Posts Tagged ‘procrastination’

Now THIS is a GREAT Deal!

Posted on: June 5th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments


Gift
Do you own a storage locker–2 perhaps or even 3?

Contact A New Leaf between May 15 and June 15 to help you clear out your storage locker. Pay for 3 hours and receive a 4th hour at no charge! 

 



It’s Yard Sale Season!

Posted on: June 2nd, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

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Whether you’re putting your home up for sale or are clearing out some clutter, check out our Yard Sale Checklist.



Why Should You Hire a Professional Organizer?

Posted on: February 15th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerWe’re halfway through February already!

After reading last month’s newsletter, what decluttering or organizing tasks/projects have you completed? Haven’t accomplished what you had hoped?

Are you having trouble getting started because you’re overwhelmed? Don’t despair! If you just can’t seem to get started–for whatever reason–consider hiring a Professional Organizer.

THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER

People often think it’s a luxury to be able to hire an organizer, but the benefits can definitely outweigh the cost. In an organizing session with one particular client, we found gift cards and cash/cheques which far exceeded the cost of my services that day.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect.

  • Sense of control over your stuff AND your life
  • Better planning and organizing skills
  • Less time spent searching for lost items
  • More effective use of your time
  • Less money spent buying duplicates of things that you already have
  • Ability to prioritize, set goals and focus on tasks
  • Reduced stress and fewer moments of frustration
  • Meet important deadlines
  • Clear and peaceful surroundings that reflect your personality
  • Reduce the amount of time spent cleaning
  • Dispose of unwanted items in a responsible manner and preserve the environment
  • Improve your overall quality of life

Whether you’re hoping to declutter and organize your office, your entire house or a storage locker, consider hiring A New Leaf to help you. Contrary to what some people think, a professional organizer will not make you get rid of everything!

When your computer breaks down, you call your tech company. If your washer stops working, you call a repair person. Why not get a professional organizer to help you with your decluttering or organizing projects?

So get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png



Check out the new courses…

Posted on: February 6th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments


Events and News

What’s Happening?  Click Here

Do you want to learn more about organizing? Register for Cathy’s Get Organized (pg 19), Organizing Your Children (pg 19), Time Management (pg 8) and Senior Rightsizing (pg 15) courses this winter and spring. Click here to download the WCCE Course Guide for Guelph, Elora and Fergus.



Do you know anyone who… has a storage locker???

Posted on: February 3rd, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

                        

Do you own a storage locker–2 perhaps or even 3? Stay tuned to future issues for a deal to help you clean out that locker–once and for all!



What can we do in 15 minutes?

Posted on: January 31st, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

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Think you can’t accomplish much in 15 minutes?

Check out Apartment Therapy’s article 15 Things You Can Organize While You’re Waiting for Your Show to Start.”

Haven’t got 15 minutes?

get motivated“If I can do something in less than one minute, I don’t let myself procrastinate.

I hang up my coat, put newspapers in the recycling, scan and toss a letter. Ever since I wrote about this rule in ‘The Happiness Project,’ I’ve been amazed by how many people have told me that it has made a huge difference in their lives.”
~Gretchen Rubin, American author

Ask yourself, “How can I be more productive?”



Reduce, Reuse/Repurpose and Recycle!

Posted on: January 23rd, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerWe’re well into January 2017 already!

Have you been trying to get organized for a long time? Do you need to do a major clean out that involves disposing of a multitude of items and lots of garbage? Stop and rethink about disposal. People tend to frequently toss out items which still have a useful life.

In my work as a professional organizer, I encourage clients to follow the 3 R’s–Reduce, Reuse/Repurpose and Recycle.

If you live in Waterloo Region, new Waste Management restrictions come into effect on March 6. For residents of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, only 4 bags or cans of garbage can be put out for pickup. Excess bags will require tags which will cost you an additional amount. It’s important to note that garbage pickup will be reduced to once every two weeks. 

Here are some pointers to help you begin that big project.

RESOLVING TO GET ORGANIZED

Have you already given up on your New Year’s resolutions? 

“The biggest reason most people fail is that they try to fix too much at once – join a gym, get out of debt, floss after meals and have thinner thighs in 30 days.”   Marilu Henner

Whether you need to organize your home, your office–or both–here are some ideas to help you succeed.

Planning

“Most of us start out with a positive attitude and a plan to do our best.”  Marilu Henner

Set aside some time to think about what you want to organize. Make yourself a cup of your favourite beverage. Grab a pen and some paper. Did you know that if you write down your goals, you are more likely to achieve them?

It’s the start of a new year. Dream BIG—even if you think it’s unattainable. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you break a big dream down into small projects.

Create a Master List

Go through your house thinking about one room at a time. Take photos of each room; decorators say you’re able to view it more objectively. Determine what functions each room has to fulfill. If the room has to perform multiple functions, create a different zone for each activity.

Your master list should contain all of the projects that you want to complete. Estimate how long you think each project will take. Be realistic.

The next step is to prioritize your list, and determine which room you will work on first. It’s best to start with the room that is bothering you the most.

Scheduling

When you schedule organizing sessions in your planner or calendar, you’re making a commitment to do the required work.

You may not be able to complete a room all at once. If necessary, divide it into sections, and work on one section at a time. If you only have one hour, pick a project from your list that you can complete in that time period.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to do all the work yourself. If you want to organize a number of areas, schedule a family meeting. Involving the whole family in the process can teach them valuable life-long skills. Just remember that children can’t stay focused as long as adults. Try to make it fun!

It’s also a good idea to schedule a snack break; prepare snacks ahead of time. Plan ahead–when cooking, double a recipe and freeze one batch. At the end of the day when you’re tired, you’ll have an easy meal!

Supplies

Stock up–garbage bags, recycle bin, empty boxes, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, etc. Label boxes—Keep, Sell and Donate.

Use storage containers that you already own—the ones you emptied when you decluttered. For some items, you may need to purge before you can determine what type of containers you need.

Getting Started

“. . . don’t let perfectionism become an excuse for never getting started.”  Marilu Henner

Harold Taylor, a leading Canadian time management expert, tells us studies have found that you’ll accomplish more if you focus on one task at a time.

Gather together everything you want to store in an area before you start organizing that space. Start by grouping similar items together, so it’s easier to make a decision about what to keep. Place items that belong elsewhere in a box just outside the room. It’s easy to become distracted if you leave the room.

Resist the urge to tell yourself, “I may need it someday!

Take a break–set a timer–to keep up your energy level. This is especially important when working with children.

Storage

Similar items should be stored together and as close as possible to where they are used. An item is more likely to be put back if its home is close at hand.

Clear storage containers should be used as much as possible, so you can see what is inside. Be sure to label all containers.

Maintenance

Maintaining your organized space will require some effort from everyone. Make tidying up part of your children’s chores. Schedule a daily or weekly clean-up time, so things don’t get out of control. If you find something isn’t working, don’t give up. Schedule a family meeting; a small change may be all that’s required.

Rewards

When you’re done, don’t forget to reward your children and yourself for all your hard work!

So get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png



Plan to Attend…

Posted on: September 5th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

What’s Happening?  Click Here

Plan to attend Cathy’s Time Management presentation at the Kitchener Public Library on September 14. There is no charge to attend, but seating is limited. For more details and to register, click here.

If you have business appropriate clothing, shoes, and accessories you’re no longer using, consider donating them to the Dress for Success Clothing Drive which helps empower local women entering the workforce.



23 Productivity Hacks

Posted on: May 26th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

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RESOLVE TO IMPROVE

Did you procrastinate when it came to completing your income tax return this year because you were overwhelmed? What steps can you take NOW to make filing next year’s return less stressful? You’ll be glad you did!

PRODUCTIVITY TIPS

Larry Kim’s “23 Best Productivity Hacks of the Year” article is definitely worth the read. You most likely already implement some of these ideas on a regular basis. During the next month I’m challenging you to try three new ideas to improve your productivity. 



Tax Time Procrastination

Posted on: April 25th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

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      TAX TIME PROCRASTINATION…
HOW TO AVOID IT!


One of the top reasons that we procrastinate is because we feel overwhelmed and the thought of filing our yearly taxes certainly fits the bill. Despite being aware of the consequences of failing to file, as many as 45% of us cite procrastination as the reason why we delay to file or even let the deadline pass us by.

Here are our favourite suggestions for helping our clients overcome tax-time procrastination:

1.    Find a tax buddy who will keep tabs on you and encourage you to file your personal taxes on time. If you have your business taxes prepared by a professional, ask them to send you reminders.

2.    Make up your OWN tax deadline which is ahead of the traditional date. Mark your calendar accordingly and imagine how GREAT it will feel to have your taxes filed sooner rather than later. Remember that you only need to pay the bill by the traditional April 30th (or later for business) date.

3.    Break it all down into smaller pieces. If you have an intimidating amount of work associated with preparing to file your taxes, try to work on one section (income, for example) at a time and spread the process over several days.

Do YOU have a suggestion about how to overcome tax-time procrastination? Comment on our BLOG or FACEBOOK PAGE.