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• Home Organization • Paper/Filing Systems • Time Management | ||||||||||
ARTICLE Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Organized Whether I’m at a networking meeting, a speaking engagement or a family gathering I am often asked the same few questions about getting organized. Some people ask me about products, others ask me how I feel about all the new organizing television shows that are cropping up, but most of all I’ve been asked the questions below in great numbers. I’ve decided to take this opportunity to answer these questions with the hope that they will prove helpful as you begin your journey to an organized life. Why is it important to be organized? Organized people are able to find the things they need when they need them—and finding what you need when you need it is what ‘being organized’ is all about. By being organized, one is able to put lost time back in their day, money back in their wallets, and live life with less stress and frustration overall. How do I get organized if I don’t have the time? You have to MAKE the time. If you didn’t make the time to get your car an oil change would it work well? If you didn’t make the time to exercise and cook healthy meals would your body be able to maintain an active lifestyle? If you don’t set aside the time to ‘get organized,’ your household as well as your life will not function to it’s fullest capacity. Start by making a fifteen-minute appointment with yourself at a time of day when you are most energetic. Mark it in a calendar and stick to it. You don’t need to devote eight hours on a Sunday to getting organized—you’d be amazed at how much you can get done by spending fifteen minutes in ‘organizing mode.’ Where do I begin? I always recommend to people that they take inventory of their organizing needs and select an area that is driving them crazy or making their life difficult. For a small business owner, it may be their filing system. For a stay-at-home mom, it may be the playroom or the kitchen. Break the task down into small, manageable tasks. For instance, if it’s your kitchen that’s disorganized, start by going through the silverware drawer. After you’ve tackled the drawer, you’re done with organizing for the day unless you choose to move on to another small section of the kitchen. Once I’m organized, how do I maintain it? The most important thing you must have in order to keep your home/home office organized is DESIRE—the desire to keep your space organized and the desire to put forth the effort to keep it as so. Realistic goals are also necessary when it comes to ‘staying organized.’ You cannot expect an overnight change--on average it takes 21 days to establish a habit. So, if you install a hook by the front door for your keys and you forget once in a while to hang them there, don’t beat yourself up over it—it will come naturally soon enough. Be prepared--there will be some days where you won’t have the time or energy to organize even the smallest of spaces—that’s OK. Just do your best. I tell people that one of the most important things they can do when they lack the time or energy to organize is to just stay ‘on top of their lives.’ Putting dishes back in the cabinet after they’ve dried, dealing with your mail the minute you walk through the door, straightening out the medicine cabinet while you’re brushing your teeth are all ways to prevent disorganization from creeping back into a newly organized space. What can a Professional Organizer do for me? A Professional Organizer has the skills and experience to provide their clients with information, ideas, solutions and systems to increase productivity and reduce stress. By hiring a professional organizer you will not only be able to take advantage of their knowledge, and expertise, but you’ll be able to benefit from their non-judgemental physical and emotional support as well. To find a Professional Organizer in your area, go to http://www.napo.net and click on ‘Find an Organizer.’ It may be the first step on your journey to an organized life.
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Editors/Publishers:You are granted permission to publish the above article in its entirety provided that the following 'footer' is included after each article: Article by Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized Artistry, LLC. Visit http://www.organizedartistry.com for your FREE e-list of 'Top Ten Tips for Organized Living.' A courtesy copy e-mailed or snail mailed to the address below is appreciated. | ||||||||||
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WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE NEEDS ORGANIZING? | ||||||||||
Organized Artistry LLC • PO Box 2682 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 • 201.703.8438 stacey@organizedartistry.com | ||||||||||
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