January 28th, 2012
There are times when clutter weighs on you. Clothes stack up. Piles of paper form. Bill payments are late, because they are lost in your in-box. You can’t find anything when you need it.
The truth of the matter is that clutter often accumulates because you are dealing with other urgent matters: a sick parent or child, health issues or a new job. It just happens.
Don’t let clutter overwhelm you. You can find a clutter solution. In fact, clearing out physical clutter can offer serenity to your mind. Two Yale psychologists, Lawrence Williams and John Bargh, found that unconscious thoughts and feelings are influenced by a sense of open or congested physical space. Open spaces trigger sensations of safety while congested space signals thoughts of emotional discomfort.
You can start small. Decide on one space that you want to clear. Choose a junk drawer, a kitchen cabinet, or your inbox. Separate items into three piles: toss, donate or keep.
As a professional organizer and life coach, I help people find an organizing system that fits their lifestyle and enhances their well being.
Let me know if you want help to lighten your load.
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January 2nd, 2012
As you reflect on 2011 and review your goals for 2012, think about a personal statement that will keep you focused on your goal. What is important? What do you want to remember every day? Put the statement somewhere you will see it often: your bulletin board, vision board, a screensaver or even a sticky note.
The simple act of writing the statement down and looking at it every day will help you make your goal a reality.
One you have a statement, identify the areas that have challenged you in the past or have made it difficult to achieve your goal. Write down the action steps you will take to overcome those challenges. Connect with a partner to share ideas and progress.
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November 4th, 2011
As we anticipate the holiday season, we reflect on the current of our lives and those around us. Although we have been experiencing some tumultuous times recently, we still have the power to choose many of our experiences.
We do not have to get caught up in the commercialism that seems to overtake the season. Instead, we can choose to get back to the basics, and focus only on those holiday activities we really enjoy.
The holiday season should be about spending time with loved ones, reminiscing, creating memories and giving to others; not a never-ending to-do list that adds to your stress.
Consider simplifying gifts. Listen to the important people in your life, find out what is truly important to them, and find a way to give them that experience. Recently, my son invited me to explore Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Ill. We had a great day enjoying nature, and I will cherish the memory of the day for a lifetime. (He took the photo featured above) For most of us, the memories of spending time together hold far more value than any material gifts.
Go back to the basics and re-evaluate your holiday activities, replacing those you no longer enjoy with more meaningful activities. Simplesizing the season adds to holiday happiness.
How do you plan to make this holiday season more meaningful?
Posted in Holidays, Memories, Simplesizing, Time | 1 Comment »
September 1st, 2011
Oh, no!
As we mark the 10-year anniversary of 9-11, I can’t help but think of all the natural and manmade disasters that have occurred over the past few years. Tornadoes, flooding, high winds and power outages are a few of the events that affect our area. I truly hope you haven’t had to deal with any of these events.
However, we know these things can happen, so it’s important to be prepared–just in case. During the nuclear disaster in Japan, landlines, then cell phones went out when the system was overloaded with calls. In fact, it is often easier to call out of your area during an event, than it is to phone locally. Designate someone out of your state or area that everyone in your family can check in with, in case local phone lines are unavailable.
In honor of National Preparedness Month in September, I’ve put together an emergency checklist for you. I hope you never have to rely on it, but I guarantee, you’ll feel better knowing you’re ready. Sign up for my newsletter and get access to it and a multitude of organizing tips, articles and previous newsletters.
Tags: disaster planning, emergency checklist, Jane Carroo, Organizing
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July 10th, 2011
If you are downsizing or undertaking a temporary move, follow these tips and you’ll find the stress is greatly diminished. Keep positive!
- Define your vision. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: downsizing, Moving, temporary moves, transitions
Posted in Life Transitions, Moving | Comments Off
May 2nd, 2011
It’s that time of year when we want to freshen our spaces and remove the clutter that’s accumulated, seemingly overnight. When deciding what to keep and what to save, here are some sure signs something is ready for the donate, sell or trash bin.
You know you don’t need it when…
- You haven’t used it in a year or more.
- You’ve outgrown it.
- You are no longer interested in it.
- Your kids don’t play with it anymore.
- You forgot you had it.
- You seldom think of it or reference it.
- You don’t like it anymore or never liked it.
- It has no purpose.
- It takes up more space than you have.
- You are paying rent to store it, but don’t use it.
- It brings you negative energy.
If the item in question meets one or all of these criteria, it is time to let it go!
Tip: If you’re still not sure if you should get rid of an item, ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen if I toss this?” The answer may help give you the power to discard the clutter.
What did this list help you let go of? Share your thoughts.
Tags: Declutter, Jane Carroo, Reduce Clutter
Posted in Organizing, Simplesizing | Comments Off
March 1st, 2011
Whether you live alone or have a family, take time to consider what would happen if you were temporarily unable to take care of things. Think about who might assume your responsibilities and what it would be like for them.
Would they be able to find important contact information?
Would they know what medications you take or what bills need to be paid?
Would they be able to find important passwords or legal documents?
One sure-fire way to prepare is to create a “vital documents file.”
Tip: Creating a Vital Documents File
Keep all vital information about your household, medical records and banking in one place. Let someone you trust know where to find the file should an incident or accident happen.
What’s your experience with incidents and accidents? Share them and receive a free Vital Documents Kit.
Tags: Jane Carroo, preparation, vital documents
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January 2nd, 2011
Living Life
Here are my top ten tips for living your best life:
Have a Vision
Align with your Values
Focus on what brings you Joy
Live Simply
Find your Creativity
Cultivate a Spiritual connection
Share Love with others
Make a Meaningful Contribution
Explore new Ideas and Learn along the way
Be Adventurous and Appreciate Nature
Tags: Jane Carroo, life your best life, Professional Organizer
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December 24th, 2010
In the book “Five Essential Elements of Happiness,” published by Gallop, researchers found that experiential purchases brought a higher level of well being than material purchases. According to the authors Tom Rath and Jim Harter, Ph.D., if we use our money to buy experiences we get the benefit of looking forward to the event, the experience itself and also the memories. 
Tags: experiential gifts, gift ideas, Jane Carroo, Professional Organizer
Posted in General, Holidays | Comments Off
November 1st, 2010
- Holiday Welcome
In contrast to the picture perfect homes you see in magazines, I often talk to clients who are ashamed of opening their homes to entertain family and friends. They are stuck amidst the clutter unable to dig themselves out. Truth be told, most of us have some difficulty getting our homes prepared for holiday entertaining, on top of our already busy schedule managing work and family responsibilities.
This year, consider making a change. Trade that feeling of being overwhelmed for a feeling of satisfaction by planning ahead and taking small steps to handle the projects at hand. Give yourself enough time, by tackling projects on a daily or weekly basis. Before you know it, the holidays will be here and for once, you won’t be worried about how to manage it all.
Not sure where to start? Clutter Coach has a wide range of solutions to meet every budget. Give us a call at 847-776-8717 to help you make a positive change, or visit our website for an assessment.
Tags: de-cluttering project, Professional Organizer, Stress-free Holiday
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