Newsletter Archives • Helpful Organizer

January 2019 Newsletter

February 12, 2019/in Newsletter /by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Hi,
Happy New Year! How are you? What does your 2019 have in store for you? Any plans to organize, reduce, and let go of stuff? If so, I’d like to hear about your plans, please email me. This year I’m excited to plan a town recycling event and to embrace minimalism.

Celebrating 11 years in business in 2019!

Thank you for supporting me and my business. I’m pleased to be celebrating my 11th year in business. A special thank you to all my clients both past and present. I value and appreciate your trust, collaboration and fortitude.

Closet Clean Out

Did you know the best day to clean a closet is laundry day? On laundry day everything you like is in the laundry being washed and your least-favorite items are still in your closet. So, this is the perfect time to make decisions on what hasn’t been worn. Did you know that we wear 20% of what we own 80% of the time? Laundry day is the best day to scrutinize that unworn 80% and consider giving some(or all) of it away. Therefore, on your next laundry day, I’d like to encourage you to be decisive about your unworn clothes, while your favorite clothes are spinning and rinsing. If you need some help deciding what to keep and what to let go of, below are a few more articles that will offer some guidelines and direction. Deciding What Clothes to Keep

Determine, Decide, Dispose

Clutter Excuses

More Clutter Excuses

Resources for Less

In keeping with the theme of reducing the amount of clothing we have, I’d like to introduce you to Project 333 by Courtney Carver. It is the minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months. I have not personally done this challenge, but I continually weed through my closet and practice seasonal purging of my wardrobe. If you try Project 333 I’d love to hear about your experience. Please share.

I feel like I must mention the hot topic of Marie Kondo who is the author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. She has a new Netflix series that is creating a lot of buzz. All I want to say is that if it works for you, do it, but if it doesn’t that’s okay!

Question: Does your New Year Resolution involve organizing? Please share.

Shopping Guidelines

October 30, 2018/0 Comments/in Newsletter /by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Celebrating

10 years in business

in 2018!

I apologize for not sending out a newsletter in July. I was traveling and the summer just flew by. However, I did write some blog articles that you may find inspiring and interesting. Please see below.

Recent Blog Articles:

Question: Have you ever experimented with minimalism? Please share.

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Hi ,

How are you? Can you believe it is already the end of October? Summer has come and gone, and once again we are gearing up for a cold, snowy New England winter. Time marches on and with winter comes the gift-giving-season. Are you ready? Would you like to do things a bit differently this year? If so, I have a few organizer friendly shopping guidelines.

Make a list and check it twice (like Santa).
Set limits on number of gifts to give each person and dollars to spend per person.
Always shop with your list and have a specific purpose for each purchase.
Buy gifts that get used up instead of things that take up space. A few examples are bubble bath, art and craft supplies, and sweet treats.
Use technology as a gift-giving inspiration and acquire downloads of books, movies, and games.
Purchase gifts of experience like movie passes, sporting event tickets, zoo memberships, concert tickets, and ice cream shoppe gift cards.
Check out my list of clutter-free gift giving ideas.
Store gifts in one spot, so you can easily see what has been purchased.
Update your list each time you make a purchase.
Schedule time to wrap gifts so you don’t have to stay up till 3:00AM the night before the big holiday.

If you have other shopping guidelines that have worked for you in the past, please share them with me.

Giving Resources

Looking to clear out some stuff before adding more during the holidays?

Here are a few giving options for toys:

Cradles to Crayons helps families and children in need.
Project Smile works with police and fire departments
Daycare centers
Domestic and homeless shelters
Children’s Homes
Social Services
Hospitals and doctor’s offices

Here are two on-line giving communities:

Happy 2018!

I’m truly grateful for you and your support of me and my business. Thanks for helping me make it to my ten year anniversary. Wishing you all the best in the final two months of 2018 and a happy and safe holiday season!

From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652
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If you’ve worked with me in any capacity, I’d be grateful for a review. Simply click on this link and answer 3 questions. Thank you and happy organizing!

Keep Clutter at Bay

May 16, 2018/0 Comments/in Newsletter /by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Celebrating

10 years in business

in 2018!

I’m happy to be celebrating 10 years in business, but I wouldn’t be in business if it wasn’t for my sister. She was looking for a new job in 2007 when I was, and that is when we decided to attend a NAPO New England meeting. After that meeting I knew I wanted to start my own business and become a Professional Organizer. My sister decided to pursue a different direction, but if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thanks sis! I owe it all to you!

Recent Blog Articles:

Downsizing Action Plan

Organizing Small Spaces

Why We Hold Onto Things?

Innies or Outies

Question: Do you change your wardrobe in the spring and pack away your winter clothes? If so, do you spend time removing items you didn’t wear or don’t wish to hold onto until next winter? Please share.

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NAPO-NE

Hi Janine,

I’m amazed each year at the colorful transformation spring brings from brown and drab to green and lush. It motivates me to transform my home into something lighter and brighter. What about you? Do you get motivated to make changes and improvements to your home? Do you get motivated to organize and declutter?

Here are 10 things I do to keep clutter at bay.

Have a do-it-now attitude. I do my best to make decisions and take action in a timely manner. This helps prevent piles from starting and growing.
Make bed every morning. This small act helps me jump start my day creating order.
Have a morning and evening routine, and include activities essential to health and well-being. These routines allow me to start and end my day with calm focus. Two activities included in my morning routine are eating breakfast and meditating. Two activities included in my evening routine are preparing for the next day by reviewing my calendar and planning my outfit.
Have a place for everything and put everything in it’s place. If you struggle with this, I recommend establishing a home for important items that you use daily, for example, wallet, keys, pocketbook, and toiletries.
Have a return-home-routine. I allow myself time to put things away each time I enter my house. This prevents me from littering my entryway with piles of clutter and facilitates an organized home.
Process mail daily. If you struggle with this, I recommend that you collect all incoming mail into a specific container and pick two days a week to processed what is in the container.
Use personal daily calendar that keeps track of important actions that need to get done. A calendar is a great tool for keeping appointments and remembering birthdays, but I find it’s real value is prompting me to take action on tasks and projects.
Use weekly tickler files. I use pocket folders to collect notes and papers that would otherwise be all over the place. The system I created for myself is one folder for the current week, two folders for the following two weeks, and a folder for anything beyond 3 weeks. I schedule time on Sunday night or Monday morning to organize all 4 folders.
Use a donation box. This is a box that holds what I wish to get rid of until I can drop it off for donation. This box performs the important task of helping me separate what I don’t want from what I’m currently using.
Spend time every day reclaiming order.

Shredding Resources

Now that tax season is over it’s a great time to shred all the old papers and files you don’t need. If you’d like a list of how long to hold onto a particular papers visit IRS.gov or bankrate.com.

Here are 2 shredding options for you:

Mansfield Shredding Services – They are a non-profit organization located in Mansfield, MA, that has pick-up and walk-in services. They offer a certificate of destruction. 508-618-4222
Shred ‘N’ Go – They are located in Johnston, RI and have pick-up and walk-in services. They offer a certificate of destruction. 401-943-0522

From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652
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If you’ve worked with me in any capacity, I’d be grateful for a review. Simply click on this link and answer 3 questions. Thank you and happy organizing!

10 Years of Organizing

January 26, 2018/0 Comments/in Newsletter /by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Celebrating

10 years in business

in 2018!

I’m happy to be celebrating 10 years in business.

Here is what I’ve been doing :

258 clients served

14 couples

225 females

19 males

136 classes taught to 1650 individuals

Have you ever heard of

Rent Sons? It is an employment option that helps you rent young adults to do the work you wish your kids would do. You can search your local area to see if there is one in your neighborhood.

Question: What organizing books have you read? Please share.

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Hi ,

Happy New Year! I hope your 2018 is off to a good start. For me, January 2018 marks my 10th anniversary in business, and I’d like to take this time to thank all those who have helped me achieve this milestone.

First of all I’d like to thank my clients both current and past. I’m impressed with your strength and courage to do what’s necessary to achieve your organizing goals. I am grateful for your trust in my ability to help you do that.

Secondly, I’d like to thank all those who have taken one or more of my classes or attended a presentation. I appreciate your faith in my knowledge and expertise. I must also mention those groups and organizations who have asked me to teach or present. I’m grateful that you provided me with opportunities to share and teach on organizing topics that are relevant and significant.

Thirdly, I’d like to thank the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals for providing me with opportunities to become certified, to educate myself, to strengthen my skills, to gather valuable resources, and to connect with other Organizers.

Lastly I’d like to thank those who have supported me in business, both personally and professionally. In addition to all the individual supporters, two organizations who deserve mention are the Women’s Business Network of Southeastern MA and the United Regional Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for your support throughout these 10 years.

Although there is more gratitude I could express, I wanted to conclude by saying how sincerely grateful I am that my business has allowed me to facilitate positive change in my own life and the lives of others. Thank you all!

Increase in Minimum Hours

My appointment minimum is increasing to two and a half (2.5) hours for clients within 30 miles from North Attleboro, MA and three and a half (3.5) hours for clients beyond 30 miles as of February 1, 2018.

Recycle Resource

Finding new ways to reuse, recycle, and reduce for myself and my clients, makes me happy. Everyone is more motivated to get rid of something when they know it is going to someone who will really use it. I wanted to share a few of my most used donation locations in the hopes that you’ll be motivated to get rid of some stuff and donate.

Savers

1385 South Washington Street, North Attleboro, MA
508-695-1068
They accept clothing, shoes, accessories, books, DVDs, CDs, Software, household items, bed & bath items, small appliances, furniture.

Indie Cycle, LLC
401-481-8838

Electronic waste collection in RI and southern MA.

Bay State Textiles

617-877-2432

Drop Boxes for clothing, linens, fabric, sleeping bags, stuffed toys, any textiles in any condition.
Locations at Plainville, Wrentham and other area schools.Old Colony Habitat for Humanity ReStore
9 Washington Street, Attleboro, MA 02703
508-639-9577
They accept new and used building materials, appliances and furniture, and more.

From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652
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If you’ve worked with me in any capacity, I’d be grateful for a review. Simply click on this link and answer 3 questions. Thank you and happy organizing!

Save 10%	Help me celebrate my 10 year anniversary! Use this coupon yourself or share it with someone you know. Receive 10% off one organizing appointment that is between 2.5 and 4 hours in duration, booked before February 17, 2018.
Offer Expires: February 17, 2018

Organizing Doesn’t Have to be Scary

October 31, 2017/in Newsletter /by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Side Notes:

I’ve been in business 9 year, and for all those years I’ve been a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. However, they have recently changed their name and logo. They are now the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals.

*** Have you ever heard of the Buy Nothing Project? It is an on-line community for giving, lending, and sharing. You can search your local area to see if there is one in your neighborhood. You do have to have a Facebook account.

*** Question: Have you ever rented a storage unit? If so, how big and how long? Please share.

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NAPO-NE

Hi ,

Isn’t it hard to believe that there are just two more months left in 2017? Fall is upon us. The colorful autumn leaves are finally sharing their splendor. The Halloween decorations are out, and costume preparations are under way. Now’s the time to share,

How to Overcome Five

SCARY

Thoughts About Organizing.

1. I’m not ready to organize.

I understand that being in the right mindset when tackling a project can impact the success of the project. If that is the case, take your time and do some planing and preparing before jumping in. However, if this is a procrastination technique, you’re not helping yourself. Commit and get started.

2. It’s too hard to do.

Organizing can be difficult, especially deciding what to keep and not keep, but you can always ask for help. Ask for assistance from sincere friends, empathetic family members, or Professional Organizers. The project will get done faster, and it is much more pleasant to work with a supportive helper.

3. I’m no good at organizing.

The best way to get better at a skill we’re not good at, is to practice. The more you organize the better you’ll get at it. Organize for 10 minutes a day, every day, and see what happens after 3 weeks.

4. I don’t know where to start.

I recommend that you start any organizing project by sorting things into general categories. The idea is to put like items together first, and then make decisions about what to keep and for how long. For more information about the steps of organizing read my blog, 3 Step Organizing Process.

5. It will just be a mess again in a month.

There is a natural flow to organizing, and it goes like this, there is order, natural disorder (work, life, mess), and then reclaiming order. In this way, organizing is like doing the laundry or dishes. You have to reclaim order for the mess to be controlled and contained, otherwise it creeps back.

Recycle Resource

Finding new ways to reuse, recycle, and reduce for myself and my clients, makes me happy. Everyone is more motivated to get rid of something when they know it is going to someone who will really use it. At Household Goods in Acton, MA they take donations and give directly to those in need. They help people in a variety of situations make a home for themselves. This is a wonderful organization. Please check them out.

If you have a donation that they don’t accept, or if you’re not close to Acton, they provide a good list of other organizations to donate to.

From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652
logo square

If you’ve worked with me in any capacity, I’d be grateful for a review. Simply click on this link and answer 3 questions. Thank you and happy organizing!