WELCOME
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Each month in this newsletter
I share organizing tips to use in your home and office. Try some
projects by yourself or ask for help from my friendly professional team.
We have great ideas for improving the use of all sizes of spaces and helping you become more productive.
Happy Organizing,
Pierrette Ashcroft
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Pierrette Ashcroft,
founder of getOrganizedDC, has more than 20 years of business experience
organizing events and providing innovative solutions in homes and
offices. She is committed to continuing her education and training to
best serve her client's organizing and productivity needs.
As
part of the inaugural class to receive credentials as a Certified
Professional Organizer, CPOÆ, Pierrette earned a top distinction in the
organizing industry.
In 2010 she completed her training to
become a Certified Productivity Coach. Through her Productivity Boot
Camp she is able to increase the productivity of busy professionals. Pierrette will clear your piles of paper, overloaded inbox and cluttered life so you can be more effective in your business and career.
To learn more, call or write for a free telephone consultation at: 202.537.9705 or Pierrette@getOrganizedDC.com. Or visit our Web site.
The
hardest part of organizing is developing an attractive plan. We are
happy to help you with any challenges, large or small. Expect efficient
and reliable service from our team, who promise to keep your personal
information confidential. Read what our clients are saying about us.
I
love what I do and my business thrives on referrals. Please keep me in
mind if you should hear of friends, family or colleagues who could
benefit from my organizational expertise or who would like to take their
productivity to a whole new level. I'm never too busy to help them get
organized. Thanks!
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MAKING GOOD ORGANIZING DECISIONS
| | Keep Only What You Need, Love and Use
 Are you aware of your thoughts and your justification for keeping things?
They are only excuses that hold you back and fill your life with clutter. Which one do you use?
It was a gift. Guilt can keep you trapped and living with countless things you don't like and will never use.
It works. Perfect, then give it to someone who can 'use' it.
I may need it someday. Live in the now and surround yourself with what you use today, not someday.
I like it. Your space is limited and precious so fill it with objects you love, not just like.
I paid a lot of money for it.
You continue to pay through stress and chaos caused by clutter and it
doesn't bring your money back. Forgive yourself for spending the money
and let it go.
Now replace your excuses with a new logic. Keep only what you need, love and use.
Need means it's essential. You need to keep vital records and documents, everything else is just a want. Use this personal record retention schedule as a guide.
Love
is a deep emotion but it can change over time. Keep the things that you
currently love and let go of past loves. Keep the memory but don't be
tied down with the object.
Use is the largest
category. These are the things you truly use daily, monthly, annually or
seasonally to cook, clean, repair or wear. You get the idea. It's not
the things stuffed in boxes or the back of a closet that you haven't
touched in a few years.
Once you start letting go of things you
will realize you don't need as much as you thought and you will feel a
sense of liberation.
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Share this newsletter with friends and family who will find it useful.
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DECKING MY HALLS WITH LOVE
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| And Not With Clutter
 When I was little I remember spending days decorating for Christmas. It was exciting to unpack the ornaments and display everything. Putting it all away was not so fun.
It probably will not surprise you that my holiday tradition now has a minimalist approach.
Keeping with the need, use, love theme my decorations definitely fall in the love category.
I
have two ornament tree about 2 feet tall each. I love the trees
themselves but also my ornament collection. I think of it as jewelry for
my house.
Since I have a design background many of the ornaments are handmade and unique.
Some have a special memory of a trip or experience.
A few I've even had since I was a little girl.
One thing they all have in common is that they are small and carefully chosen. I edit every year and give up the ones that are no longer special.
I spent about an hour decorating my ornament trees this year. The minimal time decorating gives me more time to admire the beauty of individual ornaments.
I
know many like to indulge during the holidays and are not likely to
adopt my self-restrained decorating style but I do hope everyone will
only display things that they really love and that bring them joy.
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MAKE UP YOUR MIND
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| Some Questions to Help You Set New Goals
 As another year draws to an end many of us are setting goals for the next year. Just deciding what you want to accomplish can be a struggle.
To help you set clear goals and priorities that will improve the quality of your life ask yourself some questions.
Will reaching this new goal energize you?
Or is this really something that will only add to your over-scheduled
calendar? If it doesn't really excite you, you are less likely to stick
with it.
Do you have the skills required to
attain the goal? Are you willing to learn and ask for support from
others? It is hard enough to make changes but if you don't know how to
make the change, it becomes that much more difficult.
Do you have time to dedicate to this goal? Are you willing to give up something else to make time?
What is the reward you will receive by accomplishing your goal? Keeping the payoff in mind may help boost your motivation.
After you decide what you want to accomplish, break your goal into small steps. Work tenaciously. As you start crossing completed steps off your plan, you will build momentum.
Remember to think positively! One of my favorite quotes is from Henry Ford, "whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right."
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ORGANIZING SOLUTION
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| Organizing Steps
 Challenge:
Your stairs have become an obstacle course with a pile of items that need to go upstairs.
Solution:Use a stair basket to collect stuff that needs to go up or down stairs. Don't go from one floor to another empty handed. Grab an item on each trip and put it where it belongs.
Result: You now have a handy gathering place. This attractive basket will eliminate the trip hazard that used to be your stairs.
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