What's On Your Plate? - The Appetizer

Some of us don't like our food touching on our plates. We've even mastered the art of it all.

Don't put your bread by your green beans unless you want your bread to get soggy...(ew, soggy bread).

Well if you say "I have a lot on my plate" more often than not you're referring to what's going on in your life and what's taking up your time.

In the past, I wasn't the most time-conscious person.  Well, I was conscious I was frequently running late or running out of time but not time-aware. The kicker is, I HATE being late.

When I changed careers and decided to become a Professional Organizer, I realized many of my colleagues not only helped people get their possessions organized but helped people get their time managed. Suddenly I had an "ah-ha!" moment.  I knew how to get

things in place but why was time such an issue?

Time is more abstract in our brains. Unless we are starring at a clock, we can't really "sense" five minutes slipping away, especially while we are busy doing something else.

Being the busy bee that I am, it would happen all to often -- either I was totally engrossed in a project and time would "get away from me" or I was in a procrastination mode of avoidance of something or someone and I'd subconsciously drag my feet and end up being tardy. But after my "ah-ha!" moment, I started tweaking and creating better habits and now I'm rarely late.  What changed?

Just like the cliché "plate" I started thinking about time more tangibly. Not letting my priorities/agendas/to-do items touch as it were.

The way I view time now is often how we view our literal plates and next month in "Use Your Hands", I'll give you ways to think about time in order to manage it better.

Right now, I want you to think about how you fill your plate at a buffet-style meal. What main components do you need to enjoy your meal? Think about what main components you need to manage your time.

We'll explore the similarities between the two.  You might never look at your "plate" the same way again. :)

Copyright 2012. Andrea Hancock is a Professional Organizer, Speaker and Owner of B Dexterous, LLC based in the Washington DC Metro Area.  B Dexterous publishes “Use Your Hands”, a monthly e-zine used to stay in touch with clients and prospective clients but also to 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 at andrea_hancock@bdexterous.com if you’d like to learn more about how you can put the pieces of your life together with organization!

September is National Preparedness Month!

What have you done this month to prepare for an emergency?



What exactly should you put in your emergency kit?



Here are some suggestions:

• Water - at least one gallon per person, per day for hydration and sanitation.


• Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food


• Manual can opener


• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio extra batteries for both


• Hand-crank flashlight or battery-powered with extra batteries


• First Aide Kit


• Whistle to signal for help


• Dust Mask for airborne contaminates and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place


• Moist towelettes, garbage bags


• Local maps


• Fully charged cell phone with chargers (inverter or solar charger)


• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.


• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.


• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items


• Matches in a waterproof container

Just as important as having a kit is keeping it updated. Here are tips to do so:

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.


• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to extend its shelf life.


• Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented or corroded.


• Use foods before they go bad and replace them with fresh supplies.


• Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in the front.


• Change stored food and water supplies every six months. Be sure to write the date you store it on all containers.


• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Since you do not know where you will be during an emergency, it's good to have emergency kits in three major places: Home, Work, and Vehicles



For more information visit: http://www.ready.gov/

Julius Foster of Massive Engineering Services, LLC served as the one-man sound crew for the Dexterous D.I.V.A. Clothes Swap.

 

His services include:

• Computer Sales and Repair


• Computer Networking Design


• Video Conferencing


• HelpDesk Support


• Camera Install


• And MORE!

To contact Julius email him at Julius.Foster@mesnet.net or Call him (202) 832-6589 ext. 704

Dexterous D.I.V.A. Clothing Swap was a Hit!

If you remembered last month I teamed up with Fashion Blogger and Stylist and Owner of Stamp On Style Olisi Johnson to create an organized, educational, fun, and fabulous clothes swap last month.  It was a hit!

The folks who supported the swap really enjoyed themselves and we hope to do another one next Spring!  

 

We hope you can join us.  To whet your appetite for what's ahead, take a peak at this year's event.

Make your own slide show at Animoto.

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!

Keep Your Memories Safe!

What Not to Do: Memorabilia ruined

whatever's at the bottom of this box was molded and damaged

I was on an organizing job and I saw this reminder of what NOT to do when storing photos and other mementos.  Cardboard can get damaged! Water, mold, and animals can get in and take away your memories.  Use plastic bins and use storage means that keep things off the floor to help protect what's inside.

Style & Clothes Swap Event 5.5.2012

This isn't just a clothes swap where you bring your clothes and you swap with your stylish friends.

This is an educational and fun event filled with scores of Washington DC Metropolitan area residents who have de-cluttered their closets of some pretty awesome clothes that are soon to be your new fabulous treasures. De-clutter your closet and bring your unwanted or unworn digs and come home with something new to you!

Out with the old, in with the new...

No clothes to swap? No problem. Come see what someone else brought while you enjoy workshops like: "How to Organize Your Purse/Organize Your Life" and learn the basic steps to create an organized space.  Learn about how to look for clothes best suited for your fabulous body type and ways for the professional woman to look great on a budget.

Bring any season clothing (but we prefer Spring/Summer). Bring gently worn shoes & accessories...

Can't wait to see you DIVAS there!

There is limited space, so please register to attend.