Productive & Organized Home

Scheduling And Time Management At Home - Make sure you have time for the good stuff

(guest post from Smead)

Trying to coordinate your family’s schedule can seem like a monumental task. Work responsibilities for mom and dad, extracurricular activities for the kids, trying to fit in chores and family time – how can you possibly manage it with only 24 hours in the day? All it takes is a little advance planning!

Have You Seen TLC's New Hoarding: Buried Alive Show? Watch with us!

TLC recently began airing a series called "Hoarding: Buried Alive"  and I'd like you to consider watching episode #3 with me.

Hoarding affects millions of people, including individuals with hoarding behavior or tendencies, family members who fear for their loved one’s health and safety, neighbors and public officials. Multiple generations can be impacted by an individual that struggles with hoarding. 

Shows such as this one are creating a greater awareness of hoarding behaviors as well as some of the strategies used to work with people who hoard.

While I have been watching the episodes since the airing began on March 14 of this year (and really like the way they share such a sensitive topic), I'm especially interested in the one coming up.  You see, we were honored that the TLC series selected our very own Ellen Hankes CPO-CD (certified professional organizer in chronic disorganization) as one of their experts.  On Sunday evening, March 28th, TLC television will air a show that was filmed in Omaha, Nebraska. Hoarding: Buried Alive features Mary as she works to address her extreme volume of personal belongings. Ellen served as the consulting Professional Organizer for the show. 

Today I'll tell you a bit more about the show and also where you can get more information on hoarding and chronic disorganization.

Resource Center: 36 Organizing Blogs for your Time, Office, Home and Life

I have a number of colleagues that write about all different areas of organizing.  Today, I thought I'd share some of them.  Scroll through the list and pick a couple to check out!

Your Business, Office and Time

http://www.productiveandorganized.net -- Read about how to make the most of your time, thoughts, information and space.  Learn to live your best life by making room for what is the most important in your life. by Stephanie Calahan

http://www.thepapertiger.com/blog/ -- Learn about how to get your life and office organized and be more productive as well as the benefits of using The Paper Tiger software for document management and filing system needs. by the Monticello Corporation and multiple Paper Tiger Productivity Experts

http://www.meggin.com/articles/ - Articles being productive in your office to being productive when you’re traveling and much more.  by Meggin McIntosh

http://www.ElizabethHagenInspires.com -- Read about getting organized, building great self-esteem and confidence. by Elizabeth Hagen

http://www.quietspacing.com/blog/ --QuietSpacing™ — The Faster, Easier, and Smarter Way to Increase Productivity by Paul Burton

http://www.yourlifeinorder.com/blog -- Are you a professional women?  Then stop here to learn how you can create your very own “healthy, wealthy, and organized” lifestyle – balance, organization and healthy living all rolled into one! by Robin Stephens

http://dalyorganizing.com/?page_id=121 -- 'Shortcuts to Simple.'  Read about making work and life easier and simpler, ie Simplicity, Time Management, Energy Management, Reducing stress by using organizing tools, and Focus on what is most important, etc. by Ellen Daly

http://www.WhoIsLaura.com -- Blog about Home-Based Business Success Tips, Organization and Time Management by Laura Aridgides, Ph.D.

http://www.simplicated.com/Blog/ -- Blog about organizing business and efficiency based on the people she meets and great books read. by Tracy Campbell

http://decidetobeorganized.com/ -- Offers tips and advice to the general public on how to be more organized, and to organizers and other entrepreneurs on how to take their businesses to the next level. by Lisa Montanaro

Your Life and Home

http://www.ellenhankes.com -- Do you struggle with chronic disorganization in your home and office?  Then this blog is for you.  by Ellen Hankes

http://www.organizewithsandy.com/blog -- Organize with Sandy provides tips and tricks to organize your home and your life.  She also shares her life experiences managing and organizing a large family.

http://www.productiveandorganizedhome.com -- Organize every room in your home and every minute of your life.  by Calahan Solutions, Inc. and many selected industry bloggers.

http://www.greenappleorganising.com.au/blog -- Blog about organizing your time and home and being green. by Adele Blair

http://www.takecontrolorganizing.com/blog/ -- TCO blogs about organizing tips, suggestions, product reviews, inspiration, and anything else that may be going on that's worth talking about!! by Nikki Kinzer

http://www.Elaineshannon.com -- Organizing expert, Empress of Inspiration and Work at Home mom Elaine shannon helps you take charge and get rid of what’s holding you back. by Elaine Shannon

http://www.Kimberlyeagles.com -- Professional Organizer and Work at home mom Kimberly Eagles helps you to regain control of your space and time through Organizing tips, tricks and answering readers questions. by Kim Eagles

http://www.Organizingconnection.com/blog -- Connect with resources and information to help you get organized and join the weekly water cooler chat about what is happening in the organizing community and around the world. by Elaine Shannon and Kim Eagles

http://www.theprofessionalorganizer.com/blog -- Concentrating on organizing for those that are the creative "right brain" type of person.  by Allison Carter

http://nancyorganizes.blogspot.com/ -- This blog is about local (Hawaii) opportunities for people to get organized (i.e. shredding days, etc.) and about tips on how to get organized yourself. by Nancy Nino

http://www.healingorganization.com/cleanblog/ -- Learn ways to incorporate "green" into your life and into your organizing. by Julie Seibert

http://lurleneanderson.wordpress.com/ -- Learn about creating space and harmony in your world. by Lurlene Anderson

http://carriethru.com/index.php/resources-and-articles/ -- You’ll find articles and videos about decluttering, time and task management, procrastination and getting things done. by Carrie Greene, ACC

http://www.ClearSimpleInspiration.com -- Tips, Ideas & Solutions for Living Your Best Life! by Heidi DeCoux

http://organizedinnovations.wordpress.com/ -- Read a tip of the week which is an effective, easy to implement organizing concept or product that people can implement right away.  Short, simple, to the point and easy to do now. by Stacey Anderson

http://www.examiner.com/x-21168-Baltimore-Organized-Families-Examiner  -- Organized Families helps busy moms and dads to be more organized and manage their homes more efficiently.  In addition to interviewing experts, Jacquie shares her organizational tips on decluttering, scheduling, time management, budgeting, simple living, meal planning, organization products and services, and much more. 

http://www.clutterstop.blogspot.com -- ADHD, hoarding, time management issues, how to get past overwhelm, and then I even write about fun stuff like seminars that I go to, or concerts, or trips I've taken, or even a dessert that I've found that is too delicious for words.  by Sheila G. McCurdy

http://openspacesfengshui.com/blog -- Blog about all things Feng Shui, from practical tips and advice, to quirky examples of Feng Shui good and bad, to an in-depth look at its principles and techniques. by Ann Bingley Gallops

http://lelahwithanh.blogspot.com -- Blog about organizing books, products, concepts and offer tips and tools. by Lelah Baker-Rabe

http://www.addspacetoyourlife.com/category/blog/ -- Blog about organizing tactics and strategies as well as wardrobe/ image tips. by Kathi Burns

http://www.gracebrooke.com/?page_id=840 -- Blog about efficiency, office organization, home organization, organizing products, and organizing children. by Grace Brooke

http://downshiftingpos.blogspot.com/ -- Blog about helpful tips, lists, ideas and reference material to help you get organized and simplify your life. by Margarita Ibbott

http://tinyurl.com/theorganizedwoman -- The Organized Woman Show is to offer tips and tools for creating the life you want. by Vicki Winterton

http://blog.harmoniouslifedesigns.com/ -- Organizing, De-Cluttering and Space Design for Home and Garden by Maureen Nuccitelli

Stages in Life and Life Changes

http://www.organizenh.com/wordpress -- Read about mid and later life transitions and how organizing supports you throughout. by Sue West

http://orderuporganizing.tumblr.com -- Posts are geared toward young professionals and consist of organizing tips, techniques, and topics mainly focused on the kitchen.  I also regularly feature individual young professionals and share their feelings on organizing and meal planning.  by Jill Marie Hively

Do you have a blog that you love?  Tell me about it!

Could You Be Ready to Evacuate Your Home at a Moments Notice?

Tips to Prepare an Emergency Grab-and-Go File

As we have witnessed the devastation Katrina, recent storms in Haiti and other locations across the glob has caused, many of us have wondered what we would do if we were faced with the same situation.  What would we take with us if our Mayor ordered a full community evacuation?  Would you be able to make decisions as quickly as necessary?  Would you know where important papers or documents were located in your home?  Residents of these horrible storms were faced with these questions and many more.

Families should prepare for the worst and pray for the best.  Creating an "Emergency Grab and Go File” is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that in times of stress, emergency or grief, you are not compounding the situation by not knowing where important documents and contact information are. 

AboutOne Wants to Hear from YOU - Chance to Win an iPod Touch!

I am quite honored to share that the founders of AboutOne contacted me earlier this year and asked me to sit on their advisory board.  After hearing Joanne Lang's extremely professional presentation and vision for an on-line tool that would help busy moms get and stay organized, I was hooked.  Of course I was honored to be on their board!

Up until this point, the AboutOne team has been diligently in the background planning and programming the awesome new tool.  They are now needing your input to ensure that they are spending their development dollars in the right place.  (One of the things I like about this company is that they really care about what YOU think!)

If you have a few minutes, I'd love it if you would go to www.AboutOne.com and take their market survey.  It won't take long and it will help the team tremendously. 

A little about AboutOne:

Coming early in 2010, AboutOne is designed to help busy moms get organized, ->> it is a highly secure, on-line service that helps you quickly enter, track and organize your information and your household information, share pieces with family members and give you the ability from any location, 24/7 to find what you need in seconds.  

 

In addition to helping moms (and yes, dads you will love it too!) the AboutOne team is all about "giving back" too.  Here are three ways that they contribute on a bigger scale:

• free access for our Heroes (army, navy, fire etc) program
• sponsoring children in need
• giving time at events to raise money for cancer.  

Please help the team ensure that the product meets YOUR needs by taking the survey at www.AboutOne.com- it takes less than 10 minutes and you can win an iPod Touch every month too.

Oh!  They will be participating in the Great Organizing Giveaway too!

To your success!

Could you live with just 72 things?

I was reading this post today: Living with 72 Things and wanted to share it with you to get your perspective.  Tammy and her husband have eliminated almost everything from their material lives and blog about living a simple life.  About two years ago they began letting go of things.  To date, they have let go of so many items that they have moved to a less expensive, much smaller home.  Read Tammy's post and come back here to tell me what you think!

To your success!

PS -- If you've enjoyed this post and want to see more, why not subscribe to our daily emails (Feedblitz) or through the RSS Feed (click here)?  Or, follow us on Twitter!  Or connect on Facebook!

Quiz: What is Your Learning Style? Take this Quiz & Find Out! (via @hellenbuttigieg)

I have been studying learning styles for the past 15+ years and know that when you understand your learning style you can make all kinds of amazing things happen!  My colleague, Hellen Buttigieg, has created a great quiz that will help you figure out your learning style. 

Reserve about 10-15 minutes (it took me 8) and take the quiz below.  If you see more than one answer that applies, pick the one that best reprisents you.

Determine Your Learning Style » Quiz Question Maker

Want to learn more?

If you like the idea of using your learning style to figure out how to organize, then I encourage you to consider reading Hellen's book, "Organizing Outside the Box."  The secret — as revealed in this clear, concise, and compelling book — is to organize according to your natural, preferred learning style. Organizing Outside the Box will help you to:

• Determine whether you are a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner
• Pick the filing, storage, and organizing systems that fit your learning style
• Overcome feelings of frustration, anxiety, and overload
• Organize your thoughts and unleash your creative potential
• Run a  more efficient home and office by understanding the preferred organizing styles of family and co-workers.

Comment and Share!

Did you take the quiz?  What did you learn?  What kind of learner are you?  Let us know below.

Like what you've read?  Then share it with your friends!  Just click the buttons at the end of this post to share with those you care about.

To your success!

PS -- If you've enjoyed this post and want to see more, why not subscribe to our daily emails (Feedblitz) or through the RSS Feed (click here)?  Or, follow us on Twitter!  Or connect on Facebook!

Order Helps Build Better Readers

I was reading my copy of Working Mother Magazine today and came across an article that I wanted to share with you.  The article was "Family Focus - Order Helps Readers."  The tag line read:
 
How getting organized will help your kid become a stronger student. 
 
  

Oct 14 Teleconference: Part With Your Sentimental Clutter Without Breaking Your Heart-Expert: Rita Emmett

Do you struggle with the clutter in your home? Do your emotions get in the way of being able to simplify?  Do you own items that used to belong to family members or loved ones?  Sentimental clutter can paralize us.  Attend this session live (or via recording) to learn how to free yourself from your emotions and make choices that really work for who you are and your situation. Bonus!  When you register for the LIVE session, you will also receive a copy of Rita's book: The Clutter-Busting Handbook: Clean It Up, Clear It Out, and Keep Your Life Clutter-Free

$25.95

Do you struggle with the clutter in your home? Do your emotions get in the way of being able to simplify?  Do you own items that used to belong to family members or loved ones?  Sentimental clutter can paralize us.  Attend this session live (or via recording) to learn how to free yourself from your emotions and make choices that really work for who you are and your situation. Bonus!  When you register for the LIVE session, you will also receive a copy of Rita's book: The Clutter-Busting Handbook: Clean It Up, Clear It Out, and Keep Your Life Clutter-Free

$25.95

TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8 Hire a Professional Organizer

Delegate?  Ditch?  Keep?  Donate?  Dust Bunnies?  No?  Maybe?  We're excited to know that Jon and Kate have hired a real-life Professional Organizer!

There are some that love and watch this show and keep track of the children as if Jon and Kate are their family members.  There are equally as many people that are tired of the drama and do everything they can to stay away from this TLC show family.  However, I was reading my colleague, John Trosko's blog today and came across his post announcing the organization focus on the show and had to check in to see what was going on.

Cool Do-It-Yourself Projects with IKEA Hacks

Are you a closet DIYer?  Do you like to make things for your home or office?  If you are like me, you may like to "hack" things more than make them from scratch. 

What is a hack? A "hack" is when you take something and make it into something else. 

What is IKEA? The store IKEA is a world-wide company that offers a "wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them."  Their designs are very utilitarian most of the time, but high quality in workmanship.

So, an IKEA Hack takes IKEA products and modifies them for form, function or design to work for what the user needs in their space.  If this is of interest to you, check out the blog IKEA Hacker.  IKEA Hacker shows you how to transform IKEA stuff and takes hacks from all across the globe to feature.  Check out the link below for great ideas.

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/search/label/storage

Thanks!! to @lisamurphyTO, @chrissychrzan and @tinkugallery for sharing this site!

Get Rid of those Unused T-Shirts!

Do you have a pile (or piles) of old T-Shirts that you don't want anymore, but that are are taking up space in your home?  Today I have the solution for you!

ReTees is a company that takes your old unwanted t-shirts and recycles them into great green products.  Why T Shirts? In today's age of disposable clothing, the T Shirt reigns supreme. They are cheap, cheerful and "fast food fashion". In fact, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 11.8 million tons of textiles were generated in 2006, or 5 percent of total municipal solid waste.  The company has other great facts out on their site about why they are focused on t-shirts.  https://www.reteez.com/facts.php

Family Reunion Month

Family Reunions can be the highlight of the year if they are planned and organized well.  We found Mr. Spiffy out on the web and he has some great tips for making your family reunion one of the best ever!

Hug Your Kids Today!

About a month ago I wrote about how you could start getting ready for this day.  How did you do? Those we love now are precious.  Take the moment you would normally spend reading this post and go hug your kids!  Here is their theme song to hug play too.

36 Tips for Productivity in the Home

Do you ever feel like this guy?  So many things to do that you can't even see what is right in front of your face??

Well, Simple Mom posted a great article that is a fast read and includes 36 Tips for Productivity in the Home.

I enjoyed a number of them, but I especially liked point number 28.

Organize your drawers in the office and kitchen

What does your kitchen "junk drawer" look like?  What about your office desk?  Rubbermaid has a great blog that talks about how to organize different spaces in your home and office.  Recently, there was a post on using a silverware sorter to organize things other than silverware.

That reminded me of a personal project I had done a while back. . .

Could you find what you wanted in the drawer to the right? 

I couldn't either!  So here is what I did about it.

Check Out SelfGrowth.Com

www.selfgrowth.com is an awesome site and is the internet super-site for Self Improvement and Personal Growth. The company’s mission is to provide informative, quality Self Improvement and Natural Health information to help people improve their lives. They provide information ranging from Goal Setting and Stress Management to Natural Health and Alternative Medicine. 

Regardless of what areas of growth you have, you will find the experts that can help you along your journey.  I have

Going GREEN - Reducing Paper Piles

Just about every client we talk with says that paper is one of their biggest challenges.  Is it one of yours?

One way you can eliminate paper from your home office (or kitchen counter, entry hall table, etc.) is to