In the “old days,” people used their cars simply to get from Point A to Point B. But today, vehicles are used for much more than transportation, so it’s no wonder they get messy. To get car clutter under control, starts by figuring out how you use your car. Do you drive your kids’ soccer carpool? Do you work out of your SUV? Do you run daily errands? Evaluate how you use your car, and it will be easy to make — and keep — it tidy.

• Get papers under control by creating an on-the-go filing system. Whether you office out of your car, or just need to have lots of information at your fingertips, create a simple filing system. Your local office supply store has a variety of portable, lidded file boxes to choose from, or use a simple plastic crate. Label hanging file folders with broad categories, and slide important papers in the correct spots.

• If you work from your car, create a portable office. In addition to a portable filing system, include essential office supplies, such as pens, sticky notes, paper, envelopes, and stamps in a neat box.

• Take note. Brilliant ideas have a way of sneaking up on us. Make sure you don’t forget them by stashing a small hard-cover notebook to catch those moments. Or, to keep your eyes on the road, tote a mini-recorder or call your voice mail and leave reminders there.

• Ward off the munchies. Keep healthy and easy-to-eat snacks easily accessible for yourself and hungry kids. Fill a small shoe box with granola bars, small bags of almonds or walnuts, dried fruit, juice boxes, and water.

• Run errands with ease. Put a crate in your trunk for clothing that needs to go the the tailor or dry cleaner. You can also add items that need to be returned to stores, library books and movies ready for return, and loaned items that need to find its rightful owners. Take a peek in the box each morning and see what you can get rid of that day.

• Consider some specialty car organizers. Discount stores offer a variety of them, such as back-of-the-seat organizers for kids, visor organizers for CDs, collapsible crates for groceries or sports equipment, and much more.

• Toss it out and tidy up. Keep a nylon or plastic garbage bag in the car so messes get cleaned up as you go. Take five minutes at the end of each day to empty the bag and tidy up the entire vehicle. This small investment of time will keep it neat and organized. To ensure it stays clean and crumb-free too, plan to vacuum and wipe down or dust the interior every week or two, or invest in occasional visits to your neighborhood car wash.

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

The statistics are scary: Twenty percent of Americans identify themselves as victims of identity theft. (Source: Privacy and American Business.) Don’t let yourself join those alarming statistics! With the help of your social security number, a thief can steal your identity and wreak havoc with your credit status and life. Best case, the thief will go on a spending spree with your credit cards. Worst case, he’ll get new cards, open new accounts, take out loans, and/or commit a crime in your name. You’ll spend up to 600 hours and $1400 in out-of-pocket expenses to clear your name and repair your credit. Here’s what you can do today to keep yourself — and your good name — safe.

• Never carry your social security card in your wallet. It’s just too dangerous to have that information where it can fall into the wrong hands. Also, don’t carry your birth certificate or passport unless absolutely necessary.

• Be very cautious when giving out your social security number. Most places that ask for it do not require you to provide it. Ask first, “What happens if I don’t want to provide that?”

• Make sure your mail is delivered to a locked box. Or try to collect your mail as soon as it’s delivered to your mailbox. Place outgoing checks or sensitive documents directly in a postal service collection box. And opt out of receiving unsolicited credit card offers by calling 888-5-OPT-OUT.

• Carry only the bare minimum of credit cards in your wallet. Opt for credit cards with your photo on them. And don’t carry your checkbook.

• Don’t use common identifiers for passwords. For example, don’t use your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, or your pet’s name. Make it difficult for thieves to impersonate you by adding passwords to your financial accounts. Change passwords frequently.

• Opt out of having your financial information shared by banks and brokerage and insurance companies. Federal law requires these companies to give you the right to opt out of having your information shared.

• Toss computers with care. Make sure to completely wipe out all information on the hard drive before you discard.

© 2006Articles on Demand™

It’s a great time to teach a child to get organized! Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, friend, or neighbor, the skills you share will remain with kids for a lifetime. Here are some tips that can be used with your favorite kids of all ages.

• Make organizing a part of each day. It’s important to teach kids that every item they own has a “home” where it needs to return when they’re done using it. Let kids know that they need to be responsible for their own possessions. Establish simple routines like making their own beds and keeping the floor clear. Have a ten-minute clean-up every night before bedtime.

• Sort and containerize. Teach kids to group similar items together, then find appropriate-sized containers that hold them. With colorful markers, write the name of what’s inside. This makes it easy for retrieval, and, even more importantly, for clean-up! For kids who can’t yet read, glue photos or drawings of the objects on the front of the containers.

• Help them downsize. Often, the sheer volume of “stuff” in a kid’s life — toys, sporting equipment, books, collections, clothes — is overwhelming. Help kids downsize every six months by donating seldom-used toys and outgrown clothing. Establish a “new toy in, old toy out” system where some purging takes place before shopping. Talk to them about how it feels — and how important it is — to donate to local charities.

• Establish a great homework routine. Use an “in” and “out” box system for school papers that need to be seen by caregivers. Have a designated study area. Keep it well-stocked with supplies so kids don’t have an excuse to leave the area. Caregivers should learn that they don’t have to save every single project made by the child. Post them temporarily, then take them down and store in a drawer, tote, or even an unused pizza box. At year’s end, help kids select their “Top 10” favorite to save. And if you’re overwhelmed or desire more tips, find out if your professional organizer has experience working with kids!

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

Is moving day fast approaching? According to the Employee Relocation Council, moving to a new home is the third most stressful life event (following death and divorce). To ease the transition, follow these tips to make your move smooth.

• Consider “staging” your home. This process of neutralizing, decluttering, organizing, and beautifying allows potential buyers to picture themselves living in the house by tapping into their emotions. Staging also starts the “letting go” process for the sellers, as they transform their beloved home to a more neutral-looking home. Staging will help you sell your home quickly, at the best possible price.

• Plan your move date at least four to six weeks ahead. The most popular times for moves include May through September and the very beginning and end of each month. So if you’re hiring a moving company, contact them soon. Call family and friends for trusted mover recommendations.

• Start packing seldom-used items now. Ask your grocery store to set aside cardboard boxes for you. Pack heavier items in smaller boxes and lighter items in larger boxes.

• Organize your boxes. Number each box and label which room it belongs in. Keep a separate list indicating the box number and its contents. When you get to your destination, unpack everything as soon as possible.

• Fill out change-of-address forms at the post office. And be sure to update important documents which include your address and phone number (e.g. driver’s license, checks). Bring your current phone books to your new home in case you need to contact people in your old town.

• Move valuables yourself. Irreplaceable family photos, heirlooms, and financial and legal documents should be packed and transported by you instead of your moving company.

• Send out postcards to family and friends with your new address and phone number, along with a photo of your new home!

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

The only way to truly “get organized” is by simplifying. This means focusing on the important things in life — ridding yourself of anything that merely takes up time, space, money, or energy without giving you any benefit.

• REDUCE UNSOLICITED MAIL: Write to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008, and ask to be removed from their mailing lists. Provide them with variations of your name that mailing lists are using.

• BUY IN BULK: Think of how much time you spend “running errands.” Reduce that time by purchasing three- to six-month supplies of things you use on a daily basis — toothpaste, paper towels, postage stamps, etc.

• SAY NO: Think about everything you say YES to: community involvement, errands for others, visiting, running around. Think about how they benefit you, your family, your business, your health, and your mind. If they do not benefit you, learn to say “NO!”

• GET RID OF THE CLUTTER: Start each day with a clean desk or tidy house. You’ll be more efficient when things are in order. Get rid of the things you don’t need. You’ll be amazed at what you can do without.

Take some time this week to think of ways you can simplify your life. Please contact me if I can help you reach your goals for organizing or simplifying your life!

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

The word procrastinate comes from the Latin procrastinatus, which means, literally, “forward tomorrow.” If you’ve been putting off till tomorrow what you could — and should — do today, then recognize that procrastination is a habit that can be broken. But if won’t happen overnight. It takes 21 days to form a new habit. So set a date, (Mondays work well, because they feel like a fresh start) and track 21 days to stay the course.)

To start, give yourself a reason to stop procrastinating. Maybe you’ll improve your financial situation because you’ll pay your bills on time. Or you’ll impress your family, friends, and coworkers because you’ll appear productive and efficient. Or you’ll be less stressed because you are on top of your to-do list and arrive on time. Whatever the goal, keep it in mind throughout the first 21 habit-forming days.

To get a handle on procrastination, start writing. Use a spiral notebook or planner to capture all your tasks. Do not use scraps of paper or sticky notes. You’ll want everything in one place. Keep a running master list of tasks that need to be done. (It might be really long.) But then, each evening, make a smaller “to do today” list for the upcoming day, either on a separate page in your notebook, or on the next day’s planner page. List only the most important things you need to accomplish that day, and keep the number of tasks realistic and attainable. (About five things usually works well.) The next morning, you’ll know exactly what needs to be done, and you can concentrate on those above all else. That evening, evaluate your list. Anything not completed moves forward to the following day’s task list, and a few more items are added. And take a moment to permanently remove tasks from your list that no longer contribute to your goals or happiness.

As you’re writing your to-do list, make sure to break tasks down into realistic-sized chunks. If your goal is to organize your messy kitchen, the enormity of it will seem daunting. Instead, break it down into one-hour tasks: toss out all expired foods in pantry; clean out refrigerator; organize junk drawer; set up mini-filing system for kitchen. Completion dates are important, so assign specific tasks to specific days. You won’t organize a kitchen in a day, but over the course of a week, you can do it! And each day’s successes will give you the drive to keep going.

For truly unpleasant tasks, set a timer for 15 minutes, and just do it. Nearly anything is palatable for a quarter of an hour. It’s also helpful to see that most unpleasant things don’t take nearly as long as we think they will. You may hate going through your in-basket at work. But just 15 minutes each morning and evening is enough to review, sort, do the quickie tasks, and assign the longer ones to your planner. If you’re feeling sluggish, complete an easy job first, to get your momentum going. Also, do the toughest tasks when your body is most alert — some people function better first thing in the morning, while others perk up later in the day.

Treat time like a precious gift. Are you a people-pleaser? If you’re truly behind in your own tasks, don’t add any more optional to-do items until you’re caught up. It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to delegate. It’s okay to take some time for yourself. And stop saying, “If I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t do it at all.” Limit choices, let good enough be okay, and move forward. Perfection is not realistic or required in life.

Reward yourself. After 21 days of “just do it” action, treat yourself to something nice… lunch with a friend, a luxurious nap or bubble bath, a hot-fudge sundae, a concert, or an afternoon with a favorite book or movie. You’ve earned it!

© 2007 Articles on Demand™

So, you know your life is full of clutter — things you don’t need, things you don’t necessarily want, and way more than you’ll actually use. But where the heck did all this stuff come from?

It might be hard to pinpoint the exact moment when clutter invaded and took over your life. Maybe you grew up in a cluttered household, so living with an overabundance of “things” has always felt natural. Or perhaps clutter is just beginning to form. (In which case, it’s time to nip it in the bud!)

Why are some people more prone to clutter than others? Following are a few reasons. If you see yourself in any of these scenarios, take heart. By recognizing what leads you to accumulate clutter you can make the transition to a clutter-free life.

You inherited it from your parents: If your parents were packrats, you can thank them for your love of abundance. And as you continue your life full of clutter, consider the fate you are dealing your loved ones if you don’t attempt to change. Your children might continue the cycle of clutter, or you may drive your mate and friends crazy.

You might need it “someday”: Back in the days of the Great Depression and the World Wars, people justifiably saved just about everything because of scarcity and rationing. However, in this day and age, there is no reason to continue this thought pattern. Thinking something will come in handy “one day” is NOT reason enough to keep it. By letting go, you’ll find that most of the time you’ll never need those things again. And if you do, you’ll likely find similar (or better) things to replace them.

Clutter is part of your identity: Is your identity somehow related to your possessions? Or, are you overly sentimental about your things? Remember that even if you get rid of the clutter, you still have the great memories associated with specific items. Allow yourself to release unloved or unuseful gifts from well-meaning friends and family. You are not throwing away your friends’ kindness or love; you are simply releasing the unneeded items to make room for the things that matter most to you.

You’re bombarded by “more is better” reasoning by marketers: Do catalogs invade your mailbox? Are companies constantly trying to sell you the newest do-hickey, clothing, or home decor? Look around your kitchen and count your small appliances and gadgets. Most likely, they simply add clutter to your life, taking up space. Next time the urge to buy grabs you, ask yourself if it will REALLY make your life better.

Clutter fills a void in your life: Clutter can help to hide loneliness, anger, fear, and other important emotions. It fills time and space and keeps you focused on things other than your problems. When you free the clutter, you’ll free yourself to deal with the real issues around you. It may be tough at first, but the rewards are endless. Similarly, some people want to hide in their clutter. They use an abundance of “stuff” to hide or shelter themselves from the outside world. A good way to start getting back into the swing of life is to declutter just one room. You’ll still be able to retreat to your safe place, but the lack of clutter will begin to feel freeing rather than terrifying.

Of course, you may not see yourself in any of the above scenarios. Perhaps you’ve simply accumulated a little clutter in your life due to a shortage of time, too many work or family demands, or a lack of organizing skills. This is perfectly normal. Not everyone who defines her life as “cluttered” will fit into the above scenarios. But for those who know that clutter is seriously affecting their lives, the above reasons may help define the source and allow them to start the decluttering process.

Whatever the reasons you’ve accumulated clutter, once you recognize them, you can move forward and begin your new life.

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

Shopping is embedded in our culture. But sometimes it turns into addiction. It becomes a compulsive disorder which brings a temporary high. This excessive, chronic, and impulsive behavior can destroy a person’s finances and relationships. (It goes way beyond a weak-moment shopping spree.) Help may come to overspenders in the form of Debtors Anonymous meetings, credit or debt counseling, and professional assistance from a therapist.

Then there are those who save. Some people save things, and some people save everything. When it gets to the point that a home is nearly uninhabitable, compulsive hoarding may be the culprit. People who suffer from this psychological condition see the value in every object, leading to the inability to get rid of things (even items of no value, such as old newspapers and food containers).

Hoarding is more extreme than simply accumulating clutter. Hoarders may not be able to move around the home. Floor space may shrink to a single pathway. Hoarding restricts everyday activities like cooking, cleaning, or sleeping and severely reduces the quality of life. Hoarders may not even recognize the extremity of their surroundings. Or, if they do, they may refuse to let family and friends visit their homes for fear of being criticized.

If you or someone you know has symptoms of hoarding or shopping addiction, consider contacting a therapist. Good resources for basic information about hoarding are the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (www.nsgcd.org) and the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (www.ocfoundation.org).

© 2007 Articles on Demand™

Bills to pay. Newspapers and magazines to read. Receipts, warranties and instructions to save — the list goes on and on. Each day we are bombarded with papers that need our attention. If you feel that papers are taking over your life, read on and learn how to take control of this task.

1. Gather Supplies. First, gather file folders, hanging file folders, felt-tip pens or a label maker, a shredder, and large garbage (or recycling) bags or boxes. Every household or office also needs an appropriate type of file cabinet or box; the size will depend on the amount of papers you must keep. Enlist a friend or professional organizer if you need help or encouragement.

2. Start on desktops, countertops or urgently-needed surfaces. Your most recently-received papers will be here. Resist the urge to start with the papers on the floor or stuffed in paper bags or boxes.

3. Identify the types of papers you receive on a regular basis. Gather all the papers from the surface you’re working on into a neat pile. Pick up the top one. Ask yourself, “What is this? Do I need to keep it? Do I need to take action on this? Or do I just need to file it in case I need to retrieve it later?” Toss as much as you can.

4. Sort and use color for a memory aid. Sort into simple categories that make sense to you. For example, some home categories might include: medical, pets, taxes, hobbies, utility bills, car, home improvement, credit cards, insurance, education. Use fun colored folders to group categories. Also include files for: “TO DO,” “BILLS TO PAY,” “TO READ,” and “DISCUSS WITH SPOUSE/BOSS/PARTNER.”

5. Maintain your new system. From here on out, manage papers daily. Sort mail immediately. Toss junk mail. Put remainder into “TO READ,” “TO DO,” or “BILLS TO PAY” folders. Make time weekly to file everything else in your filing cabinet or box.

© 2006 Articles on Demand™

Are you ready to get organized but stalling because of a lack of time, money, or motivation? Don’t despair! A professional organizer is just what you need! Make an investment in yourself that will provide amazing advantages for years to come. Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to once you get organized.

You can save money. Once you get organized, you’ll know what you already own, eliminating the need to buy duplicate items. You’ll also be able to buy what you need when it’s on sale, rather than buying at the last minute. Your professional organizer can also help you find the perfect organizing products for your space and lifestyle, so you stop wasting money on containers that just don’t work.

You can become more productive and efficient. A professional organizer can create order and structure out of chaos. You’ll receive systems that work for your dominant learning style, your lifestyle, your needs, your challenges, and your dreams. Whether at work or at home, you’ll increase productivity once you have an organized and efficient schedule to keep you on track. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done in shorter amounts of time. And by focusing on your priorities and goals, you’ll be able to finally move ahead toward reaching them.

You’ll have a positive self-image and ditch the shame. Once your home or office is neat and tidy, you won’t feel embarrassed to have guests visit. The guilt will fade away as you take pride in your surroundings. Your organized office will allow you to present a professional image to co-workers, clients, and superiors. Your organized home and newfound habits to keep it that way will set a great example for your children and/or spouse.

You can create a healthier environment. Physical and emotional clutter obscure your surroundings. A clutter-free environment is simply easier to manage. A professional organizer can help you clear out your space so you can see that you and your surroundings are fine just as they are.

Your stress level will decrease dramatically. When you can find what you need, are on top of your to-dos, and arrive on time, you’ll feel calmer and have more peace of mind. No more feeling overwhelmed by life — you’ll be the one in control.

You’ll discover more time for yourself. When you’re organized, your days go as planned, and you get a lot done. That leaves more time to indulge in a little “me time.”

Your energy will shine. Clutter is a mask. A professional organizer can help you take off that mask and let people see your vibrance! Once the clutter is removed, you can showcase your talents, skills, and personality and have the life you deserve.