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How To Organize

Celebrating the 4th of July

By How To Organize

Are you celebrating the 4th of July? There are lots of different ways to celebrate when we are gifted with a 4-day weekend. Some people will travel and spend the weekend with friends and/or family. Others will participate in local parades or celebrations. Then there are those who will enjoy a quiet weekend alone. I was talking with a friend recently she said her husband and son are going on a fishing trip this weekend. My friend went on to say that she is going to celebrate and enjoy the holiday weekend by doing things around the house that she…

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7 Tips for How to Be a Good House Guest

By How To Organize

Recently I wrote about how to get your home organized so that when house guests arrive you can enjoy them. I’m following that post up with 7 tips on how to be a good house guest. When you are staying in someone else’s house it is different from staying in a hotel where you can set yourself up the way you want to. Some things to think about In someone else’s home everyone may be sharing one or two bathrooms. You may be traveling up or downstairs to get to the bathroom. Remember to pack pjs. The place you are…

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How to Avoid Having Anxiety Over House Guests

By How To Organize

Summer is here and with it comes a sense of freedom and desire to go out visiting friends and family. The news is full of information about the best days to book airline tickets, the price of gasoline, and the fact that as many people are traveling as were pre-pandemic. As a professional organizer in Atlanta, I am often teaching how to organize your home so that it’s ready for guests. Does the thought of having house guests make you anxious?  When you take the time to organize and prepare in advance you can avoid having anxiety over house guests….

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conscientiously organize and unpack boxes

The Best Way to Conscientiously Organize Your Stuff

By How To Organize

If you follow me, you may have noticed that I have been absent from posting for the last few weeks. It feels like a long time to me. Have you missed me? While I would like to say I have missed writing and posting my thoughts here, the truth is I have been so busy I haven’t given posting my blog a second thought. I have been unpacking and spending time to conscientiously organize what I intend to be my forever home. Even though I am a professional organizer, setting up my home, unpacking boxes, and finding new homes for…

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organizing a file drawer

Thinking of organizing that file drawer?

By How To Organize, How to Organize Your Life Blog

I have a two-drawer lateral file cabinet in my office near my desk that I am thinking of organizing soon. I like to plan time in either December or January to make new files for the coming year. The ones I tackle first are the ones I like to label with the current year. For me, they are files for your bank statements, investment statements, and anything tax related.  Typically I never get around to it in December. January comes along and the file drawer calls me. Do you have a sense of urgency about this, too or do you…

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stay organized with less

3 Reasons It Is Hard To Stay Organized

By How To Organize

Why can’t I stay organized? This is a question clients often ask me. Before I get into the reasons lets talk about getting organized. The first idea I want to share with you may be hard to swallow. This is the idea that organizing is a continual journey. It is not a destination and it is never ever done. You cannot organize a space once, walk away, and never have to organize it again. This is because things are always in use in a home. This is a natural occurrence since you live in the space. There are three things…

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a person looking at household chores to do

Sick of Doing Household Chores? Here’s How to Get More Done with Less Resistance

By How To Organize

Picture this: you’ve just spent a good portion of the day doing laundry. It’s now folded and put away. As you’re saying good night to your child you notice their laundry basket is once again full. You sigh as you leave the room – more laundry to do. You are filled with resentment for a few seconds, and you shake your head as you wonder; does it ever stop? Is laundry one of the household chores overwhelming you? The two other chores that create feelings of overwhelm and resentment for many of my clients are taking out the trash and…

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focus on strong

“Focus on What’s Strong, Not What’s Wrong”

By How To Organize, How to Organize Your Life Blog

I originally published this post in 2013. I am updating it now because Lee Shuer presented at the 20221 Institute for Challenging Disorganization virtual conference again this year. My friend, colleague, and business partner, Jonda Beattie and I had the honor of introducing Lee. Once again, his presentation was impactful. He shared that he has made tremendous progress in his struggle with hoarding by following his own advice and putting his focus on what’s strong. During the Institute for Challenging Disorganization conference in 2013 in Denver, Colorado Lee Shuer gave us the quote I’m using in the headline for this…

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a woman surrounded by the things she loves

Surround Yourself With Things You Love

By How To Organize, How to Organize Your Life Blog

As professional organizers we often talk about what to do to get organized. We tell you about the benefits of being organized: saving money and time and reducing stress. And we talk about safety in the home and having what you need and use. But we do not often talk about the benefit of having other things, the things you love. It’s so important to have the things you love in your home for no other reason than that you love them. When you walk in your home, we want you to smile. The end goal of organizing your home…

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Back to School: A Review of 5 Awesome Products

By How To Organize

It’s time. Can you believe it? Buses here in parts of Georgia are going to start bringing students to and from school again next week. Yes! I said next week. In certain parts of Georgia schools are opening their doors on August 6th. Wow! I’m so excited for the students to go back to school and for the parents, too. Each school district will have a unique list of supplies they want to students to bring to school.  I have put together a list of five awesome products to organize you and your students at home. Continue reading to find…

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