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"Picture Yourself Organized!"
Details By Shelly Fletcher - Organizing e-News
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Issue: #23 |
December 2009 |
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A Holiday Greeting to you,
While getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I found a few gifts and things that made their way into "hidey holes" because I was in a rush last year to clean up. Maybe I should hire an Organizer?! Anyway, it's a good habit to create the spaces where things will go back to as soon as we take them out (includes the dog). We'll see if I listened to myself next December. Our son Tom and wife Tanya are expecting a baby in May, so Thanksgiving was a special evening of thanks for our family. Guess I better start cleaning out the storage area to make room for the grandparent-type of things I'll need. Anyone have any baby stuff they want to get rid of??? December is a good time to reflect on what you've accomplished in 2009. Did you get to that organizing project yet? Have you applied any of the monthly "personal challenges" mentioned in this newsletter? Do you want to get better organized in 2010? Make 2010 a year where you can say YES to these questions. Until next year!
Shelly
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PERSONAL CHALLENGE - Get Organized in 2009 |
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NEW - ORGANIZING CALENDAR FOR 2009
Each month I will share three things to do that will help you get organized in 2009. You can choose to do one or more of my suggestions, or come up with your own.
RELAX & CELEBRATE
1. Evaluate your personal goals and accomplishments
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Look back at what you've accomplished this year. Write down your successes.
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Review your personal goals that you set in January. Evaluate whether they were realistic and whether your organizing efforts supported them.
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Make a practice to focus on what you've accomplished; don't dwell on what went undone.
2. Make connections with friends and family
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Choose to connect with friends and family in a way that is comforting to you. Write letters or emails, send cards, or make phone calls. Tell them about your year of organizing successes and how your life has changed because of your commitment.
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Reach out to strangers in a spirit of giving. You've been doing this all along through your donations. Find more items to give to others who could use the things you no longer need. Be at peace knowing you are helping others.
3. Treat yourself to a reward
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Find a way to reward yourself for your efforts. See a movie, take a trip, do nothing for a day. You've earned it.
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Enjoy the end of this year with gratitude.
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Start next year with renewed energy.
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Celebrate!
REPEAT IN 2010!
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GOOD TIPS, READS & LEADS |
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Take advantage of holiday sales for organizing supplies
I just saw in today's paper that True Value Hardware stores have zippered holiday storage bags on sale for $5.99. These bags are not only good for holiday decorations, but to store summer patio cushions, decorator pillows, down jackets, sports gear, to name a few. The handles allow you to hang them from rafters or hooks for seasonal storage. TIP: Last year I bought some of these at True Value for 50% AFTER Christmas. Watch the papers for similar ads.
Still shredding those end-of-year personal papers one at a time???
The Postal Annex at 670 Auburn Folsom Rd, Suite 106, in Auburn provides an easy way to get rid of your personal papers. Bring in your filled Bankers Box and dump it into their secure shred bins for only $10/box (up to five boxes at that rate, then it drops to only $5/box). They do more than just shred; click here to go to their website.
Piece by PEACE - An Auburn Thrift Boutique
1310 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn (Open Th-Fr-Sa; 10am-4pm)
Looking for a place in Auburn to donate your better clothes? PEACE for Families is a non-profit organization that supports individuals who experience sexual assault and/or family violence. Their boutique "Piece by PEACE" is part of a coalition of Auburn non-profit thrift shops called Secondhand Roads. Any donations that can't be used here are given to women from the local PEACE for Families Safe House or to other coalition partners. When you clean out your winter clothes, consider this group of local non-profits as an option for donations.
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LEARN TO GET ORGANIZED |
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If you do nothing else in December, do these three things:
1. Create an "Open Me First" box for next holiday season. This box is the first one you bring out; it contains all the things you need to get your holiday started. (Holiday card list, decorative ribbons, paper plates, special holiday jewelry, etc.)
2. Set at least one organizing goal for 2010 and commit to getting it done.
3. Weed out old decorations as you bring them out this year; make a list of what you need to replace next year.
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ORGANIZING EVENTS |
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December will be quiet so we can celebrate good times with family and friends.
Plan ahead for these events in January:
January 16, 2010 - "Ask the Organizer" Day at IKEA, West Sacramento
Have you ever shopped at IKEA? If not, this might be a good time for you to get some free advice. The Sacramento Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers will be on hand to provide suggestions, answer questions, and just plain help you get better organized. Various stations will be set up around the store. Pick up a passport as you enter, have it stamped at each station, enter to win a gift card as you leave IKEA.
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NEED A SPEAKER - for your group or conference?
Speaking at the NOON Program - Auburn Main Library
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If you are ready to start on an organizing project, give me a call to discuss a plan that might work for you.
Call me at (530) 613-2968, or you can email me at detailsbyshelly@yahoo.com
Sharing ideas and creating solutions for you,
Shelly Fletcher Details by Shelly Fletcher
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