I saw three cards perfect for Paper Mommy 's birthday in April--two suitable for public display, and one that will send her into paroxysms of private giggles. (Even professional organizers have areas of "aspirational acquisition".) According to the Greeting Card Association , U.S. consumers purchase approximately 7 billion greeting cards each year. Another 700 million are sold in Canada. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2906 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2906 Tue, 2 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Getting organized should help you increase your energy and fuel your motivation to do what really "juices" you. One of the best places to start is feeling good about your purpose - the dreams that compel (and propel) you out of bed in the morning. But it's almost impossible to find energy and motivation to go after those dreams if you're stressed out and distracted with life's busyness. When your calendar and To Do list overflow with activities that aren't personally ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2909 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2909 Mon, 1 Mar 2010 12:06:20 EST I was reminded yesterday of something a former business coach once told me to help me get out of overwhelm. I've got "open portal" syndrome big time - I LOVE chasing bright, shiny objects, the next new thing, this great idea, this new trend. I get involved and quickly get overinvolved. I also HATE disappointing or refusing people, especially my clients. But sooner or later you have to say no, otherwise you not only begin to feel resentment but you won't be able to deliver what it is ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2880 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2880 Mon, 1 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST The first week in March is National Procrastination Week. No, this is not a time to procrastinate, but a chance to fight it. Normal.dotm 0 0 1 380 2168 Not From a Box, Inc. 18 4 2662 12.256 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false