Get Organized Now! Newsletter by Maria Gracia http://www.getorganizednow.com Issue: November 7-13, 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/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 a recent customer 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' ============================================ TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR CRAZY SCHEDULE MORE MANAGEABLE We all know we are super-busy nowadays. So how can we make our crazy schedules more manageable? Here are ten tips: 1. Double up * Cooking a pasta dish or casserole for supper this evening? If you are already cooking the first dish, why not make more for a second meal and freeze it for later? * Batch cooking items, such as ground beef, can be cooked/fried in advance, wrapped, and frozen for later meals. 2. Decide and stick to limits * Given the fact that the number of hours in a day is unable to be changed, what are you capable of doing? Be honest with yourself. If you can't currently complete everything on your To Do list, there's probably too much on the list. * Sometimes you are assigned or given a task you are unable to do or that you are uncomfortable doing. If this is the case, pass or delegate this task to someone else. 3. Be realistic about your schedule * Take time in the morning or evening and create a realistic schedule. Review it daily. * Be sure to pad time in between tasks. * Prioritize items on your to-do list, and block out time for these activities. * Use a scheduling method that makes you comfortable, whether it's a paper calendar, PDA or a large calendar on the fridge. 4. Find time for yourself * In order to be at your best and help others in your life, you must be able to take care of yourself. * It’s truly a personal choice how you decide to relax. It may include a bubble bath, exercising, a manicure or pedicure, a massage, a good book or magazine, a computer game, a walk outside, maybe taking a class or learning something new. * Find out what helps you relax and make sure you schedule time for it in your schedule daily. 5. Give yourself permission to use the word 'No' * You cannot do it all, all the time. You can delegate and give tasks to others. * If you don't respect your time, others won't either. ----- 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. Prioritize * Make a to-do list and rank the items by priority A. Urgent, B. Important but not urgent, C. Not urgent or important. It might help to label tasks such as A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 and so forth. It might also help to color code the A, B, and C tasks to help distinguish them. * Make sure to include items from each category to help ensure balance within your list. 7. Delegate * There are often tasks on our lists both at home and at work that can be delegated to others. Many of us find it difficult to ask for help but it is an important skill to learn. * If you are new to the idea of delegating tasks to others start with simple and easy tasks that you know others will be able to accomplish. * Provide clear and concise instructions. * Play into others strengths and skills. For example, asking a person who is really good with their hands and likes to do home repairs may be able to take items such as replacing a door or window off of your list. * You can also delegate tasks to professionals who can be hired to do some items on your to-do list. * Don't forget you can also delegate to electronics, such as a voice mail service for answering your calls. 8. Multi-tasking * Multi-tasking is appropriate in situations that involve simple tasks that you are familiar with. * Do not multi-task if: 1. the task is new 2. the task is difficult/complicated or 3. the task requires a lot of attention. * Examples of good multi-tasking opportunities are: --exercising and catching up with a spouse --loading the washer while waiting for a pot of water to boil --doing some light reading or letter writing while waiting at the doctor's office 9. Tricks and tips for cutting down the time involved in chores and errands * Is there a teenager in your neighborhood who is willing to help out with chores or errands in exchange for some spending money? * A neighbor in which you can trade babysitting duties or car pooling for various child activities? * Instead of spending time at the grocery store, some companies will let you order the food and deliver it to your house for you. * Group your errands together (make a map that keeps driving to a minimum). * Designate a set errand day. * Delegate errands and chores to other family members. 10. Recognize that nobody's perfect * No one is perfect, we might all try to be, but the reality is we are not perfect. * If you realize this and accept it, then others will too. * Remember the old advice, Do your best. Managing a schedule can seem like a full time job all by itself, don't let your schedule rule your life. You can do it and make it more manageable. ----- 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) 11/02 - Define the Problem 2) 10/28 - Tricks for Treats 3) 10/22 - Give Yourself a Daily Pep Talk 4) 10/12 - Tackling Your To Do's Visit: http://getorganizednow.typepad.com/get_organized_now_weblog/ ** NEW Web Poll Our featured multiple choice question is, 'When I walk into someone else's visibly cluttered house, I feel...' 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 ** 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 November 7th challenge. Go to the link below and look for the person holding a gift. http://getorganizednow.com/#challenge ** 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 ============================================ WANT TO LIVE A HAPPIER, MORE FULFILLING LIFE? 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.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=373018 ============================================ AN ORGANIZING TIP FROM ONE OF OUR READERS We have a plastic rectangular dish (probably 9x6 with 2 inch sides) which we use on a refrigerator shelf for all our jars of jelly. When we have a big family breakfast, we simply remove the lids and set the container on the table with spoons for each. Takes up less space in the refrigerator and on the table and is easy to put away after the meal. Kay Richards Beaumont TX * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ============================================ WANT TO KNOW THE SECRET TO LANDING A GREAT JOB? Job-wise, there's no doubt we're living in some of the most stressful and difficult times in years. So, how do you land a good job--especially when there are so many others out of work and going for the same jobs you're trying to get? You have to improve your resume, right? Wrong. Contrary to popular belief, resumes are NOT the answer. The way most are written can actually end up hurting your job search! But there is a key element that most people forget when it comes to securing a job interview. Visit: http://d66733ld2kkmrvb3r6e6x2habx.hop.clickbank.net/ ============================================ GET ORGANIZED NOW! RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK FREE BOOK -- THINK AND GROW RICH Tell us where to send it, and we'll send you the number one success book of all time. My friends Vic and Lisa Johnson are doing this crazy marketing test where they're giving away Napoleon Hill's 'Think and Grow Rich.' I'm helping them with their big giveaway and wanted to make sure you got your copy before they take this offer down. Get the details here: http://www.FreeTGRbook.com/GON Feel free to pass this on to friends. They can get one too if they act right away. This is one of my favorite books. I know you'll love it! Maria Gracia P.S. You won't want to miss out on this one-time chance! ============================================ AN ORGANIZING TIP FROM ONE OF OUR READERS My son (9 years old) pretty much wears only white athletic socks (unlike my 6 year old daughter whose every pair is unique). To minimize the number of unmatched socks he has, I buy only one brand and style of socks for him. This way, I can match any sock with a mate. When one sock wears out, I hang onto the mate until another sock gets worn out or goes missing and I have a pair again. When the total number of socks gets low, I restock with the same brand and style again. Lynne Assa Danville, CA * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html ============================================ 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/ ============================================ LAST WEB POLL RESULTS Are you always on time, or generally late, for appointments, events, etc.? 61% I'm almost always on time 23% I'm mostly on time 13% I'm rarely on time 3% I'm never on time Total Votes: 1037 ============================================ ORGANIZING CHALLENGE NOTES Week of October 31st: Raid the Pantry Within the next few weeks, our postal carriers will be picking up pantry items for local charities, so I already had this task in mind and will be donating any unexpired food. I have this on my calendar for early November and early May, when they do Stamp Out Hunger. --Dexter in Riverside, CA In my pantry, I had salad dressing that expired last year and cans of diet soda that expired two years ago. Yuck!! I got rid of those, and plan to use the food items nearing expiration for meals this week. --Emily Granger This is a project I've been putting off for years. By the time I was done this weekend, I filled up 6 large boxes for my local food pantry--nothing expired of course, but stuff I knew we wouldn't eat. I have so much space in my pantry now!! --Rosie, Rhode Island ============================================ 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 'Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go till you come to the end. Then stop.' --Lewis Carroll 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} ============================================