New & Noteworthy

LISTS

Say what you want about them, but they do work. Even if it is just to clear your head. Seriously, making lists are a great way to stay focused, help accomplish goals -- both large and small, and stay on top of a complex project. How do you keep your lists from becoming wallpaper for your desk? Make them doable, realistic, brief and above all fun. Recently, a client of mine shared her method for organizing her daily lists into three categories. "Have To!", "Would Like To!" and "Gravy!" Doesn't really matter what you label them as long as you keep a pen next to them to cross off what you accomplished. Now that's really fun!

Remembering the Milk

It truly takes a lot for me to recommend an organizing gadget or website. However, after spending a part of my summer weeding through the countless product promotions that I receive, I decided to give this one a shot. Maybe it was the name? Rememberthemilk.com is a FREE online task management system that will send you a text or email with a to-do alert. All you have to do is create an account on line. You can organize your life by work, home and personal, and set up reminders for all. You can even forward lists to family, eliminating the "I really meant to" excuse. Time to throw out those sticky note reminders once and for all!

The Fifteen-Five

This past spring, I had the privilege of teaching time management classes at my daughter's high school. You can only imagine the pressure I was under to make sure that I didn't make a complete fool of myself. Well, it turns out that I am a rock star with the 14 to 17 year old set. Why? Because I taught them the 15-5. 15 minutes of studying and then 5 minutes of free time. Knowing that after 15 minutes of focusing they are "allowed" 5 minutes to stretch, grab a bite, check their Facebook page, or simply regroup allows them to free their mind of other distractions to stay focused on the task at hand. Extra bonus? Breaking down assignments into small chunks of time is a real stress reliever.

What's the Most Difficult Thing To Keep Organized?

This summer, ADDitude magazine posted the results of its most recent reader poll. Asking the question, "What is the most difficult thing to keep organized?", paperwork was cited as the most troublesome. 66% of readers have some trouble with paper management, followed by clothing at 9%, toys at 4%, and kitchen cabinets at 2%. Only 1% had trouble keeping their spouse's closet organized, while 18% mentioned that all of the above gave them some difficulty. What gives you the most trouble? Drop me a note at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will be sure to pass along some great tips to keeping you organized!

Entrepreneur and Professional Moms Association

This past week I had the honor of being interviewed for the Entrepreneur and Professional Moms Association's (EPMA) "Business Spotlight" segment. EPMA is a national non-profit organization that offers support groups, resources for information and education, idea exchange, a networking outlet and advocacy for moms who own businesses or employed professional moms who strategically grow the company where they work. Lorin Mask, the founder of EMPA interviewed me for an hour about the nature of my business as well as the strategies I use to keep my home and business lives balanced. To hear my interview with Lorin, click here. For more information about the EMPA visit, www.epmassociation.org.

Clutter in the Workplace

In December 2009, the National Association of Professional Organizers (www.napo.net) and Office Depot conducted a survey of over 1,023 business professionals on the question of "How diligent are you about keeping a clutter-free workspace?" Not very! While workers agreed that messy desks cost them time, missed deadlines and reputation, 32% of respondents admit to a disorganized workspace and 45% confessed to cleaning up the clutter only once a month or less. Furthermore, 30% of respondents report having lost an important document due to a messy desk. Most felt disorganization leads to lost time, meeting tardiness and missed deadlines. What was cited as the most likely item to cause workspace clutter? Food! Too much time spent at our desks working it seems. To see the complete results of the survey, go to www.officedepot.com.

Finish That To Do List!

Did you know that the burden of leaving a lot unfinished on your to-do list can have the same cumulative impact on your health as a major life event like death or divorce? According to Dr. Michael Roizen, the co-author of "You: Stay Young", research has shown that this sort of generalized stress can age you the equivalent of eight years. What better reason to clean out your closets or pay that stack of bills.

Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities

As you can imagine, I have scoured every website and read about every organization there is for parents with children with learning disabilities. One of my favorites is Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities. Located in Connecticut, they strike the perfect balance between cutting edge information and up-to-the-minute resources. If you are lucky to live close by, their programs are a must for any parent looking to gain first hand knowledge and insight. However, the real gem is their monthly newsletter. Chock full of articles written by top professionals in their field, their newsletter is must read for any parent craving information and guidance. To become a member or to get more information, visit www.SmartKidswithLD.org or call 203.226.6831. Please tell them that Order Out of Chaos referred you!

Chronic Disorganization

More than what do I do for a living; I am frequently asked, "what is chronic disorganization?" How does it differ from just simply being disorganized? The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), a non-profit organization devoted to developing and communicating information, organizing techniques and solutions for the chronically disorganized, says CD is marked by its longevity, interference with quality of life and resistance to self-help efforts. Their website is chock full of information, resources and even a quiz to determine your level of CD. Visit www.nsgcd.org for more information. They are the premier resource on chronic disorganization!

More Articles...