Christmas has come and gone once again and 2010 is only 3 days away. How many times has your new year’s resolution been I’ve got to get organized or I’ve got to lose weight, etc., etc., etc.? Yes, we’ve all made these resolutions that never materialize. The question is why do they not materialize. My thought is that we do not really commit to our resolutions. We say “Oh, I’ll start tomorrow” and tomorrow never happens and then we find ourselves back in the same situation, as frustrated as ever. But we have no one to blame but ourselves.

One of the biggest misconceptions that I encounter as an organizer is that people think that everything has to be done at the same time. So, if you have made quite a few resolutions focus on one of them at a time and give yourself a realistic deadline to accomplish it (say by April, or in 2-3 months). My resolution for 2010 is to try my very best to commit to the things that I want to accomplish. Keep in mind that life gets in the way sometimes but try to get back on track ASAP. I wish everyone a happy, prosperous and organized 2010.

Gift giving is not only expensive but also can contribute to an already cluttered space. Kids receive too many toys, most of which they’ll probably never play with. Dad may receive that tie he’ll never wear or mom may receive another kitchen gadget she’ll never use. Why not rethink this gift giving thing. Save the money you were going to spend on gifts and put it towards the family skiing trip or cruise you’ve always wanted to take.

Some suggestions for gifts that will not add to the clutter or take up valuable space are:

• Movie passes
• Amusement park tickets
• Cleaning service
• Savings bond towards a college fund
• Gift card to a favorite store
• Floral or fruit arrangement
• Donation to a charity
• Restaurant gift certificate
• Health club membership
• Concert tickets

Instead of Christmas being a time when we receive a lot of presents, let’s get back to its true meaning, which is about appreciating what we have and helping others. As a family, donate some of your time to volunteer at a shelter, soup kitchen, or other organization that’s in desperate need of volunteers. Ask your kids to donate some of their gently used unwanted toys to a local charity or organization so that a less fortunate child can enjoy them.

We have so much to be grateful for in this great country of ours. Blessings, Happy Holidays, & Happy Organizing.

Copyright (c) Lita M. Daniel, Regain Your Space, www.regainyourspace.com

The holidays are fast approaching. The wonderful aroma of pies, cakes, turkey, ham and other dishes start to fill the air of your home. School plays, family gatherings, and holiday parties are non stop. You have family and friends visiting for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. The stores are filled with holiday decorations, shoppers are frantically running around looking for the perfect gift, and yes, the stress starts to build. You realize that there’s clutter everywhere and you can’t find anything; there’s no place for your guests to sleep; the holiday decorations you want to put up are as disorganized as ever. Why not reduce the stress and get a head start on preparing for the holidays?

Finding precious time to clean, declutter or organize is almost impossible between work, family, shopping and other commitments, but maybe it’s time to reassess your constant long list of “TO DOs”. Focus on what you want to accomplish during the holidays.

Holiday Decorations
Now is the time to donate or toss any unwanted holiday decorations. Donation organizations usually have an area devoted to holiday decorations and would love to take them off your hands. As you go through your decorations, sort them by putting like items together and then decide which ones you want to keep or donate/toss. Then based on the ones you decide to keep, designate containers for them. Clear plastic containers work best but if you already have other containers use them first before purchasing new ones (you do have to watch the budget). The important thing to remember is to label the containers (lights, ornaments, wreaths, pumpkins, table decorations, etc.). When it comes time to take down your decorations and put them away, you’ll already have labeled containers to put them into.

Helpful Hints

• Schedule your cleaning over a period of 3-4 weekends instead of waiting until the last minute to do everything. Focus on one room or area at a time. Pickup clutter and give the space a good cleaning. If you don’t have time to clean, hire a cleaning service to do it for you if your budget allows.
• Pickup stray clutter every night. Put items where they belong. Get the whole family involved. It’s never too early to start teaching kids to be responsible and to pick up after themselves. It’s easier to keep up than it is to catch up.
• Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Save money by drawing names in large families to reduce the number of gifts you have to buy.
• Shop early, especially for those gifts that have to be mailed, to avoid paying overnight shipping charges.
• Wrap gifts as you bring them home.

Copyright (c) 2009 Lita M. Daniel, Regain Your Space, www.regainyourspace.com