When working with professionals, or busy people in their offices, we discover not just paper or information clutter, but random items that really don’t need to be in their work space. These items clog up workflow, and the client’s ability to work efficiently. 

At times, because the stuff has been in the space for so long, the client isn’t aware of it anymore or how it’s affecting productivity. In this month’s blog post, you’ll see a list of the most common things to toss out of your office. 
Cheers!

Do you remember that game on Sesame Street with the theme song, “One of these things is not like the others”? Viewers would try to guess which item on the screen didn’t belong with the others. It was easy to see that something just wasn’t right, and it should be removed. Here's a video to jog your memory. :)

 The same concept can be applied when removing clutter from your space. I challenge you to take a good, hard look at your work environment and ask, “Which of these things doesn't belong?” Then let go!
10 Things That Don’t Belong In Your Office or Workspace:
*Not in order of importance
1. Other people’s work or clutter – Hand it back to it’s rightful owner. You can do it!
2. More than 1-2 coffee mugs
3. Empty Vases – If you receive flowers at work, they’ll most likely come with a vase. If they don’t, I’m sure another co-worker has one in her office you could borrow! ;)
4. Numerous stuffed animals or pictures of friends and family5. A bunker-like stash of condiments (ketchup, taco/soy sauce, sugar, etc.)
6. Outdated, unused or broken electronics, IT equipment and chords- Return them to the IT Department or send them to an E-waste recycling facility.
 7. Office supplies you don’t need or use - Put them back in the supply closet
8. Outdated books, magazines or periodicals that are not directly related to your position
9. Christmas decorations – Keep these somewhere else because they’re taking up valuable real estate and you only use them once a year
10. Anything that reminds you of something negative or of failure. If it doesn't feel inspirational, and instead brings you down (for example, memorabilia from a past project, job or boss you really disliked), then get it out of the space pronto!Cheers!

In December, the “Energized Husband” (Josh) and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. Josh surprised me by taking me to dinner at the W Hotel downtown, where we stayed during the first few days of our honeymoon. There are certain things we do consistently that keep our relationship successful. It occurred to me that some of these actions go hand in hand with time management and productivity. Below are a few basic commitments we’ve made in our relationship that can be applied to how to manage your time, ultimately resulting in a fun-filled, prioritized, and focused life!
Enjoy!

Have a vision and decide what you want your time and year to look like. Looking back, before we started dating, I wrote a list of the qualities and character traits I wanted my partner to have. You may want to write out a list of the way you want your life to look and feel. Have a clear direction and focus, otherwise you’ll be pulled in different directions and sometimes confused about your priorities. Once you’ve outlined how you want your life to look, take small yet significant steps to making it a reality.
 
Be intentional and plan ahead, otherwise it won’t happen. Who or what is most important to you will be reflected in the ways you decide to spend your time. We enjoy a weekly date night to bond with each other and have quality time. However, if we don’t plan ahead, it slips through the cracks. When it comes to planning ahead, avoid planning the morning of. At the end of each day, plan tomorrow, plus two days ahead. This will give you a 3 day head start so you can stay on top of what’s coming next. Doing this prevents you from being taken off guard.  In addition, consider calendaring a weekly “Get Ahead Night” and schedule time to do tasks such as: meal planning, filing, budgeting, setting your kids’ outfits out for the week, cleaning out the car, etc. that are required for maintaining order in your head or environment. You can also schedule a “Re-Energize Date Night” for yourself in which you set aside solitude or alone time to relax, unwind, exercise, do a hobby, or maybe go out to dinner with a special friend or relative.
 
Remain present and give your full attention. We’ve learned to slow down and take the time to do the extra things that pay off in the long run. They may be small, but they add a lot of value to the relationship and keep things healthy and thriving because they keep us in the present moment together. For example, looking each other in the eye, repeating back what we just heard the other person say, etc. With your time, try not to multi-task. It takes us much longer to complete tasks when we’re switching back and forth between them, versus focusing on one thing at a time. If you aren’t seeing the results you want when it comes to completing projects, then give mono-tasking a try. For example, let the voicemail pick up the phone if you’re in the middle of completing a task or project. Honor the present moment by telling your co-worker you can’t talk at this time because you’re on a tight deadline and need to focus.
 
Don’t ignore the problems; address them head on--the sooner the better. This goes for interpersonal relationships with others, as well as your physical space and time. A lot of life is wasted when we let problems with others blow up and get out of hand.  For example, if you’ve got a friend that’s consistently calling you to verbally dump her problems on you, then it may be time to set some boundaries and have a courageous conversation with her. (Register for the telelcass with the link above it you want to know how to do this!) If you don’t have a weekly or daily routine, are surrounded by endless sticky notes, can’t find what you’re looking for when you need it, don’t have one place to house all your to-do’s, then it’s time to address the disorganization in these areas. Start brainstorming solutions to these problems immediately, so your year can be filled with peace and calm instead of last minute rushing and scrambling.
 
If needed, make sacrifices.  You may have to stay an extra 5 -10 minutes at the office to schedule your next few days and clear your desk, however it's a small sacrifice to make to have a clear mind and productive work environment when you arrive the next day. You may have to stay up an extra ten minutes to put away the clothes draped on your bed or dresser from days before, but you'll sleep better and wake up to a clean room the next day. You may need to schedule in 15 minutes each night to pack your lunch, but over time it may save a lot of money for that vacation you desire. It's worth it!
 
Fight for it. The Energized Husband and I realize that in today's busy world filled with distractions we have to fight to keep our marriage strong and vibrant. This means keeping our eyes on the goal and avoiding distractions. The same can be said of time management. You have to commit to fighting for and defending your time, as well as maintaining the vision and productivity you want. This may look like keeping things out that don't belong: the time nibblers, limiting beliefs/self doubt/defeating thoughts, items that don't fit into the space’s function or purpose, activities or tasks that really don't belong in your work or personal schedule that you squeeze in just because you always have, but they are eating up your valuable time and energy. Protect your sanity and space by fighting for it and making some changes.
 
If managing your time is a challenge and keeps you stuck at work, school, in your personal life, or in your business, then decide to make this year different! Give me a call now at (619) 244-8528 to find out if you’re a right fit for my Time & Productivity Coaching Program. You can see what it’s all about here.

Did you know January is Get Organized Month? In this month's blog article, my colleague Heather who works with Organizers for Charity  introduces you to this great organization that can help when it comes to getting rid of your donations and getting organized.

Organizers for Charity: Inspiring You to Get Organized

Organizers for Charity is a nationwide organization that was founded on the idea that by getting our lives organized, we can actually help those around us!  Many people are unaware that their unwanted clothing, shoes, books, toys and other household items can actually make a difference in the lives of others.

We can connect you with local charities that will pick up your unwanted items for free and gladly use your donations to help those in need. Our community of Professional Organizers are dedicated to donating unwanted items and are here to inspire you to do the same.

Our talented members such as Natasha understand that by donating our unneeded items, we can make our community a better place as well as help to protect our natural environment. Rather than throwing those unwanted items in the trash, we can give them new life by donating to a local charity.

It’s a New Year and as a part of “GO Month”, we would like to encourage you to get organized! If you need a little help getting organized, our local professional organizer members are more than happy to use their skills and knowledge to get your life back in order. And remember, when you are ready to donate your extra stuff the Organizers for Charity Donation Pickup Directory will help you find inspiring charities that provide free donation pick up services in your area.

For more information and inspiration, check us out at www.OrganizersforCharity.org and on Facebook!

These easy, quick gifts ideas are for people whom you want to do something special, but don’t want to break the bank. For some of these gifts, you can stock up on them, and store them in a container until you’re in one of those “Oh! I need a gift for so and so!” situations. Of course you’ll have to take into account the personality of the recipient, however, several of these will make a great token of appreciation for most people (think: teachers, acquaintances, friends, neighbors, etc). Some of these gifts will also make great stocking stuffers for Christmas.

• Plants such as succulents are inexpensive and easy to maintain. Due to their hardiness, they’re a good option even for someone without a green thumb.   Purchase a cute holiday container that has drainage holes at the bottom, along with some soil, and plant the succulent. Wrap a festive ribbon around the top of the plant container and you’re good to go!

• Keep it sweet without the calories. Sometimes people don’t want to receive snacks, pastries or the calories that come with them.  With all the gluten and dietary restrictions, you could play it safe. Instead of cookies and sweets, consider a holiday themed cookie cutter or two. You could turn the cookie cutter into an ornament by tying a ribbon to it.

• Support local business owners. Buy a book from a used book store. Sometimes a time-worn classic novel becomes a treasure for a friend that happens to be a bookworm.

• Bird feeder with birdseed

• The latest, hippest board game

• Slippers

• Movie Tickets

• Offer to wash someone’s car, babysit, cook a meal, or do a chore they really dislike.

• Whatever happened to Mix Tapes?  You could create a list of upbeat, feel good songs.  Then simply copy the CD, rather than trying to switch the songs out or customize it for each friend.

• REALLY affordable gifts / stocking stuffers I saw at the 99 cent store: Stylish Scarves, mittens & gloves, holiday socks, book markers, candles, Christmas ornaments, candy, Martinelli’s Ciders and Lemonades, holiday stationary and cards, key chain flashlights (great for moms with big purses).

With upcoming holidays, you’re going to have a lot of photos. Here are simple tips on how to organize the ones you’ve got.

• Keep em’ safe and dry. Put your photos into archival photo boxes. You may be able to find photo boxes for cheap at the dollar store, or for pricier options check out the Container Store or Bed Bath & Beyond.

• After all photos are gathered, designate a Saturday or a 3 -4 hour block of time to group your photos into broad categories. Here are some ideas on how to sort: year, events (holidays, vacations, etc.), or individuals.

• Clearly label the categories you’ve grouped the photos into. This way, if you need to clean up quickly and resume later, you won’t have to start all over again with re-grouping. You can put the groups into labeled large manila envelopes or zip lock bags while your project is in process.

• If photos are on your computer, try to make labeled files before downloading the pictures from your camera/phone. You can then sort photos into those files.

• Eliminate or delete any photos that don’t flatter the subjects, or didn’t turn out well.

• After photos are organized, get them into a memory or scrap book. Consider using an easy online scrapbooking system such as Shutterfly.
  

Happy Clutter busting!

Haven’t you always wanted dresser drawers that look neat and orderly when you pull on the handle? Drawers that when you peek inside of them you can actually find what you’re looking for? Here are a few tips on how to keep dresser drawers looking spiffy!

• De-clutter the items in the drawer. Decide on only one or two types of items to be housed in the drawer. Often, people get cluttered when they’re assigning too many items to a space or items don’t have a consistent home. Decide what this drawer will be a home to, and then stick with it. For example, will your drawer hold t-shirts, sweaters, socks or undies?

• Consider using vertical space by folding your tee’s, jeans and shorts then stacking them vertically instead of laying them flat. See the before and after pics below:

• If you’re wondering how to keep the stacks from flopping back or over, the tees in the pic are actually being propped up not only by each other, but also by a plastic holder that supports them even after you take a tee shirt out.

• You can purchase one of these nifty Adjustable Drawer Organizers at the Container Store.

Happy Clutter busting!

The other day I had to replace the battery in the bathroom scale. After seeing this (see below), I had to rummage through all these other batteries only to discover we were out of the size/kind I was looking for. Bummer.

I decided next time I had to replace batteries, I wasn’t going to sort through a whole stack of random unorganized ones. I bought a few battery boxes at the Container Store and here’s the end result:

Now Husband and I will know at any given time what we have in stock. The other good thing about this is you can stack these boxes on top of each other to maximize cupboard space.
Happy organizing!

Did you know that March 30 is National I am In Control Day? I didn’t either.

We may not always be “in control”, but we can certainly aim for being empowered. I prefer to view being in control as being empowered to live the lives we deserve and desire daily. Being empowered evokes growth, change, and movement towards betterment.

I had a client tell me that because she doesn’t have a calendar, she has to rely on her husband to help her remember what days they have commitments, vacations, etc. She was unable to set appointments with girlfriends without confirming with him first that they didn’t have some other event planned. Empowering her with a personal calendar and other time management tools gave her more freedom, which gave her more control of her life.

When we don’t have time management tools and resources in place it impacts our ability to stay in control of our tasks, goals, and appointments. 

Here are 3 basic empowering time management tools:

1.      Connect all the To-Do’s to your calendar. If they aren’t scheduled on your calendar, then most likely they’ll slip through the cracks and won’t get completed.

2.      Establish a weekly or daily routine as often as you can. This creates consistency in your life, which will help you feel in control. Remember, having a routine doesn’t mean you can’t be spontaneous. It means that you have some general flow and focus to each day. Having a routine allows you to live a less chaotic life.

3.      Review your personal and professional values often.  Is the way you’re spending time in alignment with what’s most important to you? If not, re-evaluate the things or people that are distracting from your values or draining energy out of you. Life is too short!

What tools will you incorporate to be in control of your life today?

Oh, and one more thing… sometimes the best way to gain control is to let go of being in control. ;)

Recently I was sitting in an office that had a beautiful saltwater fish tank. (See the photo of it to the left) There were tropical fish with neon yellow, green, blue, red, and white scales. The bright lavender and pink coral was vibrant. One of the employees fed the fish by placing what looked like big balls of lint into the tank. As the balls descended, chunks and pieces began to break off—kind of like a asteroid breaking apart as it falls to earth or snowflakes drifting down from the sky. I sat and stared, noticing flakes continue to swirl around in every nook and cranny of the tank. I realized that if it weren’t for the powerful filter, the fish tank would soon be covered with the “dust” of the fish food. It would eventually build up and the delicate eco-system that keeps these fish alive would eventually fail.

This is what it’s like with clutter. If we don’t de-clutter and purge things out once in a while, we risk our mental and emotional space breaking down-- causing us to lose our focus and miss out on really living the lives we want. The process of organizing is a lot like the filter of that fish tank.

I encourage you to “filter” through one of the spaces of your life today! You’ll feel much better afterward!

It’s February and because I live in southern California, its time for my winter boots to be stashed up, up and away! However, I faced a few minor problems. The shoe boxes my boots originally came with were falling apart because they were flimsy and the glue that binds them together was no longer working. Also, I couldn’t tell which boots were in which boxes. See?

I finally got around to replacing them. As much as possible, you want to make sure the containers you purchase to get organized are stackable. This will save you space in your closets and cupboards because you’re using vertical versus horizontal space. In addition, make sure to label for easy retrieval.

If you have hanging space but no stacking space, consider using Boot Hangers. They can be found on Amazon for about $20 for a set of 3.
Happy organizing!