Get Organized Now! Newsletter by Maria Gracia http://www.getorganizednow.com Issue: June 15-21, 2008 Number of Subscribers: 181,999 ============================================ Hello {!firstname_fix} ============================================ ** Finally! An Affordable and Easy to Use Filing System for Your Home ** Are you drowning in the paper flood that pours into your home every day? You know...the endless stream of bills, warranties, receipts, important documents, user manuals, bank statements, letters, promotions, insurance papers, employment and medical information, school papers. Need I go on? How you deal with that paper determines whether you live in an atmosphere of calm and control or clutter and chaos. Along with chaos comes frustration, tension and conflict--all because of the never-ending paper flood. But have no fear. Now you can easily gain total control of your vital paper information -- instantly, easily and happily-- with My Oh-So-Organized Filing System (just released and hot off the press!) Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/filing.html P.S. Find out how you can get a BONUS Tickler file system-- complimentary! ============================================ Drowning in Clutter? Organization to the Rescue! Are you feeling like you are drowning in clutter? Are you overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff you find all around you? Don't despair! There is hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and (surprise!) it isn't a train. With a few simple steps, and dedicated time, you can be free of the stuff you are drowning in. Follow along as we show you how organization can come to the rescue. 1. The very first step is to eliminate the clutter. No matter how hard we try, we cannot organize clutter. So, begin by putting your plan down on paper. Try to be as specific as possible. For example, instead of something generic like 'declutter family room,' try targeting areas in the room. For example; 'sort toys and donate outgrown, throw away broken.' By breaking down large areas into more specific targets, you have turned an impossible overwhelming job into a manageable piece. You don't get overwhelmed before you even start. 2. When you are ready to start on your first area, gather three boxes or large black plastic bags. Label one box 'trash,' one box 'donate' and the third box 'keep.' Now it is time to start the decluttering process. Be ruthless as you sort. If an item isn't something that you can say without hesitation that you love AND use, it should be donated or sold if it's usable, or trashed if it's broken and would be more expensive to repair than replace. 3. Sometimes when it comes to clearing out clutter, we get bogged down by sentimentality. It may help to remember that the object is not the memory. Regardless of whether you have the item or not, you have the memory. If you just can't bear to part with your great aunt's collection of lace hankies, don't store them away in a box to rot. Display them. They can be artfully arranged in shadow boxes and hung on the wall as art. Be creative and ENJOY these precious items. Don't hide them away in boxes. 4. It's important to remember to keep this purge process manageable. Don't try to do a marathon session or you'll end up overwhelmed again. Remember that you didn't get this way instantly and it won't be resolved instantly. Be realistic about the amount of time you have available to work. Even if all you have is 15 minutes to spare, you can still follow your plan and eliminate the clutter. Each step forward is a step closer to being decluttered and organized. ----- P.S. Get organized once and for all! You can be Finally Organized, Finally Free. Get 2,175 organizing tips, ideas and techniques to help you organize your home, your time and your life! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/foffhome.html P.P.S. You can be Finally Organized, Finally Free at the office too! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/foffoffice.html ----- 5. At the end of each declutter session, take the bags or boxes of trash out to the trash and the bags or boxes of donate items out to your car to be taken to Goodwill or Salvation Army or similar charitable organizations. Be sure to inventory your donations and to get a receipt wherever you drop them off so that you can take the deduction on your income taxes. 6. Sometimes we get excited about being organized and rush out to buy containers before we even finish decluttering. Resist this urge until you have finished the decluttering process. This way you will know exactly what you have left that you are keeping, and will know exactly what and how many containers you will, or won't need to purchase. You may find that you have no need for new containers, because you have done such a great job of decluttering. Storing what you have kept may already be covered by the storage you currently have. 7. Once you have successfully removed the clutter, you can start your organizing plan. The first step is to take the items in your keep bag (or box) and start sorting them by room. Don't limit yourself to the 'prescribed' rooms. For instance, if you find that you use scissors in several rooms, why only store them in the office? Store things where you use them. The best system for staying organized is the one that works in your situation and the one that you actually use. Make it 'user friendly' and you're much more likely to continue and stay organized and decluttered. 8. Now that you have decluttered and organized what you kept, one very simple rule will keep your head above water on the clutter. You'll not just tread water. You'll be floating with your iced tea in hand! This simple rule is very easy to adopt and follow. What is this simple rule? It is this--for every one thing you bring into your home to stay, one thing must go out. This way, you keep ahead of the clutter and never have to worry about drowning in it again. 9. Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, life gets in the way and we get a bit behind again. It does not mean that we resign ourselves to living our lives drowning in clutter. It does mean that you have the tools and expertise to get back on top of things. You have already been through the decluttering process and know what you need to do to get back on top of the clutter. Just take it step by step and before you know it, you'll be clutter free and organized again. ============================================ New Stuff and Site Updates Everything below is accessible by visiting: http://www.getorganizednow.com Please note that we update our site on a weekly basis, so the new stuff and site updates below may only be available for one week. ** Get Organized Now! Blog: Department 2 Read my personal comments, stories tips and observations about getting and staying organized in today's hectic world. You don't want to miss it. Newest entries: * 6/14 - Flood! * 06/08 - Help Fight Cancer: You Can Make a Difference (If you would help me in my effort, I would be so grateful!) * 05/27 - Drop Everything and Fly * 05/17 - Yum! Fresh Herbs! * 05/10 - Happy Mother's Day * 05/08 - Children Don't Hear Fire Alarms * 05/08 - Latest Read: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas http://getorganizednow.typepad.com/get_organized_now_weblog/ ** New Quick Tip: Department 4 Get your home projects and tasks done lickity split! How do you get all those more difficult and time consuming tasks done at home? Easy when it's a group effort. Try this tip on for size. Go to the link below and look for the two men working together at the wheel barrel. http://www.getorganizednow.com/#quicktip ** June Web Poll Our featured multiple choice question is, 'When it comes to storage of everyday items, which statement describes you best? Everything Out, Everything In or Somewhere in Between?' Go to the following link and cast your vote. It only takes a minute, and your opinion can be heard. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/#webpoll ** June Monthly Checklist: Department 1 Summer is here in all its lush splendor. Splash into an organized start to this season of beaches and barbecues with our NEW June Monthly Checklist. Go to the link below and look for the strawberries. http://www.getorganizednow.com/#checklist * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AOL Users Link ============================================ Goodies to help you get organized! Tired of being disorganized? You can be Finally Organized, Finally Free BOTH at home AND at the office. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/newbook.html JUST RELEASED! My Oh-So-Organized Filing System. You won't believe how organized your papers are going to be. You'll have a filing label for every category you can imagine, ready to peel and stick on your file folders. It's basically an awesome home filing system in a box! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/filing.html The 2007 holiday season is behind us, but it's the perfect time to start getting organized for holiday season 2008! The earlier, the better. Plus, find out how you can get a copy of Maria's latest e-book, 101 Holiday Tips and Ideas. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/holidayp.html Are you looking for the perfect organizer that can help you keep track of your schedule, birthdays, to do's, home inventory, groceries, and more? If so, visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html Discover how to start, manage and grow your very own professional organizing business. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ultimateguide.html Have a business? Thinking of starting one? Visit our Give to Get site and get your complimentary idea-kit. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/marketingsolution.html Give your aching shoulder a break. TuffBaggs are super tough, but light as feather. Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/tuffbaggs.html Pay your bills on time, and have an organized place to put your statements afterwards? Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezbill.html Access details for all of our products by visiting: http://www.getorganizednow.com/orderdet.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AOL Users Link ============================================ An Organizing Tip From One Of Our Readers I keep a travel log and update it whenever our family returns home from a trip. I enter hotel names and numbers, restaurants, sites, etc. and comment about each. If we want to reminisce or return to the same hotel, we have a record of where we stayed. It also helps friends and family who are looking for good vacation spots. ----- Mary Diedrich Shelby Township, MI Mary is an engineer and mother of three. * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AOL Users Link ============================================ A Few Words From Our Sponsors . . . ===== ** What's The REAL SECRET Behind Happily Married Couples? ** How compatible are you and the person you are with? How would you know? Just because you like the same types of foods and pets does not mean that you can have a blissful, long-term relationship. Do you know why your mate does or doesn't attend church? Do you know how they really think about the way you dress? Do you know what your sweetheart is truly passionate about? How about what irritates them and makes them blue? An estimated 83% of divorces would not take place if couples asked each other the right questions. Visit: http://getorgnow1.couples.hop.clickbank.net/ ===== ** Now You Can Fill Your Freezer With Delicious Home- Cooked Meals. Save Money - Save Time - Eat Well And Still Lose Weight ** Cook just once a week (or once a month!) and eat what you love. Your family members will enjoy the convenience of homemade 'TV Dinners' in the freezer, and you'll love how yummy and healthy they are. Plus, imagine all the extra time you'll gain when you don't have to cook every single night! Visit: http://getorgnow1.greatdog.hop.clickbank.net/ ===== ** Attention: Wives: Powerful Strategies to Make Your Marriage Sizzle -- and Transform You Into the Woman Your Husband Will Want to Marry All Over Again ** According to most predictions, your marriage has only a 50-50 chance of not ending in divorce. If you're like most wives, you probably do NOT worry so much about whether you'll stay married to your husband or eventually get divorced. Instead, you care more about whether you and your husband have a fulfilling and blissful marriage, right? After all, what good is avoiding divorce and staying together if your marriage is miserable -- or leaves a lot to be desired? By virtue of simply being your husband's wife -- the woman he chose to marry -- you have at your disposal the power to get inside his head, gain access to his heart and become totally irresistible to him. That's a little- known secret that most wives don't know. Getting your husband to worship the ground you walk on is so much easier than you might imagine. Visit: http://getorgnow1.jill17.hop.clickbank.net/ ============================================ An Organizing Tip From One Of Our Readers After constantly picking up toys from various places around the house and then trying to decide which child it belongs to, I decided to institute a 'Claim It' box. Anytime I find something that doesn't belong where I found it, I place it in the box. When one of my kids asks, 'Mom, have you seen my ... ?' I ask if he checked the box. It's usually there. Now they don't ask anymore. They just know to look there first. To keep it from getting too full or full of garbage, the kids go through it once a week and put their items away. Anything remaining gets donated or sold. Nagging is a thing of the past and very few items get lost. ----- Diane Oship North Tonawanda, NY Two teen boys keep this employed mother, wife and volunteer quite busy. She wouldn't have it any other way. She says, 'Staying busy demands organization. If you are not organized you are in danger of losing your mind! I can't afford that!' * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AOL Users Link ============================================ On the Calendar * Sunday, June 15th: Father's Day: Father's Day is a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting, and to honor and commemorate fathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide and typically involves gift-giving to fathers and family-oriented activities. http://en.wikipedia.org/ ============================================ In Closing The wise teacher knows that fifty-five minutes of work plus five minutes of laughter are worth twice as much as sixty minutes of unvaried work. --Gilbert Highet And remember . . . there's no better time to get organized, than to Get Organized Now! Warmly, Maria Gracia Get Organized Now! http://www.getorganizednow.com ============================================ (c) Copyright 2008 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now! * Copyright, contact and reprint information: http://www.getorganizednow.com/contact.html * You signed up to receive our Idea-Kit and/or our Newsletter at our Get Organized Now! Web site. We never add names unless you have voluntarily opted in. * We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. 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