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The Recycling Corner:
Eco-Organizing Ideas
I recently attended a program at the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)'s New England chapter devoted to ecologically-friendly ways to organize your home or office. Some highlights:
Did you know that you're supposed to remove the plastic bottle caps from the bottles before recycling? They're a different weight than the bottles, and if left on, they can shoot like missiles when the bottle is crushed. I keep a separate little decorative cup on my window sill to hold the caps. They can be recycled separately with hard plastic at many recycle stations.
Do you have stuffed animals but your regular donation place won't take them? Try an animal shelter, which may use them as dog toys. Used towels and blankets are also welcome there.
Re-use plastic newspaper sleeves for picking up dog droppings. Store the plastic bags in empty tissue boxes. This reuses the boxes and keeps the bags neat but easy to grab.
Finally, if you have both a shredder and a compost pile, place your shredded paper in the pile. You'll protect your private information, get rid of the paper, AND improve your garden soil! |
LEARN HOW
to Get More Organized!
(Upcoming classes and presentations)
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Getting Things Done
at Upper Cape Tech
220 Sandwich Rd. Bourne
(along the canal, near the Bourne Bridge)
Thursday,
April 12
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Based on the work of David Allen, productivity coach & management consultant, you'll learn how to stop wasting time and start getting things done!
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Dear , 
It's official: Spring is here! Which means that, in addition to crocuses and daffodils, it's time for the annual conference of the National Association of Professional Organizers - woo hoo!!! You may not be excited, but trust me - for an organizer, this is an exciting event! I'm heading down to Baltimore this week to participate in 3 days of education on the latest strategies for organizing your world.
I'll be reporting back next month on the best of the new resources, but if you have a particular type of resource you're looking for, let me know, and I can research it at the conference. Do you need ways to organize your photos? A system for keeping track of your items in storage? A simple way to organize your purse? Email me at mmdwk@peoplepc.com and let me know what YOU want to know. With over 1,000 professional organizers all in one place, and over 50 vendors displaying their wares in the expo hall, chances are excellent that I can find just the answer you need.
In the meantime, as you put away your winter clothes and pull out your spring ones, take a minute to get rid of anything that doesn't fit or that you never actually wear! Fewer clothes, but ones you love and that fit, make for a much more easily organized closet, save you storage space, and save you time every day when you go to pick out what to wear. You may even create enough room to buy something NEW as well!
- Maryann Murphy
Your Personal Organizing Expert
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Getting Ready for Gardening
Once the ground is ready for planting, will you be able to find your tools, your seeds, your gardening gloves and your watering can?
Whether you have a garden shed, a corner of the basement, or just a pile of supplies out on the back deck, organizing your garden tools will help them last longer and make them easier to find when the gardening bug hits.
Whatever space you use for your gardening supplies, try to keep similar items together. As in the photo to the right, stack pots by size  and keep them in one place, near where you would re-pot. Don't keep more than you will use in one season - garden supply stores will usually take back the plastic pots they sell their plants in. They re-use them, getting them out of your way AND saving the planet at the same time!
Use a pegboard to hang hand-tools and keep them accessible and clean, just as you might do with indoor tools in a garage or basement. Keep seeds in critter-proof containers that are clearly labeled.
 Finally, Real Simple magazine last year showed a clever way to use an extra golf bag to organize your gardening tools. Place rakes, shovels and hoes in the bag, and carry them all together from the shed to anywhere in your yard. The golf bag's pockets and hooks are great for holding small clippers, trowels and garden gloves, and everything stays together as you travel around the yard.
Before you start your planting this year, take a little time to set up your supplies and tools. Get rid of the broken ones or the ones that are so rusted you'll never use them, clean and sharpen the ones you keep, and get rid of any expired products. Organize your gardening space now to save you time for more gardening all season long!
Send me a photo of YOUR organized garden area (OR one that needs some help) and I'll post it here with suggestions. Happy Gardening! |
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 If you need additional help organizing your home, your office, or your schedule, give me a call at 508 292-6706. I can come to your home or office and help you there, or coach you by phone.
My business relies on referrals, so please forward this to anyone you think might benefit from it. I hope to talk with you soon. |
Sincerely,
Maryann Murphy, MSW Professional Organizer, Speaker, Trainer
(508) 292-6706
- Member, National Speakers Association and NSA-NE
- Chronic Disorganization Specialist, Institute for Challenging Disorganization
- Member, Mashpee Hoarding Task Force
- Chair of Education Task Force, National Association of Professional Organizers New England chapter
- President, Marion Toastmasters Club
- Secretary, American Business Woman's Association of Cape Cod
Please join my network on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter @MMurphyMSW
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Check out my website:
www.maryannmurphymsw.com
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