Energize and Organize
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    • NAPO-NE Tips for Practical Ways to Get Organized
    • Outstanding Professional Organizer Websites
    • Organizing Product Stores
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Energize and Organize:  Happy New Year

1/31/2025

 
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Happy New Year!  Tick Tock ... it's the end of  January and there is no time like the present to lighten your mental and physical load by energizing, organizing, and making 2025 your BEST year yet! 
​

​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

Energize and Organize:  Use These 3 Steps to Steal Back Time

1/18/2025

 
Use These 3 Steps to Steal Back Time
Guest Post:  Teresa Hawthorne, www.thawthornelifesolutions.com
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Are you being robbed? Willingly? 

Here’s how you can tell. 

​Are your thoughts filled with words like later, tomorrow, someday, or eventually? If so, a thief could be carrying away one of your most prized possessions. Do you often wonder how it could be that you’ve been busy all day, but haven’t completed much on your to-do list? If your answer is yes, a thief may be running off with a valuable asset. 

The thief—procrastination. Your precious commodity—time. 

Procrastination is the intentional choice to avoid or put off doing something that you know should be done. That’s right, it’s a choice. And if chosen often enough, it becomes a habit. 

The procrastination habit comes at a cost. In addition to stealing your time, it negatively impacts your emotions and leaves you feeling overwhelmed, unproductive, guilty, and full of regret. It’s also a barrier to your success because it delays the steps toward your goals, causes you to miss opportunities, and results in stagnation. 
​
You’re likely already paying the cost if the procrastination habit has found its way into your life. So here is some good news. Habits can change. Before you willingly allow this time-waster to rob you again, arm yourself with these three tactics to help you arrest procrastination and reclaim your precious time. 


Be On The Lookout 
It’s often said that acknowledging a problem is the first step toward a solution. That being the case, the next step with procrastination is becoming aware of why. Procrastination shows up for a variety of reasons. Look for these common causes: 

  • Feeling overwhelmed by a task or project 
  • Not liking or wanting to do the task or project 
  • Being afraid to fail 
  • Fearing what will happen if you succeed 

Identifying why you avoid or put things off is key to overcoming the habit. To do this, be mindful of your thoughts and feelings. Is your mind filled with what-if scenarios? Do you believe the task is too challenging? Are you unsure of where to start? Do you think you lack the skills? Do you dread what will result from you completing the project successfully? 

Once you’ve recognized why you do it, you’ll need a way to fight procrastination when it tries to break its way in. 



Plan Your Defense 
Taking time to create a plan is your best defense against the procrastination habit. Having a plan gives you a structured approach, helps to identify a starting point, and provides a guided route from beginning to completion. 

When developing your plan, it’s important to consider your why. If the reason you procrastinate is that you are overwhelmed, for example, your plan should include breaking a project into smaller, more manageable pieces. If your why is that you’re challenged with time management, your plan could be to block time on your calendar and commit to working on your task or project. 
​
Of course, your plan will be foiled if you don’t execute it. Your next step is to take action. 

“The most effective way to do it, is to do it.”
Amelia Earhart 


​Jump In and Attack 
In the words of Amelia Earhart, “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” You can fight off the time thief by simply getting started. 

A good way to jump in is to start small. Commit to working on your dreaded task or project for five to ten minutes, then add another set of minutes when you’ve reached the end. Successfully working for short periods will give you momentum to keep going, and before you know it, the task is done. 

Stealing your time back from a long-standing procrastination habit will take your focused and deliberate effort. Arm yourself with these three actions and you’ll be ready to identify and fight off this time thief when it attempts to creep back in. 

Procrastination is a time-waster that, left unchecked, can cost you your goals and dreams. Don’t let it! 


​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

Energize and Organize: Digital Detox

1/7/2025

 
Digital Detox:  How to Declutter and Organize
​Your Digital Life for Improved Productivity

Guest Post:  Vincent Giacalone 

 www.theorganizedguy.com
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In today’s fast-paced world, digital clutter can quickly accumulate, affecting your productivity and mental well-being. Just as physical clutter can overwhelm your space, digital clutter can bog down your devices and distract you from your tasks.  

Here’s how to declutter and organize your digital life for improved productivity. 


Step 1: Declutter Your Digital Devices 
  • Organize Your Files: Create a logical folder structure on your computer. Use clear and consistent naming conventions to easily locate files. Consider using categories like work, personal, finances, and hobbies. 
  • Delete Unnecessary Files: Go through your downloads, documents, and desktop folders to delete any files you no longer need. Don’t forget to empty your recycle bin. 
  • Unsubscribe from Unwanted Emails: Take some time to unsubscribe from newsletters and promotional emails you no longer read. Organize your inbox with labels and filters to keep important emails easily accessible. 
  • Clean Up Your Photos: Use photo management software to delete duplicates and blurry images. Organize your photos into albums by date or event for easier navigation.  


Step 2: Streamline Your Apps and Software 
  • Evaluate Your Apps: Delete apps and software you no longer use. This frees up storage space and reduces distractions. 
  • Update Your Software: Ensure all your apps and software are up to date to benefit from the latest features and security updates.
  • Organize Your Home Screen: Group similar apps together in folders on your smartphone or tablet. Keep your most-used apps within easy reach.  


Step 3: Digital Maintenance Routine 
  • Schedule Regular Cleanups: Set aside time each month to review and declutter your digital files, emails, and apps. 
  • Backup Important Data: Regularly back up your important files to an external hard drive or cloud storage service to prevent data loss. 
  • Use Productivity Tools: Utilize tools like task managers, calendar apps, and note-taking apps to stay organized and efficient. 


Paper vs. Digital—Challenge Yourself 
As you embark on your digital detox, challenge yourself to assess your need for physical paper copies. Consider the following questions to help you decide whether to keep or discard paper documents: 
  • Can I Reprint This? If you have a digital copy, can you easily reprint the document if needed? 
  • Is It Accessible Online? Can you access the information online or through an app, eliminating the need for a physical copy? 
  • How Often Do I Use This? If the document is rarely used, is it worth keeping in physical form? 
  • Does It Serve a Purpose? Does having a physical copy serve a specific purpose that a digital copy cannot fulfill? 


By transitioning to a more digital-centric approach, you can reduce physical clutter and improve your overall organization.  
​


Decluttering and organizing your digital life is an ongoing process that requires regular maintenance. By implementing these strategies, you can improve your productivity, reduce stress, and create a more efficient digital environment. Embrace the digital detox and enjoy the benefits of a streamlined, organized digital life. 


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

Energize and Organize:  Happy New Year

1/1/2025

 
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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

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  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Home Office Organization
    • Residential Organization >
      • Are You Chronically Disorganized? >
        • Common Characteristics of Chronically Disorganized Individuals
      • Are you Situationally Disorganized?
      • Organizing by Learning and Action Style Preferences
    • Senior Organization
    • Student Organization >
      • Executive Function
      • Improving Your Child's Organizing Skills
      • Organizing by Learning/Sensory Preferences and Action Style Preferences
      • Organization and Time Management Strategies for Kids with L.D.
      • Student Organizing Tips - Internet Resources
  • Gallery
  • FAQ
  • Resources
    • Charitable Donation Information
    • Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ... To Keep or Not to Keep?
    • Green Tips from NAPO-New England Professional Organizers
    • Insightful Education Websites for Children and Students with All Kinds of Abilities
    • Inspirational Organizing Quotes
    • Interesting Readings
    • Junk Mail and Telemarketing Phone Call Reduction Resources
    • Miscellaneous Organizational Tips
    • NAPO Code of Ethics
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Adopting Green Organizing and Celebrating Earth Day
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Practical Ways to Get Organized
    • Outstanding Professional Organizer Websites
    • Organizing Product Stores
    • Resale Information
  • Testimonials/In the News
    • Testimonials
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • Blog