Self Persuasion Through Organization

If you're anything like me, you're a very busy person. Not only am I busy with regular things--teaching, family, health maintenance--I'm also in the midst of a moving, requiring an added list of what needs to be done. It's hard to believe how much has to be done in a day and because this is on my mind, I'm inspired to write more on the topic of organization as I believe it has helped keep me on even footing in a time of change.

I don't care much for chaos. If things need to get done but aren't getting done, it upsets me. I realize that with change there is often chaos, and so in an attempt to minimize that, I like to shape that chaos into something simple.

I'm sure you're busy as well. Maybe your tasks are high priority, requiring deadlines and follow ups that simply have to be met. Some of them are probably less important--getting the dry cleaning, getting a car wash, remembering Secretary's Day. One thing that I find invaluable in this high tech world is a pencil and paper and a very easy thing called a list. Yup. The ever faithful 'to do' list. I suppose it could be that I'm just very process oriented. I like a 1-2-3 way of doing things. As I've discussed before, the conscious mind can only hold seven plus or minus two pieces of information at any one time. When we transfer the information that we don't need immediately onto a piece of paper (or into our Blackberries, if you're so inclined), this frees up space to concentrate on the present.

I typed the words "to do list" into Google and was given a variety of resources for online listing. Remember when a pocket note book and pen were all we needed? I happen to prefer the old-fashioned handwritten list, but if you have a Blackberry, why not put it to use?

The site www.rememberthemilk.com seemed easy to use and had the added bonus of being completely free. This one works with the iPhone or online. Another free site is http://roughunderbelly.com. If you're someone who likes to be rewarded for doing your tasks, this is a nice one giving charts and graphs of how productive you are as you do what needs to be done.

I've also become reacquainted with a tool I used to use but which I lost track of. Ironically, it's a tool to keep you organized (helping you to remember) the things you need to do. It's called Thought Office and falls under the heading of brainstorming. It's a creative and organizational tool that I simply love and for which I have found various uses.

I believe that by clearing up internal clutter and organizing our thoughts and tasks, we have a firmer grasp of making the big steps, accomplishing big things.

So what does this all have to do with persuasion?

I've said this before and I'll say it again many times: Once we can persuade ourselves, whether it be something big like quitting smoking or losing weight, or something as small like dropping off that bag of clothes at Goodwill then we create an internal environment where we are saying what we do and doing what we say. In this, we are working with our other than conscious minds to achieve amazing results.

About the Author
Kenrick Cleveland teaches techniques to earn the business of affluent clients using persuasion. He runs public and private seminars and offers home study courses and coaching programs in persuasion techniques.

Bathroom Organization

If you're lucky enough to have a "guest bathroom", one that isn't used by the family and one where you can always keep clean hand towels hanging for the guests, good for you. For most of us however, we have one or two bathrooms, and they both get a lot of use from the family members on a daily basis. Let's see how you can organize your bathroom so that it's guest ready too.

The one thing that most of us have too much of is lots of bottles of "stuff" sitting around the sink and countertop. Go through these and discard what you don't use on a daily basis, and what only has a drip left in it. Go buy two decorative baskets and have a "his" and "hers". One for his stuff, and one for her stuff. You could keep your toothpaste, hairspray, brush and comb, moisturizer, etc., in a basket that can be simply picked up and moved when guests come, and then put back when you're ready to use them again.

If you like to have magazines in the bathroom don't let them just pile up in a corner next to the toilet, get a nice magazine rack for them.

Next take a look at the inside of the shower. How moldy is that curtain? They cost around $4.00 - buy a new one. Look at the bottles in the shower, they tend to get left in the shower even when they're almost empty. Throw them out and try to streamline the number of bottles in the shower. If you don't have built in shelves around your shower get an organizer that hangs over your showerhead, or one on an extension pole you can put in the corner of the shower.

A cheap way to make your bathroom like new is with accessories. Buy a nice shower curtain with a matching rug. You can also get matching towels. If you have limited towel space you can buy a towel rack that hangs on the wall, they come in many different designs. With a nice wall towel rack you can make a display of beautifully colored towels - that you can also use too! Purchase a set of matching bathroom accessories, soap dish, toothbrush holder, cup, liquid soap dispenser.

I think you're going to love your bathroom!

About the Author
This article courtesy of http://www.vac-facts.com

7 Quick and Easy Garage Organization Tips

Need fast and simple solutions for your garage organization problems? Here are seven tips to help you get that garage in order and organized for good.

Hanging Racks

Getting racks that you can hang from the rafters of your garage works great for a variety of items. This garage organization solution works especially well for bikes. It keeps them from taking away valuable floor space while still keeping them easily accessible.

Hooks

Hooks are a great solution for many garage items. Long handled items that have a hole in the end work well to hang on hooks. If you use tarps or any sort of cover for your car or grill, hanging these things on hooks in the garage when they are not in use works very well.

Pegboards

This is one of the best garage organization tips that there is. Pegboards are the most flexible and inexpensive garage organization tools that there is. You can easily change how your garage is organized just by changing where you put your pegboard holders.

When you do get it organized exactly the way you want, take a picture of it and hang the picture up next to the holders. Do this for every section of the garage that has pegboard holders. It works best to do this for each section of the pegboard rather than taking a picture of the entire thing.

Shelves

The best way to use shelves in your garage is for storing containers and smaller items. Make sure that whatever shelving you install will be able to handle the weight load of what you are going to put on it.

Keep sharp and dangerous items off the floor

This is one of those garage organization tips that seems obvious but which is not always easy to follow. Making sure that things like rakes and hoes get put in their proper place is important for safety. When these items end up on the floor, you can have an unpleasant surprise if you are not watching where you are walking. Always put back items in their proper place that are potentially dangerous.

Secure hazardous items

This is another one of those garage organization tips that has to do with safety, always an important topic when you are dealing with garage storage. Anything that is toxic to humans or animals should be kept in a secure area that small children and pets cannot reach. Things like paint, weed killers, bug sprays and gas all belong in this category. If you have pets that go in the garage and they can climb, this means putting these items in high cabinets that you can close. If you have children, it is always a good idea to let them know at a young age what is and is not dangerous in the garage.

Wall Tool Holders

These work well for weed trimmers, shovels, rakes, garden equipment and brooms. Having a wall tool holder not only helps keep these items organized but it also means that they stay off the floor.

About the Author
Need more help getting that garage organized? Get more simple garage organization tips (including help so that you can finally actually park your car in the garage) at: http://www.yourhomeisorganized.com/GarageOrganization.htm

Tips For Closet Organization

Organization. That's the key to leading a leisurely life. If you have a place for everything and put everything in its place, then you won't have to waste time looking for such things as your car keys, matching shoes for your shirt or dress, or papers that you need for work. And if you don't have to waste time looking for misplaced items, then you won't have to deal with the feelings of frustration or aggravation that always result from such activity!

Today, it is possible to purchase all kinds of shelves, racks, drawers and cabinets for every room in your house. You could always cobble together something on your own, of course, but the quality and utility of it will probably be better from a store-bought item.

Do you have a laundry room, complete with washer and dryer? Is it arranged to your satisfaction? If not, here's a few items designed specially for the laundry room. It all depends on how much space you have, of course, but the right items can at least double your space.

Wire shelving is one way to add that space to your laundry room. If the walls are of tile or for some reason you don't want to attach the shelving to them, you can get shelving designed to fit over the top of your washer. You can also find folding tables, specially designed for the laundry, on which you can sort and fold your clothes, and then fold and put away until next time. A laundry sorter with divisions for colors, darks and whites is also helpful. And of course the laundry room is probably where you store your mops and other cleaning material. Get a wall organizer from you can suspend all these items, and it will improve the look of your laundry.

Once you've finished washing your clothes, it's time to put them away in the appropriate closet. Alas, there's no way yet to teleport the clothing directly, so you do have to make the time for that. If there's enough room in your laundry so that you can fold the clothing into appropriate piles, that makes things easier, of course.

How's your closet? Are your shoes jumbled on the floor in an unattractive mass, and more often than not buried underneath clothing or bags or other items? For the guys out there, are your silk ties and belts mashed together in a single drawer?

Many systems exist to help you take care of your shoe collection, no matter how extensive it may be, from over-the-wall hangers that fit on the back of your closet door, to tilted floor shelves. You can even get a rolling shoe rack that you can slide underneath your bed, which will leave your closet floor completely empty.

Tie and belt racks, designed specifically for the purpose, will ensure that these items stay where you put them, and will make it easier than ever for you to choose the appropriate one. There are swing-out racks so that the ties or belts will nestle against the wall or door, swing out to give you easy movement while you make your choice for the day, and then swing back to give you room once more to look at your shirts or dresses.

Some people don't like to lay their slacks out in drawers. For these people, they can suspend their slacks on hangers of course, in amongst the dresses or shirts, or you can purchase a pants trolley which will roll right into and out of your closet for ease of use. Make sure you purchase a trolley made out of a sturdy metal or wood.

If you've organized your closet and still don't have room, it's time to move some of your clothing to storage. If you live in a location with clearly defined seasons, you can store away your winter clothing until it's needed again, for example. Airtight storage bags are the ticket here.

And finally, don't forget the little things. You don't want moths getting into your clothing! Moth balls, cedar blocks or herbal sachets are of use here, and of course the cedar blocks or sachets will give off a pleasant aroma. If you live in an area subject to damp, you'll want a closet moisture absorber to take care of that problem.

About the Author
Andrew Caxton contributes adding content to http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com. Find more publications about closet organizers at his website.

Kitchen Organization Tips

The American kitchen is busier than ever. We prepare our meals, eat and clean up in a hurry. In such a busy place, organization is key to keeping everything running smoothly.

Just like the office, your kitchen should be organized. If you've never organized a kitchen, it can seem like a daunting process. In such chaos, knowing where to start might even look impossible. Thankfully, there are some simple procedures that you can follow to keep your kitchen clean, tidy, and well arranged.

The first thing you can do to subdue chaos in your kitchen is to identify zones within the space. A kitchen zone is an area where you perform the same task over and over, such as preparation of food before cooking, baking, serving, storage, or cleaning. Once you have designated these zones, it's easy to optimize that part of the kitchen for the activities it plays host to most often.

When you embark on a major organization project, be sure to plan ahead. Don't take everything out of the drawers and cabinets unless you know that you have a block of time to be devoted to the project. Invest time in deciding what appliances and supplies will end up in what location. If you have a plan for your kitchen ahead of time, you won't be as likely to feel lost in the middle of your reorganization project. Consider your habits, the flow of traffic through your kitchen, and what appliances you use most often when planning your new kitchen. Then systematically remove everything from the kitchen and sort all items into categories.

You can then go through each category and choose items you want to keep and ones you want to discard. Items that you do not use often should be stored towards the back of the cabinet, or on top, to allow easy access to ones you use more frequently. If you have a hard time remembering what you keep in your drawers and cabinets, consider posting an inventory list on the inside of the doors. Another handy tip is to keep a grocery list on the inside of a cabinet door or on the refrigerator, where you can add to it easily when you think of something that needs to be purchased.

If you have trouble with forgotten items clustering at the back of your cabinet, try installing a Lazy Susan. These turntables will help you easily bring items at the back of the cabinet into view. Specialty organizational tools such as paper bag storage, turntable spice racks, and racks to hold plastic wrap and aluminum foil are available. These can help to save space and alleviate mess, but too many of them or ones purchased without forethought will contribute to clutter. Planning and careful consideration are of the utmost importance when organizing your kitchen. In addition, routine maintenance of the kitchen will lessen the need for major reorganizations. If you keep the amount of clutter in the kitchen low, your job will be easier in the long run.

About the Author
Hunter Pyle wrote this article to give some tips and ideas for organizing your kitchen. Check out Kitchen and Much More for more storage and organization ideas.

Simple Moving Advice: Large Apartment to Smaller One

It's that time of year again to determine whether you will be living in your current apartment or moving. The rent has become unaffordable now that you are no longer receiving the income you once had. As you look around your apartment, you have to make the painful decision of what you will pack and what will be sold, given and thrown away. This is a personal time for you that may be best spent alone before you invite the family over to help you pack.

Begin to make a list or sort the items that mean the most to you by thinking, "If there were a fire what would I absolutely become depressed about it if I lost it?" Pack those things first. For some people it may be their treasured photos, diaries, family videos, certificates, awards, and jewelry. Include important insurance and tax information in boxes or suitcases that will be easy to find and unpack later.

Next, you may want to start with your collection of media removing all items that you don't watch, read or listen to anymore. Try to sell what you can through classifieds, fliers, yard sales, flea markets, and the Internet. What doesn't sell you can offer it to a media exchange outlet that will give you money for your used goods or give it to a donation center. Perform the same sorting method with clothes, shoes, kitchen appliances, living and dining room décor and furniture, and unopened beauty and cleaning products that you never bothered using.

Once you have emptied out shelves and cabinets, be sure to throw away unnecessary papers, pens, damaged magazines (but try to sell the good ones,) and miscellaneous parts that are broke and you don't have the need for anymore. Oftentimes, companies will specifically make a part for a certain item that can't be used on anything else. Loose change may be found in peculiar places as you pack, jar it and take it to a coin center that will count your money. Most of these machines can be found in grocery stores.

After you have parted with some of your belongings and got rid of the items you considered useless, you will want to decide on whether your new apartment will be able to accommodate the large sofa and chairs or the huge entertainment center you may have bought not that long ago. If you choose to sell it, then you will have additional space in your new place that you may need. However, if you don't, you may have to sacrifice something else. Some people will invest in storage, but is it really worth paying to store items that you just don't know when you will be able to get out? If you are renting furniture then you won't have to bother with storing or selling anything; however, you may want to consider losing the additional expense if you don't have any of the furniture nearly paid off (such as 3 to 6 months left on your bill until you own it.) If saving money is a priority, then avoid storing or renting items.

Think about turning off any unnecessary luxuries and keeping them turned off temporarily such as the cable package with all the extra movie channels or the Internet service. Allow yourself some time to get caught up on other bills before you have your service continued. Check your cell phone plan is it better than most? Could you save money by switching? Make the time to shop at stores that offer rewards for being their customer and use coupons at grocery stores that will double them. These attempts at saving money will provide you with the additional money to get caught up on bills, make small purchases for your new home, and save for emergencies. Make a promise to yourself that you will be more careful with how you spend your money in the future so that you may never have to downgrade to a smaller apartment again, because you can't afford the rent.

The last thing on your "to do" list once you have sorted and packed all the items you decided to keep, should be to purchase the items you will need to help you live organized and clutter free. The following list will help you decide what you will need to buy based on what you may or may not have.

Anything that can be mounted to the wall, get the mounts to do it. If you have no free storage room at your new apartment complex and you have a bike, mount it to a wall to make more room and keep the tires off the floor. Also, purchase a TV mount with a VCR or DVD section like the ones you may have seen at the doctor's office. They aren't cheap, but they will definitely provide you with the additional space that an entertainment center takes up.

Any books, CDs, or DVDs that you kept can be set on a wall shelf. Collectibles can also be placed in a curio cabinet or something similar that suspends to a wall. Photos in boxes may be sorted and placed in large picture frames and hung on walls. Keepsake mementos can be framed allowing you to get rid of old shoeboxes and photo albums. You can also create more space for your media by purchasing a traveling CD case and getting rid of the CD stand along with the jewel cases.

If you don't have a bed rail or box frame with drawers for a bed, then consider buying one. They will provide the extra storing space you will need for your bedroom items. For the bed rail frames, they will set your bed higher allowing space for plastic containers to be stored.

Don't cramp any of your rooms with useless whimsical furniture that can hold or store any additional items. Keep only the tables that can hold a lamp and some magazines or have drawers.

Don't go overboard with décor. Too many collectibles and décor will make your apartment feel crowded. If you aren't use to a lot of décor, don't start. In time you will have to dust those items and if you don't like to dust, don't get them.

Avoid the temptation to unpack anything that you know you don't need to use on a daily basis. Any large boxes that aren't being unpacked, you can always drape them with a pretty fabric (such as curtains) and make them as a corner table or nightstand in your bedroom. Another way to hide unpacked boxes is to suspend a curtain from the ceiling and hide items behind the curtain, now you have just created your own mini storage room.

Consider back of the door organizers for the bathroom and bedroom. Since drawer and shelf space may be limited, you may want to place your smaller items in the pockets. In the bathroom, if there is space over the toilet, use that space for additional shelving to store towels and washcloths. If you run out of drawer room above the sink, use shoebox containers to store additional items or a drawer organizer or bin for easy access to your grooming supplies.

The most chairs you may need for entertaining is two reading chairs in the living room, if you don't have the space for a large couch. This will also provide the space for your computer desk and office chair. Unless you must have a coffee table, keep it only if it has drawers they would be helpful to your storing needs. It isn't necessary to keep end tables unless you have the space for them. They can sometimes be more of a problem then a solution. When guest come over the tables tempt them to want to eat and drink in your living room increasing the risk for accidents that may stain the owner's carpet that you will have to eventually pay for out of your security deposit.
You may or may not have a dining room. If you do, then you will need at least one large cabinet that you could place your collectibles if it has a display case. If you don't have any collectibles to display, then purchase a cabinet with doors that you could store coats, umbrellas, hats and other outdoor apparel and sporting equipment.

Consider packing all of your keepsakes in those empty suitcases you will be storing in your bedroom. Since you won't be doing a lot of traveling, why have them in your closet empty? Organize your shoes with a shoe organizer. As for bulky items, the space saver bags that have been advertised on TV in the past will definitely come in handy.

In the kitchen, wall space can also be best used for large skillets and pans. Purchase hooks that can hold items inside the cupboard. The space over the sink could use a nice shelf to hold lighter items. Purchase shelving for seasonings if there is an empty wall near the stove. Extra kitchen utensils can be placed in casserole dishes or other large containers if you run out of drawer room. Keep only your best cleaning products, the ones that can be used on a variety of surfaces. Too many cleaners that only work for specific tasks can take up a lot of space in the bottom of your cabinet. Buy a very large plastic bowl, basket or rack to organize those items. You will need something that can remove all of your items under the sink at one time in case there are ever any leaks.

As you visit various stores, you will come up with more ways to make your apartment more organized and efficient. Remember to take this time to enjoy your new life and appreciate your new home no matter how small it may be. Think of the money you will be able to save in the future, hopefully for a down payment on a new home!

Nicholl McGuire