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Terri Stephens, CPO, CRTS
Certified Professional Organizer�
Certified Relocation & Transition Specialist�
2011
CONSUMER'S CHOICE AWARD WINNER
(678) 513-6585
[email protected]
www.therealorder.com | |
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JOIN OUR LIST
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WAYS WE CAN HELP | |
You can save money. You'll know what you already own, eliminating the need to buy duplicate items. A professional organizer can help you find the perfect organizing products for your space and lifestyle, so you stop wasting money on things you don't need or won't work.
You can become more productive and efficient. A professional organizer can create order and structure out of chaos. You'll receive systems that work for your dominant learning style, your lifestyle, your needs, your challenges, and your dreams.
You'll have a positive self-image and ditch the shame. Once your home or office is neat and tidy, you won't feel embarrassed to have guests visit. The guilt will fade away as you take pride in your surroundings.
You'll have a healthier environment. Physical and emotional clutter obscures your surroundings. An organized home and office is more easily cleaned. Lose the clutter and cut down on time spent moving piles of paper and stuff around.
Your stress level will decrease dramatically. When you can find what you need, are on top of your to-dos, and arrive on time, you'll feel calmer and have more peace of mind. No more feeling overwhelmed by life -- you'll be the one in control.
You'll discover more time for yourself. When you're organized, your days go as planned, and you get a lot more done. That leaves more time to indulge in a little "me time."
Your energy will shine. Clutter is a mask and a professional organizer can help you take off that mask. Once the clutter is removed, you can showcase your talents, skills, and personality and have the life you deserve. | |
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Greetings!
Gary Chapman's book, The Five Love Languages, is a longtime favorite of mine. In the book, Chapman explains that one of the love languages is "acts of service." I see a direct correlation between acts of service as means of expressing love, and having an organized home where everyone feels calm and comfortable. There's enough chaos and busy-ness in our lives outside of home and maintaining a peaceful home is a lovely way to express love for our family.
If you'd like to learn more about The Five Love Languages, check out Oprah's Lifeclass with Gary Chapman.
Until next time,
Terri Stephens, CPO, CRTS
Real Order Professional Organizing, LLC
(678) 513-6585
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THE CONNECTION BETWEEN LOVE & ORGANIZING
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 In Becoming a Person of Influence, author John Maxwell says that "Change is apt to occur when we realize we can change. This is the greatest motivator of all. Nothing sparks the fires of desire more than the sudden realization that you do not have to stay the same."
I always ask people that reach out for my help why they want to bring better order into their lives. I listen to their often painful stories about how the chaos and disorder is affecting them and offer hope that things can be different - if they are willing to work at it and not give up.
I believe that there are times when people are motivated to get organized as an expression of love toward others when they realize the negative effects of being disorganized. It's not uncommon for me to hear that they don't want to leave a mess for their family if something happens to them. Or a parent may want to show love for his or her family by creating a peaceful, orderly refuge in the midst of a crazy, mixed-up world.
One of my clients, Laura, was moved into action by love for her husband when she called desperate for help with their home office. Boy, was she motivated! Keep reading for Laura's story.
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GETTING FAMILY MEMBERS ON BOARD
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 Once you've made the commitment to show love to the people in your life through creating a more organized and less chaotic home, you may need to get family members on board with the idea to help maintain it. Talk to your family about the rewards and benefits of having control over their things and their space. Here are 9 tips that can help you help them:
- Set realistic expectations. Don't expect perfection, but start small as new habits take time to become routine. Start with an area or two the family can agree on that should be neat. Be patient and give a lot of positive feedback for all efforts to maintain neatness.
- Spouses and "significant others" often have different opinions about neatness. Make sure your ideas are reasonable and remember that compromise may be necessary to maintain peace in the relationship.
- Post a family calendar in a prominent place where the family gathers. Make it easy for everyone to stay informed about activities that involve them.
- Establish clear house rules such as picking up the bedroom before going to sleep, dirty clothes go in the hamper, school supplies are ready to go in the morning, etc.
- If kids have trouble staying on task, set a timer and let them know they can stop or switch tasks when the timer goes off.
- Prepare for the next day the night before. Go over the next day's activities with your children so they're prepared and learn good habits at an early age.
- Help kids make decisions about what stays and what goes in their room. If they can't make up their mind about some items, put the items in a sealed box for a couple months - mark the date on the box with a sharpie. If the box hasn't been opened in two months, donate it to charity.
- Involve your kids in where their toys should be donated so they get in the habit of giving. Let them know how their giving is helping other children who don't have as much and how it makes them feel special.
- Use fun and attractive organizing products for kids - Cool striped folders, bins in their favorite colors, nice locker organizers, kid-friendly labels, and a fun chore chart with rewards for good behavior.
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Be alert to give service. What counts a great deal in life is what we do for others.
-Anonymous
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