How to Stop Junk Mail – A Smart Approach

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Kim

Junk mail in mailboxIt’s National Time Management Month. The most obvious way to get a grip on time is to not spend it dealing with unwanted, unrequested, unimportant matters … like junk mail!

With all the truly important things that do need our time and attention, why spend another single day dealing with junk? Just the word itself is a clue that figuring out how to stop junk mail from coming our way is time well spent.

Sure, I’m the first one to admit the appeal of a new catalog or any other glossy item that lands in my mailbox. But, I equally admit that letting myself be distracted by these unrequested items is not a smart, effective approach to using my time.

So what is the smart approach to eliminating junk mail?

1.   Register at www.DMAchoice.org. This free online tool created by The Direct Marketing Association allows you to communicate your mail preferences directly to their Direct Marketing Association membership. You can even register to control the number of commercial emails you receive.

2.    Sign up at www.CatalogChoice.org. This free service provides an amazing number of ways to eliminate not only catalogs (as the name suggests) but also coupons, credit card offers, phone books, circulars and more. Personally select which Opt-Out requests you would like submitted to a list of over 4000 companies. Add-on services include a free mobile app. And for a small fee, you can even purchase a Mail Stop Envelope to send in the mailing label from unwanted mail. Catalog Choice will take it from there.

3.   And yes, there’s even an App for that! Check out www.PaperKarma.com. Simply download this free app, take a photo of your junk mail and you’re done. Simple as that!

Take a few minutes of your time to check out these sites. Did you sign up? Post a comment and let me know.

Happy Organizing,

 Kim Cossette

Share
Posted in Paper, Time Management | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Simple Approach to Never Being Without a Perfect Greeting Card Again!

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Kim

 Greeting Card Organizer

Happy Valentine’s Day! Did you know that today is the 3rd most popular day of the entire year to  give and receive greeting cards (right behind birthdays and Christmas)? No surprise here, right? If this is true, exactly how simple was it for you to put your hands on the perfect card for your Valentine? If your answer was not so easy, or worse yet … I ran out of time, so picked up a ho-hum one on the way home from work, here are 3 simple steps you can take now:

 1. Gather all the greeting cards you currently own and sort them by topic – just like in the store (birthday, thank you, thinking of you, get well, etc.)

2. Select a pretty box (decorated shoe box, photo or card organizer box, etc.) and insert your cards. Use card stock or large index cards to create divider tabs for your categories.

3. Now, here’s the final touch: Make a list of all the important people in your life you want to remember through the year, along with a list of the special days you want to acknowledge them (birthdays, Valentine’s Day, etc.) Also, make a list of other common events you reasonably expect to send cards for (sympathy, congratulations, etc.). Review your list against the cards you already own. Anything missing? If so, start looking now for that right card, check it off your list and store it in your box. Bonus Tip: Make a note to yourself on your calendar to actually send your cards. Easy as that!

Take these 3 simple steps now and you will never be without the perfect greeting card again.

 Happy Organizing,

Kim Cossette

Share
Posted in Greeting Cards, Holidays | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My Grand New Adventure with Team in Training

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Kim

Team in TrainingGet Organized Month is not over yet! In my opinion, the best reason to get organized and become more efficient is to make time for you!

Are you still excited and moving forward with your organizing goals this year? If you’re feeling stalled already – take a moment to remember exactly why getting organized is important to you. Imagine what you will do with a clear space? With free time? Clear your space and schedule and a whole new world opens up for what’s important to you.

Many of you are already aware, but I want to let everyone know about my own personal commitment. 2012 is the year I am lacing up my hiking boots and hitting the trails by joining The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. The organization is committed to raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I am personally committed to raising $5,000 for this cause and, at the same time, experience the thrill of hiking as many miles as possible with my team at Yosemite on June 16.

If you’d like to learn more about the organization, read about my reason for participating as well as my progress and adventures, or make a contribution – simply visit my personal Team in Training webpage.

So how will you make time for yourself in 2012? Please post a comment and let me know – I’d love to hear about your own adventures.

Happy Organizing,

Kim

 

 

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Got Closet Clutter?

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Kim

Messy ClosetYou’ve just opened the door to your master closet to get dressed for the day. While searching for your favorite pair of shoes, you find:

□ A hidden Christmas gift you bought last summer on sale and stashed away for safe keeping.

□ A stack of mail  swiped off the kitchen counter right before your holiday open house which, wouldn’t you know it, contains unpaid bills.

□ Several jeans you intended to return …. six months ago.

□ Your favorite pair of shoes, exactly where they belong!

Which box(es) did you check? If you found your shoes within seconds – congratulations! If it took a while, or you still haven’t found them – maybe it’s time to organize your closet. January, also known as  Get Organized Month, is more than half over! Why not take advantage of the fresh start that comes with a new year and take a peak in your closets, pull out the items that don’t belong and reclaim your closet today.

What unexpected item did you find in your closet? Post a comment below. The reader who posts the most unusual item (in my opinion, of course) will receive a free copy of my CD Change Your Life With The Organized Approach.

Happy Organizing,

Kim

Share
Posted in closets, Clutter | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Organize Your Desk – It’s National Clean Your Desk Day!

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Kim

Clear DeskHappy Monday morning! If you’ve just finished your coffee and are now wondering how to kick off your week … let me suggest you take a few minutes to organize your desk. Why? It’s National Clean Your Desk Day.

These simple steps will take you from a messy desk to a clear desk in no time:

  • Gather all loose paper into one pile. Then, simply do a quick sort and separate into these sub-piles: Needs Attention (I’ve written an entire post on how to handle these Action Files), Filing (set aside for later, unless this will take you less than 2 minutes), Shred (do this now), Recycle (do this now)
  • Return file folders to their proper home (file drawer, cabinet, etc.)
  • Remove everything that doesn’t belong on your desk (last week’s coffee mug, perhaps).
  • Sort supplies and return to their proper home (middle drawer, pen/pencil holder, supply closet, etc.)

And finally, think about your day, or even the entire week ahead, and be sure you do have all the right tools and supplies right at your fingertips.

If you have a bigger challenge than you can face all in one sitting, you may like to check out my Paper Organizing Challenge (a series of 14 blog posts that will walk you through your paper clutter).

Happy Organizing,

Kim

Share
Posted in Paper | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment
Photo of a clean and organized kitchen and dining area.
10 Simple Steps to Get Organized and Change Your Life!

Get Your Free Ebook!

Sign up now for my FREE monthly newsletter and receive "10 Simple Steps to Get Organized and Change Your Life!" as my gift to you.
 » Let's Connect!
Facebook icon Twitter icon LinkedIn icon RSS icon
Site designed by Alpharetta Web Design, LLC Site developed by :: cruxwire web ::