Getting your Office Ready for the New Year

I read an article this morning that echoes my advice on clearing out your desk and files for this year to get ready for 2008. It was written by Rhonda Abrams and appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Enjoy!

Rid your desk of clutter to usher in new year unfettered

Taking down the decorations

When it's time to take down the Christmas decorations, sort through and declutter. Get rid of anything in your Christmas boxes that you haven't used for the last couple of years and that you don't love.

As you are replacing your Christmas decorations with the regular ones, do the same thing. Get rid of anything that you don't love or is extraneous. Take the moment to look at your decor with a fresh eye - is it too much? is there something you need to make it complete? is anything faded or worn? is there something in another part of the house that would brighten up your look?

While you're at it, get rid of old magazines and other clutter. A nice time to rethink things!!

Stock up on your Christmas wrap supplies

Today is a great day to stock up on next year's wrapping supplies. Since you've just finished wrapping all those gifts, you should have a good idea of what you need.

I went to Wal-mart (www.walmart.com) this morning at 6 am. There was a big rush over to the Christmas section, but I found much cuter things in the greeting card section. Hallmark and Expressions were both half price and no one was looking there.

Also found some placemats for next year and a few small gifts. These, too, were tucked away in the domestic section, and not in the Christmas section.

Happy shopping!!

Last minute prioritization for December 24

If your list is longer than is humanly possible to accomplish today, prioritize. Make a list of everything you feel you need to do. Look it over to see if there are things you can live without doing. Next, see what you can delegate to others. With your remaining list, prioritize, giving the most urgent and important item on your list a #1 and so on down your list.

This will clear your mind and allow you to concentrate on the most critical tasks, one at a time. Any time you think of something else you need to do, add it to your list and figure out where it falls on your priorities.

If during the day, you are at your energy's end, take a few moments, put your feet up, have a cup of tea or coffee and re-energize.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful, Merry Christmas!

Check out CampusCalmU

Check out www.CampusCalmU.com - Campus Calm's new program for college students. I'm so impressed with this website and the help it offers college students!
All sorts of information is provided by Maria and her 12 experts (I happen to be the one on Time Management). So If you have a college student in your life, buy him/her a membership - an amazing, continuous gift.

Interview with Family Circle Magazine!

Yesterday I was interviewed by Family Circle Magazine for an article they are doing on organizing your scrapbook supplies. The article will appear in the April 1 edition.

My book signing on Saturday went well according to Borders - above average sales.

What fun!!

Book Signings at Borders Stores

Just wanted to let you know I'm very excited to announce I'm having three book signings at Borders - one here in Ohio and two in Maryland.

December 15, Saturday - Borders in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, on Howe Avenue, 1-3 pm.

December 29, Saturday - Borders in Gaithersburg, MD, 1-3 pm.

December 29, Saturday - Borders in Silver Spring, MD, 5-7pm.

Hope to see you there!

Toy decluttering

If you haven't already, take some time to declutter your children's rooms before Christmas. Throw away anything that is broken. Toys that are outgrown or not used can be passed down to a sibling or stored for future use. Or give them to a friend or charity. Don't stop until there is no clutter and the room is peaceful. When Christmas comes, there will be adequate space for your child's new toys!

Make sure your child has a system - a place for books, a place for larger toys (I recommend shelves), bins or boxes for toys with many parts, a place for collections or special items, and a place for papers, a trash can, and a laundry basket.

Set aside time each day for your child to maintain the system - time to make the bed, put away toys, throw away trash, put clothes in the laundry basket, etc.

Organization of tree bulbs, ornaments, etc.

I read a great idea from www.OrganizedChristmas.com this morning.

"Keep holiday decor supplies close at hand with this simple, sneaky solution: an under-tree box. Select a pretty holiday gift box with a removable lid. Put all fuses, replacement light bulbs and extra ornament hooks inside the box, add a gift bow and slide it beneath the tree."

Wasn't that clever?

Last minute gift ideas

Need a few last minute gift ideas? Go to www.womansday.com/holidaygiftguide for some quick suggestions. Or go to http://www.heart4home.net/giftsinajar.htm for gifts in a jar mixes.

Decluttering and Organizing Your Email

Decluttering and organizing my email made it to the top of the list today. Is your email inbox overflowing, too?

My first line of attack was to go through each page and delete anything I didn't want to read.

What was left were things I need to read or deal with today and emails I wanted to keep.

As I went through the list of emails I wanted to keep, I moved them into folders. To do this, click the email you want to save and then click the "move" tab at the top. If you haven't created folders you can do so by clicking "new folder" at the top of the folder list. Type in the name you want to assign for that email.

For example, for items I have purchased and I want to be able to find the company again, I titled a folder "purchases". I have a folder labeled "travel" for email confirmation notices for airline tickets. I have one called "family" for emails from family members. And I have several for various aspects of my business. Your folders will reflect your interests and life.

Make a to-do list or place a reminder on your calendar if you have moved emails that still require some action into folders.

Don't forget to check your bulk mail every once in a while, even though it is filled with filth. Several important emails of mine have gone to my bulk mail lately.

If you're expecting an email from someone and it hasn't arrived in a timely manner, bulk mail may be the culprit. Make sure you add those addresses to your contact list to prevent further strays. There is a button after their email address which adds it to your contact list. You can also hit the "not spam" button at the top to avoid future misdirection.

Finals Survival Kits for College Students' Finals

Do you have a special college student in your life? Brighten up his/her life during finals week by sending a Finals Survival Kit. Things to include:

Healthy snacks: pistachios or other nuts, beef jerkey, trail mix, popcorn

Drinks: hot choccolate, teas, coffee mixes, juices

Fun snacks: cookies, chocolate, candy

Encouraging words: write a note for each day (5-7) or use the following proverbs -


Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind

Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

Easy come, easy go, but steady diligence pays off.

A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights