Get Organized Now! Newsletter by Maria Gracia http://www.getorganizednow.com Issue: October 31-November 6, 2009 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/ ============================================ EMERGENCY! BEING PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS An emergency is defined as a sudden unforeseen crisis, which requires immediate action. An emergency is any situation which poses an immediate risk to life, health, property, or environment. Many emergencies require urgent intervention. There are various types of emergencies that will vary according to your location but may include fire, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, terror alerts, and lack of power, contagious diseases, and tsunamis, among others. You may also need to plan for sudden illness or hospitalization or funerals that take you away from your home. These topics are often scary to think about, but in order to be prepared for any emergency situation we must pre- plan. We have to think it through before the emergency takes place. A few things to consider regardless of location: 1. Know your location and the particular risks associated with it. For example, if you live on the coastline, you need to prepare for tsunamis and hurricanes. If you live in areas prone to tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding, blizzards or avalanches, you'll need to prepare for those. Whereas other emergencies such as contagious diseases, power outages, terror alerts, fire, and other possible emergencies are more general and may happen anywhere. 2. Know your neighborhood. For example, do you have elderly or disabled neighbors who would need help in the case of an emergency? Faced with an emergency, what can you do to help those around you and not just your own family? 3. Make a family/household plan. Include: * Two places to meet in the event your home becomes unsafe--one within your neighborhood and one outside your neighborhood if you must evacuate. * Keep your vehicle's gas tank at least half full at all times. * Keep cash in your home (approx. 100 dollars in small bills). * Identify at least 2 escape routes from your home. * Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher. * Have an out-of-the-immediate-area contact that every family member can contact to provide information about their location if you get separated. * Locate the gas main and other utilities. Make sure family members know when and how to turn them off. * Practice your plans with the entire household. Make sure you make special plans and arrangements for children, seniors, members with disabilities or who cannot speak English, and pets. 4. Every family big or small needs a fire escape plan. Design and create a fire escape plan with every member of your family. Make sure you have at least 2 ways out of each room. There are various things to keep in mind if there is a fire in your house: Remember to crawl on the floor--smoke rises. Next, check doors for heat before leaving a room. Remember, stop, drop, and roll if your clothes catch fire. Get out of the house quickly and safely. Once you have left, stay out and for no reason re-enter the house. Call 911 from a safe location. Make sure you keep important documents/pictures either in a fire-proof safe or at another secure location. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors. Pre-plan an outside meeting place for all family members. Conduct a fire escape drill. 5. Conduct a home inventory. Make a home inventory of all valuables. Document in writing, photographs or video. Include serial numbers. Keep a copy of the information off site. ----- 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/foffhome.html ----- 6. Plan for a major incident. Keep duplicates of important documents such as marriage licenses, passports, driver's licenses, birth certificates, insurance numbers, insurance information, wills, deeds, financial statements, and prescriptions off site such as in a safety deposit box or with a person you trust. Make a family/household plan in advance. Put together a disaster supply kit. 7. Create a Go Kit. Number 1 tip in order to make a Go kit is to make sure it is easy to take with you in the case of an emergency. So make sure it is in a back pack or a rolling suitcase. Create a Go kit for every member of the family with an ID tag attached to it. Items to include: flashlight, battery operated radio, batteries, pocket knife, change of clothing and shoes, emergency money- small bills and quarters, local map, food and water, photos of family and pets, emergency phone numbers, list of medications, allergies, and medical conditions, copies of health insurance and identification cards, extra prescriptions, first aid supplies, personal items, tooth brush and paste, and extra keys for your home and vehicle. Make a Go kit for your pets as well. Keep a collar, ID tags, and license information, some sort of crate, carrier, or box. Food, water, and any medications for at least one week. Non spill bowls, manual can openers, plastic lid. Recent photograph of the pet. 8. Create a Disaster supply kit (for a minimum of 72 hours) * Food and water * Manual can opener and cooking utensils * First Aid Kit and instructions * A copy of important documents and phone numbers * Warm clothing and rain gear for every family member * Heavy duty work gloves * Disposable camera- document damage for insurance * Liquid bleach and an eyedropper for water purification * Personal hygiene items * Prescriptions or medical needs * Basic tools * Blankets and sleeping bags * Heavy duty garbage bags and bucket 9. Create a Household Control Binder. This will be used in case of an emergency such as a sudden illness, hospitalization, or funeral. It will be used by others to help keep your household running. Include data such as important phone numbers, shopping lists, lists of prescriptions for each member including dosing information, bills and cleaning checklists, maps to nearby locations, menus for local establishments, written instructions for a babysitter, central family calendar, birthdays and special occasions, and family and pet information 10. Don't panic, remain calm, and relax. If you're prepared, things will automatically go more smoothly. Just take things one step at a time. Some of us will never have to use these preparations we have made. Some of these measures will be used for more minor situations. But the reality exists that there's always the possibility of an emergency. Being prepared is key to helping you work through the problems and get back to a normal life after the situation has passed. ----- 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/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) 10/28 - Tricks for Treats 2) 10/22 - Give Yourself a Daily Pep Talk 3) 10/12 - Tackling Your To Do's 4) 10/05 - So and So is Dropping By 5) 09/28 - 15 Minute Increments Until Completion Visit: http://getorganizednow.typepad.com/get_organized_now_weblog/ ** NEW November Monthly Checklist: Department 1 Get organized this month and be thankful for your new clutter-free, well managed life. Start today with our new November monthly checklist. Go to the link below and look for the Thanksgiving table art. http://www.getorganizednow.com/#checklist ** 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 October 31st challenge. Go to the link below and look for the pumpkin and candy corn. http://getorganizednow.com/#challenge ** FEATURED Web Poll Our featured multiple choice question is, 'Are you always on time, or generally late, for appointments and events?' 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 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/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 had been trying for months to beat the paper piles. I knew about the credo 'file, don't pile,' but I did not know how to really effectively implement it. As a result, I had stacks and stacks of papers both on my office and home office desks. I purchased an inexpensive label maker and bought a box of colored file folders at the office store. Suddenly, I had inspiration to file! I really liked the look of the labeled and colored folders to hold my paperwork. Now, I will not lay a paper down without putting it into a pretty colored folder and labeling it neatly with my labelmaker. It looks sharp and I feel so organized! I can now drop the folder into my file cabinet or stage on my desk for processing. And I can grab a folder or folders and go to a meeting looking well-organized and professional. The 'Pile Monster' has been clobbered! Rebecca Mott Chattanooga, TN * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ============================================ 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/holidayp.html ============================================ GET ORGANIZED NOW! RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK When you get home at the end of the day, the last thing that you want to do is clean your house, right? That isn't how you should be spending the free time you have over the weekend either. What if I told you that you could clean your house like a pro in half the time it takes you to clean it now? Visit: http://473ed6uiscmi-oeq16p8iimy28.hop.clickbank.net/ --Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now! P.S. This is the very best advice and information on speed cleaning that I've seen to date! ============================================ AN ORGANIZING TIP FROM ONE OF OUR READERS I use a clear glass top on my antique desk. It didn't cost much to have cut to size, even with the notched shape of the desk. I display stickers and souvenirs to remember. I'm a NASCAR fan, and even have a bumper sticker of my favorite driver. Photos work well too. There's no clutter laying around, but the mementos are right in front of me to inspire throughout the day. It's also a great place to put tickets so I'll remember where they are! Cheryl Lynne Drouin Newport News, VA * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ============================================ LEARN HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS TO EXPRESS-- IN TIMES OF GRIEF AND SADNESS One of the things you often struggle with after a loss is finding the perfect words to express your feelings. Whether you are writing a eulogy, planning a funeral or memorial service, finding ways to say how sorry you are in a sympathy card, crafting an obituary, attempting to console yourself and others or just trying to make sense of it all, You may well have been called upon to write a eulogy or speak at a funeral at very short notice in the past, leaving little time to find a suitable poem or reading. The last thing you need is more stress in times of sadness. Discover how you can find the perfect words to express your sorrow, pay tribute to your loved one and do justice to a life lived. You need never be lost for words again. Visit: http://8e6a7asipnulzqcs10ogwgsd4r.hop.clickbank.net/ P.S. The right words in times of sadness have a wonderful ability to ease stress and soothe the soul. ============================================ ORGANIZING CHALLENGE NOTES Week of October 24th: Weed Out 3 Boxes of Stuff I easily found 3 boxes of 'stuff' in my attic. One contained old dishes. I don't know why I boxed these up in the first place. I didn't originally like them. Don't ask why I didn't just donate them instead of storing them. Another had old shoes--way out of fashion. A third had holiday decorations that have definitely seen better days. All these went to a local charity. Now, only 20 or so boxes to go--but I will schedule time to go through those on my calendar! --Carol, Canada I don't have any large boxes, but I do have a bunch of smaller shoe boxes. One was stuffed with old receipts-- from over 15 years ago. I shredded those and now they're gone. The second box had blank notecards. I put these on my desk and will use them for thank you notes. Finally, the third box had old business cards in it. No way was I going to go through them one by one, and since I haven't opened the box in years, I felt it was safe to recycle them. I didn't think getting rid of three small boxes would have much of an impact, but on the contrary, I feel better knowing they're not taking up unnecessary space any longer. --Kitty, Iowa ============================================ 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 Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure. --Confucius 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. 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 e-mail. You are subscribed to our list as: {!name} {!email} ============================================