Get Organized Now! Newsletter by Maria Gracia http://www.getorganizednow.com Issue: September 26-October 2, 2009 Number of Subscribers: 181,999 ============================================ Hello {!firstname_fix} ============================================ 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 won't take hardly any 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/ez-mo-oct2-t.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 a few 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' I wanted to thank you for putting together My Oh-So- Organized Filing System. It is such a simple idea, but worth every penny. I put your system to work immediately, and you should see my filing drawer--it's beautiful! I could not have achieved the level of success without your completely thought out system. It's wonderful. Everything is filed away and neat and organized. I can find anything. I showed my husband and he was so impressed, he was telling the neighbors! Excellent product--I highly recommend it! --Jennifer Thoden, Drapery Sewing Supplies I received the filing system today and have started to label and organize my files. I hesitated to get it, because, after all, why should I pay for file folder labels when I could just write out my own? After receiving the booklet and labels, I'm so grateful that so much of the organizing work has been done for me! This system seems very well thought-out and is a breeze to implement. Thank you so much for developing this system-- it is well worth the money and then some! --Lorri Nicolini ============================================ ARE YOU A PACKRAT, PERFECTIONIST, OR PROCRASTINATOR? Are one of your 'P' tendencies getting in the way of you getting organized? Whether you're a packrat, a perfectionist or a procrastinator, a stress-free, less chaotic, organized life is in your reach. FOR THE PACKRAT: 1. Having a clutter-filled home is not safe or healthy. For one thing, it makes deep cleaning your home nearly impossible. Dust and other allergens will remain trapped on shelves and in carpets that can't be accessed. There’s also the safety issue of having clear floors so no one trips and hurts themselves. You want to be able to walk from room to room in the dark if needed, secure in knowing you won't run into anything. Imagine each item you don't use and/or love magically floating away, and visualize what a breath of fresh air it will be when your house is lighter. 2. In order to really enjoy the things you do care about, you need the space to see them, touch them, to display your collectibles or cherished family heirlooms. We want to be able to properly respect and honor the memories as well as the items themselves when we are entrusted with our family’s treasures. If these things are tossed in boxes alongside a bunch of everyday stuff, we are not caring for them properly and might as well not have them. On the same note, most people cannot display all their family treasures at once. Consider putting many of these personal items into storage, and displaying just a few at a time. That will truly spotlight these few items. In a month, rotate some of the items on display into storage, and a few currently in storage back on display. 3. I've never heard a packrat say that they enjoy being a packrat. We want to set a good example for our children, other family members and co-workers. We want to feel proud of our surroundings. Don't go through the decluttering process by yourself. Invite an encouraging friend or relative to help you weed out some of the stuff that's really not that meaningful and just taking up space. 4. Looking for an easy way to curb your packrat tendencies? Challenge yourself to toss five items per day for a month. By the end of the month, you'll have lightened your load by 150 items. Sounds like a lot but you'd be amazed at how quickly you can find things to toss or donate. Everything counts and if you can find more than five things a day, all the better! ----- FINALLY, AN EASY, NO NONSENSE WAY TO GET RID OF CLUTTER AND TO FIND MORE TIME FOR THE THINGS YOU LOVE TO DO-- NO MATTER HOW BAD OFF YOU THINK YOU ARE 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/ez-fh-oct2.html ----- FOR THE PERFECTIONIST: 1. Are you afraid to start a task or project without knowing the 'right way?' There is no one, correct way to de-clutter and organize. If one way doesn't work well for you, try another approach. The only wrong way is to not start at all. It doesn't matter where you start. Just start. 2. Are you afraid to start if you're not going to be able to finish the whole thing all at once? The most important thing to remember is the concept of BABY STEPS. For example, you don't have to organize an entire house all at once. Do one shelf, one drawer or one closet if you get really ambitious. Every little bit counts and makes a big difference towards your eventual goal. 3. What if the end result isn't perfect? Give yourself the OK to do what you can, and improve later. It's rare that the initial system is the very best way. Always keep 'continuous improvement' in your mind and you won't have to worry about getting it right the first time. 4. Do you feel that you have to complete everything you start, or you won't begin? This kind of mindset will be a huge barrier to you getting anything done. Take large projects and break them down into a series of 15 minute tasks. This way, your goal it to complete 15 minutes of 'time' working on your project. Tomorrow, you can start and complete the next 15 minutes. This system will help ensure your project gets started and moves along at a good pace. 5. Be realistic about your expectations. The houses you see in magazines are staged. No one lives in them. There are no kids, no pets, none of life’s normal problems or the things that make staying organized a challenge. Give yourself a break. FOR THE PROCRASTINATOR: 1. The more time you spend moving stuff or papers or decision from place to place repeatedly, the less time you have to actually live your life and do things you enjoy. Sometimes we just have to buckle down and deal with the stuff once and for all. Take one box, or project at a time and just do it. 2. Be honest with yourself. If you keep saying that you'll do it tomorrow or next weekend, that time will never come. You will continue to have it hanging over your head causing you stress. If you're not going to do it, cross it off your To Do list. If you are going to do it, schedule it on your calendar, and work on it when that date and time rolls around. 3. Determine why you're procrastinating. Are you not even sure the task needs to be done? Are you not sure where to start? Do you need information from another source? Figure out where your procrastination is stemming from. Once you know, list 5 things you need to do to overcome that obstacle, and start working on those things one by one. 4. Find a cheering section. Let someone know about what you're trying to achieve and ask him/her to nag you a bit and cheer you on as you accomplish each mini goal. Very often, that's all it takes to get something done. ----- GET ORGANIZED AT THE OFFICE-- YOU'LL BE SUPER PRODUCTIVE WITHOUT HAVING TO WORK HARDER AND YOUR CLUTTER-FREE OFFICE WILL BE THE ENVY OF YOUR CO-WORKERS 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/ez-fo-oct2.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) 09/21 - Your energy levels affect your organizing efforts 2) 09/16 - We're now on both Facebook and Twitter! 3) 09/08 - The subject of organizing is in nearly every book 4) 09/01 - Back-to-School Meant a Change to My Schedule 5) 08/24 - Always forgetting? You'll love this video Visit: http://getorganizednow.typepad.com/get_organized_now_weblog/ ** NEW Weekly Organizing Challenge: Department 1 Each week, you'll get a new challenge that should take you 30 minutes or less to accomplish. 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 September 27th challenge. Go to the link below and look for the star greeting card. http://getorganizednow.com/#challenge ** NEW Inspiration: Department 9 Thomas Edison shares his certain path to success, no matter what you're attempting to accomplish. Go to the link below and look for the lightbulb. http://www.getorganizednow.com/#inspiration ============================================ ENJOY A SUPER-ORGANIZED, STRESS-FREE, TIME-TO-SPARE, CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR Christmas is supposed to be the season of joy, warmth, reflection and good will. Why then, is it such a stressful time for so many people? There's no doubt about it. Once Thanksgiving ends, the season of hustling and bustling is upon you. There are holiday cards to be sent. Gifts to be purchased or made. Holiday dinners to plan. Church, community and family get-togethers to attend. Holiday treats to bake. Stockings to stuff. Tree trimming, gift wrapping, and getting your house ready for company. The list could go on and on. It's no wonder there's so much stress and exhaustion this time of year. But the good news is, it doesn't have to be that way. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ez-hp-oct2.html ============================================ AN ORGANIZING TIP FROM ONE OF OUR READERS Whenever I make an appointment and put it in my appointment book (hairdresser, doctor, plumber, etc.), I always put the phone number right besides it. That way if I need to cancel or change the appointment, I don't have to go searching for the number. This saves a lot of time and aggravation. Fran Hackerman Hamden, CT * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ============================================ SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR MONEY WORRIES-- PAY OFF YOUR BILLS WITHOUT PINCHING PENNIES OR CUTTING YOUR SPENDING IN ANY WAY Would you like to begin controlling your finances, once and for all? Did you know that you can pay off all your bills, including your mortgage, without having to pinch pennies, get a second job or cut back your spending in any way? It's easier than you think and you can do it. I highly encourage you to visit my friend Leo's web site to find out how. He, by far, offers the best information I've seen to help you say goodbye to your money worries --forever. When you are debt-free, you can ... * Enjoy happiness and peace of mind knowing you don't owe anybody one dime * INVEST your hard-earned money and get it working for YOU so you can retire early and comfortably * Worry less about losing your job. You NEED a lot less money when you are debt-free * Spend less time working and more time doing the things you want to do with those you love Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ez-leo-oct2-b1.html P.S. I fully believe in what Leo teaches (it really does work) and I highly encourage you to learn more. -- Maria Gracia ============================================ GET ORGANIZED NOW! RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK One of the biggest reasons marriages end in divorce is because couples fail to ask the big questions before they walk down the aisle. If couples simply spent some time asking each other the questions that really matter, they'd greatly increase their chances of staying together. I recently discovered a resource of 1000 questions for couples. It includes tough subjects like money, children and child rearing, career, past and present relationships, religion, morals, convictions and beliefs, personality, and even more intimate topics. Of course, while there are many serious and tough topics to discuss, there are also many 'lighter' yet just as important topics, including the car and driving, vacations, food and well being, pets, and your favorite things. Hands down, this collection of questions cover every question you would ever want to ask your loved one. I highly recommend this resource for everyone--couples who are thinking of getting married, couples who have been together for years who just want to feel closer together and even people simply dating who want more things to talk about. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ez-couples-oct2-r2.html Maria Gracia P.S. Imagine you and your partner having a more fulfilling, open, meaningful, loving relationship--just because you initiated some simple questions. So easy, so wonderful. ============================================ AN ORGANIZING TIP FROM ONE OF OUR READERS For years, I have kept a paper bag in my clothes closet and in the kitchen/den area into which I place items I'm no longer using, reading or wanting to wear. Using a grocery bag with handles, or one of the mid-size department store shopping bags with handles into which I can conveniently drop items has helped me 'recycle' more easily on an almost daily basis. When the bag is full, I pick it up, place it in the car and take it to a women's shelter or a donation station (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.) and begin a new bag. Ruth Campbell Santa Cruz, CA * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ============================================ YOU ALREADY HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE. DISCOVER HOW TO EASILY RELEASE IT Imagine being able to... * Hit your ideal weight and stay there forever without feeling miserable * Exercise and LOVE it * Be free of depression no matter how severe or how long you've suffered * Get rid of your panic attacks and stop obsessive behaviors * Quit bad habits for good - and not miss them one little bit * Live every single day with passion and purpose no matter what your age Until now, there has been no way to eliminate the mental patterns that stop you from doing the things you want to do. But now there is, and you deserve to live your dream life. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ez-brescia-oct2-b3.html ============================================ ORGANIZING CHALLENGE NOTES Week of September 20th: Weed Out Your Coat Closet I haven't gotten rid of a coat in more than 15 years, and I have about 6 of them. The sad thing is, I only wear one and the others just hang there. Today, i took your advice and brought the other 5 over to the Salvation Army. Now that it's getting chilly in my part of the states, I'm sure this will be a welcomed item for those people who need decent coats, but are out of a job or just can't afford to buy one. What an amazing feeling to help someone out and free up my coat closet for unexpected guest's outerwear. --Michaela, Aspen, CO Because of your challenge, each of my 6 kids gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, etc. are all in one of the new 6 containers I just purchased. I took a photo of each child, printed it, and taped it on the side of the box you can see when you open the closet. I'm looking forward to a winter of 'I know exactly where my stuff is!' Thanks for the push. --Amy, Cranston, RI ============================================ BECOME OUR FAN ON FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Get-Organized-Now/50467098715?ref=ts * * * * * FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Visit Twitter and follow me: http://twitter.com/getorgnow ============================================ IN CLOSING The people who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed. --Lloyd Jones 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 2009 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. 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