Creative Changes Blog

Preparing our Kids for School and Life

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:55:00 +0000

In my last post, I promised tips to help keep our kids organized. Today I have a different plan. I feel that there are many sources of these tips, and I will list a few links at the bottom of this blog.

My GOAL today is to impress the importance of teaching the life skill of Goal Setting to our children. Wouldn't it have been great if we had known these skills when we were seniors in high school, looking towards our grown-up future?

I know that much of my indecisiveness as a young adult could have been alleviated by understanding that there was a process I could follow to gain insight to my deepest desires. I just needed to learn the steps necessary to achieve my dreams. At the age of 19 I had lots of ideas about things I would like to do, but no real tools to figure out how to achieve my dreams.

Many years later, as an aspiring entrepreneur, I have learned (am still learning) the art of setting goals and achieving real results because of specific planning and following a series of steps to reach a desired result.

This is what I know about Goal Setting:

Before you can write down goals, you need to do a little introspection. Figure out what you really, really want. What do you love? What are you good at? Just dream a bit, and don't let objections, perceived or real, money issues or self-doubt get in the way of the dreaming.
Write it down. Don't worry about the order, just write down all your goals and dreams, no matter how far-fetched they may seem.
Prioritize the list. Perhaps you could use symbols (*, !, $, etc) to designate the most important items, things that excite you and the ideas that will need funding. Remember that this list is not a static document - it will shift and change with time. That's why we need to re-visit our goals on a regular basis.
Begin with those goals that are most important to you.
Now comes the planning, because a goal without a plan is just a wish. What will it take to achieve your goal? List the steps, and break down the steps into manageable chunks.
Take action. What do you already know? Who do you already know? What will you need? What can you do today? Give yourself 90 days to work on a goal, then evaluate where you are.
Be open to new and unexpected ideas to reach your goals. There is never just one way.

Understanding our strengths and weaknesses is essential to moving forward with our dreams.
Working on the things that you are good at will give you more energy, motivation and ultimately more success. Of course, you will work on your weak areas too, but that is not where you focus your time and energy.

Now here are the links to help with keeping the kids organized:

http://www.smead.com

http://www.smead.com

http://www.simplify101.com/back-to-school-organizing-tips.php

I am going to review my goals list!

Until next time,

Sandra

Organizing for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:19:00 +0000

This is my youngest child's last year of high school, and I am not sure how I feel about all the lasts that will happen this year. I took a first day of school photo of my children every year from kindergarten on, and I took the last one this Tuesday. I have made lunches every school day for 16 years, and I thought I would be delighted to be done with the task, but now that it's the last year I have developed a new interest in lunch making! So much of our child rearing, and our lives revolves around school and the related school activities, and some of it seemed like kind of a pain, until now - the last year.

Keeping life organized with multiple kids going in multiple directions is no small task for parents, but on top of our own organizational challenges, we need to teach our children how to manage their time and belongings as well. These are the major life lessons that they will take to college and on into their adult lives.

It is not that everything has to be perfect - the goal is to make life easier. If you know where your stuff is, where you are supposed to be and what time you are supposed to be there, much stress can be avoided. Learning how to manage time so that you can get where you need to be on time is a HUGE life lesson that is much easier to learn while young.

My son, the youngest, is the disorganized one, but he is of an age that is not inspired by parental advice - to say the least! My challenge has been to try to give him the guidance he needs without him knowing that is what I am doing. If it is a direct suggestion, it will automatically be rejected. Instead of suggestions, I offer questions with options for him to choose from. Sometimes, he has to feel the consequences of his sloppy habits, to appreciate a different way to do things. It is a fine line between being too controlling, where he won't learn for himself, and allowing his room to look like HE would like it - something like the aftermath of a natural disaster!

Each precious child is a unique individual with their own path to forge. As parents we can show them how to clear the path, how to read the compass and assure them of our love and support every step of the way, but we cannot walk their path for them.

In my next post I will give a few tips to help keep life, school and various kid activities organized.

Until next time,

Sandra

FREE Report - 5 Strategic Steps to Optimize Your Business Performance

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:22:00 +0000

Click on the title of this post to request your FREE copy of our special report -5 Strategic Steps to Optimize Your Business Performance.

Thanks for your interest... and I'm always interested in your comments.

Until next time,

Sandra

Your Business SIMPLIFIED

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:37:00 +0000

If we want to do something positive about the current economy, (as opposed to whining and complaining about how bad it is) we can support our local, small businesses. Guess who employs about half of private sector employees, pays more than 45% of total US private payroll and have generated 60 - 80% of net new jobs over the past decade? Right you are - small businesses.

Small business owners face huge challenges though. Very small firms with fewer than 20 employees annually spend 45% more per employee to comply with federal regulations and 67% more per employee on tax compliance than their larger counterparts.

What does all this mean? It means that the small business must be very efficient in all aspects of operations, but particularly in the area of administrative tasks. Small businesses are almost always operating with limited resources, and probably the scarcest resource in most businesses is the time of the owner / president.

Creative Changes is launching a new line of products and services called Simple Office Systems, which are specifically targeted to small independent businesses. Simple Office Systems is a combination of time-tested organizing systems, that are easy to implement and maintain, along with consulting time to teach organizing and time optimization skills. We are offering a 30 minute S.O.S. business analysis, at no charge, where we will evaluate 5 key areas of business operations.

The S.O.S. program focuses on such things as time management, desktop organization and efficient permanent files, using the concepts of simplicity and ease of use as the factors for success.

As a small business owner myself, I feel strongly about supporting locally owned small businesses as a way to keep our community strong economically as well as on a more personal level. Doing business with our friends and neighbors tends to be a more satisfactory personal experience, unlike many transactions at big box type establishments where the customer is just another number.

This is an exciting new direction for Creative Changes and I am looking forward to working with my fellow small business owners to help them reach their full potential, while reducing the stress of "never enough time".

Please contact me with any thoughts or questions you may have.

Until next time,

Sandra

Clearly Defined Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:08:00 +0000

In the absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.

~Author Unknown

I believe that we all are subject to the daily acts of trivia trap. It is easy to feel that we are accomplishing something because we stay very busy, but without defined goals, we are merely treading water. We have dealt with various daily emergencies and possibly averted a few others, but are we closer to our goals? Weeks, months and years can slip away from us while we tread water in the pool of our life.

Even though I understand the importance of clearly defined goals, the clearly defined part is something I am still learning. My goal setting has tended to be broad and sometimes a bit vague in the past, and needless to say my accomplishments felt somewhat the same. When I am clear about my goals, the steps that I need to take to get there are also clear. That clarity of vision makes prioritizing my time so much easier.

What is a clearly defined goal, you ask?

S - Specific, Simple
M - Measurable, Meaningful
A - Achievable
R - Realistic, Responsible
T - Timed

Once you have defined your goals, whether they are personal, or professional, write them down.

Now you can list the steps necessary to get to the goal. Break down the big steps into smaller steps.

Because you have given yourself a time frame for achieving your goal you can now prioritize your time so that your schedule includes time to work on each of those small steps.

One by one the steps are accomplished and Voila! - You have achieved your goal.

Obviously, I over simplify here, but the concept works for goals large or small.

Visit and update your goals list frequently. This helps to keep you excited and motivated. As my business has developed over the years, some of my goals have shifted slightly, but I would not be in business for myself today if I had not had those goals to work towards, and new goals to keep me moving forward and upward.

Time management may be one of the more difficult aspects of being a small business owner. You have to take care of all the daily emergencies, sell your goods or services, pay the bills, plan for future business and so much more. When do you get to carve out that goal achieving time?

Here is the thing. When you have the clearly defined goals, you won't lose sight of your priorities, time management becomes more focused and you can eliminate the daily acts of trivia. (or at least some of them!)

May you achieve all your (clearly defined) goals.

Until next time,

Sandra

Begin With Imagination

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:07:00 +0000

"First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination."

~Napoleon Hill

Here in the hot desert of Southern California, summer is a time when we retract, conserve our energy and enjoy the opportunities for contemplation and planning. (It is also a great time to tackle some of those indoor organizing projects!)

I have been spending a lot of time in thoughts, ideas and planning for the next phase in the life of Creative Changes. We are growing and evolving, so stay tuned for updates as the transformation begins.

Until then,

Sandra

Don't Miss Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:05:00 +0000

"As you walk, eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss your life."

~Siddhartha Guatama

It seems that I am being called to hear, heed and speak this message because this simple wisdom keeps presenting itself to me in many different ways on a daily basis.

Isn't it just so easy to get caught up in the tasks of the day that before we know it, the day is gone, and we are left exhausted on the couch in the evening, wondering "is this all there is?" Life may seem like a series of hurdles to cross, and when we finally reach this goal, or that achievement, then we will be happy.

We try to find ourselves in things, but we end up losing ourselves in them instead. The satisfaction in aquiring is short lived and so we keep looking for more, keep buying, keep consuming, keep cluttering our lives. (and our planet)

I do believe there is a movement - a collective realization, if you will, that our consumer society is backfiring on us in many ways; the environment, the economy, our own cluttered and/or disorganized lives.

For myself, it is a daily practice to stay present, be grateful and accept what is with grace, and with this frame of mind I am finding life's paths so much easier to navigate. As I learn my life lessons, I hope to be of service to others who are wanting to simplify their lives.

Until next time,

Sandra

The Beauty of Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:18:00 +0000

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

~Author unknown

The Tickler File - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:14:00 +0000

How to make it work for YOU

Create a new habit. Every day check your tickler file. Do it first thing in the morning, or as next day planning before you leave the office. Choose the best time for you and do it every day. If you know that you will be away for a day, or a few days, just check all those day files before you leave, so that you can leave the office knowing that you have not forgotten to deal with any important, or time sensitive items.

Each day pull the folder that corresponds to that day's date. Either, act on those contents; pay the bills, send the cards, etc, or move them to another day's file, if you cannot get to them right away. The beauty of the system is that you can delegate your tasks to certain days, and always know where to find the paper for those tasks - without the piles on the desk.

Re-file the day folder behind the previous day's folder, which will be behind the next month's folder, and move the alligator clip to the back of the day of the week clips. You are creating a perpetual calendar that reminds you what you need to do, and when to do it.

Place items or events that extend beyond the current month in the appropriate month file. When the next month file reaches the front, (in our case the next month is July) take the contents of the month file and delegate them to the daily files for that month, so that each task will be done in a timely manner, without you having to think about it, and without having the item in a pile on you desk where you think you can see it.

What to put in your Tickler

The possibilities are endless, and this list will give you an idea of how this system will simplify your life.

Bills to pay - Bills that you receive and send through the mail should be put in the day folder 5 or 6 days prior to due date to allow time for delivery. If it is an automatic payment you can have a perpetual note in the appropriate day file to remind you to deduct the payment from your checkbook.

Monthly reminders - For example, a 3 x 5 card could say "backup computer files" and you would file it in a daily file every month to give you that reminder every month.

Follow-up phone calls - You no longer need to keep the entire client file on the desk to remind you to make that call. Just write yourself a note and file it in the tickler.

Airline tickets and travel papers - File everything you need for your trip, including your passport. Also file tickets for events such as concerts, or sporting events.

Items you need to take action on - Events you want to RSVP to, register for seminars in time for the early bird rate, schedule appointments.

Home maintenance - Things that need to be done around the house, such as replacing the heater and air conditioning filters can be scheduled in the tickler file, and when the task is complete, re-filed for the next scheduled time for the task.

Place holder for larger items - If the item is too big to be stored in the tickler file, a "pointer" to that item can be created on a 3 x 5 card, and placed in the tickler file.

Birthdays and other important dates - Again, the 3 x 5 card can be used with the person's name and birthday and filed in the appropriate monthly folder. Tickle for enough lead time to get cards, presents, arrangements made.

Review "maybe" actions - For those items that you are thinking about, but want to wait to decide on, such as an upcoming seminar to attend, or new project you want to begin. File a reminder, or the event flyer to show up in a week, or two weeks when you have more information, more money, or more time to act on it.

Those pending items that you don't want to forget - The tickler is the perfect place for the DMV renewal notice received in June that requires a smog test, but is not due until August, paperwork and tracking information for a FedEx shipment, a billing issue that you may be waiting for a response to, and of course, yesterday's items that did not get completed!

The beauty of the system is that it can be adapted any number of ways to make it suit you. Make it your own. Have fun with it. The Tickler is your new best friend!

Please let me know about your nifty adaptations, and I will post them here for other readers to try.

Until next time,
Sandra

The Tickler File - The Low Tech, High Productivity Work Management Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:45:00 +0000

Part 1

Do you wish for a miracle, or perhaps you are hoping that the "organizing fairy" will appear while you are sleeping, to deal with the ever-accumulating piles of paper on your desk? Let's face it, for now, the paperless office is just a myth.

You may have thought that your PDA (Blackberry, Treo, iPhone, etc.) would take care of every detail of your life, but yet you still have the piles of papers. The PDA electronically manages: calendar, address books, mobile phone, personal contact software integration, shopping lists, electronic copies of documents, etc. The Tickler File physically manages paper: tickets to the game or theater, forms or paperwork needed for a specific day, and the rest of your paper pile.

Supplies Needed

One box of 3-tab file folders
Labels for each month, January - December
Labels for each day of the month, 1 - 31
Seven alligator clips, labeled Monday - Sunday
Container for the 43 folders

The Set Up

The container can be anything you like to fit your office decor. It should be tall enough to support the folders, at least 5 or 6 inches high and 6 or 7 inches deep. This would be for a desk top version, which I like best because it is right in front of me and hard to forget. It could also easily be set up with hanging folders.

Use only the left side tabbed folders for the days of the month,
and label them 1 - 31.

Use only the middle tabbed folders for the months of the year,
and label them January - December.

Label the 7 alligator clips with the days of the week.

The daily files are in the front beginning with the file for tomorrow's date. (If today is Wed, June 18, then the first file would be "19" with the Thur. clip on it.) The subsequent daily folders, ("20" through "31") represent the remaining days of the month. The next file behind the last day of the month will be the following month's file, in this case "July", and behind it would be the daily files "1" through "16". Behind that would be the rest of the monthly files, "August" through "June".

So now you have all the information you need to set up your own tickler file. Go get your supplies, and in my next post I will give you some tips on how to make this system really work for you.

Until then,

Sandra

WANTED - Good Home for My Used Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:12:00 +0000

You've done your Spring Cleaning and de-cluttering and now you don't know what to do with the pile of stuff that you cleared out. Donate it? What organization? Will they pick up? What to do with the old electronics, cell phones, eyeglasses? It is all good stuff - can't just throw it away. We all feel a need to send our stuff to good homes.

I have a list of my most used resources for donations, selling, consignment, recycling, shredding, and even large item pick-up services. This list is continually updated as I learn of new options and sources. I imagine that there are many resources that I have not even thought about yet, so if any readers of this blog have any ideas that they would like to add, I welcome them all.

Obviously, most of these resources are local to my community, which is the Coachella Valley, in Southern California, but many of them are websites for national organizations, so I hope this information will be of some use to all readers.

Donations - Clothing & Household Goods

Angel View - 760-322-2440 - will pick up at your location
Martha's Village & Kitchen - 760-347-4741 - will pick up at your location
ABC Recovery Center - 760-342-6616
Coachella Valley Rescue Mission - 760-398-2424

Dress for Success - www.dressforsuccess.org

Eyeglasses - Lions Club takes donations of used eyeglasses

Cell Phones & other wireless devices - online resource - Recycling for Charitities

Miscellaneous Donations - Freecycle links those who need with those who have

Junk / Large Item Pick-Up

1-800 -Got-Junk - 1-800-468-5865

They also take e-waste and recycling

Burrtec Waste Management (local garbage company)
760-777-1930 or 760-340-2113
41800 Corporate Way, Palm Desert M-F 9-4
Will pick up monitors, bulky items & appliances - call first
Keyboards & mouse can go in the garbage can
Drop off CPU at collection center - be sure to disable or overwrite hard drive

Computer Donations

ShareTechnology.org

Shredding

Shred N Go (locally owned company)
Dianna Forsythe 760-808-7444
Shredngo@gmail.com
on-site and off-site shredding

ShredForce
760-744-2875
ShredForce.com
on-site and off-site shredding

Used Athletic Shoes for Recycling

Nike Recycling

Used Books

PowellsBooks.com
Submit the ISBN #, and they will send back $ amount - if you accept, they send store credit.

Call Your Local Library - Many public libraries are happy to take book donations.

Used Items for Sale (or Free)

Craig's List
Great online resource to sell or give away unwanted, but usable items. Just look up your city and find classified ads for dozens of categories.

Consignment Stores

Classic Consignment Co.
73847 El Paseo, Palm Desert
760-568-4948

Cargo Furnishing & Consignment
71550 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage
760-773-3130

Estate Sale Company
Palm Springs
760-321-7628 (will pick up for fee)

Desert Resale Office Furniture (home furnishings also)
74900 Joni Dr, Bldg 3, Suite A&B, Palm Desert
760-346-8700

Let's all try to do our part to reduce the volume of garbage going to our landfills by utilizing the many resources out there that will take our used stuff and re-use, recycle and give new life to it. Sometimes it takes a little more effort to follow through with these options, but in the end you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your stuff is going to a good home.

Any other "Good Home" ideas out there?

Until next time,

Sandra

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:15:00 +0000

I just spent an amazing 4 days in Reno, NV at the NAPO annual conference. 750 + organizers in the same room - what crazy energy that is! I learned so much, met many brilliant and interesting organizers from all over the country, as well as international organizers. So much information to process through my tiny little brain!

As luck would have it, I had the opportunity to take some of that great energy and inspiration out into my world, by presenting a talk to the local chapter of the American Business Women's Association (ABWA) this week.

Thank You - to all the lovely women at the ABWA Trendsetter Chapter for inviting me to talk at their monthly dinner meeting on April 15. I had a wonderful dinner, great networking and I thoroughly enjoyed giving my organizing presentation to such a friendly and receptive group.

I did promise to post a quote that I used in my program, so here that is:

"Order is light, peace, inner freedom, self-determination: it is power. To conceive order, to return to order, to realize order in oneself, around oneself, by means of oneself, is well-being."
Henri Frédéric Amiel (1821-81)

I also promised to post my resource list for donations, recycling, shredding, and other helpful information relating to disposing of our unwanted belongings. That list will be ready to go by next week, and I will make sure it gets out to all who want it.

There was so much to learn at the NAPO conference, but the most important message that I came away with was to honor my unique talents, use them to distinguish my company and brand and most of all to be true to my values. It is not that I didn't know this before, but to have it confirmed by Peter Walsh, the keynote speaker, the branding experts that presented programs and many of the more experienced organizers that I met and heard speak, was powerful and reassuring. Thanks to all of you for the work that you have done to bring our industry to this place of integrity and greater recognition.

I love what I do as a professional organizer, and I continue to be excited by the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead for the industry and my business.

Until next time,
Sandra

Another Point of View about Organizing

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:01:00 +0000

I am busy getting my household organized for my absence while I attend the NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) national convention in Reno, this week. I will be away for four and a half days. Father will be in charge of teenagers and teenagers will be in charge of dogs and I can only imagine what the house will look like when I get home!

Because my To-Do list is already way too long, I am offering a great link to the Zen Habits blog where he has a great list of five minute de-cluttering tips. Check out the rest of the blog too.

I will be back, all geeked out about everything to do with organizing, next week.

Until next time,

Sandra

How to Hire a Professional Organizer

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:55:00 +0000

The REAL SIMPLE website has a great article about hiring a professional organizer, and perhaps even better than the article, are all the comments posted underneath. Most of the comments are from professional organizers with additional tips and thoughts about the process.

This is great reading for anyone thinking about hiring a professional organizer.

Thank you REAL SIMPLE, for providing accurate content along with those beautiful graphics and photos.

It is a beautiful site, called Simply Stated, so check it out for all the other cool products, tips and articles.

Click on any of the underlined links to see for yourself!

until next time,

Sandra

How to De-Clutter Your Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:13:00 +0000

A friend read the following article on Mercola.com and forwarded it on to me. It is a great article, so here it is in its entirety. Check out the website also - lots of great health information.

You may have read articles about how to declutter your home or your desk, but if anything needs decluttering, it’s your mind.

While your brain is a complex and confusing organ -- and your mind is certainly not like an inbox that can be sorted through -- decluttering your mind is actually not difficult.

You can sort through your mind, even getting past the scar tissue of old hurts and traumas, with these simple actions:

1. Breathe: Take a few deep breaths, and then just focus on your breathing for a few minutes. It has a calming effect, and allows other thoughts to just float away.

2. Write it down: If you have a bunch of things on your mind, get them on paper and off your mind.

3. Rethink your sleep: If you aren’t getting enough sleep, or your sleeping pattern isn’t ideal, it can affect you a great deal.

4. Take a walk: Get outside and do some kind of physical activity; it clears your mind.

5. Do less: Cross half the things off your to-do list; just pick a few things to get done today, and focus on those.

6. Declutter your surroundings: Having a lot of stuff around you occupies part of your mind, even if you don’t realize it.

7. Identify the essential: This means figuring out what is most important in your life, and focusing on these things.

8. Get in touch with nature: Looking at the ocean, a river, some trees or anything “green” can be calming and focusing at the same time.

9. Go slower: Walk slower, talk slower, drive slower and even work slower. All of these things tell your mind that you’re not in a hurry, and that you want to take life at your own, non-rushed pace.

10. Single-task: Multi-tasking fills your mind with a lot of clutter, without a lot of productivity. Instead of multi-tasking, single-task by focusing on just one thing at a time.

For five more great tips to declutter your mind, click the link below.

Sources:

Zen Habits December 15, 2007

My mind is de-cluttered. How about yours?

Until next time,

Sandra

Re-purpose, Recycle, Freecycle - Be a Little Bit Green

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:16:00 +0000

One of the things that I enjoy about my work in helping people reduce their clutter, is the opportunity to re-purpose and recycle items that people simply did not know what to do with. I am happy to drop off bags of clothes and small household items to local charitable organizations as donations. I am also happy to provide recycling resources for those items that can and should be recycled. You could say I am a Green Organizer, and I like that I can help other people be a little more Green.

In addition to the various local options for recycling and donating, there is the online group called Freecycle, which is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Check it out at: Freecycle.org

I came across these interesting recycling facts recently.

Paper

If all morning newspapers read around the country were recycled, over 41,000 trees would be saved daily.
Americans throw away enough wood and paper every year to heat 5 million homes for two hundred years.
About 700 paper bags can be made out of a typical 15-year old tree. In a big grocery store, the clerks can give away that number of bags in just one hour. Save resources by bringing your own reusable bag when you go shopping.

Plastic

If you lined up all the styrofoam cups made in just one day, they would more than circle the entire planet. Try using a reusable cup whenever possible.
Plastic in our oceans kills around 1 million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals each year.
Plastic bags and plastic wrap account for approximately 40% of our plastic garbage.

Glass

When glass is recycled, water consumption is reduced by 50%, mining waste by 79%, and air pollution by 14%. Glass can be recycled indefinitely.

We all have the opportunity to be a little bit Green every day. I hope I have given some food for thought and a little inspiration for my readers to re-purpose, recycle or even Freecycle those items that you are disposing of.

Until next time,

Sandra

Creative Changes gets Local Press Coverage

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:44:00 +0000

Click on the title to go to the article in The Desert Sun, Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008

I had a blast working with Maggie Downs, the writer, and it was kind of fun being in the newspaper newsroom for a couple of afternoons.

Maggie was the perfect client in that she knew how she wanted the space to function and was eager to learn a few new techniques to help keep her newly organized desk in order. I think we got her organizing wheels spinning, because she started to think of ideas about organizing at home that she wanted to try.

Thank you Maggie for allowing me to help you out, while you helped me out with the great publicity!

Sandra

SPRING Workshop in Palm Springs, CA

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:16:00 +0000

Clear Your Clutter Inside and Out

Feel LIGHTER, more INSPIRED and MOTIVATED

I am delighted to join forces with Life Coach Trent Blanchard to bring an exciting, new workshop to the Coachella Valley that will give participants the practical tools to get rid of the clutter in their lives - both on the physical as well as the emotional / mental levels!

Would you like to get rid of the "STUFF" that is blocking you from getting more out of life?

Fun, hands-on demonstrations and experiential activities
You will leave feeling lighter and motivated to go tackle the areas of you life that are cluttered and not working for you.
Be ready to release that which no longer serves you!

During this 3-hour workshop you will:

1. Learn the highly effective "7 Steps to Organizing Yourself" in relation to both your "physical stuff", as well as your mental / emotional baggage.

2. Learn ways to release the "stuff" that no longer serves you.

3. Have fun while shedding old behaviors!

Saturday, March 1st 10 am - 1 pm

Location: 1281 N. Gene Autry Trail, Suite L
Palm Springs, CA
Abundant Health Wellness Center

Cost of the workshop is just $30.00

Space is limited, so reserve your spot NOW

QUESTIONS?

Call or E-mail Sandra Carroll
760-567-9268
Sandra@creative-changes.com

FREE Home Organizing Opportunity!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:58:00 +0000

Buttoned Up is offering a chance to have your home professionally organized, for free!

If your home is so messy and disorganized that it gets in the way of daily life, Buttoned Up is looking for you. Help them shoot a sizzle reel for an organizational show in the works. You and your family will offer interviews about your messy home and messy life and in exchange will enjoy a professionally organized home! To apply for this opportunity or to receive more information please email Info@getbuttonedup.com with your story!

7 Basic Steps to Organizing ANY Space

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:47:00 +0000

For many people getting and staying organized seems next to impossible, and sometimes completely overwhelming. A cluttered home or workspace causes unnecessary stress with wasted time looking for lost items, late fees due to misplaced and forgotten bills, and what about all those piles in the garage just nagging to be dealt with.

Here is the good news - Anyone can learn organizing skills, and those basic skills will apply to any area or space that needs organizing.

I have a simple seven step process that I apply to almost any space that I am organizing.

1. Decide on your priorities - What is most important to you?

2. Visualize your ideal version of the space you want to organize. Keep that dream of the end results in your mind - not the job of getting there! This is also the time to consider what systems you might need to put in place to easily keep the space in order.

3. Empty - Whether it is a junk drawer, your closet, the garage, desk drawers - no matter what the space is, you need to start by emptying it so you can start with a clean slate. In some large projects you may have to work in sections, so you would empty only the section that you are working on for that day.

4. Sorting Stage 1 - Group like things together. This allows you to see what you have and makes the decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of easier.

5. Sorting Stage 2 - Now that you can see exactly what you have, create sub categories such as, Keep in this space, Keep somewhere else, Toss / Shred / Recycle, and Donate / Sell.

6. Return ONLY those items that belong in that particular space, keeping like things together. Now that you have the volume of stuff pared down, you can decide on what, if any storage accessories and/or containers you may need.

7. Dispose of the other piles right away. Find appropriate "homes" for the items that you want to keep, that belong somewhere else. If you have a large project that you are doing in sections, you may want to wait until the end to make the donations. Keep them all together in the garage, or somewhere out of the way, and have all of it picked up at the end of the project. Get the toss pile out to the garbage before it turns into another pile of clutter!

These steps tend to overlap each other a bit and, naturally, each job is a little different, but this basic process will help to clarify and simplify where to start, then what to do next.

Happy organizing!

Until next time,

Sandra

Resolutions and Goals and Why They Don't Stick

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:08:00 +0000

'Tis the season for resolutions and goal setting. Not that I am against these good intentions, but lets face it, 90 percent of them are doomed to the point that many people don't even bother anymore because it is such a downer to fail yourself like that.

In an e-mail exchange recently with other small business owners I came across a very good summary of why our well intentioned goals and resolutions don't stick. In my own words, I would like to summarize here.

We make these proclamations for the wrong reasons. We make resolutions to improve or change because we think we should, instead of choosing goals that are personally meaningful and compelling. Just because you think you should get organized because your spouse is nagging you about it, does not necessarily make it a compelling goal to you. It will only be a meaningful goal to you when you have reached a level of discomfort or inconvenience that drives the desire to change.

We start with good intentions, instead of measurable goals. A resolution or goal is only a wish unless we develop a realistic plan to get to where we want to go. We need a road map to follow along the way that will convert that goal into daily action. Action steps should be small enough to be accomplished in a couple of hours so you can see and measure your progress towards your goal.

Again with the organizing example - Your resolution may be to get the garage organized. The next step to take is to decide exactly what you mean by that. What is your vision for the garage? When you can imagine exactly where you are going, the path to get there becomes more clear. Next step is to decide on your plan of action and when you want to be finished. Give yourself specific tasks to be completed before you move to the next step. With each action step you will see progress and be motivated to continue. The whole garage mess may seem too big and too vague to get beyond the overwhelmed stage, but when you break it down to specific and manageable tasks you will be much more likely to achieve your goal - and keep that resolution.

May 2008 be the year of the fulfillment of your own compelling resolutions and goals - starting NOW.

Until next time,

Sandra

Start the New Year Clutter Free

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:31:00 +0000

When Holiday Decor becomes New Year's Clutter

The ritual of bringing out the Christmas decorations and putting up the tree is my way of getting into the spirit of the Holidays. I love to sit and look at the lights on the Christmas tree, and the collection of holiday cards displayed on the inside of the front door gives me pleasure too - briefly. By New Year's Eve I am done with all of it. What starts out as beautiful seasonal decorations turns into more clutter than I can stand and it all gets packed away for next year before we ring in the New Year.

BUT - there is always a collection of stuff that seems to take weeks to find all of the appropriate storage spots.

What to do with:

The beautiful holiday cards

Those thoughtful gifts that you really have no use for

Bits of ribbon and gift boxes that seem too good to just throw away

The items that need to be returned or exchanged

The three Christmas decorations that did not get packed into the decoration box that is now neatly on the top shelf of the garage

And last, but not least - if you have young children you also have the mountain of new toys on top of the mountains of toys they already had

It can all get to be completely overwhelming, so you have to come up with an easy plan and stick to it until your house is back in order. As Nike beautifully states - Just do It.

I like to get the horizontal surfaces cleared off first. Collect up all the wrapping things and get them stashed in the wrapping box. Cruise through every room of the house looking for the stray decorations and make one last trip to the garage storage with those.

The holiday cards always pose a dilemma - are you going to write back to some people? Keep those in your to-do file. Are you really going to create that wonderful craft project you saw in a magazine with the rest of the cards? Be realistic about that probability. Yeah, I didn't think so. Let them go. You enjoyed them, now they are done.

The gifts that you really have no use for might make a great donation to your favorite charitable cause. If you know that you will not use an item - don't keep it, let someone else enjoy it, or return it to the store, if you can.

There are always those gifts that are good, but just the wrong size or color - just a quick exchange. Make the time to do that and give yourself a deadline so it gets done before the receipt expires.

Toys, toys, toys. How many toys can your child play with at the same time? How many do they play with on a regular basis? Do they really need all the toys accessible all the time? How about taking some of the toys that they may have lost interest in, and storing them in a bin in the garage, to make room for the new Christmas things. In a few months you can rotate the toys again and keep all the toys more interesting in the process. While you are sorting and rotating, you can also cull out the broken bits and pieces.

My goal is to start the New Year with a clutter free house. Once the tree is down and decorations put away I am inspired to spruce up the living room a bit. Seems like a good time to try a new furniture configuration and switch the accessories around a bit too.

May your New Year begin with order in the house!

Until next time,

Sandra

A Mind Like a Parachute

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:38:00 +0000

"Minds are like parachutes - They only function when open."
Thomas Dewar

I really like this quote because it helps me to keep my parachute mind wide open all the time. I just know that there is so much information that I do not know, but want to soak up, that is out there in great books, cyberspace, and through interesting people I may meet. I don't want to miss a thing! My biggest hurdle seems to be the limited hours in each day to learn it all, see it all and do it all.

Here are a couple of new items I learned about from the blogosphere recently:

The first is a great book called A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink. Mr. Pink has a theory about why the Right-Brainers will rule the future. As a right-brainer - I like how he thinks! He also has some great exercises to expand your right brain if you tend to be more left-brained.

My second new find is a blog site called Bootstrapper
This is a small business resource with lists of resources and articles about every aspect of starting and running a small business. I think a lot of the organizing information applies to homes and home offices that are not necessarily a business.

Running a home IS like running a business. You have inventory in and inventory out ( food, clothing & belongings ) that needs to be tracked. Money (income) coming in and then allocated to expenses going out. The space where all this takes place ( your home ) needs to be efficient, comfortable and maintained for all of the business of LIFE to work smoothly. So, even if you do not have a specific small business that you run from your home, don't disregard the small business information and articles, because you may be missing out on some great gems of wisdom for running your household.

Remember to keep your parachute open!

Until next time,

Sandra

Letting Go

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:01:00 +0000

This is a personal story that I told to a client recently, to try to help her with some decision making she needed to do in order to achieve her organizing goals. The story seemed to touch a nerve for her, and she then had a more clear understanding of the burden that some of her belongings were creating in her life, and that she was keeping certain things out of perceived obligations to other people.

My Mothers Birds

My mother had a collection of beautiful little bird figurines. Some were elegant crystal and some were hand made pottery, or wood. All were different, and special, gathered over a period of many years. My mother loved animals of all shapes and sizes, and was a champion for animal causes. That bird collection was such a statement about who my mother was.

After both my parents had passed away, I was able to make the decisions about most of their belongings, except for a small pile of boxes of very personal things, including the bird collection.

It seemed like such a dilemma to me as to what to do with these beautiful figurines. I believe some of them were expensive, many of them were hand made, and some of them were made specifically for her. I had no place in my tiny house for the collection, but more importantly, it was HER collection. I thought of selling them on E-Bay, but that seemed like a big bother and not in keeping with my mother's sensibilities. Finally, after a couple of years of looking at the boxes, I decided to sell them at our spring yard sale.

The night before the yard sale I unpacked all of them and set them up on a table to try to price them. I was stuck again. I had no idea what monetary value they had. Their true value was what they meant to my mother and I could not put a price tag on that. That was an Ah - Ha moment for me. All of a sudden I was able to let them all go, except for just a few of my favorites, because I realized that I was hanging on to memories, and that I did not need to keep all those figurines in order to keep my memories.

I set up a special table for the bird collection at the yard sale, and I let people pay whatever they wanted for the birds. There were men, women and children who were entranced with these beautiful figurines, and they all seemed to take a lot of pleasure in looking them over and choosing their special birds. I felt that we all honored my mother, who was a most generous person, by spreading the joy of that collection as wide as we could. Each person who purchased one of those birds went away with a smile and a treasure in their hands, which in turn gave me great pleasure. I felt certain that my mother was pleased also.

As Peter Walsh so perfectly states, "We are not our stuff".

Creating a new, beautiful memory of the bird collection was such a perfect way for me to let it go, physically and emotionally.

Until next time,

Sandra

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Carroll) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:11:00 +0000

"Not what we have,
but what we enjoy,
constitutes our abundance."
J. Petit-Senn

Enjoy!

Sandra