Your Life. Organized.

What's Wrong With The Obvious?

Since 1998, I've been helping people take control of their lives at home and at work and it has been consistently gratifying. There are times when I believe people call me at their wits' end, hoping and praying that I'll have magic words and maybe a few spells and potions that will fix their organizing problems. But I'm about to tell you a secret.

I'm not magic. None of us in the organizing industry are. The success I've had working with clients over the years comes from a number of factors including asking the right questions, finding the root causes of a situation and creating processes to remedy the problem. Organizing success also comes from seeking out the simplest, easiest, most low-maintenance solutions.

Too many people are eager to set up perfect organizational systems which work like well-oiled machines and keep their lives oh-so-together 24/7. Trouble is, the reason machines need oil is because they have moving parts. Sometimes that's overkill. When your process is cumbersome or involves too much detail, you're likely to abandone it. So we always begin by first asking "What is the MOST obvious, simple solution?"

For example, if you wanted to make sure you always remember to take things out of the house with you such as dry cleaning, retail returns, gifts for others, or workout clothes, you have a few options. You could set a basket next to your door or on your stairs to put the items into to remind you. You could keep a white board next to your door to jot the items on it that you want to remember. Or you could do something like this:

This is my own simple system for making sure I don't leave the house without the things I need for my errands. (Magic,  huh?) And if it's a chilly night and I can't bear to walk those four steps into the garage, I'll set the items on the floor in front of my door so I have to step over them in order to leave the house.

I'm not saying this solution is better than the others I mentioned. But it's the simplest one and it until it stops working for me, I'm using it! You may not even have a garage, but my point is when creating systems, start with the most obvious solution first and see how that idea feels. If you need to refine it, then do so. But if not, why make it any more complicated than it needs to be?

What super-simple, no-brainer systems have you implemented in your life?

 

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Quote: Circumstances

 "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them."

George Bernard Shaw
1856-1950, Playwright

 

 

 

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The Rhythm of Routine

The Earth revolves around the sun. The ocean tide comes in and goes back out. The sun rises, the sun sets. Birds and sea mammals migrate south and back north again. Everywhere you look, nature has a rhythm. The world is constantly in motion nature’s cycles are how she keeps order.

What’s your rhythm? If your life is generally DISordered, could it be you just haven’t found your rhythm? Perhaps you fly by the seat of your pants most of the time, never stopping to put routines and standard practices in place. Maybe you avoid structuring your days because don’t want to be “confined” to a schedule or stifle your creativity.

Nature thrives on rhythm and order and since we're a part of nature, I believe we do too. There’s something about routine that keeps us sane when things around us may not be. Our routines anchor us, provide stability and allow us a measure of control over our somewhat uncontrollable lives. Although some people choose to believe “routine is boring”, I prefer to think of it as comforting.

When you deliberately structure your time to create routines and regular processes in your life, you free up mental energy for important things such as creativity, problem-solving, relationships and contemplating what you want next from your life.

How do routines help you stay in control? I’d love to know!

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Quote: Your Mental Jam

"Deal first with whatever is causing you the greatest emotional distress. Often this will break the logjam in your work and free you up mentally to complete other tasks."

 

Brian Tracy
Speaker and Author

 

 

 

 

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NeatDesk Demo

Today I'm sharing a quick (less than 3 minutes) demo of my NeatDesk scanner, which helps me reduce paper clutter and enter data quickly. The NeatDesk is the larger cousin to the NeatReceipts Mobile (portable) Scanner. I like them both.

 

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Quote: Striking Out

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way."

George Herman "Babe" Ruth
1895-1948, Hall of Fame Baseball Player

5 Ways Disorganization Costs You Money

Money money money. It’s on everyone’s mind and no matter how much you earn, why waste it? You may not think you’re wasting money but if you’re disorganized, you are definitely throwing away cash. Here are five ways you’re losing money and what to do about them. 

The Problem: Replacing Broken Items. When items are thrown into drawers, boxes, bins and into closets, they often get broken, which leads you to spend money to re-purchase them.

The Solution: If you respect your money, treat the things you buy with care and respect. Teach children how to care for their things and explain to them where money comes from and how much it costs to replace items they’ve mistreated.

The Problem: Replacing Lost Items. Things you lose or misplace need to be re-bought. This is a painful waste of money because you know you own it. You just can’t put your hands on it.

The Solution: Create specific homes for the items in your life and remember to put items away when you’re finished with them.

The Problem: Late Fees. Nobody enjoys paying bills, but putting it off can be expensive due to late fees. 

The Solution: Automate your bill paying online with a service such as Manilla where you can log into all our household accounts with one single user name and password.

The Problem: Impulse Buying. Everyone knows grocery shopping when you’re hungry is bad news, and so is shopping without a list or when you’re sad, angry or otherwise emotionally compromised.

The Solution: Always grocery shop with a list and pay attention to the way you feel when you’re at any other kind of store. Are you buying to console yourself or simply because you want something new? If so, recognize those motivations and substitute another activity. In the case of big ticket items, to avoid the remorse that occurs from impulse buying, always research and comparison shop to bring objectivity to the situation.

The Problem: Dining Out. Everyone enjoys dining out now and again. It’s a lovely treat. But if you and your family dine out, order take-out or live on packaged convenience foods several times a week, you’re wasting money.

The Solution: Mealtime Management. Get in the habit of shopping weekly for fresh meat and produce so it’s always on hand. Take a few minutes the night before to plan the next evening meal. You can put a meal on the table in 30 to 45 minutes when the ingredients you need are on hand, thawed and ready to go.

The Problem: Unrealized Money. Gift cards you receive are just like cash, but not if your disorganization prevents you from knowing where they are. To compound the problem, some gift cards reduce their value automatically each month they go unused.

The Solution: Because gift cards are like cash, it’s helpful to keep them in your wallet or purse where you keep your cash and credit cards. That way you’ll be reminded to use them every time you make a purchase.

 

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Quote: Decisiveness

"Decisiveness is a characteristic of high-performing men and women. Almost any decision is better than no decision at all."

Brian Tracy
Author and Speaker

 

 

 

 

 

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An Objective End To 2011

As 2011 draws to a close, I invite you to take an objective look at your year. Reflect on what you did that made you proud of yourself. What mistakes did you make? Did you do things you now regret? What did you STOP doing that was unhealthy, counterproductive, or just plain destructive? What did you do to make a relationship better? What did you do to move yourself toward a goal or a dream? Give yourself credit and then move on.

Reflection on the past is important in that it helps us take stock of where we were and how far we've come. But reflection must keep its place in relation to vision. Looking back at your results is valuable, but not nearly as much as looking forward and choosing your goals, dreams and plans for tomorrow.

My wish for you is that you will acknowledge your strengths, focus on your gifts, and step up to the new year with a bold new attitude to create a live you love in 2012 and beyond!

With gratitude and love,

 

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Quote: Follow Your Heart

On the verge of a brand new yearI thought I'd take a moment to reflect on a wonderful quote from the late visionary capitalist Steve Jobs to inspire you for your next 365 day trip around the sun:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Steve Jobs
1955-2011, Co-Founder of Apple Computer

 

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Merry Christmas Friends!

In this time, when so many are struggling, my Christmas wish for you (and for myself) is that we will choose to be grateful. For everything we have, rather than everything we don't. For those who are with us, rather than pining for those who are absent. For the opportunities that lie before us, rather than what we have lost.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are both wonderful reminders to reboot our gratitude mindset and for that itself, I'm grateful. Merry Christmas to all my friends and I thank you for your continued support, encouragement and inspiration!

With love,

 

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Happy Hanukkah!

To all my readers who celebrate Hanukkah, as the sun sets this evening, know that I'm wishing for you a very happy holiday, filled with those you love, lots of fun and delicious food!

(Mail me some kugel, willya?)

With love,

 

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Quote: What is Christmas?

 "What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."

~ Agnes M. Pahro

 

 

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4 Easy Holiday Appetizers You Can Make In 20 Minutes

It’s officially the holiday season and that means you’ll be invited to gatherings, parties and soirees from now through the end of the calendar year. Between shopping, entertaining and visiting, the word of the season is (say it with me…) BUSY!

If you dread holiday potlucks because you’re not a whiz in the kitchen and time is not on your side in general this time of year, this is the post for you! Here are five super easy and delicious dishes you can whip up on short notice for your own shindig or to bring to any holiday gathering. To make it even easier, bring them on a disposable plastic platter and leave it behind so you can come home empty-handed.

Caprese Skewers
This dish is one of my personal favorites and go-to appetizers that’s always a big hit. Cut fresh mozzarella into small pieces and combine each piece on a toothpick skewer with a grape tomato and a fresh basil leaf. Drizzle the entire plate with balsamic reduction or serve it on the side for those who wish to dip.

 

Classic Bruschetta
Make crostini by slicing a loaf of Italian bread into ¼ inch thick rounds, brush with olive oil and toast on a baking sheet at 400 degrees for five to six minutes until they’re golden brown. While the bread is toasting, combine a container of halved grape tomatoes and two teaspoons of olive oil and toast them on a baking sheet until the tomatoes are soft.

Once the bread and tomatoes are out of the oven, spread the toasted crostini with ricotta cheese, top each crostini to the roasted tomatoes and drizzle each crostini with honey.

 

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bites
This classic kid pleaser goes upscale when you spread artisan Tuscan bread with basil pesto, pile on sharp provolone cheese and fresh plum tomatoes and grill it in a hot sauté pan. Cut each sandwich into bite-size pieces and stack on a plate for your guests. Simple and delicious!

 

Chicken Salad Boats
To head to a weekday party after work, swing by the grocery store and pick up a head of fresh Belgian Endive (not curly!) and a rotisserie grilled chicken. Pull the chicken off the bones, put it into a mixing bowl and set the bowl of chicken into the freezer to chill quickly while you make the dressing. For the dressing, combine 2 to 3 Tablespoons of mayonnaise, a teaspoon of dry mustard, a teaspoon of dried dill, ½ teaspoon of celery seed, and sea salt and ground black pepper to taste. Add the pulled chicken to the dressing, mix thoroughly and scoop into washed endive leaves. Arrange the leaves on a plate and serve.

 

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