Janine with donation box

Organizing Habits

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Helpful Organizer Newsletter – January 2015
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Side Notes:***  January 2015 marks my 7th year in business.  Thank you for being a part of it, and helping me reach this anniversary.  I’m grateful to you.

 

 

***    Did you know that January is Get Organized Month?  In honor of GO Month, the New England Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, of which I am a member, is offering a full day expo on Saturday, January 24th.  For more details call me or visit the NAPO-NE website.

 

***    I’m excited to say I’ve taped a video for my website, and the launch date is at the end of the month of January.  I hope you’ll take a look and let me know what you think.

 

***  My organizing classes will begin in March.  I’ll be teaching 4 different classes in Franklin, MA.  Check my website for upcoming dates and times.

 
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Hi  Janine,

Happy New Year!  I hope your 2015 is off to a wonderful start.  A new year inspires me to try something new.  What about you?  Is this the year for you to initiate one or two new healthy organizing habits?  Maybe a few suggestions would motivate you to pick a new organizing habit to incorporate into your life this year?

Organizing Habits

Below are a few suggestions of healthy organizing habits:

1.  Go paperless with monthly bills and statements to cut down on the amount of mail that sits unopened on the counter.  Resist the urge to print out the payment receipt.  Instead, set up a file and store them on your computer.
2.  Share household responsibilities with everyone who lives under one roof.  Teamwork is the best approach to daily and weekly chores like laundry.
3.  Set up a clothing donation bin by the clothes dryer, and fill it with items you wish to get rid of as soon as they come out of the dryer.  Schedule a trip to drop off the items, or schedule a pick up date for the donations every 3 months or so.
4.  Allow only one open bottle of dish detergent, cleaning supplies, shampoo, lotion, soap, etc. at any given time.  This helps prevents clutter in the bathroom and kitchen.
5.  Immediately get rid of outdated, damaged, unused, or unwanted items.  It’s tempting to shove them into a closet, the basement, or garage, but it is too easy to forget about them that way.  Prevent clutter build up by getting rid of them right away.

Will you initiate a new healthy organizing habit in 2015?  If so, please share.

Helpful Organizer Blog


What is a blog?  The Helpful Organizer Blog I write is short entries of information on organizing topics that I find noteworthy and potentially helpful to my clients and the general public.   Here are a few of my most recent blogs that you may want to read:

Organizing Decorations
Organizing Medical Papers
Save Time
Clutter Aerobics
From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652

    If you’d like to share this email message with someone, please click on the Forward email button below.  Thank you and happy organizing in 2015!

Motivation to Organize

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Helpful Organizer Newsletter – October 2014
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Side Notes:

***    I’d like your input on my Helpful Organizer Blog.  From now till December 31, 2014, each time you comment on one of my blog articles you’ll be entered into a drawing for two free hours of organizing with me, Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®.  Thanks in advance for your input and good luck.

 

***    I’ve taped another tip, Combating Clutter, for DoubleACS, a public access TV station in Attleboro, MA.  The tip is my best advice to combat clutter.  Please view and comment.

 

***  Small Business Saturday is the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  This year I’ll be offering a special on that day on gift certificates.  Look for more details to come in November.

 

 

***  We spend about 93% of our day indoors, 5% of our day in transit, and 2% of our day outside.  Why not have our indoor space be organized, stress-free, and peaceful?  Need help?
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Hi  Janine,

Happy autumn!  Do the chilly temperatures motivate you to organize the garage so your car will fit in during the winter months?  Or maybe they encourage you to venture into the attic, and reduce some of the items that have been collecting?  If so, I’d like to see your before and after photos and hear about your project.  Please share.

Motivation to Organize


If however, you need more motivation to start an organizing project or to spend more effort organizing, I’d like to offer a few suggestions.

Suggestion #1:  Make an organizing appointment with someone who will hold you accountable.  Someone who will sincerely help and not criticize or bully.

Suggestion #2:  Schedule time to organize when you’re at your peak.  If you’re not a morning person, schedule time to organize at 8:00PM, not 8:00AM.

Suggestion #3:  Give yourself a deadline.  This works for me when I need to clean my house.  If I schedule a get together at my house for Friday night, I know I’ll get my house cleaned before then.

Do you have a motivation tactic that works for you?  Please share.

Preparing for Cold Weather


Chilly temperatures always prompt me to make seasonal changes.  Listed below are a few I thought you might find helpful.
1.  Make a clear path to the furnace, boiler, or oil tank.
2.  Swap out summer clothing for the cold weather gear.
3.  Pack up the beach items and pool toys.
4.  Stow the bicycles securely and safely.
5.  Air out the winter blankets and warm lap quilts.
6.  Make room for hats, mittens, scarves and winter boots by the back door.
7.  Pack away the grill tools and cover the grill.
8.  Clean out the garage so the cars fit inside.
9.  Stow deck furniture in the shed or garage.
10.  Make sure outside lights are working for the long winter nights ahead.
From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652

    If you’d like to share this email message with someone, please click on the Forward email button below.  Thank you and happy organizing in autumn of 2014!

Organizing in a Large Family

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Helpful Organizer Newsletter – July 2014
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Side Notes:***    My website has a brand new look.  Please check it out and provide me with some feedback.  I’d love to hear what you think.

 

***    I’m sorry to report that the Leaning Connection, where I’ve taught classes for the past 6 years has closed.  However, I’m still teaching at Tri-County in Franklin, MA.  Visit my website for a complete class list and details.

 

 

***  Start with Sort is my first tip that I taped with DoubleACS, a public access TV station in Attleboro, MA.  It was a fun and exciting experience.

 

***  Maybe Box is my second tip that I taped with DoubleACS, a public access TV station in Attleboro, MA.  What do you think?

 

 

 
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Hi  Janine,

Happy summer!  I hope you’ve been able to enjoy this lovely summer weather that we’ve been having.  My organizing clients have been keeping me pretty busy this summer, but I was able to squeeze in a vacation.  I just returned from a trip to Canada, where I caught a rainbow in Niagara Falls.  If you’ve never been to see these magnificent falls, I definitely recommend it.

Large Family

Niagara Falls was one of our vacation destinations, and Toronto, Canada was another.  I have a sister who lives up there.  You may or may not know that I have several sisters.  In fact, I come from a very large family.  (If you’d like to know just how large, email me and I’ll share the double digit number with you.)Growing up in a large family taught me many valuable organizing lessons.  I’d like to share some with you.

Lessons Learned:
1.  Be responsible for your own stuff, because it could easily get lost in the shuffle.
2.  Make room for what’s important, because there isn’t enough space for surplus or unnecessary things.
3.  Everyone has to pitch in and do their share, because one Mom (no mater how super) can’t do it all, and shouldn’t have to.
4.  Put things back where you found them, because the next person who needs it, will want to be able to find it.
5.  Accumulating more than you need or use isn’t possible, because there is no room.

I’d be happy to hear the organizing lessons you’ve learned from your family.  Please share.
From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652

    If you’d like to share this email message with someone, please click on the Forward email button below.  Thank you and happy organizing in summer of 2014!

Taxes & Paper Management

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Helpful Organizer Newsletter – April 2014
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Side Notes:

***    I’m currently reading a book about Feng Shui.  Did you know that a dirty stove can make you tired and depressed?  It can even make it harder for you to earn money.  So, please clean your stove, and visualize improved income.  I did and booked two clients!

***   Spring Organizing

Spring tends to be a busy month for homeowners.  They spruce up, clean out, lighten up, and prepare for a summer of fun and sun.  What do you do?  Please share your spring organizing tips with me.
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Hi,
Happy spring!  Do you associate spring with tax time?  I apologize if I just put that in your head.  Would it help if I provided you with a tax preparation list?  

The “T” word

What are you doing April 14th?  Do you find yourself hunting and scrambling to find all the documents you may need to file your taxes?  I created a list of all the documents my husband and I need to prepare our tax forms, which has made that process much easier.  We file jointly and very simply, but I thought our list may be helpful to you.

Here it is:
W2 forms
Mortgage documents – form 1098
Investment documents – form 1099
Excise tax yearly bills
Real estate tax yearly bills
IRA documents – form 5498
Interest from bank account – form 1099
Medical documents
Proof of health care insurance (MA residents)
Value of donations made throughout the year

Below are the additional documents I need to include from my business:
Estimated tax payments for the year – form 1040
Income total
Expenses total – including the following category totals: donations, electric, food, Internet, marketing/advertising, membership dues, mileage, networking, office supplies, phone, postage, training, and travel

Please note:  The above list is just a memory jogger.  If you have questions or concerns consult a tax specialist or CPA.  Janine Cavanaugh, CPO© can not be held accountable for any improper tax filing.

Never Ending TaskDid you know the one category that most of my clients want to address, even if it’s not the focus of our appointment?  Organizing paper!  Paper management is like dishes and laundry, a never ending task.  Paper can accumulate and pile up so quickly that it leaves you scratching your head, wondering where it all came from.  It helps if you create guidelines for yourself on what to keep, and for how long.  If you’d like a list of my paper retention guidelines, please email me.  I’d be happy to share my guidelines with you.
From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652

    If you’d like to share this email message with someone, please click on the Forward email button below.  Thank you and happy organizing in the spring of 2014!

Get Organized Month

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Helpful Organizer Newsletter – January 2014
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NAPO-NE
Side Notes:

***    January 2014 marks my 6th year in business.  Thank you for your support.  I couldn’t have done it without you.

In those past 6 years, I’ve had 153 clients, of which 7 have been male, 136 have been female, and 10 have been couples.

Also in those past 6 years, I’ve given 70 presentations on organizing, and 797 individuals have attended those presentations.

In the coming year, I look forward to working with both new and existing clients, as well as present to individuals eager to learn what I have to share.

Thanks again for your support and please keep in touch

***  What is your favorite organizing product?  Please share.

***  I’ve started blogging!  Please check out my blog articles on my website.

***  Do you have a question on organizing that you’d like my advice or opinion on?  If so,  please ask, and if I think others would benefit from the question, I’ll post it on the  ‘Question of the Month’ section on my website

 
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Hi  Janine,
Happy New Year!  I hope that 2014 is off to a wonderful beginning for you and your family.  If you’ve made any new year’s resolutions that involve organizing, please share them with me.

Get Organized Month
Did you know that January is Get Organized Month (GO Month)?  Go Month was iniated by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).  It’s an annual national public awareness campaign promoting the benefits of getting organized.  On January 8, 2014 there was a presentation at the Massachusetts State House formally proclaiming January as Get Organized Massachusetts Month.  How cool is that?Here are 2 local Go Month events:1.  Organized Spaces Class by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO
Monday, January 13, 2014
6:30PM – 8:00PM
At the Learning Connection in Providence, RI
Pre-registration is required
FREE class pertaining to the 5 steps of organizing

2.  Organizing Expo & Conference by NAPO-New England
Saturday, January 25, 2014
10:00AM – 4:00PM
At Boston/Waltham Embassy Suites
550 Winter Street, Waltham, MA 02453
Pre-registration is required for seminars
FREE seminars on a variety of organizing topics; Drop-off site for
donations and recycled products; An Expo hall of vendors with
organizing-related products and services.

Healthy Habits

 

Forming organizing habits helps us spend less time and energy maintaining order.  Would you like to establish some organizing habits in 2014?  If so, practice these:
1.  Label where items belong and repeatedly put them back in the same spot.
2.  Spend 5 minutes a day per room removing items from floors, desktops, counter tops, table tops, and other horizontal surfaces.
3.  Toss junk mail immediately.
4.  Don’t print emails, recipes, or other information from your computer.  Instead create folders and file the information on your computer.
5.  Stop stockpiling groceries, cleaning supplies, and toiletries.  Establish a maximum number to have on hand that allows breathing room in your cupboards.Please share any habits that have been successful for you.

Upcoming Classes
Organizing Solutions & Products
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Learning Connection, Providence, RI
7:00PM to 9:00PM
401-274-9330Organizing in 5 Steps
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Tri-County RVTHS, Franklin, MA
7:00PM to 9:00PM
508-528-5400 x126Organizing Paper
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Learning Connection, Providence, RI
7:00PM to 9:00PM
401-274-9330

For a complete list of my classes check my website.
From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652

    If you’d like to share this email message with someone, please click on the Forward email button below.  Thank you and enjoy 2014!