How to Get Your Butt in Gear

Often times we don't feel like doing what we know we should do. It is especially prevalent in times when we are physically sick. But we also find ourselves in this situation when we are mentally and emotionally "burnt-out."

When you don't feel like doing anything at all, how do you get over this hump?

Time and will-power are often the keys to success. Sometimes our bodies and minds just need time to get over things. Even with all the time in the world, unless we have some will-power we may never be motivated at all.

How do you find the will-power? Sometimes it must be cultivated from outside.

Read an inspiring book or watch an inspiring movie or TV show. Make a date with a friend. Do some light exercise. Eat healthy and avoid excessive sugar. Get appropriate and fulfilling sleep. Get on a proper sleep, eating and exercise schedule. And most importantly don't try all these things at once....you will get burned out! Better yet, introduce one of these at a time.

Most importantly...don't give up. This phase will pass and you will soon be back to feeling like you are in charge of the world again!


Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the author of 2 Minute Organizing Miracles. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

Something don't expire but some things do

The First Class mail stamp is going up AGAIN!

Effective January 27, 2013, the cost for a first class stamp will be 46 cents.

The best advice is to buy "Forever" stamps, the stamps that never expire. While the forever postage stamps may never expire, that is not the case for other things in our household. Yes, food does expire as does makeup, and cleaning products.

Here are some expiration dates that might surprise you:

Dried Pasta: 12 months
Worcestershire Sauce: Unopened 5-10 years; Opened 2 years.

Lotion: 3 years
Lip Balm: Unopened 5 years; Opened 1-5 years

Bleach: 3-6 months
Windex: 2 years

The moral of the story, things do expire. So keep that in mind the next time you clear out a cabinet or cupboard.


Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/ http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

Increasing SEO Optimization

Four Strategies for Increasing SEO Optimization

Search Engine Optimization or SEO is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of web development and this is because it requires a bit of technical knowledge to really master. While perfecting your site’s SEO is not a guarantee that your site will shoot to number one on search engine rankings, not paying attention to basic SEO principles is a sure-fire way to get penalized and languish at the bottom of the pack. The following are four basic strategies for increasing SEO optimization.

Perform Keyword Research
It is very important to find the right keywords to use on our site, but you must also use relative keywords as well. This means that if your site is on advice for teenagers, you may use keywords like teen counsel, but you must also think of other keywords that might be used instinctively like
teen advice or teenage problems. Google analytics can help you to determine the popularity of a keyword.

Have a Proper Site Structure
Your site structure is important because when Google crawls through your site you will be penalized for links that do not work or for pages that do not link to any other. It therefore pays to make sure your internal and external links are up to par.

Add Your Site to Directories
Site directories are online listings of web pages that are available on the internet. They are used by search engines to help determine page ranks. By submitting your site to a popular directory you will increase the chances of being found by the search engines. Think of this as being listed in the telephone directory.

Use Meta Tags
Your meta tag description is what appears as the summary description for users on the search engine page. A proper meta tag description should not be longer than 160 characters and it should contain relevant keywords that can boost the chances of being found.

These tips can help to improve your SEO and ultimately increase your page rank on major search engines.

http://www.theorganizingchoice.com

How to Effectively and Efficiently Communicate at Work

Communication can be a difficult skill to master because it requires an understanding of not just yourself and your own language but it also the language and behavior of those around you. To be an effective and efficient communicator at work, take a look at the following suggestions.

Beware Your Body Language
Communication is much more than what you say. As a matter of fact some would argue that effective communication is almost entirely about how the message is put across and not so much about the words you use. Body language is extremely integral to success, so to be taken seriously at work project the right image. Make eye contact with people you speak to, keep your hands out of pockets and stand firm on your feet. Appear too fidgety and people start wondering if you are worth listening to.

Get to the Point
If you have a tendency to be long-winded you risk losing your message along the way. People generally don’t need to know the entire story and they are not even as likely to be as interested as you might think. Get to the part that is pertinent to why you need their help and you’ll get the
right results every time.

Use Action Language
Passive phrases get you passive responses. If you want to get something done you need to ask in a way that gets the point across.

Be Open and Receptive
Communication is a two-way street so it is important to check that your message is being received in the way that is intended. To get the best results at work you should maintain an open-door policy by being available for questions and concerns. Your co-workers or subordinates should never wonder if it is alright to approach you for a discussion.



Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com

How to Organize Makeup and Beauty Products

If you have makeup and beauty products in lots of different nooks and crannies chances are you don’t use everything you have because you simply can’t find it all. It can also be frustrating to rummage through piles of makeup just to find a particular shade of lipstick. The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. You can organize your makeup and beauty products without spending a fortune on a fancy shelving system and it doesn’t have to take your entire weekend. Take a look at the tips below.

Evaluate Your Stock

The first step is to assess your stock. You may be holding on to expired products or shades that don’t work just because you don’t take the time to look at the labels or figure out when was the last time you used the item. Toss out anything that is old or that you no longer love and you’ll see that you don’t have as much to store as you may think.

Repurpose Glass Bottles and Containers

Empty jars and bottles can make great storage for makeup sponges and cotton balls that you want to keep clean but accessible. Wash a couple of jars and remove the label and you have instant chic storage for your basic tools.

Use a Toolkit for Make-Up and Beauty Products

A regular handyman toolkit is a great way to keep the bulk of your makeup supplies. If you have a number of eye-shadow colors and lipsticks you can keep them separate using the compartments in the kit but they are all in the same place. Simply slide the entire toolkit in a bathroom cupboard for storage.

Store Everyday Make-Up in Accessible Bag

Your everyday makeup should be easily accessible. You can keep the things you use on your face all the time in a neat bag on your countertop.

Purge Regularly

Finally, the key to keeping things under control is regular purging. Don’t allow your stock to spiral out of control. Whenever your makeup and beauty container starts to overflow it is your queue to start sifting through your products to find the things you really don’t need or won’t use.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

ADHD gadgets to help you get organized

ADHD adults generally suffer from chronic lateness, forgetfulness and a level of overall disorganization that makes simple life tasks difficult to master. Luckily there are gadgets out there to help you to organize every aspect of your life, from remembering what to pick up in the morning before you leave the house to making it to meetings on time and prepared. Take a look at some of the ADHD gadgets that can help you to get organized.

Smartphones

Your Smartphone can become your best friend if you are an ADHD adult. There are tons on features that can make you appear focused and in control. Day planners, meeting reminders, lists and customizable alarm sounds for different tasks can keep you on track with very little effort.

Key-Finders

The great thing about key-finders is that you can use them to find much more than lost keys. You can attach them to almost anything and with the press of a button you’ll be able to locate the thing you’ve lost.

Doorganizer

The Doorganizer is a nifty gadget that holds everything from eyeglasses to smartphones and more. It attaches to the door knob so you can store everything that you want to take with you when you leave the house. You can get them at The Container Store for a fairly reasonable price.

Intelligent Watch

These watches are great because you can set reminders at 15 to 30 minute intervals so you are more aware of your time and they are water-resistant so you don’t have to remember to take them off and put them back on when you shower.

ADHD sufferers can get relief from these organization gadgets but these tools can also bring a sense of normalcy and calm to those you love because they will come to know that they can depend on you just a little bit more.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

Design Tips: Accessorizing Your Home

Think about how you dress. The perfect scarf, belt, shoes, or jewelry can transform the same outfit from casual to elegant, conservative to trendy, or frumpy to fun. The same can be said of the “extra” elements we add to the décor of our homes.

We can be content to live in “straight off the mannequin ” rooms……………….this goes with this, that goes with that…the colors in that picture match the couch, etc., but wouldn’t it be more interesting to live in space with a little personality…more specifically your personality?

Personal touches can be anything from private collections, to special photographs and artwork, to keepsakes from memorable trips, to flea market finds that catch your eye and bring a bit of whimsy or interest to a grouping.

A lady I worked with just loved a small side table that belonged to her father, but worried that it wouldn’t blend with her newly decorated home and thought she might need to have it refinished in order to make the grade. But once we talked about how the imperfections now showing after so many years of use actually gave the piece its personality, and then realized that its history is exactly why she liked it in the first place, she made the decision to leave it just as it is. It works perfectly as an eclectic addition to her décor, as did a cherished pine hope chest salvaged from the basement……she added a bench pillow, placed framed family photographs above it, and it is a well loved and perfect addition to her cottage look bedroom.

You can also be creative in the use of objects….that potting table might make a great desk or a bar for outdoor entertaining….those carvings or rocks could be used as bookends, that antique trunk or chest may be the perfect coffee table.

The point is…..use what you love and you’ll love where you live….flawless can be a bit

boring..create your own perfection.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

How to Organize Your Finances

When your finances are disorganized you can find yourself falling behind on bill payments or eating into savings because you don’t have a clue how much money you really have at your disposal and even occasionally running into overdraft. To avoid the financial messiness that comes from a lack of organization try implementing the following tips.

Choose a System that Works for You

The first step to organizing your finances is selecting a system that fits your lifestyle. There is no point spending a fortune on a software program to manage your money if you are inclined to pick up a pen and paper and getting on the computer always seems like a chore. Choose a system that you are sure to use whether it is a simple notebook with columns for expenses and income or a sophisticated program with the ability to forecast future savings.

Consolidate Accounts (Credit Cards)

Instead of having several small accounts to track, keep it simple and consolidate them in one place. This means you get only one statement and you can track your withdrawals and deposits to get a real picture of what you have and what you spent. The same approach works for your credit cards. Maintaining only one credit card; preferably one with a low finance cost and airline miles or cash back incentive, means you are less likely to go over your limit.

Take Advantage of Automatic Payments and Transfers

Automatic bill payments and account transfers can take the hassle out of staying on top of your monthly expenses. They usually cost only a minimal fee, so it may be well worth it if the alternative is paying hefty late fees and incurring interest costs.

Make Time to Update Records

The best designed system in the world will only get you so far. You need to make the time to actually use it, input the data and update your records so they make sense.

Be Ready for Tax Season

Finally, instead of going crazy at tax time keep a file with all the pertinent data throughout the year so it is easy to put together before the deadline. Whenever you collect a receipt that may be deductible it should go in your tax file so you won’t forget to claim.

Organizing your finances doesn’t have to be a gargantuan task. If you start with a well-planned system and simply follow-through you’ll get the results you want and it won’t be hard to stay organized throughout the year.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

Key Components of an Organized Press Release

If you have news you want to get out then a press release is a great way to go about it, but if you’re not organized your efforts may very well be wasted and your good news may end up being just a small blip on the industry radar. To avoid this fate take a look at some of the key components of an organized press release.

Make the Objective Clear

Without a stated objective your entire press release could fall flat and your audience might miss the point entirely. To be sure your message is clear try not to include too much information. Instead focus on the core reason for the communication so there is no chance that a reader could get lost on other details.

Proofread and Polish Your Text

One of the most common mistakes is neglecting to proofread your finished text. It only takes a little extra effort but giving your document a final check before you send can save you from making silly the errors that portray your image in a negative light.

Identify Your Target Distribution List

Your target distribution list should include all the names and contact information for the people with the power to spread your message. You may have editors, journalists or freelancers listed but you should also categorize your contacts according to priority and the frequency with which their material is published so you can send your press release at a time that is convenient for their next available deadline. Of course you should also make sure the journalists are a good fit for the information you want to distribute. Don’t simply forward your press kit because you have their name and contact information.

Have Stated Goals for Every Press Release to Measure Success

Your goals should be for your eyes only so they are not to be included in the press release that is sent out, but they are nevertheless integral to the organization of your material. These goals help to focus your efforts so your press release is concise, effective and timely.

After you have sent out your press release don’t forget to follow-up. Just because you’ve sent it doesn’t mean your job is done. You may need to give reporters and journalists reminders about your story, so developing a working relationship with these people can go a long way towards your success.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

How can a timer keep me on task?

A secret strategy for productivity management is the implementation of a simple timer to make your results more productive. Take a look at the following steps for information on how this is done.

Choose the Timer

You can use a stop watch, an ordinary alarm clock, or the alarm on your cell phone. The point is to get something that allows you to track a predetermined amount of time. The timer can count down or count up.

Choose the Type of Task Wisely

Not all tasks are conducive to timing. If you have to depend on others to provide essential information or input, it’s probably not a good task for using a timer. Use a timer for tasks and productivity you have control over.

Race the Timer

If you have a difficult time staying focused, set your timer and race it. This creates urgency and helps you to overcome outside interruptions.

Work For 25 Minutes

Research has shown that working in smaller blocks of time can actually increase productivity. By setting your timer to 25 minute intervals you give yourself a fairly short burst of time to concentrate on a project or task before taking a break.

Take a Short Break and Repeat

When you take a break it should be for no longer than about five minutes. You can use this time to stretch your legs, get something to drink or simply to clear your mind. When this time is over you should get back to your project and reset your timer.

Using a timer in this way can have a huge impact on your overall results.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

Outsource and Delegate

Today's news about Congress fighting over the Payroll Tax cut reminds me quickly why I choose to outsource and delegate some things.

As a business that has employees, we have to provide payroll regularly. And I am SO glad that I have an accountant that handles all our payroll. I don't want to keep up with all the ever changing payroll and IRS rules.

For instance, if this payroll tax cut is extended for just 2 months as proposed, I would have to remember to change the payroll tax deductions in 2 months. Or if the payroll tax cut is passed for one year, I would have to remember in one year to check to see if he payroll tax cut is still in place OR I would have to have payroll software that is ALWAYS current and up-to-date. Because failing to do so would cause big problems with the government!

Whew that's a lot to think about...when would I have time to actually work my job? While I have accounting that needs to be done in my business, I don't want to be an accountant...that's why I outsource that to the professionals and I can focus on being a professional organizer and not a professional accountant!



Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/ http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com /; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

Total Money Makeover - Recommended Reading

If you are struggling with debt or tired of being stressed every time a bill comes due, I would encourage you to do a Total Money Makeover. Dave Ramsey is the ultimate guru of not only money management but the guru for digging yourself out of a financial mess! The Total Money Makeover is a great place to start getting your life back in financial order!


Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

It's All Too Much - Recommended Book

A few years back I had the opportunity to meet Peter Walsh, the original icon of the organizing industry. You might have seen him on Oprah over the years. He has some great books, but my all time best recommended book for those who struggle with letting things go, is his book "It's All Too Much".

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Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

The Success Principles - Recommended Book

If you are looking to move ahead in your career or just need a kick in the butt, The Success Principles by Jack Canfield is awesome. I heard Jack speak live a few years ago and what an inspiration! If you haven’t read this book, you should. It is one of my all time favorites.

CLICK BELOW ON THE BOOK

TO SEE INFO ABOUT IT

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

How to organize effective brainstorming sessions

Brainstorming sessions are used to generate creative fresh ideas but the format of a typical brainstorming session makes it easy to let the meeting get out of hand quite quickly. The following are a few tips to be organized and get the most out of your time.

Set an Agenda and Make It Known

When you create an agenda for the meeting and circulate it well in advance your attendees understand the reason for meeting and can come prepared. An agenda also highlights other participants and can underscore why each person is vital to the session’s success.

Designate a Coordinator or Session Leader

The session leader is responsible for documenting ideas, keeping time and steering the focus of the group. When someone is clearly at the helm of the brainstorming session it is easier to direct the other participants to stay on track and to make contributions.

Place a Time Limit on Sessions

Ideally a brainstorming session should last only about half an hour. This is because going for a longer time period distorts the result and participants start to rationalize and this can kill the creativity of more spontaneous responses. If your session has to extend beyond this time it is best to designate short breaks in between so participants can grab refreshments and come back revitalized.

Encourage Participation

The main objective of a brainstorming session is to get solutions that are not run of the mill. This can only happen if people feel free to say anything that comes to mind regardless of how ridiculous it might first appear. The key to achieving this is to suspend judgment and welcome wild ideas.

If you follow these simple tips you can improve the productivity of your brainstorming sessions and generate the results you really want to see.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

How to organize mental clutter

If you feel like you have a million things you want to do but you are unable to settle down to anything productive because you simply can’t clear your head for long enough to choose a direction, then you need take a look at the following tips for how to organize mental clutter.

Make a Detailed List
The first thing you need to do to organize mental clutter is to get everything down on paper. This simple step works wonders when it comes to getting organized. On your first attempt at writing everything down you should not worry too much about the order you put things on your list, or if the list appears to represent a logical group of items. The trick is to treat this exercise like a typical brainstorming session capturing everything and leaving nothing out.

Create Categories
When everything is down on paper you can start looking at your items and then group them into logical categories. You may end up with things you want to do around the house, trips you want to take or meetings you have been putting off for work.

Prioritize Within Categories
The next step is to prioritize all the items under their separate categories. After doing this you’ll start to see where you need to start because the things that are urgent will be placed at the top of your list.

Figure Out Your Time Constraints
Of course you don’t have unlimited time, which is part of the reason you may have found yourself in this predicament in the first place, so you need to budget time to get the urgent things done. Then you can move along the line until you have put a timeline on all your outstanding projects and goals.

Create a Schedule
You may be able to use this exercise as a starting point to create a schedule that you can use every week, or even every day. The recurring items can be put into a time slot so you will be better organized in the future.


Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

How To Organize Your Child's School Papers

If your child’s school papers have managed to find their way onto every surface of your house it is time to take control and bring some order to the chaos. Organizing your child’s school papers will not only neaten your home but it will improve productivity as well.



Use the Keep/Toss Method
It might be heart-breaking to decide which of your child’s precious school papers you should keep and which you should toss, but it is simply not practical to hold on to everything. As your child progresses through the school system you will realize that the paper load is just too much and you will start to prune them out of pure necessity. A simple way to help cut back on what you keep is to hold on to all test papers and other graded school work for the length of the term in case any discrepancies arise after which time you can toss them away. If something is really sentimental you can take a picture of your child holding it up before you throw it away that way you can still hold on to the memory.



Set Aside Time to Organize
If you don’t make organizing school papers a part of your routine you will always have a build up. Instead of waiting for it to get overwhelming, you can sort your child’s school bag at the end of every day. Use the opportunity to check for homework, fill out consent forms and pull out things that can be tossed immediately.



Review Your Storage Bin After Every Term
At the end of the school term you can take a second look at your keep pile of papers. You should only keep those things that are really special to you or your child and get rid of the rest.


Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access http://www.theorganizingchoice.com/, http://www.secondgoaroundauctions.com/; http://www.itssimplyserendipity.com/; and http://www.outstandingseminars.com/

How to Recycle VHS Tapes

Yesterday at the Farmer's Market here in Cedar Rapids, someone asked how to recycle VHS tapes. This is a bit of a challenge because the older technology is in much less demand.

If the tapes are movies, the quickest and easiest solution is to donate them to an organization such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army who will resell them. From my experience, the only movies that you might be able to sell yourself are Disney movies. If you are having a garage sale anyway (don't have one just to sell these tapes), you could price them for sale. Craigs List is an option for selling or giving away. Freecycle. org is another option for giving away.

All the suggestions to this point involve reusing rather than recycling. If you have VHS tapes where you have taped programs or family movies on your own, these are more difficult to reuse and less people want them. Recyling them becomes the better option.

Upon some research, I have learned there is a company in Missouri that erases the tapes, sells the ones that are good and recycles the plastic of the others. You can send your tapes to them at ACT, 2200 Burlington, Columbia, Missouri 65202. Their website is www.ACTRecycling.org. If you go to their website, they do have a donation form and it appears the donations are tax deductible.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access www.TheOrganizingChoice.com, www.SecondGOAroundAuctions.com; www.ItsSimplySerendipity.com; and www.OutstandingSeminars.com

How to Organize a Family Reunion

Organizing a family reunion can take a lot of time and energy so it helps to formulate a strategy for getting started.


Decide Who is in Charge of Planning
You can decide to grab hold of the reigns to get your next family reunion off the ground or it may be more realistic to recruit a couple of your other family members to help. This all depends on the scale of the reunion you have in mind. A small gathering takes considerably less effort, so it may be possible for one person to do all the scheduling, but as long as you are trying to get a large group of people together you need to consider getting help.

Fix a Date and Location
Setting a date and location for your reunion is not as simple as it would first appear. This is especially the case if your family is scattered across the globe because everyone would need to take time off work and have money set aside to make the trip. The location should be centralized so all family members have an equal opportunity to attend and it should also be set for a time that is convenient to the largest number of people.

Think About Financing
There may be costs to be shared by the group. For instance, the rental of the location for the reunion is a factor to consider, although you may be able to find a place for free. You also need to think about the cost of refreshments or entertainment if you are planning to enlist outside acts to get momentum going.

Communicate with Attendees
It is the responsibility of the designated planners to communicate with all the potential attendees. Updating people on the issues as they arise and passing on the general consensus of the family members.


Activities
Sharing the family history and playing games should be fun for all, so when you are planning your itinerary remember to consider the different age groups that are likely to be present.
Organizing a family reunion doesn’t have to be a very difficult task. A bit of planning can ensure that your gathering is a great success and it just might turn into the first of many.


Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access www.TheOrganizingChoice.com; www.SecondGOAroundAuctions.com; www.ItsSimplySerendipity.com; www.OutstandingSeminars.com

How to Organize Computer Files

When your computer files are disorganized you lose precious time and this can have a huge negative impact on your productivity. Instead of getting frustrated every time you sit down at your computer you can take steps to organize your files and folders so you can find the things you need in an instant.

Use the “Documents” Feature
If you use Windows XP you would recognize the “My Documents” feature, but if you have upgraded to Windows 7 you know that it is simply known as “Documents”. This is a powerful tool for organizing your computer because it is essentially home-base for all your files and folders. If you use it as the root folder for all your work then you simply have to figure out a cascading structure of folders that makes sense for your usage.

Store Like Things Together
Another tip is to store like things together. You might start out with the best intentions but somewhere along the line you may start saving documents in the wrong place. Giving in to this lazy approach to computer organization is a recipe for disaster. You will never be able to find your documents if you don’t consistently put things in the right place.

Choose Intuitive Names
It is important to come up with a standard naming convention for both your computer folders and files and of course to stick to it. This helps greatly when you have to remember where to look for a particular type of document.

Backup Your Data
Finally, you should backup data on some external device or on an online database. While it is perfectly acceptable to use an external hard drive for instance, it is much better to use Dropbox to store your data because then it can be accessed remotely and you don’t need to worry about it ever being contaminated.

Becky Esker is a certified professional organizer, national speaker, owner of Get Organized! L.L.C., and the forthcoming author of a new organizing book. Becky and her team provide hands-on services to those in the greater eastern Iowa area and also provide a wide array of products and service to businesses and individuals nationwide through their website. For more information access www.TheOrganizingChoice.com, www.SecondGOAroundAuctions.com; www.ItsSimplySerendipity.com; and www.OutstandingSeminars.com