Get Organized Now! Newsletter by Maria Gracia http://www.getorganizednow.com Issue: June 29-July 5, 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! ============================================ Build an organized life There are a lot of new homes being constructed where I live. My husband and I had a house built 5 years ago in a new development, and many others in the development are still in the process of having their homes built. Tap! Bang! Tap! Bang! This is what we wake up to, sometimes as early as 6:30am. There's no sleeping late around here, but we have to admit, the guys working on these homes are super-productive and they're doing a fantastic job. The amount of organizing that goes into building these homes is quite remarkable. In general, homes around here are built within just five to six months. Our contractors were so organized that our move-in date was way ahead of schedule. There are a specific group of contractors assigned to each segment of the home building process, from those who dig out the hole, to those that pour the basement, to those who put up the walls and so on. A coordinator ensures that each home-building project--and there are a number of homes going up at the same time--progresses step-by-step as each contractor finishes his portion of the job. It's fun watching these homes being built and new families are moving in all the time--into wonderfully empty rooms with absolutely no clutter. But then, I often watch in horror as a new family pulls up to their new home, along with hundreds of boxes of stuff from their old residence. Five to six months to build one of these beautiful homes, and only a day or two for some families to fill every room with clutter. My husband and I took a walk in our development the other day. Since it was nice outside, many people had their garages opened. There were a number of garages that were stuffed so tightly--and these are 2-3 car garages--that the residents had to park their car in the driveway since it would not fit in the garage. And most of these people only moved in within the past few months. Anyway, just thinking about this fills my mind with useful organizing tips for clutter control and higher productivity. Here are just six for now: 1. Don't get more overwhelmed. Many families around here get overwhelmed at the thought of decluttering their old homes, so they end up not doing it and dragging all of their old clutter along with them. You may already be overwhelmed with your clutter. Don't get more overwhelmed thinking you have to get rid of it all in one day. Just promise yourself that each day you're going to work on getting rid of just a little bit of clutter, and each day you'll be freeing up a little more space. Before you know it, you should begin to see your table surfaces and your bedroom closet floor--so long as you don't continue adding to it. 2. If you can't fit another morsel . . . Just like those garages I mentioned that are stuffed to the max, if you have a room in your home that is stuffed from floor to ceiling, it's time to take back control of that space. Focus on that one room for the next few weeks, each day choosing a few things to part with. If you don't use it and/or you don't love it, it's clutter. ----- 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 ----- 3. Don't move your clutter with you. If you're planning a move in the near future, leave your clutter behind. Seriously sort through the things you have and lighten your load. 4. If you have a team, use it. Home builders work as a team. Every man (or woman) has his own specific job to do. The same idea should reign in your home. If there are other people in your home besides you, every person in your household should be responsible for certain household tasks. Split up tasks between you and your spouse. If you have kids, give them chores and insist they do those chores before playing. If you live with roommates, come up with a task schedule so everyone chips in. It's amazing how much time could be saved when good teamwork is put in action. If necessary, hire outside help, or ask a relative or neighbor to assist. 5. Work expands to fit the time allotted. The builders are given 5-6 months to finish building a home. That's exactly how much time it takes. If they were given a year to finish, it might take them the whole year to do a job that could have been finished in six months. Work expands to fit the time allotted. Jamie wanted to organize her desk, but she only had an hour before her scheduled haircut. So, she worked swiftly and her desk was quite presentable within an hour. John's desk was about as disorganized as Jamie's desk. He had two hours to kill before the day was over, so he worked on organizing his desk, and his desk was quite presentable in two hours. In other words, Jamie had an hour's less time, but got just as organized as John did in two hours. Never schedule your time according to how much time you have available. Instead, schedule your time according to how long a particular project or task should actually take. Just because you have 3 hours, doesn't mean it should take you three hours to do something that should only take an hour or so. You'll get a lot more done if your deadlines are set properly. 6. Give yourself a plan. Can you imagine building a home without a plan? How would it ever get completed? Would it meet safety standards? In the same sense, how much will you accomplish, and how well will you accomplish it all, without a plan? Don't randomly go through your day, keeping all of your tasks, projects and errands in your head, jumping from one thing to the next with absolutely no plan. You'll end the day both exhausted and unfulfilled, and most likely you'll have a bunch of unfinished projects. Instead, give yourself a written plan. Make a To Do list each evening for the next day. Follow it closely throughout the day. Cross things off as you finish them. At the end of each day, look at all the things you crossed off your list and rejoice in everything you have accomplished--then relax and enjoy your evenings! ============================================ 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: * 6/26 - Summer Days - Being Outside * 6/19 - Catch the Reading Bug * 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/ ** July Monthly Checklist: Department 1 Buzz, buzz! Bee happy and organized this summer, starting with our NEW July Monthly Organizing Checklist. Go to the link below and look for the bee. 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 Organize warranties and instruction booklets for lawn equipment, power tools and other outdoors and shop equipment, in a good-sized, heavy weight plastic container stored in your garage, basement or work area. With one of these containers, your important paperwork is kept clean, dry, and all in one place. This can save hours of searching for it when it is needed. In my box, I also include a pen, pencil, felt tip permanent marker and a roll of scotch tape for the odd times those items are needed. ----- Loretta Harris Mountain Home, AR * * * * * 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. 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We'll tell you how to reverse your cat's 'outta control' behavior quickly and easily. Visit: http://getorgnow1.elbvc.hop.clickbank.net ===== This Amazing Tool Saved Me an Incredible $884 on Groceries Last Year! I have good news. I recently came across a product that I consider to be the most innovative coupon organizer that I've ever seen. Since I started using this coupon organizer, I have saved over an hour each week, because I no longer cut out duplicate coupons and I can see everything I have at a glance. Plus, I saved an incredible $884 in groceries last year, and it looks like I'm going to save even more this year. All because of this wonderful organizer. It really pays for itself in just one shopping trip! If you like to save time and money on your grocery shopping, you'll definitely want to take a look at this award-winning tool. They even have a neat demo video: http://www.MrsAsCouponOrganizer.com/getorgnow.html Maria Gracia Get Organized Now! P.S. For this week only, ending on midnight, July 6th, the creators of this organizer are offering a special 33% discount exclusively available to readers of the Get Organized Now! Newsletter ============================================ An Organizing Tip From One Of Our Readers I have all my utilities and cable television bill payment automatically deducted from my bank account each month. To do so, you just have to sign appropriate papers and notify each utility company. My bank pays the appropriate utility on the day the bill is due. Payment is never late, plus I get the interest on my money until the day the bill is actually due. The utility bill will state that payment will be drafted. I don’t have to mess with any of it and it saves me 39 cents (soon to be 41 cents) times 4 or 5 each month. They will often draft other things you regularly pay like house payments. Your bank statement will show these deductions each month. I love doing this and after it is set up, you have to do absolutely nothing. Check to see if your bank offers this service. ----- Robbie Huffman North Little Rock, AR Robbie is a retired Counselor who writes poetry. * * * * * Submit your favorite organizing tip! Visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/readertip.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AOL Users Link ============================================ On the Calendar Tuesday, July 1: Canada Day: Frequently referred to as 'Canada's birthday,' particularly in the popular press, the occasion marks the joining of the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867. Friday, July 4: Independence Day (US): In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States, but is often also viewed as simply a summer festival, apart from its patriotic overtones. http://en.wikipedia.org/ ============================================ In Closing It's how we spend our time here and now, that really matters. If you are fed up with the way you have come to interact with time, change it. --Marcia Wieder 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. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list. * To subscribe, visit: http://www.getorganizednow.com/free-ezine.html * To unsubscribe, click the link at the bottom of this e-mail. You are subscribed to our list as: {!name} {!email} ============================================