Simplicity News May 2004
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In This Issue:
Organizing... Trend Or Fad?
How Many Are FREEcycling Today?
Spring Into Organizing!
Organizing... Trend Or Fad?
I just returned from a week in Chicago, where I attended two baseball games, visited the Chicago Art Institute, took an architectural tour on a boat, and along with many other activities, I attended the 16th Annual National Association of Professional Organizers Conference and Expo.
To give you an idea of how the organizing industry is growing, our professional association (NAPO) experienced an increase in membership of 50% from last year to this year. Our conference attendance also increased over 50% from last year to this year! The Sheraton had 650 organizers to deal with for four days and I'm not sure they'll ever be the same again!
What this growth in our association membership and conference attendance means is that our industry is growing, and that means that the current trend of organizing is indeed a trend and not merely a passing fad. There are at least four cable television networks in the U.S. featuring shows about getting organized. You'll find articles about simplifying, organizing, and streamlining life, featured on the cover of nearly every woman's magazine you pick up, and there are magazines devoted entirely to the subject. Even Oprah regularly features an organizing guru on her show.
So what's my point? My point is that clearly, many people are fed up. They're stressed out, overspent, over-committed, cluttered, chaotic and are beginning to realize that it isn't necessary. These people realize that their happiness depends on them making changes in their lives and they are turning to professionals for help.
If you're one of those stressed out, cluttered, disorganized, over-committed people in need of organizing help... if your life feels chaotic and unhappy and you're not sure what to do, take heart. There is an entire industry of competent, capable professional organizers just waiting to help you simplify your life! Contact me for a referral to an organizer in your area to set yourself on a path to organization!
How Many Are FREEcycling Today?
Decluttering your life is a wonderful way to rid yourself of the things that no longer give you value and a great way to help someone in need at the same time. All over the world, people are helping others and decluttering their lives by giving away the things they no longer need, through FREEcycle.org. This means that fewer items are going into the trash and filling up the landfills of our planet.
It's so simple to join! You just sign up through the web site, and you'll begin getting the emails that people in your local FREEcycle group send out either seeking free items, or offering free items. It's as simple as that! Just go to www.FREEcycle.org to sign up!
Number of cities FREEcycling last month: 321
Number of cities FREEcycling this month: 446
Number of people FREEcycling last month: 47,280
Number of people FREEcycling this month: 68,308
Check it out and let me know what you think of the idea. If you've received something or given something away through this wonderful concept, tell me about that too!
Spring Into Organization!
It's spring here in the states, and with springtime comes new flowers, blossoming trees, and thoughts of a fresh new start in your life. There is no better time to undertake organizing projects than now! Here are three easy projects that won't take much time, but will give you that great feeling of accomplishment and get your life a bit more organized before you take that summer vacation:
1. Clean out your refrigerator. This project should take you no more than thirty minutes because if you're like most people, the majority of the food in the fridge is so old that all you need to do it toss it! Be sure to empty each shelf or drawer and give it thorough cleaning with a mild detergent before putting away any food.
2. Clean out and organize your car. Doesn't driving around in a sparkling clean car make you feel happy and successful? This project should take you no more than a few hours on a weekend. Once the car is cleaned out and cleaned up, re-organize the things you must carry with you. Create an organized space in the trunk by consolidating all your "breakdown supplies" into a large plastic container. Keep maps organized in the glovebox by eliminating old ones and clipping the rest together with a large binder clip. To prevent your car from being trashy on the inside, implement a new rule of removing any trash each time you park the car, so it will never get a chance to build up.
3. Purge and re-organize your kitchen drawers. Evaluate the things taking space in the kitchen drawers. Do you really need four whisks? How often do you need more than one can opener? Go through and get rid of things you have too many of, and things that no longer work properly. Cooking meals doesn't have to be hassle and freeing up space in the drawers will make your time in the kitchen more pleasant.
Monica Ricci is an Organizing Specialist, and the founder of Catalyst
Organizing Solutions, an Atlanta based company. She is the immediate
past president of the GA Chapter of the National Association of Professional
Organizers.
To schedule Monica to speak to your conference, convention, team,
department, or association, or for an on-site organizational evaluation,
contact her at 770-569-2642 or at Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com
Catalyst offers on-site productivity consulting, distance coaching,
speaking and writing, as well as expert guest appearances on radio
and television.
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