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Sort mail immediately

May 1, 2025/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

The best way to stay on top of the incoming mail is to sort it immediately. Sort it into the 4 categories listed below and have a specific spot for each category.

  1. Junk – recycle or toss it
  2. Shred – shred or put in box to be shredded later
  3. Action required – take action or write down what action needs to happen on a sticky note (and attach)
  4. Delegate to another family member to open and process

 

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mail-and-key-holder-1.jpg 1600 1600 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-05-01 01:12:502025-06-04 01:01:53Sort mail immediately

Use containers as your guide

April 1, 2025/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Allow the container to determine the limit of how many you can keep. You maintain control of what you keep and the container serves as a guide for the quantity of what you keep. For example: use your shoe rack to help you determine how many shoes to keep. By only keeping the amount that will comfortably fit on the shoe rack you’ll be able to organize your shoes quickly and easily.

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shoe-rack.png 802 1036 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-04-01 01:03:502025-06-05 00:53:32Use containers as your guide

Need this paper?

March 1, 2025/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

We tend to keep paper because we’re unsure what else to do with it. Ask yourself, ‘When would I actually need to present this document?’ Consider all possible situations where it might be necessary. If you can’t think of a good reason, it’s time to get rid of it.

Related tips:

Paper! What to keep and for how long

Recycle more paper

Paper discard list

What papers need to be kept

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/question-paper.webp 1798 1200 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-03-01 01:44:192025-01-07 19:56:04Need this paper?

More is a 4 letter word

February 1, 2025/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Having more doesn’t always mean better. In fact, it often creates more problems, stress, and frustration.

  • More possessions fill up space, leaving less room to breathe.
  • More things require time—time spent maintaining, moving, sorting, and searching for them.
  • More spending on things leaves less money in the bank.
  • More clutter leads to less peace of mind, as the visual overload can be overwhelming.

Tips on how to embrace less:

Reduce clutter

Do you reduce?

Donating is easy

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cluttered-room.jpg 960 528 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-02-01 01:26:292025-01-07 19:43:56More is a 4 letter word

Evaluate holiday decorations

January 1, 2025/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

A great time to evaluate your holiday decorations is when you’re putting them away. Before packing them up, set criteria for what to keep and what to donate. Consider these guidelines:

  • You love it.
  • You display it every year.
  • It’s one of your favorite holiday decorations.
  • It’s sentimental, and you would never part with it.

This approach ensures you only keep what truly brings joy and meaning to your celebrations.

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/storage-bins.jpg 1417 2116 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-01-01 01:58:412025-01-06 20:11:40Evaluate holiday decorations
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  • Give Your Wardrobe a Seasonal Check-Up
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