Get Organized Now! Newsletter

Get Organized Now! Newsletter - By Maria Gracia
June 6-12, 2010
http://www.getorganizednow.com

Number of Subscribers: 181,000

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clutter 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/

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hurdle Getting Over Typical Organizing Hurdles

Let’s face it; it’s often easier to give up our efforts to get organized than it is to jump over the hurdles. But the hurdles don't have to defeat us. We can overcome each and every one and succeed in this journey to getting organized. The hurdles can be conquered. Join us as we tackle a few of the hurdles to organizing that we all face.

1. Procrastination: Let’s face it, it’s easier to put off an unpleasant or overwhelming task than it is to do it. So, what do you do to accomplish something you've been procrastinating on? You schedule it! Just like scheduling appointments for any other thing, put time on your calendar specifically for organizing. It doesn't have to be a lot of time, just put it on the schedule. If it’s an appointment on your schedule, you are much more likely to follow through.

2. Lack of Motivation: You know it needs to be done, but you just can't make yourself get up and do it. So, here are a few ways to help you motivate yourself. 1) Put on some peppy music. It is true that when there is upbeat music playing, our mood perks up and we move a bit faster. 2) Visualize the finished product or end result. When you can picture in your mind what your end result will be, it’s easier to get it accomplished.

3. Where do I start?: This one can sometimes be quite a stumbling block as we look at the whole picture. When we look at the whole, we can easily become overwhelmed. So, pick the room that bothers you the most. Then, break that room down into quadrants and work one quadrant at a time. As you begin to see progress, it gets easier to continue. And, by breaking it down into manageable bites, it is a lot easier to swallow.

4. Lack of family cooperation: This hurdle can sometimes be pretty difficult to work around, but it’s not impossible. Start out by scheduling a family meeting. Give yourself time to plan what you are going to say and how you are going to approach your family. Enlist your husband’s support ahead of time. You might share with him how much less stressed you will be if you have some help. This will help the two of you present a united front when you have the discussion with the kids. For the kids, go over the rules and the consequences for ignoring or breaking the rules. Be sure you and your husband are in agreement and be consistent about following through with the consequences. When the kids see you mean business, they'll quickly fall in line.

5. It has to be done today: Chances are this is one of the hurdles you are subject to. To overcome this one, you need to change the way you think. You know that this physically can't be done in one day. Even those television organizing shows take several days to declutter and organize only a few rooms, AND they have a team of people to help. A helpful way to change the way you think is to remember that your home didn't become disorganized and cluttered in one day, and it won't be reversed in one day. Reasonable amounts of time every day will be what wins this battle.

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ribbon Organize Yourself, Your Home, Your Time
and Your Life--It's Easier Than You Think!

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 were living a more organized, happy, less chaotic life?

Visit:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/foffhome.html

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6. Too much stuff: You are not alone with this condition. Our culture is one that encourages the collection and consumption of much stuff. The trouble with stuff is the amount of upkeep and time it requires. There are only so many things we can use in a given day. For clothing alone, the average person wears 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. Take an honest look at what you actually wear for all of your activities. The excess can be donated. Work suits that you no longer need can be donated to organizations that make them available to women trying to get started in the workplace. You can also sell your items on consignment. This same process works for just about all of the stuff we have.

7: Perfection: Do you suffer from perfectionism? Many of us do. This hurdle can be difficult to overcome, but not impossible. We are under the delusion that we have to have or do everything perfectly. When we can't we don't start, or don't finish. We know that realistically we can't be perfect. Give yourself a break and give yourself permission to do ‘good enough’. There is nothing good about trying to be perfect. It only paralyzes us. Good enough is good enough! Think how much more relaxed you will feel when you no longer put unrealistic expectations on yourself. Start small and enjoy the freedom.

8. It was a gift: What is it about gifts that makes us think we have to keep whatever is given to us? Sometimes we keep items out of respect and love for the giver. Sometimes we keep items out of guilt, whether or not it is something we love and use. This is another one that requires a change in our way of thinking. A gift is something given with no strings attached. The receiver is under no obligation to keep any gift they don't love or use. If you are holding on to something because it is tied to the memory of the person, give yourself permission to get rid of the item but not the memory of the person who gave it to you. Getting rid of the item doesn't remove the memory from your heart. Give yourself permission to lose the clutter and cherish the memory.

9. Not enough time: Many of us think that if we don't have hours of time to devote to organizing, then we don't have enough time 'period'. While it would be wonderful to have hours at a time to devote to organizing, the reality is that our time is in short supply. Don't let the apparent lack of time discourage you from organizing. Everyone can spare 15 minutes here and there. It may be hard to believe, but you can accomplish a lot of organizing and decluttering 15 minutes at a time--especially when it's a focused effort without interruptions, coupled with an 'I CAN' attitude.

10. Transition storage-Where do I put it?: When our homes are already disorganized and overstuffed it’s difficult at best to figure out where to put items we want to keep, items we want to donate and items we want to sell. Let’s tackle sale items first. Are you having a garage sale? Designate an area in your garage to store garage sale items. Make sure you set a date for your sale. It’s much easier to work with a specific goal in mind. If you are donating or selling on consignment, put the items in your car at the end of your session and drop them off at least once a week. For those items you are keeping, designate a place in your home for transitional storage and use only that space. It might be a challenge for a little while, but just picture how great things will look when you finish. You can do this!

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office Be Super Organized at the Office!

Discover...

* How to maximize your office space and your storage space
* Ways to conquer your office clutter once and for all
* 10 easy steps to a happy, organized, clutter-free desk
* How to save time using your computer, both offline and online
* What business records should you keep and when can you toss them?
* How to find anything in your filing cabinet in seconds
* Easy tips for eliminating that daunting paperwork mountain
* Handling snail mail and email with ease
* Super systems for increasing your productivity, while doing less work!
...and more! Visit:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/foffoffice.html

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relay Join Me in My Fight Against Cancer:
Can You Make a Small Donation?

I'll be walking in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event. Can you make a small donation on my behalf for this wonderful cause? Visit:

http://tinyurl.com/2858xop

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apr10-new New Stuff And Site Updates

Everything below is accessible by visiting:
http://www.getorganizednow.com

We update the site weekly:
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. In light of this, please visit today.

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. My newest entries are:

1) 06/03 Walking Back and Forth
2) 05/25 An Inspiring Book and Video, Plus a Request
3) 05/17 Make a Restaurant Notebook
4) 05/11 A 6 Year Old and Her Artwork--What To Do?
5) 05/03 Mother's Day 2010
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 this week's challenge. We've just posted our Week of June 6th challenge. Go to the link below and look for the lady at the spa.
http://getorganizednow.com/#challenge

NEW Organizing Clinic: Department 10
What did I get done today? I work from home most days and have my very young kids at home with me a lot--they are in school but not full-time yet. I feel like so much of my day is lost and wasted and at the end of my day, I am asking myself "what did I get done today?". Go to the link below and look for the 3 young chldren.
http://getorganizednow.com/#clinic

NEW June Monthly Checklist: Department 1
Summer is upon us. Make this season of barbecue'n, beach balls and butterflies your most organized ever. Start today with our new June organizing checklist. Go to the link below and look for the beach ball.
http://www.getorganizednow.com/#checklist

NEW Web Poll: Department 14
Our featured multiple choice 'fill in the blank' is, 'If I ask someone to be somewhere at a specific time and they 'repeatedly' arrive more than 15 minutes late...' 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

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folders 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.

Here's what one of our customers had to say ...

Your My Oh-So-Organized Filing System was just the ticket for me to finally get my files lean and mean! I started one Saturday afternoon with four file drawers and two boxes. A few hours, three bags of shredded material and one Pride and Prejudice miniseries on DVD later, I was down to just one two-drawer file cart with a handful of stackable trays, one grab-and-go file holder for my desk and an organized box of manuals and warranties for my husband's workbench. All I had to do was open the filing system, put labels on folders, and get to work. Besides having everything all planned and printed, the most helpful aspect of the system was the handy guide. I learned there were plenty of papers that needed to be shredded instead of filed and I gleaned some really useful tips for keeping information at my fingertips. I never realized how much information I kept scattered around the house. Now it's all in one place--easy to find and easy to use. The day after I finished setting up the system my husband needed a manual for one of our appliances. I was able to locate it within seconds. Boy, was he impressed! Thanks again for such a great product.
--Cate Brizzell, Author of 'Real People Don't Diet'

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tips An Organizing Tip From One Of Our Readers

Earlier this year, I sorted through my jewelry box finding many pairs (some never worn) of earrings. I took them to a jeweler and was told they would only give me scrap gold price, but suggested I could give them to someone.

Having no children or nieces, I donated to a local charity that was able to sell on eBay. I received a tax receipt (for much more than I would have received for scrap gold prices) and the charity was able to receive some much needed cash. A win-win for all involved.

Sue Painter
Seattle Metropolitan Area

Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit:
http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html

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check Wouldn't it Be Nice to
Never Have to Worry About Money Again?!

* Are you sick and tired of bills piling up and worrying how you're ever going to pay them off?

* Are you always fighting with your significant other because your family can never seem to 'catch-up' financially?

* Wouldn't you love to being enjoying happiness and peace of mind knowing you don't owe anybody one single dime?

You won't want to miss this extremely valuable resource:

Visit:

http://www.leoquinn.com/cmd.php?af=250440

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tips An Organizing Tip From One Of Our Readers

I have a small, front closet under the stairs with no shelf and no room for one. But there is a lot of room further under the stairs. So I purchased a small dresser for the space.

Each drawer holds a category of items: one for gloves and mitts, one for hats and one for scarves. On top of the dresser, there is room for two baskets or boxes for storing other, less frequently used items such as small parts for the vacuum or shoe polishing items.

The added bonus is that there is room behind the dresser for storing empty computer and electronic boxes.

Jane Burnett
Brantford, ON, Canada

Jane enjoys renovating her old house to create more storage and organization solutions.

Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit:
http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html

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layout You Too Can Create
Stunning Scrapbooking Layouts,
Just Like You See in the Magazines

Have you ever felt unsure about how to lay out your pages, and what would look good with what? Have you spent hours looking through scrapbooking magazines for ideas, only to find that many of the techniques are beyond you, or you don't have the tools to do them?

If so, you will never again have to struggle for inspiration and ideas. You will be so busy flowing with original creativity that you will be literally swimming in ideas for fabulously stunning layouts, page after page with basic tools you'll find in your stash. Visit:

http://getorgnow1.accpot.hop.clickbank.net/

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Organizing Challenge Notes

Week of May 30th:
Play Catch Up: Do Something You've Fallen Way Behind On

I did 17 loads of laundry this weekend. This is the first time in my life I've ever been caught up. It feels good!
--Megan, Wauwatosa, WI

Because of your challenge, I plowed through 40 years of old photographs this weekend. They're all organized into photo boxes by decade. It feels good to have them sorted and out of the boxes they were originally tossed in. Plus, now that they're in order, I'm feeling I might want to digitize them to preserve them. Thanks for the push!
--Jenny, Palm Springs, FL

I finally caught up with my email! 2,576 messages later, I have an empty inbox. I'm a happy guy!
--Ken, New York, NY

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cap In Closing

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
--Franklin Roosevelt

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

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(c) Copyright 2010 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

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