One thing I really don't like is to be late in sending birthday wishes to my friends. Here are some simple and effective ideas and tips to help you reduce clutter in your home and in your life that will help you remember all the things you want to get done.
In your planner have an ongoing to do list. Everything you want to accomplish write it on your list. This way you won't have to remember it and when you read the list it will be a great reminder of what you want to do. You don't have to clutter your mind either by trying to remember everything you need to do.
If you have trouble falling asleep because you have so many ideas of what you want to do the next day floating in and out of your mind, write them down so you can fall asleep knowing they are written down so you can remember to do them the next day. When I walk early in the morning I carry a small pencil and paper to write down things that come to mind that I want to do later. This way I am not cluttering my mind trying to remember everything and I can enjoy the early morning solitude.
To remember to send birthday or anniversary greetings sign up on line for a reminder. (I use: memo to me). If you have Outlook on your computer set it up to remind you. This reminder systems works for meetings and other obligations that you have. For birthday cards send all of them out at the first of the month the birthday's are in. There are places like Send Out Cards that will send cards out for you.
When you think of something you need or want to do write it down right then on your to do list. Try to avoid writing them on sticky notes as they get lost. If you do use sticky notes transfer them to your planner.
Make a plan or scheduled routine every week. It will unclutter your mind when you know what you are doing when. This is a great tool to use for household routines like laundry, errands, and so forth.
Set a timer to remind you of appointments you have later in the day or in the evening. This has saved me more than once as I get busy and when the timer rings if I am doing something it reminds me I need to be heading out the door for an appointment-be it taking a child to soccer or going to a club meeting.
When you have things to return to a friend or to the library or a DVD put them by the door you leave the house by either in a bag or basket so they are easy to grab as you leave. This saves a lot of time hunting for the item or being on the road and going back home to get it.
Reducing clutter helps to remember things to do as we don't have clutter in our homes and lives that get in the way of our remembering what it was we wanted to do. This seems too easy, but it is true. Try reducing clutter and see if your life just got simpler and easier for you to remember what you need to do. Marilyn is a professional organizer and invites you to visit her website www.marilynbohn.com, She is a sought after public speaker and author who is passionate about teaching ways to organize your life and how to reduce clutter. She works with women in their homes and offices. On her web site she teaches you to get rid of clutter by using her Lights On Organizing System. She provides practical information on how to declutter your home, office and life. In her blogs, articles, and videos she gives timely tips on how to clear clutter and how to declutter everything in your home and office. She is the author of a book called Go Organize! Conquer clutter in three simple steps which will be in major bookstores in December 2009.
by Marilyn Bohn
Marilyn is a professional organizer who works with women and seniors in clearing clutter and providing organizing tips. Clearing clutter helps those she works with to have less stress in their lives and feel more joy in living.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
How to Organize Your Emails Like a Pro
So your desk is clear, your files are color-coded, and your emails are....? Just because your kitchen counters are spotless and your mail is neatly sorted, doesn't necessarily mean that your e-mail inbox follows suit. Take a minute and open your email inbox. What do you see? Are there hundreds of subject lines staring you in the face? Or is your inbox completely empty, with neatly labeled folders waiting to store the inevitable influx of messages? Many people don't spend so much time organizing their emails - in part because they just don't know how! Pendaflex file folders can't solve the problem this time, so what will?
Today, attack the inbox.
Set a Date.
Designate a specific time (or times) everyday to check your mail, so you're not constantly distracted throughout your day every time a new message pops up.
Skim Now, Act Later.
So you're sitting in front of your computer screen and you're immediately overwhelmed by the countless number of emails that appear before you. Take a few deep breaths. You do not need to decide what to do with all of them now. For thirty minutes, skim through the emails and transfer the ones that require you to take immediate action or make important decisions to an action folder. Once that's done, step away for a little while and come back to the action folder only once you're feeling a bit more relaxed.
To Save or Not to Save.
Evaluate why you're saving the emails you choose to save. Sentimental reasons? Pending appointments? Business information? Ask yourself if you're really going to access the information in the next week? Month? Year? If the answer is no for all of the above, chuck it. This is what I like to call cyber clutter. Online or offline, clutter still exists. It can come in all forms - paper just being one of them. The ultimate goal is to have an empty (or near-empty) inbox.
Say Goodbye to Spam.
Want to get rid of junk emails? Here's what to do. Open one of the emails, scroll to the bottom and click on unsubscribe. Somehow or another, your email got on a list, and you - and your inbox - want you off of it ASAP. Also make sure to run virus scans regularly. Commit to Two Addresses. Those being, business and personal. If you find that you're checking three different personal email accounts, do yourself - and your friends - a favor, and cut it down to one. This way, everyone will know what email you're really checking, and you'll only have one to check.
Wishing you a year of inbox bliss,
Jordana
Founder, live ORGANIZED
love it:
The Best Little Email Address and Password Organizer (onlineorganizing.com, $5.95)
by Jordana Jaffe
Jordana Jaffe is a professional organizer specializing in residential and home offices services in New York City. A proud member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and NAPO's New York Chapter, Jordana is also certified in the Clear and SIMPLE™ systems after attending an intensive training program. She is the organizing expert for Modern Jewish Mom and has been featured in New York Family magazine.
Today, attack the inbox.
Set a Date.
Designate a specific time (or times) everyday to check your mail, so you're not constantly distracted throughout your day every time a new message pops up.
Skim Now, Act Later.
So you're sitting in front of your computer screen and you're immediately overwhelmed by the countless number of emails that appear before you. Take a few deep breaths. You do not need to decide what to do with all of them now. For thirty minutes, skim through the emails and transfer the ones that require you to take immediate action or make important decisions to an action folder. Once that's done, step away for a little while and come back to the action folder only once you're feeling a bit more relaxed.
To Save or Not to Save.
Evaluate why you're saving the emails you choose to save. Sentimental reasons? Pending appointments? Business information? Ask yourself if you're really going to access the information in the next week? Month? Year? If the answer is no for all of the above, chuck it. This is what I like to call cyber clutter. Online or offline, clutter still exists. It can come in all forms - paper just being one of them. The ultimate goal is to have an empty (or near-empty) inbox.
Say Goodbye to Spam.
Want to get rid of junk emails? Here's what to do. Open one of the emails, scroll to the bottom and click on unsubscribe. Somehow or another, your email got on a list, and you - and your inbox - want you off of it ASAP. Also make sure to run virus scans regularly. Commit to Two Addresses. Those being, business and personal. If you find that you're checking three different personal email accounts, do yourself - and your friends - a favor, and cut it down to one. This way, everyone will know what email you're really checking, and you'll only have one to check.
Wishing you a year of inbox bliss,
Jordana
Founder, live ORGANIZED
love it:
The Best Little Email Address and Password Organizer (onlineorganizing.com, $5.95)
by Jordana Jaffe
Jordana Jaffe is a professional organizer specializing in residential and home offices services in New York City. A proud member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and NAPO's New York Chapter, Jordana is also certified in the Clear and SIMPLE™ systems after attending an intensive training program. She is the organizing expert for Modern Jewish Mom and has been featured in New York Family magazine.
Home Business for Everyone
It would be great if there is an income opportunity that is for everyone. There is yet to be a legitimate business opportunity that can work for the 6.772 billion people (as of July 21, 2009 and counting) in the planet. As we all know, our world is not perfect. A perfect world would have the whole population enjoying the success of a single business opportunity.
Home businesses are not exempted from this rule. The concept home business for everyone still doesn't exist. Even with the seemingly limitless opportunities that home businesses offer, it's not for everyone.
There are a lot of individuals who commit the mistake of going into home business without checking if it's for them. So what can you do to know if going into home business is for you? You can ask yourself the following questions:
* Can I be my own boss?
It's weird but not everyone wants to be their own boss. There are still a few individuals who don't thrive under opportunities of personal success. They still want to be told what to do because that's the only thing they know - to follow orders. If you want to start a home business, it means grabbing your career by the wheel and directing it to where you want it to be. Is this something that you want to do?
* Do I have the resources?
You have to have the resources in order to start a home business. This doesn't necessarily mean money although money is important. You also have to have the time, effort and manpower in order to start a home business. It's not going to be easy if you don't have these resources.
* Do I love the environment at the office?
Does your life revolve around the office? Sadly enough, there are a lot of individuals whose only social interaction happens at the office. All their friends are at the office and they are different individuals outside the office setting. If you're someone who's going to miss the coffee break talks at the pantry, ask yourself if the home business is worthy enough for you to give it up.
* Are you ready?
Don't look around for this question because this question can only be answered by you. Are you motivated and passionate enough to want to succeed in home business? Your answer should be a resounding YES! If you're having doubts, think it over.
It's good that more and more business opportunities are being developed. There is one opportunity that is almost the home business for everyone. Why is it not for everyone? Because there are still some people who don't want to succeed. This home business opportunity answers all the questions above for you. You can check it out for free at http://sixfigurespro.com to help you answer the questions to know if a home business is for you. But if you are someone that wants to succeed in home business, then this opportunity is definitely for you. That's the only thing that matters.
Feel free to check out my blog at http://scottwhaley.net for some helpful network marketing tips and information.
by Scott Whaley
Home businesses are not exempted from this rule. The concept home business for everyone still doesn't exist. Even with the seemingly limitless opportunities that home businesses offer, it's not for everyone.
There are a lot of individuals who commit the mistake of going into home business without checking if it's for them. So what can you do to know if going into home business is for you? You can ask yourself the following questions:
* Can I be my own boss?
It's weird but not everyone wants to be their own boss. There are still a few individuals who don't thrive under opportunities of personal success. They still want to be told what to do because that's the only thing they know - to follow orders. If you want to start a home business, it means grabbing your career by the wheel and directing it to where you want it to be. Is this something that you want to do?
* Do I have the resources?
You have to have the resources in order to start a home business. This doesn't necessarily mean money although money is important. You also have to have the time, effort and manpower in order to start a home business. It's not going to be easy if you don't have these resources.
* Do I love the environment at the office?
Does your life revolve around the office? Sadly enough, there are a lot of individuals whose only social interaction happens at the office. All their friends are at the office and they are different individuals outside the office setting. If you're someone who's going to miss the coffee break talks at the pantry, ask yourself if the home business is worthy enough for you to give it up.
* Are you ready?
Don't look around for this question because this question can only be answered by you. Are you motivated and passionate enough to want to succeed in home business? Your answer should be a resounding YES! If you're having doubts, think it over.
It's good that more and more business opportunities are being developed. There is one opportunity that is almost the home business for everyone. Why is it not for everyone? Because there are still some people who don't want to succeed. This home business opportunity answers all the questions above for you. You can check it out for free at http://sixfigurespro.com to help you answer the questions to know if a home business is for you. But if you are someone that wants to succeed in home business, then this opportunity is definitely for you. That's the only thing that matters.
Feel free to check out my blog at http://scottwhaley.net for some helpful network marketing tips and information.
by Scott Whaley
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