Breathe Easier

The pollution of the environment outside is a growing concern, but so too is the air we breathe inside our homes. On average we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, and statistics from the EPA state that indoor air pollution is often 6-12times worse than outside. After decluttering for spring cleaning, consider going green with your cleaners.

Most are available at most stores and you can also make your own. Be sure to read labels as some products are greenwashing and not as green as they can be. Here are some on line resources.

http://www.simplegreen.com/

http://www.eco-me.com/
http://www.greennest.com/
http://www.ourgreenhouse.com/

http://www.akeena.net/

Julie Seibert, Eco-Organizer Julie’s R’s of EcoOrganization: #4-6

Repurpose:

Figure out how to repurpose an item. Get creative.  Instead of buying a special plastic case for ornaments, I use a wine case with a divider to store them.

Do you have some mismatched dishes hanging around because you haven’t wanted to part with them? Use a pretty cup to hold your cotton balls or lay your make-up brushes on a plate on your vanity.  Those plastic containers for curtains also make great storage units.  They are clear and you can write with a sharpie on them. I use mine to store holiday lights and electrical cords.

Recycle:

When organizing, remember to recycle.  Often times, people are unaware of recycling guidelines, or whether something can be recycled at all.  Know your guidelines and local recycling centers.  Consider setting up a recycling center in your home or business to make it as easy as possible.

Encourage the legislature to pass laws.  There is a program that offers incentives to people who recycle in form of gift cards. www.recyclebank.com/

Rethink

Get into the habit of rethinking of why you buy something, how you use it, if you really need it.  Modern conveniences & marketers have convinced us we need stuff we really don’t!  Train your brain to rethink how you can begin to be green, become more green and spread your knowledge to others!

A huge thanks to fellow professional organizer Helen Sklov ( http://beorganizedco.com/)    for pointing out this last R I kept referring to when she heard my teleclass on Eco-Organizing!

Julie’s 6 R’s of EcoOrganization #1-3

Reduce:

Think before you buy. Think again. Do you really need that item? The less stuff you have, the less you have to organize. Have or give experiences (Trips, tickets, special events, cooking/sewing/craft lessons, etc.) instead of giving things.  One client  keeps a jar for when she doesn’t buy clothes or shoes.  When she accumulates a certain amount she treats herself to a day at the spa!

Reuse:

It’s great if you recycle your boxes from the holidays, but even better if they can be reused: take them to a local moving company; to BJ’s or Sam’s; find out if a business or non profit is moving and give to them.

Donating items that you no longer love, need, or use to those who could truly put those items to good use.  Adopt a charity, or even a particular family or consider giving them away on www.Freecycle.org.

Throwplace, “the internet’s landfill alternative”, allows you to donate goods that can be used by non-profits. Your non-profit can also sign up to get goods as well. Registration is free.  www.throwplace.com/

Repair:

Try and see if you can repair an item before purchasing another one.  If you can’t, giving it away on http://www.freecycle.org/

What is an Eco-Organizer?

Check out more short vlog to learn more about what makes a professional organizer green:

http://youtu.be/L-46xOPx-dM

Organizing Kids Paperwork

Watch this short vlog to learn a variety of tips on organizing children’s paperwork!

http://youtu.be/kwztJrb1b2Y

Green Your Finances! (and Get Organized!)

According to Javelin Strategy & Research, 53% of Americans currently use online banking services, rising to an estimated 67% by 2012.  The report also estimates that Americans could prevent the logging of 16.5 million trees every year if all Americans switched from paper bills to Internet banking.  Save trees and pay bills on line!

Get E statements for 401 K, credit cards statements

Use on line banking. When I joined the credit union they said I could still get paper statements, but I would have to pay!  Encourage your bank or credit union to offer on line banking if they don’t already!

Buy recycled filing products. I have a list of resources on my site.

A straightforward filing system is Freedom Filer.  (https://freedomfiler.com/AffiliateClickThrough.cfm?cid=9749) All FreedomFiler label kits are currently manufactured in the USA and are printed without using any plastic components. packaging is streamlined to remove all extraneous printed materials to use as little paper as possible.

Little changes can make a big difference!

Being Organized Helped Me Avoid Court

No, I did not commit a crime and don’t want people think being organized is an excuse to be bad!  But being organized helped me avoid small claims court.

I wanted to discontinue working with a business where I had prepaid for services. They refused to refund me and would not provide for me, in writing, why I was not due a full refund. So, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

Because I had all my paperwork I was prepared to write a logical complaint, with a time line,  as well as attach all documentation.  (Having grown up in a family of attorneys I had it drilled in my head to get everything in writing.)

I was not expecting to be refunded and was preparing for court. I had no doubt in my mind that I would be successful because I was organized and would be able to present a clear and logical case that I had done for the BBB.

This didn’t take a lot of time as I kept all the paperwork/documentation in one folder in my color coded personal files. In the end, it saved me time, money, stress and hassle.  Remember, organizing systems do not need to be complicated and should work with your natural habits.

How could being more organized help you?  What paper pile are you ready to tackle today?

Easy Filing Reminder

Check out my vlog for an easy, low cost option to help you with filing!

http://youtu.be/6vL_mQSTwAM

Stop it BEFORE it Starts!

The daily mail is a huge source of clutter and can soon overwhelm you if you do not have a system in place to deal with mail and paper in general. Chris Walters of the Consumerist has 8 great tips to stopping junk mail BEFORE it enters your home:

1. Use their form to generate 17 ready-to-mail requests to different direct mail companies. DoNotMail will take the data you enter and create a PDF document with all 17 letters ready to print and send.

http://donotmail.org/form.php?id=50

If you don’t want to enter your personal info into a random site, you can use fake data and then download the PDF document for a reference to create your own letters.

2. Contact Opt-Out Prescreen online https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t
or at 1-888-567-8688 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-888-567-8688      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (888-5-OPT-OUT) from your home telephone .

3. Email your removal request to Abacus Direct at optout@abacus-us.com

3. Remove your name from ADVO Inc. by calling 1-888-241-6760 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-888-241-6760      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or completing the form at www.advo.com/consumersupport.html

4. Fill out the form on the Direct Marketing Association’s website at www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing

5. Email your removal request to Publishers Clearinghouse at privacychoices@pchmail.com

6. Get off Val-Pak’s list by filing out the form at http://www.coxtarget.com/mailsuppression/s/DisplayMailSuppressionForm

7. To remove yourself from Acxiom’s list, you must request a mail-in opt-out form by calling 1-877-774-2094 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-877-774-2094      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

8. DoNotMail.com notes, “Catalogs may stop coming when your other removal requests are processed, but you can always call the catalog company.”

Other options if you want to pay someone to take care of it for you:

http://www.41pounds.org/

https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/home.action

Oh, Indecisive One

That was my nickname in college (well, one of them, but I will leave it at that.)  I was so afraid to make the wrong decision that I wouldn’t make any decision at all.  Not the best way to live your life.

Remember, organization is about making decisions.  Getting rid of clutter? You have to make a decision.  If you don’t, well, you know…..Trust that you will get what you need and make a decision.  Trust that it is the right one and keep moving forward.  Need to get organized and de-clutter?  Start with making decisions!

What one decision can you make today?

« Previous Page — Next Page »