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Time for Change
March 25, 2010 by Organized by Marcie
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People who have good organizing skills have simply developed habits that allow them to be 
prepared. For example, if you know that you are going to change your batteries when you change your clocks, you’ll make sure you have the batteries on hand.
In addition, people who have good organizing skills reduce the stress in their lives. If you link making lunch for the next day to cleaning up at night, you won’t have to scramble in the morning when you feel tired and rushed.
Being organized is not about tidiness; however, if you link putting everything away before you leave work at the end of the day, you’ll be ready the next day to be productive from the start. What other behaviors can you change by linking to an external event?
Marcie Lovett, Professional Organizer Organized by Marcie Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do! 301/219-3789 info@organizedbymarcie.com http:/
Uncomplicate Your Holidays
December 2, 2009 by Organized by Marcie
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Many families are all about acquiring when December rolls around. Then, when the holidays are over, they ask, “Is that all there is?” To keep the holidays from overwhelming you and to bring some more meaning, think about the following:
If you exchange gifts with a lot of people, see if you can shorten your list. Ask if some of them would prefer to go to lunch as a group or draw names so you all buy fewer gifts. Most people don’t need more stuff and would probably be relieved to buy fewer things, too.
If you have found it difficult to reduce the number of gifts you give, challenge yourself this year to buy fewer gifts and make them more meaningful. Can you offer gifts of time with the people you love instead of buying them something they don't really need? How about treating someone to a play, concert or meal? If you live far apart and can't go together, what about buying tickets for an event? In return, ask people for gifts of time, instead of things you need to store.
Before you buy anything, check for gifts you may have already bought and put away. If you are someone who buys things when you see them, put them all in one place so you choose appropriate gifts for people on your list.
Whether you use the Internet or prefer to go to stores to shop for holiday gifts, think about how much you want to spend on each person and keep to that limit. It can be tempting to buy "just one more thing" until the credit card bills start to roll in.
Keep holiday decor from overwhelming you. As you take decorations out of storage, dispose of any that are broken. If you have decorations that you don't like any more, you can offer them to friends or family members who might enjoy them or donate them to a thrift shop.
Talk to your kids about how much they already have and what is reasonable for you to buy. Have them make a list of things they want and share with relatives and friends; they will be glad to know that the gifts they give your child are things he or she really wanted. Ask children to donate toys that they don't play with anymore, since they are likely to get more gifts.
Do something meaningful. Find a way to do something for someone else during the holiday season. Spend an afternoon volunteering at a homeless shelter, food bank or soup kitchen.
On your calendar mark all of the events that you have committed to. Are there any activities that you don’t enjoy and can stop doing? Maybe it's time to start a new tradition. Don't forget to schedule time to do things that give you pleasure.
In 2008, the American Psychological Association noted that 8 out of 10 people “anticipated a stressful holiday season.” Think about the things that you can change to make this year's holiday less overwhelming and more pleasant for everyone.
Marcie Lovett, Professional Organizer
Organized by Marcie
Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
301/219-3789
info@organizedbymarcie.com
http:/
Visit my blog http:/
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Old Junk or Antiques?
November 4, 2009 by Organized by Marcie
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Recently, I was asked how anything would ever become an antique if all the generations who came before us had thrown everything away. We need to realize that people had fewer possessions in previous years and made things last far longer than we expect things to last today; therefore, they had less clutter.
Being organized doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything you own; it means being able to access what you have and enjoy it. If you have so much stuff whether it be brand new paperwork or antique furniture, you won't be able to enjoy it if you can't find it!
In order to be a true antique, an object must be at least 100 years old. Anything that is less than 100 years old but isn’t new is referred to as “vintage.” Toys from your childhood, for example, are vintage unless they were handed down from previous generations. Although many people refer to “antique” pieces from the 1950s and ‘60s, these pieces are not true antiques.
How do you know what to keep to make it to the 100-year mark? Most of what is produced today is made in such great numbers that it would have little value, even if it were quite old. What makes antiques valuable is not simply age, but their scarcity. Pieces were made in smaller quantities then and often were used until they were unusable, so there are fewer of them to go around.
Some people have collections that they hope will become valuable. I just want to remind everyone about Beanie Babies. Remember when they were trading on eBay for hundreds of dollars? Now you can’t give them away. The reason to keep things is because they bring you joy, not because they might pay off one day. In the meantime, you are paying with your time to maintain them and, if you have to rent storage, real dollars to stash them away for “someday.”
The best way to keep the things you love is to use them and display them every day. If you have more things than space, rotate your collections, storing the others safely. Garages, basements and attics are not appropriate for long-term storage for most things because they are too damp and the temperature fluctuates too much. Closets and the space under the bed are ideal places to keep books, photos, textiles, paintings and paper collectibles. If you must rent a storage area, make sure that it is temperature controlled. For more information, contact Heritage Preservation at 202/233-0800 or online at http:/
Marcie Lovett, Professional Organizer
Organized by Marcie
Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
301/219-3789
info@organizedbymarcie.com
http:/
Visit my blog
Follow me on twitter
Organizing the Chaos
September 30, 2009 by Organized by Marcie
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People who are living in chaos often think they’ll never be able to dig themselves out. I have
one piece of advice for anyone who has too much going on: Finish what you start.
It may seem simple, but if you are someone who leaves tasks half-finished all over the house or workplace, this idea is life changing.
Examples of taking tasks to their logical conclusions include:
- Throwing away the empty package when you finish using something
- Putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher or sink
- Putting things where they belong when you are finished using them
Today, challenge yourself to come to conclusion about each task you start. You may not be able to finish every project, but you can take it a logical stopping point instead of leaving it hanging around.
Marcie Lovett, Professional Organizer
Organized by Marcie
Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
301/219-3789
info@organizedbymarcie.com
http:/
Visit my blog
Follow me on twitter