September 1st, 2011
Oh, no!
As we mark the 10-year anniversary of 9-11, I can’t help but think of all the natural and manmade disasters that have occurred over the past few years. Tornadoes, flooding, high winds and power outages are a few of the events that affect our area. I truly hope you haven’t had to deal with any of these events.
However, we know these things can happen, so it’s important to be prepared–just in case. During the nuclear disaster in Japan, landlines, then cell phones went out when the system was overloaded with calls. In fact, it is often easier to call out of your area during an event, than it is to phone locally. Designate someone out of your state or area that everyone in your family can check in with, in case local phone lines are unavailable.
In honor of National Preparedness Month in September, I’ve put together an emergency checklist for you. I hope you never have to rely on it, but I guarantee, you’ll feel better knowing you’re ready. Sign up for my newsletter and get access to it and a multitude of organizing tips, articles and previous newsletters.
Tags: disaster planning, emergency checklist, Jane Carroo, Organizing
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July 10th, 2011
If you are downsizing or undertaking a temporary move, follow these tips and you’ll find the stress is greatly diminished. Keep positive!
- Define your vision. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: downsizing, Moving, temporary moves, transitions
Posted in Life Transitions, Moving | Comments Off
May 2nd, 2011
It’s that time of year when we want to freshen our spaces and remove the clutter that’s accumulated, seemingly overnight. When deciding what to keep and what to save, here are some sure signs something is ready for the donate, sell or trash bin.
You know you don’t need it when…
- You haven’t used it in a year or more.
- You’ve outgrown it.
- You are no longer interested in it.
- Your kids don’t play with it anymore.
- You forgot you had it.
- You seldom think of it or reference it.
- You don’t like it anymore or never liked it.
- It has no purpose.
- It takes up more space than you have.
- You are paying rent to store it, but don’t use it.
- It brings you negative energy.
If the item in question meets one or all of these criteria, it is time to let it go!
Tip: If you’re still not sure if you should get rid of an item, ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen if I toss this?” The answer may help give you the power to discard the clutter.
What did this list help you let go of? Share your thoughts.
Tags: Declutter, Jane Carroo, Reduce Clutter
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March 1st, 2011
Whether you live alone or have a family, take time to consider what would happen if you were temporarily unable to take care of things. Think about who might assume your responsibilities and what it would be like for them.
Would they be able to find important contact information?
Would they know what medications you take or what bills need to be paid?
Would they be able to find important passwords or legal documents?
One sure-fire way to prepare is to create a “vital documents file.”
Tip: Creating a Vital Documents File
Keep all vital information about your household, medical records and banking in one place. Let someone you trust know where to find the file should an incident or accident happen.
What’s your experience with incidents and accidents? Share them and receive a free Vital Documents Kit.
Tags: Jane Carroo, preparation, vital documents
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January 2nd, 2011
Living Life
Here are my top ten tips for living your best life:
Have a Vision
Align with your Values
Focus on what brings you Joy
Live Simply
Find your Creativity
Cultivate a Spiritual connection
Share Love with others
Make a Meaningful Contribution
Explore new Ideas and Learn along the way
Be Adventurous and Appreciate Nature
Tags: Jane Carroo, life your best life, Professional Organizer
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December 24th, 2010
In the book “Five Essential Elements of Happiness,” published by Gallop, researchers found that experiential purchases brought a higher level of well being than material purchases. According to the authors Tom Rath and Jim Harter, Ph.D., if we use our money to buy experiences we get the benefit of looking forward to the event, the experience itself and also the memories. 
Tags: experiential gifts, gift ideas, Jane Carroo, Professional Organizer
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November 1st, 2010
- Holiday Welcome
In contrast to the picture perfect homes you see in magazines, I often talk to clients who are ashamed of opening their homes to entertain family and friends. They are stuck amidst the clutter unable to dig themselves out. Truth be told, most of us have some difficulty getting our homes prepared for holiday entertaining, on top of our already busy schedule managing work and family responsibilities.
This year, consider making a change. Trade that feeling of being overwhelmed for a feeling of satisfaction by planning ahead and taking small steps to handle the projects at hand. Give yourself enough time, by tackling projects on a daily or weekly basis. Before you know it, the holidays will be here and for once, you won’t be worried about how to manage it all.
Not sure where to start? Clutter Coach has a wide range of solutions to meet every budget. Give us a call at 847-776-8717 to help you make a positive change, or visit our website for an assessment.
Tags: de-cluttering project, Professional Organizer, Stress-free Holiday
Posted in General, Holidays, Organizing | Comments Off
September 3rd, 2010
When the kids go back to school, it creates an opportunity for adults to approach their work with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Labor Day always reminds me of that.
Over the years, I’ve had many clients who felt stuck in their work environment. However, after clearing the physical clutter, they became more energized and empowered at work.
Featured Client Story: Home vs. Work Space
Joanne had a new home-based business, and was working in a small nook in the master bedroom. With a growing list of clients and projects, she was extremely frustrated by a lack of space and organization. “I had stacks of files, which meant it took forever to find things,” said Joanne.
When I met with her, we looked over the existing space and explored alternatives for office space. After discussing the options with family, Joanne’s college-age son moved his bedroom into the finished basement, and she moved her office into his room.
“I needed an objective voice to help me make this decision, and Jane helped me realize that this was a necessity for my business and peace of mind,” said Joanne. “Now everything has its place. The systems Jane put in place continue to work today.”
Morale of the story: Never underestimate the power of a fresh start.
Tags: back-to-school organizing, back-to-work organizing, Jane Carroo, Professional Organizer
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July 28th, 2010
You’ve purchased the sheets, school supplies, comforter and computer, but is your son or daughter really ready to live on their own at college? Are your younger students back in learning mode? There is more to being prepared than just purchasing back-to-school gear.
Featured Client Story:
College Student Learns a Valuable Lesson
Recently, I was asked to help a mom whose son was getting ready for college. He was excited to go, but was not at all ready for the transition. His room was filled with the clutter of his childhood. There were clothes everywhere, much of which he didn’t like or wear. He had many toys and stuffed animals that could have been collected and donated. His room needed to be reviewed from top to bottom. He had no idea how to even begin the organizing process.
Together we sorted through all his belongings. What he was left with were the things he loved and used, organized so that he could easily find what he needed. He now knew exactly how to pack for college. “I have my room back. I can breathe now,” said the soon-to-be college student.
This proved to be the perfect send-off for both mother and son. The son had his room organized and learned some skills that would help him adjust to a new, smaller space. Meanwhile, Mom enjoyed the neat room, as well as her son’s growing confidence.
If you are afraid to open the door of your student’s room, don’t hesitate to call us at (847) 776-8717. A trained professional might be just what you need to get the situation under control.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIP
Get ready prior to the first day of school. Include kids in the organizing process and make organizing their rooms’ part of your annual ritual.
Tags: back-to-school organizng, Jane Carroo
Posted in Kids, Life Transitions, Organizing | Comments Off
June 30th, 2010
Traveling
It’s summer … While all of us know the benefits of travel, we may avoid it simply because it can cause additional stress.
If you are already busy, planning and executing a successful trip can be challenging. It’s one more big project to contend with. For some of us, just the thought of packing and unpacking can be enough to stop us. This is where organizing becomes important.
Being organized supports us in our lives, and can help us lead the life we choose. Being organized makes it easier to get ready for a trip and also makes re-entry less stressful.
Do you have systems that make your travel time easy? Would you travel more if you did? Let Clutter Coach help you make time for all the things you want to do. Call Jane at (847) 776-8717.
TRAVEL TIP
Create a travel and packing list. The travel list can contain items such as stop your mail, forward your phone, set your light timer, etc. The packing list can include all the items you need to pack. Also, consider creating lists for other members of your household.
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