“Whenever I go into a home or office, inevitably I find an electronics graveyard: obsolete or broken appliances, phones, computers, televisions, even unopened software still in boxes. Face it. We’re all guilty of this.” ~ Anna Lieber
Recycle
Recycle obsolete, broken, unwanted electronics at Best Buy. No matter where you bought it, you can drop off three items including TVs, DVD players, computer monitors, audio and video cables, cell phones, and more. No console TVs or large appliances. Go to this web address to check everything they accept and find locations.
http://tinyurl.com/7rc9csh
Release
Donate working items to your favorite charity, thrift shop or shelter. They often welcome your items even if obsolete. It may take some research and travel as most do not pick up small items but you’ll feel good that you’ve found a second life for these objects, a good home, and you are contributing to others. Selling on Craigslist and listing items on Freecycle sometimes works. Be prepared to wait, wait, wait. If you need the space now, better to release it quickly.
Rubbish
To some, this may sound appalling but as a last resort, trash it. If an item is broken, obsolete or useless to you, it may be to others, too. Do you want to trip over it, dust it and allow it take up valuable real estate? The trash doesn’t always mean the landfill. Some trash gets recycled as it is picked over for the gold: bottles to redeem, metals to scrap for cash, items to repair, and books to sell.
Reward
If you need help to declutter your home or office, or any space filled with hoards of items, contact me. I welcome your emails and calls. I offer a Complimentary Phone Consultation to discuss your project. When you refer a friend who schedules a four-hour session, you earn a Free Hour added to your next four-hour organizing session. I look forward to hearing from you.
Wednesday
Age-Activated ADHD
Sometimes we wonder where the day goes. We often lose focus in the middle of our work, especially when we are interrupted. Often, we interrupt ourselves going from task to task and room to room, without ever completing anything. I've been focusing on completion myself to get the many things I need to get done finished.
I've stopped to take a break to look at this very true but funny video. Let me know if you see yourself here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=6oHBG3ABUJU&vq=medium
I've stopped to take a break to look at this very true but funny video. Let me know if you see yourself here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=6oHBG3ABUJU&vq=medium
Low-Hanging Fruit
Recently while helping a client organize her overflow of possessions for an imminent move, I said I would begin with the low-hanging fruit. She didn't understand what I meant so I thought I'd better explain.
Low-hanging fruit is a term I borrowed from my marketing/sales background but it applies to organizing as well. Just as we may focus on the easy sales prospects first, it's a good way to begin any organizing job particularly for those with hoarding challenges.
I advise my clients to work on what's easy and obvious first. In a hoarder's home, there are often items in the path we can pick up and put elsewhere, trash to toss, expired food, bottles and cans to recycle quickly.
Often just starting with the low-hanging fruit will lighten the load and give you a great sense of accomplishment with little emotional angst. Let me know if it works for you.
The World English Dictionary online defines low-hanging fruit as:
1. the fruit that grows low on the tree and is therefore easy to reach
2. a course of action that can be undertaken quickly and easily as part of a wider range of changes or solutions to a problem
At wiseGeek.com another clue: Low-hanging fruit is ... "usually more abundant and easier to harvest... which generally means selecting the easiest targets with the least amount of effort."
I advise my clients to work on what's easy and obvious first. In a hoarder's home, there are often items in the path we can pick up and put elsewhere, trash to toss, expired food, bottles and cans to recycle quickly.
Often just starting with the low-hanging fruit will lighten the load and give you a great sense of accomplishment with little emotional angst. Let me know if it works for you.
Monday
Time Management Take-Aways
Here are some of the tips shared for CEOs at our event at the Darien Historical Society, along with a few more. Managing time more effectively is a skill everyone needs. Time is a nonrenewable resource. As Carl Sandburg said "Time is the coin of your life.... Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."
Task Management
• When facing a difficult or unpleasant task, do it first and move on.
• Schedule a “do not disturb time” for creative work during your peak energy time of day (for most it’s mornings). Do low energy tasks later.
• Avoid sticky notes and small bits of paper. Use one notebook for voice mail numbers, notes, lists, etc.
List Management
• Use a master list to download tasks and reminders from your brain.
• Create a brief daily list for priority items. Focus on the important, not just the urgent.
• Before you leave the office write a daily list for the next day. Now forget it until tomorrow. Long hours are not effective.
Project Management
• Create a shared notebook in Evernote for updates, meeting notes and agendas for team projects.
• Hire talent you trust can handle the job. Train them, delegate and let go. Empower them and have them check in with milestones. Resist the urge to micromanage.
• As CEO and leader of your organization, your focus is on strategic rather than tactical work.
Task Management
• Scan for high priority items in voicemail and email. Then go right to important projects during your power hours.
• Resist the urge to respond to every call or email immediately. Instead, schedule blocks of time in your calendar and batch calls and email replies. Avoid responding to other peoples' priorities all day. Most things can wait.
• Schedule a “do not disturb time” for creative work during your peak energy time of day (for most it’s mornings). Do low energy tasks later.
• Avoid sticky notes and small bits of paper. Use one notebook for voice mail numbers, notes, lists, etc.
List Management
• Use a master list to download tasks and reminders from your brain.
• Create a brief daily list for priority items. Focus on the important, not just the urgent.
• Before you leave the office write a daily list for the next day. Now forget it until tomorrow. Long hours are not effective.
Project Management
• Create a shared notebook in Evernote for updates, meeting notes and agendas for team projects.
• Hire talent you trust can handle the job. Train them, delegate and let go. Empower them and have them check in with milestones. Resist the urge to micromanage.
• As CEO and leader of your organization, your focus is on strategic rather than tactical work.
Thursday
Do More With Less Time - A CEO Trust CT Chapter Event
On April 18th at 6:30, I will be
speaking on a panel on Time Management sponsored by CEO Trust. I’d love to see
you there.
As a CEO, time is one of your
most valuable assets. While managing time is a fundamental professional tool,
and you didn't get to where you are by wasting much time, the bar for effective
time management is continually rising for CEOs in today’s business world. Come
learn key concepts and techniques specific for us as CEOs and begin
accomplishing more in less time. Learn how to be productive (and less busy), to
identify and eliminate hidden time wasters, to increase personal effectiveness,
and to apply a variety of time management tools to a personal plan of action.
Here are links to the event:
LinkedIn
Facebook
CEO Trust
March: Taxes Done; Set Up Financial Files
“We’ve been trying to achieve the mythical paperless office for decades. It’s the business equivalent of the 1950’s chimera, the flying car that we were all going to have by now.” – Steve Brown, “San Francisco Business Times”
Once taxes are completed, pack away last year’s papers and start your files fresh. Set aside an hour or two to simplify next year’s taxes and make life easier every day.
Fresh Files Annually
• Dedicate a file drawer or file box for finances using hanging folders clearly labeled. If your bills are simple, an accordion file with 13 pockets may work. The IRS audits randomly or when they see red flags on a return. If your records are clear and accurate – no problem!
• Create a folder for each vendor bill, insurance and brokerage account. File bills chronologically, most current on top. Some prefer a folder for each expense for categories that correspond with the tax return, such as office supplies, insurance, medical, etc. You’ll still need files for banks, taxes, credit cards, income, etc.
• Separate business and personal finances. Two checking accounts, two credit cards and two sets of bill files using different colors makes accounting cleaner. Have those colored folders on hand so you can make a new file when needed.
• Create a folder for each revenue stream, ie. business income or payroll stubs, investments, inheritance or pensions. Have social security and payroll deposited directly into your account to save time.
• Create a permanent file for important financial documents which live here forever.
• Keep credit card receipts and cash receipts separate. Minimalists discard credit card receipts once they’ve checked the statements. Set up a simple petty cash system for your business since these receipts are the only record for deductible cash purchases.
The Bill Pay System
• A computerized accounting system automatically categorizes and creates reports. I like QuickBooks Pro for business and Quicken for personal finances.
• Hot files in front of the files work well. Create a bright color folder for “Bills to Pay” and a “To File” folder so paid bills don’t get lost if you have no time to file that day. Be sure to file those monthly.
• Pay bills electronically and set up auto-payments for predictable recurring bills like utilities or cable. Monitor when those payments are taken and deduct them from the balance in your check register.
• Log due dates on your calendar. Pay bills weekly or twice a month. When you pay, record amount, date paid and confirmation number on it. Simple!
• Pay on time to avoid costly late charges. With the money saved, buy yourself a reward for good financial management.
Pack Away the Old Year
• I recommend storing backup files for seven years, especially for a business. Consult with your accountant. Keep the actual tax returns forever. Home purchase, mortgage docs and other major purchases are kept forever or until you sell.
• Pack last year’s bills into a box labeled Taxes and Year. Confine it to deep storage as it need not be accessible.
• Finally, discard files of the oldest year in storage to make room for 2010. Shred critical documents with account numbers, signatures, passwords and confidential information to prevent identity theft.
As always, I’m here if you need help.
“We’ve been trying to achieve the mythical paperless office for decades. It’s the business equivalent of the 1950’s chimera, the flying car that we were all going to have by now.” – Steve Brown, “San Francisco Business Times”
Once taxes are completed, pack away last year’s papers and start your files fresh. Set aside an hour or two to simplify next year’s taxes and make life easier every day.
Fresh Files Annually
• Dedicate a file drawer or file box for finances using hanging folders clearly labeled. If your bills are simple, an accordion file with 13 pockets may work. The IRS audits randomly or when they see red flags on a return. If your records are clear and accurate – no problem!
• Create a folder for each vendor bill, insurance and brokerage account. File bills chronologically, most current on top. Some prefer a folder for each expense for categories that correspond with the tax return, such as office supplies, insurance, medical, etc. You’ll still need files for banks, taxes, credit cards, income, etc.
• Separate business and personal finances. Two checking accounts, two credit cards and two sets of bill files using different colors makes accounting cleaner. Have those colored folders on hand so you can make a new file when needed.
• Create a folder for each revenue stream, ie. business income or payroll stubs, investments, inheritance or pensions. Have social security and payroll deposited directly into your account to save time.
• Create a permanent file for important financial documents which live here forever.
• Keep credit card receipts and cash receipts separate. Minimalists discard credit card receipts once they’ve checked the statements. Set up a simple petty cash system for your business since these receipts are the only record for deductible cash purchases.
The Bill Pay System
• A computerized accounting system automatically categorizes and creates reports. I like QuickBooks Pro for business and Quicken for personal finances.
• Hot files in front of the files work well. Create a bright color folder for “Bills to Pay” and a “To File” folder so paid bills don’t get lost if you have no time to file that day. Be sure to file those monthly.
• Pay bills electronically and set up auto-payments for predictable recurring bills like utilities or cable. Monitor when those payments are taken and deduct them from the balance in your check register.
• Log due dates on your calendar. Pay bills weekly or twice a month. When you pay, record amount, date paid and confirmation number on it. Simple!
• Pay on time to avoid costly late charges. With the money saved, buy yourself a reward for good financial management.
Pack Away the Old Year
• I recommend storing backup files for seven years, especially for a business. Consult with your accountant. Keep the actual tax returns forever. Home purchase, mortgage docs and other major purchases are kept forever or until you sell.
• Pack last year’s bills into a box labeled Taxes and Year. Confine it to deep storage as it need not be accessible.
• Finally, discard files of the oldest year in storage to make room for 2010. Shred critical documents with account numbers, signatures, passwords and confidential information to prevent identity theft.
As always, I’m here if you need help.
February: Create a Hot File
Paper and mail everywhere?
With piles of papers and unopened mail on every surface, you feel overwhelmed by all the tasks you need to complete. A better solution is a set of Hot Files or Action Files to hold papers which require action so you can address them in a timely manner.
Set up your personal hot file.
• Set up a bin with select hanging files on or near your desk. Label your files including “this week, next week, to pay, to do, pending, events.” If you have a lot of advance events, projects and appointments, you can set up folders for each month of the year. This simple tickler system is the key to managing paper.
• Use an in-box for the daily mail and papers you collect until you sort and process them. Block time in your calendar weekly to empty the in-box and work on administrative tasks. • I use another box for “to read” as these materials pile up with bulky catalogs and magazines.
• Process the mail. Recycle window envelopes and ads. Shred sensitive materials. Staple multi-page documents. Add bill pay dates and appointments to your calendar and drop papers into their folders. Now you can easily find bills and information for appointments.
Save time, money and stress.
• Cultivate the habit of using hot files daily to keep control of action items. It takes a month to set a habit, so don’t give up.
• For added motivation, indulge in attractive supplies. One saved late fee will more than pay for a beautiful hot file bin and inbox.
• Studies show the average person spends six weeks a year searching for misplaced information. What could you do with that time? You’ll also avoid the stress of missing appointments and payments. You’ll be reinforcing healthy habits.
Need help?
If you’re overwhelmed with a backlog of paper and don’t know where to begin, I can help. As a Professional Organizer, I simplify the process so we handle the piles, boxes, bags and clutter, and set up simple systems custom tailored to work for you.
Freebies
I offer a complimentary consultation on the phone to discuss your project. If you refer a friend who schedules a four-hour session, you earn a free hour added to your next organizing session. I welcome your emails and calls.
Paper and mail everywhere?
With piles of papers and unopened mail on every surface, you feel overwhelmed by all the tasks you need to complete. A better solution is a set of Hot Files or Action Files to hold papers which require action so you can address them in a timely manner.
Set up your personal hot file.
• Set up a bin with select hanging files on or near your desk. Label your files including “this week, next week, to pay, to do, pending, events.” If you have a lot of advance events, projects and appointments, you can set up folders for each month of the year. This simple tickler system is the key to managing paper.
• Use an in-box for the daily mail and papers you collect until you sort and process them. Block time in your calendar weekly to empty the in-box and work on administrative tasks. • I use another box for “to read” as these materials pile up with bulky catalogs and magazines.
• Process the mail. Recycle window envelopes and ads. Shred sensitive materials. Staple multi-page documents. Add bill pay dates and appointments to your calendar and drop papers into their folders. Now you can easily find bills and information for appointments.
Save time, money and stress.
• Cultivate the habit of using hot files daily to keep control of action items. It takes a month to set a habit, so don’t give up.
• For added motivation, indulge in attractive supplies. One saved late fee will more than pay for a beautiful hot file bin and inbox.
• Studies show the average person spends six weeks a year searching for misplaced information. What could you do with that time? You’ll also avoid the stress of missing appointments and payments. You’ll be reinforcing healthy habits.
Need help?
If you’re overwhelmed with a backlog of paper and don’t know where to begin, I can help. As a Professional Organizer, I simplify the process so we handle the piles, boxes, bags and clutter, and set up simple systems custom tailored to work for you.
Freebies
I offer a complimentary consultation on the phone to discuss your project. If you refer a friend who schedules a four-hour session, you earn a free hour added to your next organizing session. I welcome your emails and calls.
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