Get Organized Now! Newsletter by Maria Gracia http://www.getorganizednow.com Issue: January 16-22, 2010 Number of Subscribers: 181,999 ====================================================== Hello {!firstname_fix} ====================================================== ====================================================== Banish Clutter Once and For All ====================================================== It's not every day that I recommend organizing books from authors other than myself. But, when something really good comes along--something that I feel supplements my books and products beautifully, I'd feel I was doing you a disservice not to tell you about it. Mimi Tanner, the author of 'Declutter Fast' is actually a reformed pack rat. That's right...she has struggled with mountains of clutter for years. But today, she is free. She has discovered the joys of order and organization. She focuses on getting rid of clutter, and she does a wonderful job at it. Mimi makes decluttering your house both quick and pain free. I'm inspired by her excellent methods. I'm sure you will be too. Visit: http://fb1e43irtfrc0vb5vdtzkk0s9i.hop.clickbank.net/ ====================================================== Fun Ways to Tackle Your To Do List ====================================================== Let’s be honest, most days the last thing we want ‘to-do’ is tackle our To-Do list. We can think of so many other things we'd rather do, like maybe, root canal! Okay, maybe not quite that. Seriously though, there are ways to make tackling that To-Do list a bit more fun. 1. Re-prioritize your priorities. All of the time management experts suggest prioritizing your to-do list in order of importance. That’s great advice for making sure that the most important items do get accomplished. But who says you can't have fun within those parameters? Try alphabetizing them within their levels of importance, and then working them alphabetically, from z to a! Sometimes just a simple thing like this can shake things up enough to make it a bit more fun. 2. Schedule a fun break on your To Do List. Why should the To-Do list consist of nothing but one chore after another? Have some fun with your fun break. In the middle of running your list of errand to-do’s, schedule a latte break, or a milkshake break. In the middle of your to-do list of chores at home, schedule fifteen minutes to watch cartoons. All of these are guaranteed to make you feel good. Besides, who couldn't use a laugh or a milk shake now and then. 3. Set it to music! Have a lot of chores to do around the house on your to-do list? Turn on the tunes, crank up the volume and watch the time fly by. Make sure to use upbeat music. You'll not only have fun, but your chores will be done before you realize it. 4. Compete--with yourself. It sounds kind of silly, but there’s something about beating the clock that appeals to the child in each of us. Just think of how much it spurs our children on to see how much they can get done before the timer goes off. It can work the same for us big kids. Think how much more fun getting those chores and tasks checked off can be when you're playing beat the clock to get it done. ====================================================== Finally Organized, Finally Free -- for the HOME by Maria Gracia * HOT PRODUCT! Huge (405 Pages) HOME Edition! * Finally, a comprehensive resource to help you get organized once and for all! * Get 2,175 organizing tips, ideas and techniques to help you organize your home, your time and your life! Are you absolutely sick of all the clutter that seems to seep into every single room in your home? What about your overflowing email inbox? Do you wish the mountains of paper would magically vanish into thin air? Do you always feel like you can never catch up with your endless to do list? Is your family sabotaging your organizing efforts? In short, do you wish you can live a more organized, happy, less chaotic life? Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/foffhome.html P.S. Make 2010 your year to get organized! ====================================================== 5. Shake it up...literally. No one says we have to work from a list! Write each of your tasks on your to-do list on a separate slip of paper, fold and put it into a jar. Shake well. Then draw out one piece of folded paper, and take care of that task, no matter what it is. After you finish that task, shake it up again until all the chores are done. 6. Rally the troops and enlist support. No one says we have to accomplish each and every task ourselves. Why not rally the troops to help you on those items that don't require your personal attention. It’s always more fun to work alongside someone else. After it’s done, spend time playing a board game together--something you might not have had time for had you done all of your tasks yourself without help. 7. Reward your efforts. Sometimes it’s hard to want to keep on doing the same thing over and over. Stop and think of what you do for your children when they accomplish something. Don't you reward them for a job well done? Of course you do. So, why not do the same for yourself? Reward yourself for a job well done! 8. Swap with a friend. You've likely heard of those shows on television where families ‘swap’ wives/mothers for a week or two. Why not do the same with your chores and/or tasks? Get together with a friend and swap to-do lists for a day. Maybe you can't swap all of your tasks but it’s very likely that you can swap some. You do some of hers and she can do some of yours. It’s always easier to do someone else’s stuff than our own. Use that to your (and your friend's) advantage. 9. Throw one away. Who’s writing the rule that says we have to accomplish every single thing on our to-do lists? Just for fun, throw one item off your list and just don't do it. You know best what absolutely has to be done and what won't hurt if it doesn't get done. So, rather than beat yourself up for not accomplishing everything on your list, give yourself a break and deliberately throw one, or even two away! ====================================================== Finally Organized, Finally Free -- for the OFFICE * HOT PRODUCT! Huge (395 Pages) OFFICE Edition! * Finally, a comprehensive resource to help you get organized once and for all! * Get 1,875 organizing tips, ideas and techniques to help you organize your office, your files, your schedule and so much more! Your phone is ringing, your email inbox is bursting, your To File tray is spilling onto the floor. You can't find the paper you're looking for. Your To Do list is already so long, and growing by the second. You can never leave work on time, you're missing deadlines and you're up to your eyeballs in work. As they say, somethings gotta give! Are you ready to get organized at the office? Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/foffoffice.html ====================================================== New Stuff and Site Updates ====================================================== Everything below is accessible by visiting: http://www.getorganizednow.com Please note that we update our site on a weekly basis, so the new stuff and site updates below may only be available for one week. ** Get Organized Now! Blog: Department 2 Read my personal comments, stories tips and observations about getting and staying organized in today's hectic world. You don't want to miss it. Newest entries: 1) 01/11 Designate a Day of Oosooji 2) 01/07 - What do you see? 3) 12/30 - Celebrating the Old and the New 4) 12/23 - Christmas is Not One Day Visit: http://getorganizednow.typepad.com/get_organized_now_weblog/ ** NEW Weekly Organizing Challenge: Department 1 Each week, you'll get a new challenge. How fun knowing that lots of people are working on the same goal! Check out what this week's challenge is. We've just posted our Week of January 16th challenge. Go to the link below and look for the stack of books. http://getorganizednow.com/#challenge ** NEW Quick Tip: Department 4 Always rushing from one task, chore, errand, project or appointment to the next? This quick tip will reveal why that’s likely happening, and what you can do to get things done in a less rushed, more relaxed manner. Go to the link below and look for the alarm clock with its numbers falling off. http://getorganizednow.com/#quicktip ** January Monthly Checklist: Department 1 2010 is here! Make this your year to get organized. Start today with our new January monthly organizing checklist. Go to the link below and look for the Happy New Year sign. http://www.getorganizednow.com/#checklist ** Web Poll: Department 14 Our featured multiple choice question is, 'When it comes to most meals at dinner time, do you eat home-cooked meals, use a personal chef, order in or eat out?' Go to the following link and cast your vote. It only takes a second, and your opinion can be heard. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/#webpoll ====================================================== Organize Those Mountains of Paper Once and For All ====================================================== So many people have spoken of the so-called paperless society. There's no doubt that the world hasn't caught on to this concept yet. There's more paper than ever... bank statements, insurance paperwork, schedules, school-related reports, medical records, warranties-- and of course all the fun paper too, like memorabilia, articles, hobby-related stuff and more. This is not to mention all the email messages and computer documents that get printed and copied each day--even more paper! These papers start small, quickly turn into piles, and then grow into mountains. Sometimes, these mountains of paper get so high, that the thought of tackling them is just too overwhelming-- especially when you don't have a good filing system in place or much time to put one together. If you're sick and tired of the piles of paper taking over your home and your life and you just don't know where to start, I have a solution for you. The good news is, this solution will take no time at all, and the result will be stunning--a filing system that will allow you to dismantle those mountains and find whatever you're looking for in seconds. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/filing.html P.S. I guarantee you'll be able to get all your paper organized, in an efficient, easy-as-pie to set up filing system that will be the envy of all your friends. ====================================================== An Organizing Tip From One of Our Readers ====================================================== I always get envelopes in the mail, in bills or with junk mail, and I have found a great way to recycle them. Remove the top flap, and either tape or glue one to the inside of each of my file folders. If I need to keep something small, such as a business card in that file, it goes into the envelope. This keeps the little items from falling out and getting lost. --Michele Chambers, Reno, NV Michele lives with her two cats and her significant other, Grant. She is an English student and works part time. She enjoys reading, walking, and embroidery. * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ====================================================== Drowning in a Sea of Loose Papers and Sticky Notes? Here's Help! ====================================================== Movies you want to see someday, books you'd like to read, phone numbers, addresses, goals you wish to meet, recipes you want to try, wish lists, ideas, your cleaning checklist, your to do list... There's so much information you have to keep track of, but where do you put it all? Typically, it ends up on scraps of paper and sticky notes stuck to the refrigerator, bulletin boards and computer monitors, scattered on your kitchen table and your desk. Are you at your wit's end? If so, you'll be happy to know that I have the perfect solution to this problem. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html ====================================================== An Organizing Tip From One of Our Readers ====================================================== I used to stress about unmatched socks. I couldn't rest until I conducted a search because I didn't have a place to put the lone sock. But I came up with a better way. I keep a couple of store pants hangers--the kind that are a straight bar with a clip on either end--hanging above the dryer. Any unmatched sock goes in a clip. Usually the mate turns up quickly but if not the unmatched sock can stay there until the mate is found or I decide it's hopeless! --Julinda Adams, Indiana Julie says, 'I'm a working mom of two boys and the wife of a disorganized, but lovable, man!' * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ====================================================== Learn to Speak Spanish Confidently and Naturally AND Take All the Frustration, Difficulty and Headaches Out of YOUR Practice Time ====================================================== Do you have a Spanish speaking partner? Are you studying Spanish and need better resources to make your learning task easier? Do you want to earn more money at your job by being bilingual? Perhaps you simply want to learn for personal pleasure. Whatever your reasons are, Rocket Spanish was designed with YOU in mind so that you will get immensely satisfying results--FAST. You are going to learn Spanish rapidly, effectively, and easily. You are going to be able to speak at a restaurant, at an airport, with new friends--in basically every situation you can think of! If you've always wanted to learn how to speak Spanish, take this new year as an opportunity to do so, It's easier than you think. Visit: http://www.rocketlanguages.com/spanish/premium/?aff=getorgnow1&type=nohop ====================================================== Organizing Challenge Notes ====================================================== Week of January 9, 2010 Put all traces of the holiday season away. Boy, you must have been looking at my house when you wrote this one! I got the tree down January 1st, like always. But the rest of the stuff just hadn't made it. I saw your challenge and went in and took down my Christmas village, and went all through the house to locate the last few stragglers of the season. My house just breathed a sigh of relief. I was able to put all the things that had been moved aside for Christmas back in their rightful places. Thanks for the nudge! --Alexis Vincent My husband as been begging me to take our holiday decorations down. He said we're the only ones in town with our Christmas tree still up and lit, and it's displayed in our bay window for the whole block to see in the evening. So, rather than take on this reasonability myself like I always do, I got my husband to help me do it. We got done in half the time and we both feel like we're ready for the new year. Thanks! --Kirsten Was planning to keep my Christmas Decorations up for longer, but this week's challenge got me motivated to get them all packed up and away. This year I received so many photo cards for Christmas and all are so lovely, but of course if I pack them away I probably would never get back to them. So I decided to cut out the pictures of family and friends and placed them into an album. Now they are nicely organized, easy to access and I can enjoy them anytime. Thanks for the push! --Oksana Tuz, Lexington, KY Well, you spurred me on and I put away Christmas in one day. Washed all the linens, removed and stored all the ornaments. While doing this, I went through the ornaments and removed all the old lights (I now have the new cool ones) and any ornaments that I haven't used in years to send to recycling depot. Thanks for this challenge! --Alisa ====================================================== Become the Savvy Parent You've Always Wanted to Be ====================================================== Children like to push buttons and test limits whenever they can. As a parent, it isn't always easy to know what to do. Behavior management is often demanding and tiresome. That is, until Parent Coach Plan came along. Are you ready to discover how to... * Establish firm limits and clear boundaries with your child * Hold your child accountable for his or her behavior. * Teach your child to manage and control his or her feelings * Communicate more openly and effectively with your child * Create an environment of responsibility and respect * Overcome the day-to-day struggles you face with your child * Be a more informed, educated and effective parent The Parent Coach Plan is appropriate for parents with children 4 years and up. Are you longing for a simple, sensible parenting program which promotes a good response in your children without the drama? Look no further. Visit: http://www.parentcoachplan.com?a_aid=150e5b79 P.S. When you visit, you'll also learn how you can get Behavior Contracts, Behavior Chart, and Behavior Bucks complimentary! ====================================================== Become Our Fan on Facebook ====================================================== http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Get-Organized-Now/50467098715?ref=ts * * * * * Follow Us on Twitter http://twitter.com/getorgnow ====================================================== In Closing ====================================================== Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. This applies to play as well as work. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work. No more hiding from success. Leave time, leave space, to grow. Now! Not tomorrow! --Og Mandino And remember . . . there's no better time to get organized, than to Get Organized Now! Warmly, Maria Gracia Get Organized Now! http://www.getorganizednow.com ====================================================== (c) Copyright 2010 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now! ====================================================== * Copyright, contact and reprint information: http://www.getorganizednow.com/contact.html * You signed up to receive our Idea-Kit and/or our Newsletter at our Get Organized Now! Web site. We never add names unless you have voluntarily opted in. * We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list. * To subscribe, visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/free-ezine.html * To unsubscribe, click the link at the bottom of this email. You are subscribed to our list as: {!name} {!email} ============================================