Organize, etc.

• Everything needs a home ~ if you aren't really sure where the scissors belong, how are you going to put them away?  Or expect others to.

• If you are purchasing a new item, what are you willing to give up?…one in/one out.

• A gift is given to you to do with what you want.

• What will you do with the items that you no longer need/want:

• Donate
• Sell
• Give away
• Swap
• Consignment shop

• Some statistics:

• Getting rid of excess clutter eliminates 40% of the housework in the average home.
• 80% of clutter in most homes is a result of disorganization, not lack of space.
• 80% of papers that are filed are never referenced again.

• Managing Paper:

• Ask yourself the following questions each time you pick up a piece of paper:
• Do I need to keep this piece of paper?
• Will it be looked at again?
• Am I the only person who has this information?
• Can I get this information from someone else if I need it?
• What is the first word you think of when you read a piece of paper ~ use this as the title of the file you will use to keep the paper.
  

• When a charity calls saying they will be in your neighbourhood to do a pick-up and ask if you have anything to donate, say yes.  This way you have made a commitment to have a bag or two ready for them.  You have a deadline.

• Pick up every day.  Heloise says “5 minutes ~ 5 things” (if you have 5 minutes, pick up 5 things). 

• Use TV commercial time…put away the dishes, change a load of laundry, make your lunch for the next day.

• SPACE ~ Sort, Purge, Assign it a home, Containerize, Equalize (maintain).

• Systems are those habits that help our lives run smoothly because they remove the decision making.

• Questions to ask yourself:

• What is the worst possible thing that could happen if I threw this away today and discovered I needed it in the future?
• Do I use it?
• Do I love it?

• When organizing:

• Remove obvious trash
• Group similar items (allows you to see how many of one item you may have)
• Get someone to help you
• Don’t get sidetracked (don’t leave the room you are organizing to put something in another room…just set it outside the door)

• Morning madness:

• The Night Before

• Set the table for breakfast
• Get the coffeemaker ready
• Pick out outfit for next day
• Set schoolbags/briefcases by the door
• Make lunches
• Shower

• Keep only the items you use daily on the top of your desk ~ within arms reach.

• Break a large de-cluttering job into smaller, more manageable chunks.  

.

SHARE A TIP

Do you have a tip you would like to share?  Email it to organize@gto.net

We would love to hear from you! 

Check back often as we update this list. 

NEWSLETTER 

Sign up for our newsletter.  Tips and tricks for keeping your home, office and life, clutter-free. Go to The Organizing Newspage and complete the form.   

To view archive copies of The Organizing News, please visit the Newsletter page. 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please fill in the form on the Contact Us page.

Donna Campbell

Professional Organizer

Recipient of the

2008 Harold Taylor Award

for outstanding contribution to the organizing profession and Professional Organizers in Canada

Organize, etc. has something to offer everyone.  Whether it's helping the organizationally challenged individual with their 'stuff' or teaching one how to handle it themselves...we are here to help.

Want to learn to become a Professional Organizer...we can do that as well.

Please take the time to visit the rest of the pages on this website to see what Organize, etc. can do for you.

Check out our Products & Affiliates Page!

We have partnered with Organized A to Z to offer you organizing products to help you get organized and control clutter.

Also...Harold Taylor Planners and FreedomFiler links are available on this page.

Problem with paper?  Check out our newest affiliate ~ The Paper Tiger

Visit often...you never know when we may find something else that we hope can make your life a little easier!