Cease the moment! Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day. It’s the perfect opportunity to carve out some time to clear the clutter off of your desk. Here are some steps to get you started:
- Start with the papers right at your fingertips. It’s always best to start organizing with your most current papers. Gather them into a pile and start going through one sheet at a time. Make decisions about each piece as you go. Every time you delay a decision, you build clutter.
- Create temporary files. If your files are all over-crowded, get a file box and create new temporary files so papers can be put somewhere. Remember, everything needs it’s place. One of the biggest organizing mistakes is taking the time to go through papers and then just putting them into another pile! Here’s some more information on how to create temporary files.
- Pare down on office supplies. Take a close look at how many pens, pencils, rolls of tape, sticky notes, etc. you have at your desk. Keeping too many supplies can add considerably to the clutter. Frequently do a supply check to refill or eliminate what you keep right at your desk.
- 3-Way Toss. Divide what you toss into three categories: Trash, Recycle and Shred. Make it easy to fling the papers into something with a wide opening. Quickly tossing can help cut down on the time the project will take.
Take time on this designated day to clean off your desk. You will be amazed how much more productive you can be if you just spend a little time to focus on getting organized!
Here’s a great idea to keep all of your power cords organized. Gather your old bread tabs and repurpose them down on your power strip!
Christmas is over and it’s time to get the red out. It’s festive and wonderful to pull out all of the Christmas decorations, but once the Holidays are over, it’s even better to see them all get put away. It’s great to have a clean fresh, clutter free space in the new year. Here are some tips for cleaning up and storing decorations…
Take pictures of your decor before you take it down. Print out the photo and put it in the storage box. This way, you’ll remember how you like it for next year.
Not all Christmas decorations last forever. Look thru what you haven’t pulled out this year and eliminate what you are not going to pull out next year. Christmas decorations are great for the donation box.
Don’t put away any lights that aren’t fully lit. Find a Holiday light recycling source. Check out Earth911.com to find a recycling center near you.
Keep ALL of your holiday items together, including books, gift wrap, cooking items, clothing, linens, books and movies. We tend to think of packing up holiday decorations, but there are many other things we also use only at this time of the year. During the season, rethink how much can go into storage.
Happy un-decorating!
The beginning of a new year is a great time to make a fresh start. What can you do to make 2012 your most organized yet? Here are a few tips to start the year off right…
- Set goals and write them down. You are 10 times more likely to make a change by physically writing down your goals.
- Structure your day. When you spend time scattered about, you end up feeling unaccomplished. Manage your time with a plan.
- Take baby steps. We can only change about 10% at a time, so start small and take it slow. Don’t set your expectations too high.
- Edit where you can. Delegate and determine what you can eliminate from your tasks, putting your priorities in place.
- Create a routine. Set up a schedule with regular times to work on specific projects.
- Finish what you start. Clutter is often related to unfinished tasks. Make it a point to finish projects and put away related items each and every time.
- Establish good habits. Read our blog post: Organization: It All Boils Down to Creating Good Habits.
- Schedule an appointment. Start off 2012 organized with a personal visit from our professional organizers. Call us at (847) 825-8400.
As the year ends, it’s time to be thinking about wrapping up the years’ financial documents. A website that can help you get the best deduction for your donated household items is its deductible.com. You simply plug in the items that you’ve donated, add the condition, new, good, etc…and the maximum deduction for that particular item will pop up. You can then go to chaostoorder.com and find a list of charitable organizations that will be happy to accept your donations. Another reason to weed out your closets and storage areas quickly before the end of the year and write off all you can on your 2011 taxes!
The process of organizing requires you to always be putting like things together. But what happens when you have an array of miscellaneous items that need to be organized and somehow contained? Well here are before and after photos of a kitchen cabinet that was a catch-all for everything that didn’t have a place. The first step was to weed out what was no longer needed. The second step was to create categories for what was left. For example, there were lots of cords and computer wires. You know the ones– you don’t need them, but if you get rid of one, then you have to run to the store and purchase it again! So we put all the cords into a section, found the proper fitting container and labeled it “cords”–brilliant, right! This same process applies to any area that needs organizing. It’s just a matter of weeding out, figuring out how we can categorize things, finding a container that fits it, labeling so we can find it again and voila–it’s organized! 
Last night I went to see the movie “Up In The Air” where George Clooney plays traveling ax man Ryan Bingham. He is also a motivational speaker encouraging people to live stuff-free, relationship-free lives. It made me think about proposing the question he raises in his speech to you–what’s in your backpack? Of course we learn through the film how empty his life really is without any attachments to anything or anyone, but what if we listen to his speech and think about our clutter. If we could visualize our backpacks with all the stuff that has accumulated and how heavy that backpack would be, maybe it would have an impact on how much we keep and enable us to eliminate some of the chaos!
Chaos to Order is pleased to announce the introduction of our new pricing packages. We have bundled our services with some new and improved ways to help you get organized. Schedule your appointment right from the website, or call the office at (847) 825-8400.
?Virtually Organized Session $49.00
Includes:?• Review of organizing project via your digital images?• Analysis of project by a Chaos To Order professional organizer?• 30 minute phone organizing session ?• Homework given?• Action plan created
Confront The Chaos Consultation ?$99.00
Includes:?• 1 hour assessment with a Chaos To Order professional organizer?• Before photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• Homework suggestions?• Accountability follow-up call
?Clear the Chaos Organizing Session $199.00
Includes:?• Initial assessment of organizing project?• Before photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• 3 hours of professional organizing which includes weeding out the chaos and bringing order to the space?• Directions given for optimal organization of space?• Homework suggestions?• Next day email follow up?• Follow up phone call with professional organizer to discuss goals and progress?• Supply recommendations?• One time use only please
?Control the Chaos Organizing Sessions $599.00
Includes:?• Initial assessment of organizing project?• Before and after photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• Three 3-hour organizing sessions with a professional organizer within a 12 week period?• Directions given for optimal organization of space?• Homework suggestions?• Next day email follow up?• Follow up phone call with professional organizer to discuss goals and progress up to 30 minutes?• Supply recommendations?• A series of 3 accountability phone calls from the Chaos To Order office
Chaos Maintenance ?$1,299.00
Includes:?• Regular organizational maintenance?• 20 hours of professional organizing services?• Sessions good for up to one year
?Ultimate Unpack $1,999.00
Includes:?• Two professional organizers to meet movers and/or boxes on moving day?• Unpacking and organizing of household goods for 2 days or up to 32 hours, within a one-month period?• You can even go to work on moving day. When you arrive home, we’ll give you a tour of your newly organized place!
• Standard level organizers: $70.00 per hour?• Senior level organizers: $80.00-$125.00 per hour?• There is a 3-hour minimum per session?• Parking and supply costs are additional ?• Travel fees may apply
All packages include work with a standard level Chaos To Order professional organizer, travel and supply fees may apply to package prices.
by Monica on June 15, 2009
in Uncategorized
>Chaos to Order is pleased to announce the introduction of our new pricing packages. We have bundled our services with some new and improved ways to help you get organized. Schedule your appointment right from the website, or call the office at (847) 825-8400.
?Virtually Organized Session $49.00
Includes:?• Review of organizing project via your digital images?• Analysis of project by a Chaos To Order professional organizer?• 30 minute phone organizing session ?• Homework given?• Action plan created
Confront The Chaos Consultation ?$99.00
Includes:?• 1 hour assessment with a Chaos To Order professional organizer?• Before photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• Homework suggestions?• Accountability follow-up call
?Clear the Chaos Organizing Session $199.00
Includes:?• Initial assessment of organizing project?• Before photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• 3 hours of professional organizing which includes weeding out the chaos and bringing order to the space?• Directions given for optimal organization of space?• Homework suggestions?• Next day email follow up?• Follow up phone call with professional organizer to discuss goals and progress?• Supply recommendations?• One time use only please
?Control the Chaos Organizing Sessions $599.00
Includes:?• Initial assessment of organizing project?• Before and after photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• Three 3-hour organizing sessions with a professional organizer within a 12 week period?• Directions given for optimal organization of space?• Homework suggestions?• Next day email follow up?• Follow up phone call with professional organizer to discuss goals and progress up to 30 minutes?• Supply recommendations?• A series of 3 accountability phone calls from the Chaos To Order office
Chaos Maintenance ?$1,299.00
Includes:?• Regular organizational maintenance?• 20 hours of professional organizing services?• Sessions good for up to one year
?Ultimate Unpack $1,999.00
Includes:?• Two professional organizers to meet movers and/or boxes on moving day?• Unpacking and organizing of household goods for 2 days or up to 32 hours, within a one-month period?• You can even go to work on moving day. When you arrive home, we’ll give you a tour of your newly organized place!
• Standard level organizers: $70.00 per hour?• Senior level organizers: $80.00-$125.00 per hour?• There is a 3-hour minimum per session?• Parking and supply costs are additional ?• Travel fees may apply
All packages include work with a standard level Chaos To Order professional organizer, travel and supply fees may apply to package prices.
by Chaos to Order on June 15, 2009
in Uncategorized
>Chaos to Order is pleased to announce the introduction of our new pricing packages. We have bundled our services with some new and improved ways to help you get organized. Schedule your appointment right from the website, or call the office at (847) 825-8400.
?Virtually Organized Session $49.00
Includes:?• Review of organizing project via your digital images?• Analysis of project by a Chaos To Order professional organizer?• 30 minute phone organizing session ?• Homework given?• Action plan created
Confront The Chaos Consultation ?$99.00
Includes:?• 1 hour assessment with a Chaos To Order professional organizer?• Before photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• Homework suggestions?• Accountability follow-up call
?Clear the Chaos Organizing Session $199.00
Includes:?• Initial assessment of organizing project?• Before photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• 3 hours of professional organizing which includes weeding out the chaos and bringing order to the space?• Directions given for optimal organization of space?• Homework suggestions?• Next day email follow up?• Follow up phone call with professional organizer to discuss goals and progress?• Supply recommendations?• One time use only please
?Control the Chaos Organizing Sessions $599.00
Includes:?• Initial assessment of organizing project?• Before and after photos of the project?• Completed “Identify the Chaos” form for goal setting?• Customized action plan?• Three 3-hour organizing sessions with a professional organizer within a 12 week period?• Directions given for optimal organization of space?• Homework suggestions?• Next day email follow up?• Follow up phone call with professional organizer to discuss goals and progress up to 30 minutes?• Supply recommendations?• A series of 3 accountability phone calls from the Chaos To Order office
Chaos Maintenance ?$1,299.00
Includes:?• Regular organizational maintenance?• 20 hours of professional organizing services?• Sessions good for up to one year
?Ultimate Unpack $1,999.00
Includes:?• Two professional organizers to meet movers and/or boxes on moving day?• Unpacking and organizing of household goods for 2 days or up to 32 hours, within a one-month period?• You can even go to work on moving day. When you arrive home, we’ll give you a tour of your newly organized place!
• Standard level organizers: $70.00 per hour?• Senior level organizers: $80.00-$125.00 per hour?• There is a 3-hour minimum per session?• Parking and supply costs are additional ?• Travel fees may apply
All packages include work with a standard level Chaos To Order professional organizer, travel and supply fees may apply to package prices.
Cease the moment! Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day. It’s the perfect opportunity to carve out some time to clear the clutter off of your desk. Here are some steps to get you started:
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