 Getting Organized Does Not Happen Overnight NAPO Guest Post: Tina Hazen, RN Professional Organizer, Author and Speaker www.thinkinsidetheboxx.com Getting organized is a GREAT resolution or goal for 2024. You may be able to find things when you need them, save money and even save your sanity! Getting organized, unfortunately, does not happen overnight. It is a muscle that you need to work daily to see the results. Putting things where they belong, keeping up with the laundry and creating spaces to place important items are key.
Some people are naturally organized but have a wrench thrown into their lives and they get off track. This could be having a baby, getting married, getting divorced, having surgery, moving, starting a new job, or any event that knocks you “off of your feet.” During this transition, having an organizer may save the day. He or she can help you decide what to keep, what to get rid of and what to pack. Since I have moved many times with my husband’s job, this has become a part of my business. I can relate with the stress of moving. When getting married, blending homes can be hard with multiples of every item. The new apartment or house cannot hold two toasters, waffle makers or ironing boards! When you have a baby, a person moves in with you, and that comes with a lot of “stuff.” People are lovely and may shower you with gifts, clothing and diapers. Having an organized way to store these items will help you. If you have surgery and need to be off your feet for 4-6 weeks, things may not be the way you want them. I had a client with a bad knee and I was there to help carry items up and down the steps. Some organizers pack and unpack items and do it in an organized fashion. I always label each box with a color. Each color represents a room in the home. For example, all kitchen boxes will have a piece of red tape on the top and on the corner of the box. The movers know immediately what room the box goes in based on the color of the box tape. During these transitions in life, having help is important. You may want to tackle it by yourself, but it may be too taxing for you. Having an organizer can help alleviate the stress and anxiety of the situation. NAPO has a website that is quite convenient for the public. If you are looking for an organizer, just put in your zip code and there will be a list of organizers near you. These organizers are members in good standing with the National Association of Productivity and Organizing. Get Organized Month happens every year in January. It is a great time to set goals and look at what needs tweaked in your life. Getting organized will never be an action that you regret! Having zones for items, knowing where to put your pantry items, and even your clothing will help in your everyday life. There are so many hours wasted “looking” for items that you know you have. If you place the item in the SAME place every time, it will always be there! Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth It's January, the time of year when we all make New Year's resolutions and hope that we accomplish them! This year one of my resolutions, and likely one of yours, is to become more knowledgeable and proficient with technology. Did you receive new devices for holiday gifts, need your information transferred over to your new device and can't figure out how to do that? Are you still paying too much for cable and Internet and are thinking about cable alternatives? Are you needing computer service such as data recovery, hardware repair and/or software issue repairs? Do you learn best in small group or individual one-on-one tutorials? Is figuring out how to get the most out of your Wi-Fi Smart Home Service such as answering your door from anywhere or using your phone or voice to manage your lights and thermostat challenging?  Sarah teaches a variety of excellent classes including ...
 Sarah Canning, owner of Gadgets Made EaZy, possess both an exceptional depth of technology literacy and highly proficient problem solving skills!
Her warm, engaging and nonjudgemental demeanor makes you feel comfortable bringing up and discussing whatever tech challenges, frustrations and issues that are on your mind. She very patiently and efficiently address and resolves tech concerns quickly saving you a great deal of time allowing you to get on with the business and pleasures of your day. I have had the pleasure of attending Sarah's highly informative tech classes in her office as well as working with Sarah one-on-one at home. Every session I come away with a new understanding of how technology works and am very grateful! I highly recommend Gadgets Made EaZy as the new year begins and throughout the year. You will be positively delighted with her service and with Sarah's support be able to achieve your 2024 tech resolution goals! Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth  How to Make Resolutions that Stick Guest Post: Emma White, Nutritionist Healthy Balance Magazine and Nutracheck (www.nutracheck.co.uk) Note: This post was summarized from the original Apple News article. Set Measurable Goals: Choose something concrete you can tick off the list. Don't Be Unrealistic: Success breeds success. Accept Slip Ups: Slipping up is not failure; failure is not picking yourself up and trying again. Find Activities You Enjoy: Find something you love that ads value to your life. Enjoy Everything in Moderation: Remember the 80-20 approach. Remember if you need organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth  January is GO {Get Organized} Month! Here are 10 organizing tips to help you start and stay organized in the new year. Enjoy! Source: NAPO 1. Gather up your receipts and bank statements from last year now to get a jump start on the April tax paperwork panic. 2. Set up your filing system for this year’s paperwork now. Create a file for each tax deduction category or file receipts by the month. It’s easier to organize it along the way than to wait until next year. 3. Use your Christmas card stash to update your contact manager. If you’re still using a paper address book, consider the tech alternatives on your smartphone, e-mail contact manager or cloud solutions. 4. Take a day or a few hours to set goals for your business or personal life. Remember to make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely)! It’s hard to get somewhere without a map. Where are you trying to go in this new year? 5. Reevaluate your daily, weekly & monthly routines. Rework them to incorporate new habits, like exercise and cooking at home more often. 6. Tackle one tiny organizing project each day or week. When you look at the big picture, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. How do you swallow an elephant? One bite at a time! 7. Instead of purchasing new plastic totes to put all of those Christmas toys into, how about donating the old toys and reusing the totes? Not only will you clear the clutter, but you are teaching your children about generosity. 8. As you pack up the Christmas decor, throw out anything broken, worn out or unloved. Stock up on replacements during clearance sales. Buy color coded bins and limit the amount of space you allow for seasonal items. 9. Create a “home” for transitional items. Everyone has them – library books, items to return to the store, etc. The “home” you create should be as close to the exit of your home as possible, so you remember to take the items with you when you leave. 10. Turn all of the hangers in your closet backwards. As you wear each item, flip the hanger around. Mark your calendar for today’s date next year and donate all clothing items you haven’t worn in the past 12 months. Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer, 617.640.2366 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth |
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