 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 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while,
but their hearts forever. -Anonymous  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 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Here are 25 things you can do to celebrate this Earth Day! Guest Post: Meghan Spears, CPO www.meghanspears.com This Earth Day, may you be inspired to do one thing, or a few, or all of them—imperfectly, and remember, it’s about progress.
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  Question: Do you leave home with a wallet filled with a great deal of personal information every day?
Solution: If so, make a copy (front and back) of your driver's license, medical cards, and credit cards. Should your wallet get misplaced, lost and/or stolen, it will be easier to report the loss and process the new cards. 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 Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Prioritize Your Tasks with the 4 D's: Delegate, Delay, Delta or Do Guest Post: Ellen Faye, https:ellenfaye.com Have you heard of the 4 D’s? It’s a principle that has been circulating in my professional circles for years but has gained even more relevance in today’s workplace. Given the workload my clients face, there must be solutions beyond simply working harder and longer. Lately, I’ve been emphasizing the importance of the 4 D’s as a filtering tool to help prioritize tasks on their to-do lists: delegate, delay, delete, do! Here’s what you need to know to help you use the 4 D’s to filter your tasks. Look at your task list; for every single item on it, ask yourself:
Delegate It My favorite delegation quote is by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay. He says that “five times 80% is much larger than 100% of me.” Delegating is hard:
But delegating is worth it:
My delegation process involves:
If you can, delegate the task. Delay It Not all tasks are of equal importance. To determine what can be delayed, consider:
Time is limited, so prioritizing tasks based on their impact and importance is helpful. If the task isn’t time-sensitive, consider delaying it. Delete It Ask yourself, “What would happen if I didn’t do this task?” Some tasks lose their importance over time and/or may no longer align with your goals or current situation. If a task is deemed nonessential, remove it from your list. Do It If doing something serves you, your goals, and your business, or if it affects someone important to you and is high impact, then that’s a good reason to do it now. Here are some other reasons to help you prioritize your tasks; for example, if you don’t do it in the next few days…
Productivity is about intentional action, so if a task is significant and time-sensitive, tackle it promptly to maintain efficiency. With intention, doing it now makes sense. And that is what productivity is all about. 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  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  Winter Safety Tips for Seniors and Their Caregivers
www.care.com/c/winter-safety-tips-for-seniors Cold Weather Safety for Older Adults www.nia.nih.gov/health/safety/cold-weather-safety-older-adults 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 the beginning of February, and couples across the United States are gearing up for Hallmark’s biggest holiday of the year: Valentine’s Day. Dinner reservations are being made, candy hearts eyed in drugstore aisles, and visions of ceremonial intimacy flicker in the backs of lovers’ minds.
But…one thing standing in the way of achieving a social media–worthy February 14th? The stack of clean laundry on the stairs waiting to be put away. A sad reality of adulthood is that we spend our time in environments that unconsciously remind us of tasks that need to be addressed. When we live with a romantic partner, it may be ideal if those tasks are shared equitably, but that is not always the case. So our homes not only remind us of labor that must be completed but ALSO can breed tension with—and resentment against—anyone not helping get those things done. Sounds really sexy, huh? Clutter and unequal distribution of its management sometimes reach crescendo levels during peak periods of distress (a sudden illness, a change in school or employment status, etc.), but more often they exist due to a difference in behaviors and beliefs around:
Many of these behaviors are learned from our families of origin, particularly from the parent-child dynamic. But as adults in partnership with other adults, we want a different relationship to one another—especially if love, sex, and intimacy are shared values and activities we hope to experience together. If we don’t address these underlying behaviors and beliefs around clutter with our partners (and get aligned on what to do about them), it is unlikely that real, sustainable change to our environments at home will stick. So, this Valentine’s Day, instead of a dozen roses for your partner, try these strategies to organize a more loving, sexy, and tidy future together: Often, a root cause of clutter buildup and difficulty starting and completing tasks to put things away is tied to brain-based conditions (ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc.). Notice if your partner (and/or you) is receiving the support they for any health conditions like these. Do they need a ride to their doctor’s office, a better system for taking their prescribed medication regularly, or a swap of childcare duties so they can attend a virtual therapy appointment? See what you can offer to make sure these concerns are addressed, just like any other medical situation that deserves to be prioritized with compassion. Dinner out on Valentine’s Day could be just another night together, OR you could use that quiet time to go deeper on some topics that might have been initially glossed over when you first swiped right. Pretend you are on an early date again and leave judgment behind, so each person feels comfortable being vulnerable as you ask each other these questions.
It’s hard to be in the mood for romance and intimacy when your environment constantly reminds you of tasks to complete and spaces to organize, and research shows that visual clutter raises cortisol levels (our stress hormones), especially in women. PLAN AHEAD: Instead of a one-day intensive cleaning spree on February 13, commit to shorter, more regular time periods to tackle decluttering, organizing, and maintenance projects in your home to keep stress at bay. Even 30 minutes a day, on three workdays each week, focusing on high-impact decluttering and maintenance tasks, can get you to a more peaceful home by the time Friday evening rolls around. This intentional practice sets a better mood for the weekend ahead—one less focused on cleaning and with more space for cuddling and connection. Don’t let clutter become an emotional barrier between what you have and what you want out of life and your relationship. By choosing to address the underlying reasons and behaviors affecting clutter at home with your partner, you are giving one another the best Valentine’s Day gifts of all:
If you and/or your partner want a neutral, third-party expert to help create personalized systems that align with your shared vision, we’re here to help. 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  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 Use These 3 Steps to Steal Back Time Guest Post: Teresa Hawthorne, www.thawthornelifesolutions.com  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:
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 Digital Detox: How to Declutter and Organize Your Digital Life for Improved Productivity Guest Post: Vincent Giacalone www.theorganizedguy.com  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
Step 2: Streamline Your Apps and Software
Step 3: Digital Maintenance Routine
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:
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  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  Regina Brett, is a New York Times best selling author and was named the 2023 Best Columnist by Ohio Associated Press Media Editors. Her immensely inspirational and positively wonderful new book titled "Little Detours and Spiritual Adventurers" is inspiration to help you find the awe in the awful, they mystery in the mistakes, the magic in the mess to turn every life detour into a spiritual adventure.
Regina writes an exceptional weekly column for the Cleveland Jewish News www.clevelandjewishnews.com The following is an excerpt from her Dec. 20, 2024 post. When you have a moment, gift yourself with reading her entire post. It will nourish your soul and bring you joy. Thank you sharing for your beautiful gift, Regina! The Gift of Giving to Yourself ... Time: Give yourself time to breathe. Practice the power of the pause. Quiet: Practice being comfortable with silence. Give yourself the gift of stillness. Rest: Sleep longer and nap more often. Create a sacred schedule that includes more sleep. Beauty: Adorn yourself. Create pockets of beauty everywhere in your life. Nature: Every day, stand on this beautiful planet and suck up that Earth energy. Ground in it. Acceptance: The kind that feels like you are a winner in this body, this home, this life. Passion: What do you love to do? Make a list of hobbies, passions or activities you love. Listening: Listen to the music of life. Then do it. Every. Single. Day. You can read Regina's awe-inspiring writing at reginabrett.substack.com and www.reginabrett.com Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzza to all!  Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Hanukkah!
  The happy holidays are quickly approaching!
If you and your loved ones need help organizing for the fun and festivities, make your season bright by contacting Energize and Organize!  Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Loved Ones
May the Memory of our Beloved Be a Blessing |
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