www.cashinclutter.com
Volume 6, Issue 1
January 2011
Get Ready, Get Set, Let's GO Month...
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Go Month
1
January 2011 is the 7th annual Get Organized (GO) Month
Napo in School
2
The National Association of Professional Organizers, NAPO,
Featured Products 2
wants to spread the word about the benefits of improved
organization and its impact on productivity!
How to be Organized for
the New Year
3
Did you know:
Space of the Month:
Master Bedroom
4
• Becoming more organized can help save time and money, increase productivity,
enhance one’s quality of life, and reduce stress?
• In its most recent survey, NAPO found that 96% of respondents felt that they could save at
Now available at
www.Barnesandnoble.com
www.amazon.com
and many more retailers.
For a personalized signed
copy, please contact
Betsy Kramer at
[email protected]
least some time each day if they were more organized at home
• 91% felt they could be more efficient at work if they were better organized
• 71% indicated their quality of life would improve with more organization
“Get Organized” is one of the Top 10 New Year’s resolutions made by Americans year
after year. That’s why seven years ago the National Association of Professional
Organizers (NAPO) declared January as GO (Get Organized) MonthSM.
Make 2011 the year you stick to your New Year’s resolution to get your home or office
organized. Contact a NAPO Professional Organizer in your area by visiting www.napo.net and
searching their free directory, searchable by zip code, country and organizing service.
Throughout the month of January, dozens of NAPO chapters and thousands of
members will be hosting public events around the country, including, Ask-the-Organizer
panels, Organize to Economize in the New Year workshops, Shred-and-Organize
events, and much more! From Miami, FL, to Seattle, WA, a GO Month event is
happening near you. Find one at www.napo.net.
Betsy Kramer is a NAPO Professional Organizer. For more information about NAPO and Get
Organized MonthSM, visit www.napo.net or call NAPO at 856-380-6828
page 2
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Napo in the Schools
GLENVIEW, IL—The
National Association of
Professional Organizers
(NAPO®) launched its
NAPO® in the Schools
program this fall. This
exciting program offers
professional organizers a
way to connect with their
communities and bring
increased awareness to the
professional organizing
industry. As The Organizing
Authority®, NAPO® has a
responsibility to introduce the
importance of organization to
students who are at an age
when organizing habits are
learned and formed. It is
vitally important that we
teach and instill productive
skills and habits in our
children from an early age.
NAPO® in the Schools is a
community outreach
program that brings
professional organizers
into the schools. In a
completely interactive
classroom presentation,
professional organizers teach
students the benefits of being
organized and basic
organizing principles. The
program was developed by a
task force of NAPO®
members who have a
passion for working with and
educating students. The
program may be offered by
a local chapter or by
individual NAPO®
members who want to
volunteer and get involved
with their local
communities.
Betsy Kramer is a trained
NAPO in the Schools
Provider.
Featured Products from “Organized A to Z”
Please check out these
and other products for
all your organizing
needs by following the
“Organized A to Z” Link
on
www.cashinclutter.com
Cash in Clutter has
partnered with “Organized
A to Z” to offer high quality
organizational tools at an
exceptional value.
Here are some of this
month’s featured products.
Endurance Stainless Steel
Turntable
$23.35
Christmas Tree Storage Bag
$13.40
Sock/Hosiery Drawer Organizer
$8.95
Chrome Soda Pop Can Dispenser
$10.30
Simple Division® Garment
Organizers
$9.40
Bra/Panty Drawer Organizer
$8.05
Spare Toilet Paper & Paper Towel
Holder
$8.05
page 3
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How to Be Organized for the New Year
by Karen E. Fried
It’s a New Year and everyone makes “New Year’s Resolutions”. Why don’t you make one that says “I will be more Organized”.
I don’t mean that you need to run out and buy all types of “organizing gadgets”. Or that you drive your family crazy with your new
found organizing obsession. What I mean is that you should start with small steps, such as making a list of ways that you can
“organize” your home, business or life. Just like your resolution to exercise more will probably go by the wayside…so will your
resolution to be more organized…if you don’t fully commit to it.
It took years to develop your behaviors and it will take you weeks or months or longer to change them. It’s a lifestyle change.
Once you have made a list of what you want to change in your home, business or life (and this has to be your idea or it won’t work)
then you need to start implementing the changes. One at a time, otherwise you will become overwhelmed and you won’t stick to
anything. I’m a list maker. I have a list or an Excel spreadsheet for everything. My family makes fun of me but my motto is “why reinvent the wheel”. If you have repetitive tasks they can be turned into lists. I have a “what to take on vacation” list. Every family
member has their own column and they check off things as they pack them. Now things aren’t forgotten and I don’t hear “Mom, I
forgot my bathing suit”.
I have a list for “what to pack for college”. And yes, my daughter refused to use it the first year. But the following year I heard “Mom,
can I have the college list…..”. Music to a mother’s ear. I’m not as useless as I thought! I have lists for school supplies, list for
groceries, lists for vacations, lists for medical information, lists for donated items, lists for events that I go to every year and
equipment I need to take, lists for meetings…… and on and on. There is no end in sight.
If you do it more than once….make a list. That way you won’t forget anything.
If you have a list of spaces to organize or projects to do, break them down into manageable pieces. For example, break down the
“I’m going to organize my kitchen” project into smaller projects. Such as:
•
•
•
•
I’m going to organize the kitchen drawers
I’m going to organize the kitchen counters
I’m going to organize the kitchen cabinets
I’m going to organize the kitchen pantry
That way you can start and finish each project in one sitting and feel like you’ve accomplished something, instead of getting tired or
frustrated and never finishing it and then never starting another project. Start a small project. Finish a project. Feel proud of yourself.
Go on to the next project.
Not everyone can become organized on their own. That’s why there are “Professional Organizers” that are there to help you and to
teach you how to become more organized (teaching should be part of the organizing project). Since most people call a plumber
or an electrician when they have a plumbing or electrical problem, why shouldn’t you call a Professional Organizer when
you have an organizing problem?
By having a Professional Organizer help you with your organizing dilemma you can get more accomplished in less time. A
Professional Organizer is there to guide you through the process.
How many people have bought workout tapes for use at home but never used them? Good intentions but people tend to work harder
when they go to a gym and have someone watch over them than when they try to do work out by themselves.
So call a Professional Organizer and let them help you become more Organized – Less Cluttered – and Less Stressed.
Karin E. Fried, CPC, is owner of Organizational Consulting Services. Please visit her Web site at:
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com.
page 4
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Space of the Month: Master Bedroom
Want to create a dream bedroom in 10 minutes a day? For the next few weeks we are
going to focus on the master bedroom, or as I call it, the new heart of the home. Week 1
will focus on planning and purging in 5 quick and easy steps.
I have often heard that the heart of the home is the kitchen. Instead, I would like to
suggest that the Master Bedroom is the true lifeblood of the home, which is why I found
it imperative to start the “Around the House Overhaul” in the master bedroom. So often
we focus our attention on the rooms in which everyone else sees, and put our own
needs last. When your bedroom is clean and organized, you will sleep, love, and live
more fulfilled. In turn you will be healthier and happier, which makes everything more
manageable in life.
C ASH IN CLUTTER
Elysburg, PA 17824
Phone:
(570) 898-4083
E-Mail:
[email protected]
We’re on the Web!
See us at:
www.cashinclutter.com
For the next few weeks I am going to give you the steps to create a haven for yourself.
This week we are going to focus on planning and general purging. Please look for future
week’s suggestions on my blog: http://me-simplified.blogspot.com/ Following are the
steps for your clutter busting challenges for this week:
Step 1: Sit down with your spouse and share the frustrations with your current bedroom.
Try and listen to each other and not get defensive. Perhaps come up with a reward for
your room for when the bedroom de-cluttering project is complete.
Step 2: Create a timetable of when you would like to complete your project. I have 4
additional clutter busting challenges for you throughout the following month, but you
may adjust the time-table to your own needs.
Step 3: Locate the closest donation center and get the details on donation criteria and
rules. In addition, get the information for the recycling center in your area.
Step 4: Grab a couple garbage bags and set your timer for 5 minutes a day and start
purging the trash from your rooms. Trash is something that is no longer of use to you, or
anyone else. Now, just because it is trash, there is no need to clutter up the landfills.
Make sure to recycle all that you can! We will focus on donating clothing and other
items during a future weekly challenge, so for this week simply attack the
garbage.
Step 5: Set the timer for 5 minutes a day and put away items that have found
themselves in your room, but don’t belong there. Put clothing back into drawers and
place shoes away.
Attempt to do these simple 10 minute challenges each day this week. If at the end of the
week you find yourself still overwhelmed with clutter, don’t fret. Throughout the following
four challenges we will attack every nook and cranny in your master bedroom. If you
find great sadness and an inability to attack the clutter yourself, contact someone for
help. You owe it to your family, but more importantly yourself, to have a bedroom in
which you can rest.
Sweet dreams!
Betsy
Keep following Betsy’s blog http://me-simplified.blogspot.com/ for upcoming Master
Bedroom de-cluttering challenges!