30 Things You Can Do in 1 Hour Each Week to Stay Organized!

I challenge you to find one day a week, one hour in that day to do something organizing related.  Below are a list of things you can accomplish in one hour.  If you consistently give yourself just this one hour you'll be surprised how much you can "catch up" on. What will 52 hours a year net you? An organized closet? Donation boxes out the door? A cleared space to do crafting, exercise, or a room you can rent for income? A relief from the guilty feeling of "I need to {fill in the blank}" in the pit of your stomach?

I challenge you to put a "Dexterous HOUR" in your week, a time that you feel your best energy wise, that you can consistently do something.  To make it easier you can break it out into 30 minutes in two days or 15 minutes in four days. But do it, be consistent and put yourself back in your life.

1. Sort through mail - putting active items close by on board or on fridge until they are complete, active items on a tabletop file, and archive items in a file cabinet or scan them into your digital system.
2. Going through the pantry and cabinets and throwing out expired food and spices, then planning a menu for items that are near expired to be used.
3. Going through clothes and making repairs and sewing on buttons
4. Switching out seasonal clothing
5. Taking shoes that need repair to the cleaners for repair
6. Taking out worn out hangers and wire hangers from the cleaners out of the closet because they take up space.
7. Going through old files and shredding out dated information
8. Clearing your email inbox
9. Donating unread magazines to waiting rooms or homeless shelters
10. Ripping CD music onto computer making a MP3 file and load up in the cloud, then throwing away CDs
11. Getting rid cleaning product bottles that are almost empty and pouring into like bottles
12. Going through old greeting cards and getting rid of ones that have no sentiment or message inside it. Going through old photos and getting rid of duplicates, filing pictures into categories for scrap booking or photo albums
13. Take electronic cords and match them up with the electronic device; then label the cord and put away neatly to be found again.
14. Get rid of duplicate tools and keep tools in places that are handy (i.e. garage, in car trunk, in utility room, etc.) Go through gardening chemicals and make sure none are leaking or are not expired. 
15. Call bulk trash and schedule a pick up of items that need to be taken away.
16. Go through toys with kids (or make the decision for them) of toys they don't play with or have outgrown to be donated or discarded.
17. Call local charity to schedule a pick up and purge items in all closets.
18. Give not-yet-given gifts to people they were intended for
19. Go through home and look for things that belong to other people and arrange for them to pick it up or get delivered.
20. Get clothes or other items off of surfaces not intended for clothes - chairs, exercise equipment, floor, tabletops, etc.
21. Take inventory and photos/videos of items in your home for insurance purposes
22. Read about a new organizing tip or trick you can inculcate in your life 
23. Go through books on a bookshelf and get rid of books you've outgrown or don't intend on reading again
24. Move your DVDs or CDs from the jewel cases to a compact disc holder (throw out jewel cases)
25. Get rid of boxes of items you purchased (you probably don't need them).
26. Schedule your week and check for double-bookings or things you are over-extending yourself and make calls to reschedule
27. Learn how to use a productivity app like Evernote.
28. Schedule your doctor's appointments for the next two months for the whole family
29. Look at calendar for celebrations coming up and order gifts online to be sent to celebrator directly or put a reminder in your calendar to shop for a gift.
30. Schedule vet visit for your furry friend's yearly shots

Inspiration & Motivation: Be Yourself

Have you ever been to a lifestyle blog and thought to yourself  "Man! I wish I was more [fill in the blank] that person has it all together." I call it Martha Stewart envy.  But although this person sets a great example of something to achieve (at least in their own blog-sphere) you have to recognize what you like and dislike and what's really attainable and sustainable for YOUR life.  Having alphabetical spices might work for some people, others it might not (nor do they care) for others.  

Figure out the level of organized you are striving for and be your own kind of organized.

Friday's Inspiration & Motivation! Be A New You.

Is your sister/brother/cousin/mom/college roommate more organized than you and they nagged about how messy you are? They joked you always show up late? Expect you to lose something to they always buy you two? Show them! Decide today to be a new you. 

Friday's Inspiration & Motivation: Go Slowly, But Don't Stop.

Sometimes we are right at the finished line but we give up because the progress is too slow. Are you still working on the same pile of paper from last month? Don't fret, keep going.  When you see the effort you put into letting go of unwanted paper, you will put more thought into letting less into your life to begin with.

In today's microwave, on-the-go, mobile world, it's easy to forget that habits take time to develop. Don't stop because progress is slow, go for the finish line!

Talk About Re-Purposing!

Wow you could set up shop right in the comfort of your living room and no one would know the wiser.

Interview With An Organizer: Christina Eanes

Just about every week I meet some awesome folks! Because I provide a lifestyle service, I try to have as many outstanding professionals in my back pocket that can assist my clients to have a fabulous life personally and professionally.

These interviews are also meant to show that we all have our own style of keeping it together, organized, and productive.  I'm the Organizer but certainly not a know-it-all (if my mom or husband is reading I advice them to stop laughing now).

Here is the latest interview.  Enjoy!


Welcome Ms. Christina Eanes of Eanes Coaching and Consulting LLC!

Tell us a little about your company: Eanes Coaching and Consulting LLC provides coaching and consulting services to both individuals and organizations. The coaching portion of the business helps individuals in their personal and/or professional lives with a goal they would like to achieve or a problem they would like help tackling. The consulting portion of the business provides curriculum development and training delivery services for organizations, particularly in the area of leadership development.

Name one thing you're really good at keeping organized in your business?   I am a HUGE fan of being organized. Being organized allows me to be super productive (i.e., help more people)! A very important aspect of any business is keeping track of what you've done, who you've met and worked with, and your profits and expenses. In order to do this, I've created my own Access database that tracks all aspects of my business.

Any specific favorite organizing tool? I love my Access database as well as QuickBooks. They meet almost all of my tracking needs.

How do you keep track of your networking and clients/profits and expenses? In order to ensure that I track everything I need to, I keep a tray by my computer where I put any of my documents or notes that need to be entered into my database (or calendar). I then set aside 30 minutes a day to update the database and work my way through the tray during the allotted time.

How do you stay motivated to keep organized? (book, advice, routine, person)  It's not hard to stay motivated to keep organized because I really enjoy the feeling being organized gives me. If it's on my calendar, I have no problem keeping up with it. So I literally schedule an "organization" appointment in my calendar on a recurring basis.

What is your biggest organizing conundrum? I am organized in pretty much every area of my life.... except my kitchen. I have to go through the cabinets every few months to re-organize them. My best guess is somehow gremlins get into the cabinets and rearrange things.

If you want to learn more about Christina and how she can help you to reach your goals for 2014 (or beyond), connect with her on her website (link above).  Here is more about the organizational tools Christina uses:








And for those of us who also need help in the kitchen feel free to get some ideas here:


Follow Dexterous Organizing @ DexterousOrganizing.com's board Kitchen Improvements/Organization on Pinterest.

Like what you read? I'd love to hear your feedback so please comment below.  Know someone who could benefit from the information? Feel free to share via social media by pressing any of the social media buttons below!

Would you like to have a 1:1 meeting with me so I can possibly have you in my back pocket as an outstanding service or product for my clients? Then email me at andrea_hancock@bdexterous.com

Ciao!

Confessions of an Organizer: When It All Feels Like Too Much!

Some days I feel like Lucy and Ethel at the conveyor belt making chocolates and then the belt speeds up and I look like a chocolate-eating fool.  

The day starts off planned and organized with my calendar all filled with productivity and delight.  Then...LIFE HAPPENS. Technology stops working properly, there's an accident on the beltway, I get a call from a friend with bad news, or maybe I ate a bad burrito (aye yai yai). Professional Organizers are human too and sometimes we have to face our demons just like the rest of humanity who doesn't make their living directing people to live life clutter-free and without chaos. Luckily we immerse ourselves in productivity books, blogs, and other media at a much higher rate than most people. Therefore we often know how to gain control of the reigns of chaos and work through the crap. Here's some suggestions on how you can too:

1. Relax, Relate, Release 

(start video at 1:15)

When your schedule suddenly has an upset the first thing we can start to do is panic or get angry. You have approximately 2-4 minutes to freak out but after that get it together. Relax, relate, release! It's no use crying over spilled milk so look at what you can control and do some triage on your day. Make some phone calls to cancel or reschedule, delegate some duties to family, friends, or colleagues, or don't do some things at all.  This is where the importance of prioritizing comes into play.

2. Put email off for a while.

Something that can exacerbate a problem rapidly is allowing more distractions or things you can't control enter into your universe. Even if it's for 30 minutes to an hour, take the time to regroup, re-plan and move forward (it might be a good time to go to lunch).  If you don't have that kind of time, or you're on the go, stop checking your phone every 5 minutes.  If you are chock full of things to do and you're running out of time, your phone could possibly add "chocolates to your conveyor belt".  Take a few minutes to catch your breath and if anyone asks, you were in a very important meeting (because you were -- with a VIP client, yourself!).

3. What's the lesson?

One thing that we could do is ask ourselves how could we have handled the situation better?  If we did all we could, but life smacked us down then give yourself a pat on the back!  But perhaps there are some hidden gems in how to move forward.  For instance, I'm not really a morning person and I've learned from experience I need to give myself a FULL hour from the time my eyes open and my feet hit the floor to the time I walk out the door.  Sure, there have been occasions where I can get ready in 30 minutes or less but those are the exceptions not the rule and so when I plan my morning, I plan accordingly. I've learned my lesson.

Could some organizational tool or app help? Could it simply be adding an alert to your calendar? Setting a personal rule like no phone while I'm [fill in the blank]? Or getting up 15 minutes earlier or setting out plans the night before? Often times we could avoid a loaded "conveyor belt" with a little bit more thought and although somethings are unavoidable we can do all we can to put our best foot forward.  Although there is no "I" in chaos, sometimes it should be. By taking yourself out of the equation, your odds of having to (okay if you haven't watched the first video yet now would be a good time) "stuff chocolates down your shirt" diminish.

Did anything said resonate with you? What do you do when it all feels like too much is going on for you to handle?  I'd love to hear from you.  Please comment below.  If you liked what you read, please don't be stingy and make sure you share on social media.  I've made it easy, just go below.

Until my next confession...

Getting Organized F.A.S.T.: The Pep Talk you'll need this Spring

Nowadays people are all about getting things done in a snap! Speed dating, Go-gurt® and even express manicures shows that things people used to take time to enjoy are rushed and squeezed into schedules. Let's face it, we all are busy and our times are at a premium. As a professional organizer I often use the acronym F.A.S.T. But ironically it breaks organizing down not to make it as quick as possible but hopefully as long-lasting as possible. How efficient can you be if you're always looking for things? Being disorganized takes our precious time away. So let's break it down so that we can get into the process of being organized and maybe you can enjoy a regular manicure and maybe even a pedi.

F. - FOCUS

1. Turn off the T.V. -- Organizing is NOT cleaning. It really isn't a mindless activity, it involves your eyes and hands and yes, your brain. I tell clients to turn off the t.v. as it causes distraction from our thought process. But if you desire some fun while getting the job done, upbeat music can give you the energy boost you need to continue.

2. De-clutter/Pare Down -- Spring Cleaning is all about letting go and opening your arms to embrace space and let new and more wonderful things in your life. Do you really need a food processor, Magic Bullet, and a set of Ginsu knives? If you use all three often than perhaps you do. But if you can't justify keeping all of the similar items, consider donating one to a friend, family member or Goodwill and let it go to someone who will use it. Open that space and place in your life to something useful or beautiful.

3. One area at a time -- If you start with the idea in ONE Saturday you will organize and clean your WHOLE 3 bedroom home you are setting yourself up for failure. Many times we pull everything out the closets, drawers, and bins and find ourselves 4 hours later in a bigger mess than we began with and no energy left to finish or no plan of action of how to put everything back in an organized fashion. Focus on one space, one place. Organize a junk drawer in the kitchen then move on to under the sink in the bathroom. You'll be surprised how organizing one small space can make a huge difference in functionality and you will be able to carry your enthusiasm throughout the whole house without feeling overwhelmed. Remember to De-clutter/Pare down during this process.


A. - Action Plan

1. Goals - What areas really bug you or stump you the most? Sometimes it's best to start with these areas but write down (yes write it down) what you'd like the space to become or transform into. Often a mind map is a good place to start to let your creative juices flow and give yourself a road map to follow.

2. Make it real - Wouldn't we all want to island hop once a year in the Caribbean? *Raises hand* But either because of time or budget it's not realistic. When making your action plan be realistic about your time and your budget. Make the plan as simple as possible and then once you've accomplished that goal you can add all the bells and whistles later.

3. Get a timeline - If you want to de-clutter for instance, give yourself a date to sort out things you don't use any longer, and then a date to donate (or schedule a donation pick up). If you create an action plan without a deadline or a time in your calendar set aside, it's just a dream and not an action plan.

S. System & Sustainability

1. Make an "I-do-this-anyway" System - Sometimes it's better to create an organizing system around the habits we already have versus trying to create new habits. For instance, if you kick your shoes off at the front door, it may be best to create an organized place for your shoes at the front door rather than to feel like you will suddenly create a new habit of walking your shoes to the bedroom closet each day. This way you make your organizing system more sustainable and longer lasting.

2. Maintenance - All good processes require maintenance. Schedule time each week or day to maintain the systems you've created. Remember that organization is a process not a destination. It may take several tries and tweaks until you get it right, or perhaps you experience changes in life (new family member, a move, a new job) that dictate you change a system. It's okay, you're not a failure you just have to adjust and tweak a system until you find the one that works for the life you currently lead.

T. Training & Tools

1. My first tool of recommendation as a professional organizer is HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER! *smile* We keep up with the latest tools, gadgets, gizmos and organizing trends. We may even help you to see you don't need any gadgets but give you tried and true tips and tricks that could tweak how you do things but make a grand difference in your life. Organizers have foresight and the outside opinion that you may seek without the judgments and comments from the peanut gallery of family and friends.

2. Books and pictures - If you don't know what you want initially, it's great to peruse the library or Barnes & Nobles to look at books and magazines on homes organization. Once you've gotten an idea of what you want you may slowly get ideas of how to get there.



Like what you read and want to share on your blog or in print? No problem. Just make sure you make this statement at the end: Copyright 2012. Andrea Hancock is a Professional Organizer, Speaker and Owner Dexterous Organizing based in the Washington DC Metro Area. Dexterous Organizing not only provides hands-on organizing services but attempts to also enlighten the world with tips of staying dexterous, organized and efficient in a world that demands much on our time and resources. Contact Andrea at (703) 606-8968 or via e-mail andrea@dexterousorganizing.com if you'd like to learn more about how you can put the pieces of your life together with organization!