Procrastination

To procrastinate is to delay...I have been delaying writing this newsletter, but why is that? I love sending out information to my readers who look forward to the organizing tips and the motivation it gives them, although with summer here I was feeling less than motivated myself!

So, rather than delay any longer, I asked my friends for help. It is amazing what you can come up with when you put your heads together.

One friend recently went to a jewelery organizing party. Each person was told to bring their jewelery box and an appetizer to share. The host supplied one new piece of jewelery for someone to win at the end of the night and some small sized plastic ziploc type bags that can be bought at the Dollar Store. While organizing they shared stories about where the jewellery came from, why it was special and even the events it was worn to.  At the end of the night everyone walked away with an organized jewellery box and a small travel pouch with extra baggies for any new jewellery they might purchase.

So, when you think about the things you have been delaying  just remember that you are not on this journey alone. Could you get things going with a little help from some friends?  Ask...you will be pleasantly surprised with the results

Business Card Organizing

Question: What should I do with my piles of business cards?  They are scattered all over my desk and I can never find the one I am looking for when I need it!

Answer: Set up a contact management system that works with your personal organizing style.
 
First decide which cards you really need to keep. You may have collected a lot of cards over the years but consider which ones are still up to date and relevant to keep.

Next, determine your method of retreival. Do you remember people by their first name, last name, business type, business name, a distinguishing feature you remember about them or where you met them?  This will determine the method you use to sort your card categories.

The next step is to store the cards so they are easy to find.  There are several ways you can store the cards:

• Use an empty business card box with Post-it-Notes as dividers.
• Use a Rolodex or other card file and alphabetize by last name, first name or business name.
• Type or scan them into a database on your computer. Business card scanners keep the image of the card along with the contact information in your contact management system. Once they are in your system you can then search using one or multiple categories.
• Put the cards in a three-ring binder with clear plastic pages and use dividers to separate the categories.

If you are a visual Piler, choose a storage method where you can see the card as this will trigger your memory. You may also want to write when or where you met as well as any reminder notes on the back of the card.

Inspired to Give Now

A vision is a powerful thing. My good friend Crystal Flaman is an Ironman Triathlete who wants to make a difference.  She signed up for the Hawaii Ironman and made it her personal goal to raise $500,000 for Room To Read, a charity that builds schools, libraries and provides scholarships for children around the world!

It goes to show how one person with a seemingly impossible goal can truly make a difference. All it takes is a vision and the faith to make it happen! 

To find out more about Room to Read and see Crystal's vision statement video go to www.inspiredtogivenow.com  

Okanagan Organizers

Okanagan Organizers is a group of independent Professional Organizers who have joined together to raise the awareness of the Professional Organizing industry in the Okanagan Valley.

We are creating a Mentorship Program for anyone interested in Professional Organizing as a career. Contact us to find out more about the organizing industry and how Okanagan Organizers can help you get started in one of the fastest growing industries in the Okanagan.

Share Your Ideas!

Do you have an innovative idea that helps you stay organized at work or at home?  Your challenges are often similar to others so if you have a question or think you have found a solution that could help someone else, we would like to hear about it!

Share your great ideas with the other readers of this newsletter by sending me your tips, ideas, questions or challenges and they will be included in our next monthly newsletter, PLUS you will be entered to WIN a FREE consultation with a Professional Organizer!

Here's what one winner had to say:

"Thank you for your helpful suggestions about how to declutter our home. I figured I would start with the home office area since it bothered me the most. It contributed to a lot of wasted time as I was forever digging through piles of papers looking for missing items.
 
The few changes that I have made in that area have made an enormous difference. It has changed the whole feel to that space - if that makes sense. I don't think it will ever get as messy/disorganized as it was before because now I actually like that room and won't mind spending time there doing what I need to do.
 
Seeing what a difference your suggestions have made to that part of our home has motivated me to tackle the other areas of our home that need work. Thanks again for all your help!"

QUICK LINKS

What is a Professional Organizer?
How Can I Help You?
Need a Speaker? Contact Linda
Become a Professional Organizer