Get Organised ~ Stay Organised

The Wish List Has Arrived!

2010-11-26T18:42:00.009+11:00

Bright Star Kids are launching a Wish List that let's you add any product that you wish for. This is a fantastic feature that will be completely finished and fine tuned very shortly. The finished version will let you share your favourite products with your family and friends. Great for getting presents that you and your kids will actually use, and it also lets your loved ones buy gifts without any hassle. A win win for everyone.The Wish List is also great for your own records and lets you keep track of the things that you'll need to get for Back To School, Birthdays and Christmas time. You can add as many things as you like into this list and when you want to purchase something simply click the Add to Cart and it will move over to your shopping cart.

Available from my website now:

Successful Lists

2010-03-13T14:05:00.001+11:00

Successful Lists

What do you needed for successful 'to do' list? First I should clarify what a 'to do' lists is in the first place.

It is a list of action steps you plan to take that particular day.

Remember how I said they were like daily mini goals for me, so keep the list short and precise. Because if your list has 40 items on it, chances are that is more of a wish list than a plan of action or your goals for the day. Realistically a list should be no more than 4 or 5 items, depending on what type of tasks they are.

There are few a points to remember when moving from realising that you have been creating a wish list onto successfully using 'to do' lists.

1. Do not fret over the initial size of your wish list, because sometimes it is better to get everything off your chest by writing it down.

2. Work from your wish list and decided what tasks are important to be dealt with on that particular day.

3. On your diary write the 4 or 5 items you are committed to completing.

4. If you are struggling to complete all the tasks for that day you need to do a review and ask yourself.

What was the main reason you did not finish the list?
Did you misjudge the amount of time you had?
Did you choose items that truly needed your attention?
Were your expectations too high?
Did you turn the to do list into a mini wish list?
Are there any items on your list that should have been delegated to someone else?

Find out what isn't working and make the changes necessary when next making a list.

5. Go through you wish list and ruthlessly remove anything that has no hope of every being completed. This will help to take some of the pressure off and give you a more realistic expectation of the tasks that are still outstanding.

Try using these few steps and let me when they help your 'to do' lists become more successful.

Rachael Ross and Purely Peppermint can help you to achieve control over your clutter. Through the regular published Purely Peppermint newsletters you will learn hints, tips, tricks and better habits on how to deal with your clutter. If you want to get control now than access your own copy of our success secrets at www.purelypeppermint.com

3 Things You Can Do to be Happier in Just 48 Minutes By Michele Connolly

2010-03-06T16:18:00.002+11:00

Being organized has all kinds of benefits – greater productivity, saved time, less stress and more motivation, to name a few.

But some organizing tasks give you a happiness hit, too. What a cool bonus!

Here are three of my favorite organizing things to do – all guaranteed to put a little spring in your step and a smile on your face.

Just try them and see – and let me know if you agree!

1. Make your bed

I’m not talking hospital corners and 25 fluffy pillows, here. Just the covers pulled up neatly and the pillows fluffed will make a difference.

There’s something about starting the day with your bed made that tells your subconscious you’re ready to face the world, and that adds a little pep to your mood.

It’s a lovely way to end the day, too. How nice to enter your bedroom after the day is done, and find a nice, inviting bed waiting for you.

If you aren’t a regular bed maker, take 3 minutes today to try it.

2. Savor surfaces

People who’ve lived a long time with clutter invariably get a happiness boost when they uncover the surfaces buried underneath. They love the clarity, the order, the absence of chaos.

Another reason clear surfaces make you happier is that the stuff lurking atop surfaces can prompt unpleasant feelings.

Like worry over bills left on the counter. Irritation about dust on ornaments that no longer bring pleasure. Stress that you haven’t gotten around to fixing something.

If you have a surface that’s muddying your mood – perhaps a counter, coffee table, dining table or dresser – then make today the day you give it a facelift. Spend 15 minutes todaygetting rid of anything you don’t use or love, putting away things that have a home, andfinding a home for things that don’t.

3. Exchange too much past and future for more today

If you constantly feel disorganized then ask yourself these questions:

• How much of your disorganization relates to the past or future?
• How much of your clutter is pieces of the past you’re clinging to – clothes, mementos, yearbooks and journals?
• How much of your stuff is for a future that’s not part of your life today – sports or hobbies you’ll start one day, things you may need some time in the next century?

There’s nothing wrong with mementos or plans – both can add meaning to your life. But if these things are crowding out your life today, then you’re paying for them with happiness.

Instead, let some – or all – of them go, and make room for a little more of the present. Spend30 minutes today clearing away the things in your life that are keeping your focus on yesterday or tomorrow, instead of today.

A 48-minute happiness prescription

So here’s my happiness prescription for you today:

• 3 minutes to make your bed
• 15 minutes to clear a surface
• 30 minutes to release past- or future-focused things from your life.

Take your happiness temperature after completing these steps and see how you feel.

But please don’t wipe the smile off your face.

Get Organized Wizard newsletter shares ideas and strategies for organizing your life, achieving your objectives and being your best. Get yours now atwww.GetOrganizedWizard.com.

Want to read more articles like this one?
Come and check out Michele's Get Organized Wizard Blog

Get Organized Mission #4: Forgo The Freebies

2010-02-15T23:32:00.007+11:00

One of the fundamentals of the Get Organized Wizard philosophy is:

The less of anything you have, the easier it is to get organized and stay organized.

The problem with freebies is that although they may not cost you money, they always cost you in other ways, including time, added clutter and greater barriers to personal organization. Occasionally a freebie is worth the cost; most often it’s not.

Your mission this week is to adjust your mindset so that before you accept any freebie into your busy life, you ask yourself four questions:

Q1: How much money must I spend to get the freebie?

Q2: How much time must I spend to use the freebie?

Q3: How much mental clutter will the freebie create?

Q4: How much physical clutter will the freebie create?

*This is just an excerpt from #4 Mission*

Okay so now it is your turn!

It's Free 52 Missions

Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment

2010-02-11T16:17:00.005+11:00

Get Organized Mission #3: Organize Your Bill Payment

Step 1: Gather copies of all your regular bills

Your regular bills might include:

Mortgage/rent
Utilities
Internet
Cell phone
Landline
Car loan payments
Credit card payments
School fees
Subscriptions.

Step 2: Set up automatic bill payment where available

Many of your regular bills may be automatically payable each month from your back account or credit card. Check for details on the back of your bill or look up your account online.

You can generally set up automatic payment by phone, online, or by using an ancient type of admin called ‘a form’. (Don’t fight it – whatever effort you make now will be worth the saved time, money and hassle.)

It goes without saying that you need to be able to cover these bills from your credit card or bank account. But I’ve said it anyway.

Step 3: Set up internet banking or phone banking

Ideally, all your bills will be automatically payable. If so, your organizing mission is complete and you can spend any remaining time tidying your financial papers.

For any bills that aren’t automatically payable, set up internet banking or phone banking to pay these bills at your convenience. Phone, visit or get online to set up your accounts.

*This is just an excerpt from #3 Mission*

Okay so now it is your turn!

It's Free 52 Missions

Bright Star Kids

2010-02-11T12:53:00.001+11:00

Get Organized Mission #2: Detox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag

2010-01-21T23:59:00.006+11:00

Step 1: Empty

Empty everything out of your bag (I’ll use this generic term for simplicity). Dust out any lingering detritus over a sink so your bag is lovely and clean.

Step 2: Wallet

If you have a separate pocketbook/wallet, start there.

Remove old business cards, receipts, paper scraps, tissues, post-its, random hairclips, etc.
Remove other items that don’t deserve the real estate – eg loyalty cards for stores you rarely visit, coffee cards you never remember to use, etc.
Place the regularly used credit cards, store cards and ID in convenient locations in your wallet.
Check any photos of loved ones are current and in good condition.

Step 3: Keys

Next, streamline your keys.

Use a neat, functional keyring or case.
Remove any keys you don’t need. If you don’t remember what they’re for, put them on a separate ‘Mystery’ keyring for later investigation.
If you’re always fumbling with keys, consider putting them on the ring in the order you use them – eg, car, garage, mailbox, top lock, bottom lock.

Step 4: Make-Up Purse

Next, let’s tackle your make-up purse, make-up compartment in your bag, or for guys, any toiletries you carry with you.

Remove items you don’t use regularly enough to justify their real estate.
Discard anything old, in poor condition or funky smelling.
Consider streamlining your daily essentials. Could you limit yourself to, say, a neutral lipstick or lipgloss, small tube of SPF hand cream, small blush with built-in mirror and brush, small mascara and small fragrance bottle?
If you streamline the contents, consider downsizing your make-up purse too.

Step 5: Organize

Finally, return the streamlined items to your bag. Make use of compartments to help keep the contents organized.

*This is just an excerpt from #2 Mission*

Okay so now it is your turn!

It's Free 52 Missions

Bring Simplicity into your Life

2010-01-13T11:42:00.001+11:00

By introducing simplicity you will be able to bring in some peace, remove the complications currently cluttering your life and allow you the room to breathe.

Life is getting so hectic and jam packed full of clutter, family responsibilities, work responsibilities, noise, expectations, interruptions, claims on your time, technology that promises to change your life, advertising that tells you to buy more, be thinner or look different. Wow that was one serious run-on sentence which definitely did not allow you room to breathe. But the point is to show you that a little simplicity will be just what you need this year.

It could be too much to simplify your whole life but let's look at areas where you could simplify in some way.

A few Simple Steps

To start the process of simplifying, you first need to understand the areas of your life that are most important and what is of real value to you. Once you have that understanding you will be able to decide where to simplify and get started.
To help you on your way start by simplifying your:

Clutter
For me this is an obvious place to start and a New Year is a great time to de clutter and have a good clear out. So many homes are bursting at the seams full of 'stuff' that is having a negative effect on lives. I would prefer 2010 to be positive for you, so clear out any possessions that are no longer important or have no value.

Wardrobe
This could be considered part of the clutter section but I feel it needs attention all of its own. It is so much simpler getting ready if everything in your wardrobe is something you like and fits. Sort through and clear out any items in your wardrobe that no longer goes with your new simplified life.

Paperwork
Paperwork continues to attack and fill homes. It is an area so many of my clients struggle with. Have you thought about receiving household bills online rather than in the post? Are there any magazine subscriptions you still receive but never have the time to read? One client regularly received a subscription based charity magazine and was orginally hesitant to cancel the subscription as they wanted to support the charity. Now the support continues through regular automated donations to the charity.

When it comes to the filing and any paperwork already in your home. If you are able to find the information online, there is no reason to keep it anymore.

Commitments
There can be this unhealthy drive to say yes to every activity, committee, party, request or invite you receive. This is an area where knowing what is important and of value in your life will help you to start saying no and simplify the commitments you take on. Make sure to simplify commitments for every adult and child in the family.

Mornings
Is there a regular system you can introduce to simplify your morning routine?

Weekends
Are you expecting to accomplish too much on the weekends and forgetting to spend time as a family? Again knowing what you value will help you decide how to spend you weekends.

As I mentioned earlier, you may not be able to simplify your whole life, but start the process by simplifying at least one area.

"Rachael Ross and Purely Peppermint can help you to achieve control over your clutter. Through the regular published Purely Peppermint newsletters you will learn hints, tips, tricks and better habits on how to deal with your clutter. If you want to get control now than access your own copy of our success secrets at www.purelypeppermint.com "

Get Organized Mission #1: Fill a Hu-u-uge Trash Bag

2010-01-07T15:02:00.018+11:00

All done! I ended up with 11/2 bags. So I am pretty pleased with myself.

Week two, here I come!!

Get Organized Mission #1: Fill a Hu-u-uge Trash Bag

Step 1

Get a giant trash bag. (If you don’t have one find 20 small ones, or ask a neighbor, or go to the shops, or use boxes, or pile things up on a rug until you get to the shops tomorrow. There are no excuses!)

Step 2

Set a kitchen timer (or your clock radio or iPhone alarm, etc) for 30 minutes.

Step 3

Start filling the bag and continue doing so as you move through your house, until either the timer goes off or your bag is full.

Throw into the bag anything you don’t use, don’t like, that has negative associations, is broken or tatty, or is no longer your style. See below for room-by-room examples.

Step 4

Take it straight out to the trash or even the tip if you’re so motivated. Just be sure to remove the temptation to look in the bag or to rescue released items.

Dos & Don’ts

Don’t try to organize rooms, cupboards or drawers at this stage.
This mission is about getting rid of stuff so do keep an out-it-goes mindset.
We’ll have another organizing mission for charity items, so don’t get bogged down with that now. I don’t suggest giving lame stuff to charity – decent, usable stuff: yes; crapola: no.
So do feel fine about ditching all the dross.
I want you to move fast – so don’t overthink it.
If your gut feel is to release something from your life, then do toss it into the bag.

*This is just an excerpt from #1 Mission*

Okay so now it is your turn!

It's Free 52 Missions

The next mission is: Get Organized Mission #2:

De-tox Your Briefcase/Tote/Bag

Turn your Clutter into CASH!

2010-01-05T00:57:00.022+11:00

I think this site is the next big thing to give Ebay a run for it's money. In the Forum of Simple Savings I have noticed that quite a few people have become disillusioned with the rising cost of selling items. I know that I am going to join up. I think it will appeal to the many of the SS members too!

For $1 per month or $10 per year, Flat Rate - you can sell anything you want, you can sell as much as you want, and you can sell for as long as you want! There are NO commissions and NO extra charges!

Whether your goal is to run an online store, turn your stuff into cash, shop for less, sell a car, find your staff, find a job, sell a house or rent a room, at $10 per year Flat Rate, sellers are the BIG winners!
At The SOC Exchange, they believe that you are not just selling an item, but that you actually own your piece of the net from which you can sell all your items.
At The SOC Exchange (pronounced sock) they believe if your hard work and good fortune yields you a profit, then yours it shall be!

At The SOC Exchange - your profit stays in your pocket!

If you join as a Buyer then the $10 per year, does not apply - Its FREE.

If you then choose to become a seller with all it's associated benefits, the $10 per year would apply.

Just Click on the logo and it will take you there.

Here is part of the email I received:

Congratulations, you are now a member of the SOC Exchange Australia.

You can now:

* Receive email alerts as to items, specials and promotions from your chosen sellers.
* Connect with your local sellers. Drill down your search of sellers to as close as 1 km from your location.
* State page search. Every day at 1pm your state homepage is refreshed with the first 15 sellers to list their website for the day. The daily race is on!
* Search for sellers by their website name, item, category or distance from your location.
* Interaction with sellers is easy via the icons on their websites.
* Write a review. Have your say about the sellers you purchase from. Express your opinion and share your experiences! Your opinion is ALWAYS IMPORTANT!

The Soc Exchange Australia is proud to support ...

MyInvites.com.au - Helping You Plan Your Party

2010-01-04T22:55:00.003+11:00

Are you the type of person who prefers to be a guest at a party instead of the party planner. If you are, you definitely aren’t alone, planning a party is not an easy task. You must think of everything from the theme, to the guest list to the location.

MyInvites wants to help party planners by giving them a site where they can find tools to help them organize their party planning endeavors. The invitation making feature is the core part of the site. To make your invitations you can choose from a large selection of designs. After you have picked a design you can fill in the details of the party, time, location, dress code, etc…

Then you send your invitations to your guests and the rest is history. Some of the other very useful features are the toolbox and photo gallery.

The toolbox helps you outline a budget, choose a theme, and keep a to do list. Once the party is over you can save your photos in the gallery section.

MyInvites also helps you brainstorm venues, gift bags, party supplies and other parts of planning a party that can be easy to forget. Make planning your party easy and fun by going to MyInvites.

CLICK HERE: This really is a fun site to visit and it will be worth keeping an eye on.

The Butler Bag

2010-01-04T14:39:00.006+11:00

OK, here is another idea to help you get organised when your out and about. Have you seen the Butler Bag? Why? because a girl needs a good bag to keep everything together when she's on the run, lets be honest it doesn't hurt to have one that looks this great and keeps us organised too!

A bag that is easy on the eye and available in many different styles, so no matter what your taste is there is a Butler Bag to suit you. Lets take a look inside, I think you would agree it is pretty special.

How Gorgeous is that? See all the sections to keep your stuff in place. So ladies now when you leave home, you will know exactly where your wallet, mobile and house or car keys are. No more emptying your bag out on to the nearest flat surface to find that one elusive item, yes i have been there and done that - too many times :-)

To check out the Styles and Colours available, CLICK HERE

More on - Goal For It

2010-01-04T01:22:00.003+11:00

I would like to add a few personal thoughts in regards to this fantastic website. You have total control of all the charts you use. For parents who are struggling to get there young children through to teens to do chores, get them to sit with you at the computer and create their own chore chart. Children are much more likely to follow through if they have been involved in the process of making their chart. There is the added bonus of them being able to print off a copy for themselves and putting it up in there room. Should it go missing for any reason, well you have another interactive copy online. So no more excuses..........the dog can't eat that one :-)

Don't forget that there are also, to do lists, goal trackers, habits and goal charts and lists and goals that community members have chosen to share.

So remember go to:

http://www.goalforit.com/

I also thought it might be fitting for you to read about the creator of Goal For It, so in his own words let me introduce you to Michael.

"In the fall of 2007 I had a big health scare and my Doctor told me that I needed to make a lot of changes to my lifestyle: lose 30+ pounds, eat better, exercise, quit smoking and reduce the amount of stress I was putting on myself.

Needless to say, I found myself overwhelmed on how to get started on doing all of the lifestyle changes my Doctor advised me to do. After doing some research, I found lots of resources available regarding various ideas for developing good habits and effective goal setting.

But, they all fell short on providing a simple way for me to easily put my required lifestyle changes into action in my everyday life.

So, I created Goalforit to help address this need by providing easy-to-use practical solutions to help people master the art of getting the right things done, simply and effectively, and bring more focus and personal success into their everyday life.

If you have any suggestions on how I can make the experience better on Goalforit, you can contact me directly by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab above.

Wishing you great success in all that you do ... and I hope you find Goalforit helpful."

Michael

Goal For It -Success begins with positive habits & goals ...

2010-01-03T22:06:00.003+11:00

Our Habits & Daily Goals Chart makes it simple to establish the positive habits & effective daily goals that bring greater success into everyday life:

We have over 60+ positive habits & goals to choose from ... and you can create custom habits & goals too
Easily review progress on your habits & goals. And for added motivation, you can create an optional reward system by assigning points to habits & goals
Charts are only accessible from your account and are never seen by other members
Our Habits & Goals Chart is ideal for adults & teens
Extremely easy to use, fun, fully customizable and our Habits & Goals Chart is 100% free
So all you need to do now is go to:http://www.goalforit.com/ Good Luck !

DYO Magnetic Family Meal Planner

2010-01-03T20:20:00.002+11:00

Today I have much pleasure in reviewing a very special, practical product that every person could use in the kitchen.

The DYO Magnetic Meal Planning System!

Created by Leigh Pendergast of Mum e Assistant

http://www.mumeassistant.com.au/

DYO Magnetic Family Meal Planner

Meal Planning is a great way to ensure your family eats well, saves money and saves time. Having all your family dinners planned in advance will ensure your family will be eating a healthy, nutritious meal each night, whilst saving time in the kitchen.

The Design Your own Magnetic Meal Planning System includes:

71meal ideas
6 take away options
3 blank write your own options
a range of "kid friendly" meal options that the kids can help prepare.

The planner is:
• magnetised A4 size - fits on any fridge for easy access
• family friendly / easy to use
• wipe clean kitchen friendly
The meals are colour coded and divided up into:
•meat categories (beef, lamb, veal, chicken, seafood/tuna, pork/bacon, vegetarian)
•meal categories (stir-fry, bakes, pie, curry, pasta, casserole,salad, risotto, meat &veg, soup)
Benefits of using the DYO Magnetic Family Meal Planner;
Organised family meals
Know what to shop for - saving time and money at the grocery store
Plan your family meals on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis
Prepare healthy nutrious meals
Teach your children the importance of healthy nutrition
Have fun planning and cooking healthy meals with your children
Numerous recipe options, eat a different meal each night for weeks or months even!
Use your own recipes or get inspiration from recipe sites

Here are a few RECIPE ideas if you need a little extra help or inspiration when creating your meal plan.

I love this Organizing Book! YOU will too!

2010-01-03T17:18:00.000+11:00

Another site I love, yes another one! Why you ask quite simple really, everyone is different and what works for one person might not work for the rest. So I hope to share all the interesting sites I have found with you, so you can decide for yourself which one best suits you and your families needs.

Are you tired of the clutter in every room of your home? Is your To Do list a mile long? Do you wish your family was better organized? Are you drowning in paper? Are you wondering what you can do to stop proscratinating and start getting things done? Do you want more time in your day for your family and the things you love to do? Would you like to get organized, once and for all?

If so, I highly recommend the book, 'Finally Organized, Finally Free for the Home.' I can honestly say, it's one of the best organizing books on the market. For more information,

visit: 'Finally Organized, Finally Free for the Home.'

Getting Organised

2010-01-03T00:35:00.000+11:00

Well I have taken the first step towards getting organised, I joined a brilliant program. Get Organized Wizard

Here’s how it works: Its Free - It is delivered via email.

You commit to completing just one 30-minute organizing mission a week. Easy peasy!

Choose extended options for more challenge, or family options to involve the whole clan.
Missions include de-cluttering, personal organization and goal-setting across life areas.

52 Organising Missions uses accountability as motivation to help you get better organized.

Here's how:

Your publicly accountable to complete each weekly mission.

After joining 52 Organizing Missions you register your public commitment by leaving a comment on the blog.

As well as the rewards of an increasingly organized life, there are extra motivators including badges, certificates and prizes.

Simple Savings.....Great Site

2010-01-02T17:12:00.001+11:00

I have searched the Internet and have found many useful tools along the way. I am sure that you will agree with me that there are some really great ways of making the task of being more organised simpler.
Top of my list for saving money is:

Simple Savings It has lots of free tips and resources for people trying to lower their bills in Australia. They are the only frugal website which really focuses on Australian needs. The entire site is not free, though. They have a paid members area called the Savings Vault. It is an amazing, ever-growing store house of savings information. Simple tips people all over Australia can use to lower their bills. An annual subscription to the Savings Vault costs $47 (Australian). Even though the website is based in Australia, there are members from many different Countries. There is a Free Newsletter that you can sign up for and it will give you an insight into the site and the people who use it. For paid members there is also a forum.......it is a fantastic place to get help/suggestions on anything you need help with.

My Goals for 2010

2010-01-02T16:55:00.001+11:00

Start using a Household Manual.

Start menu planning and shopping on a budget. Buying generic brands, and lots of fresh fruit and veggies. Keeping the cupboard stocked at all times, for a cheaper price than I am now. I hope to be healthier and have more money because of this change.

Remember to buy quality NOT quantity.

Get on top of my anxiety/depression and hopefully come off medication. This will eventually save me money on medication and be better for my long term health.

Declutter my home, one cupboard at a time.

Stop non essential spending

Remember to wear sunscreen and not get burnt at all.

Enjoy the journey of learning to be more organised and the savings it creates!!

Start the New Year Right: 31 Simple Tips for 31 Days

2010-01-02T16:40:00.002+11:00

So a New Year begins and so does my endeavour to be Better Organised. You know what they say it is never too late to do anything!
If like me you are looking for even more ways to make simple changes for the new year and the new decade, Lorie Marrero, Creator of The Clutter Diet has created a printable PDF of a tip or project per day for the first 31 days of the year. Doing one small thing per day is a great way to cumulatively get more organized over time! Click here to get the PDF. Enjoy, and feel free to share it!

Even though the PDF is for January, you can use it no matter what the month may be, so no excuses :-)