Maybe you’ve been meaning to clean out your closet, your pantry or your office.  You’ve been trying to avoid going to the basement because you don’t want to be reminded that the stuff that has been piling up has not finally magically disappeared!  So where do you start?

Like anything else in life, you should take it one step at a time – or in this case, one space at a time.  You want to start with the room or area that is most important to you – usually this is where you spend the most time and therefore has the most impact on your everyday life.  Then, make a plan!  Schedule it in your calendar much as you would any other activity.  Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed – two to three hours at a time is plenty.  Pretty soon you will begin to see the difference (or the floor!) and the sense of relief and accomplishment you will feel, will be just the motivation you need to complete this project once and for all!

Here are a few things to consider when planning an event on a budget:

1)  The time of the day: If you hold your event during lunch or dinner time, your guests will expect a full meal; however, move the timeframe to before or after mealtime and voila – you just cut your catering costs in half!
2)  The day of the week: Some venues will offer a discount for days/nights that aren’t normally very busy for them.
3)  The entertainment: Determine whether live entertainment is necessary for your event; could it be replaced by a video clip or montage? Is soft background music all you really need to create the atmosphere you are looking for?  If you are adamant about having live performers, consider approaching students from the music program at a local high school, university or community center.
4)  A cross promotion: Speak with your suppliers about offering them visibility that you may be able to provide in exchange for a discounted rate.  
5)  Your resources: When looking for a photographer, graphic designer or florist, think about your professional networks and personal relationships.  Is there anyone that might be willing to donate their services or consider sponsorship opportunities?
6)  Promotion: These days, there are many ways to promote your event at no cost.  Use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and Linked In to get the word out.  You can also post your event on Craigslist and Kijiji.  If you are planning a community-based event, you can add it to event listings on media websites and charity village.  There are also many event websites such as betidings.com  that will allow you to post your event at no charge.

Bottom line, whenever you are considering expenses directly related to your event, always ask yourself: Is this going to make or break the event?  Is there an alternative way to create the same effect with less money?

Now go my fellow planners!  Plan away!

Ever ask yourself who ever decided that 8 a.m. was a good time to get to work? Who said weekends should only consist of 2 days? And who is the wise guy who determined that 24 hours was enough to get through your to-do list? (If you know the answers to any of these, I’d love to hear from you!)

I might not know the answers to these oh so important questions but I’ll tell you what I do know, none of it is about to change anytime soon.  So I say, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!  And by that I mean, make time your friend – here’s how:

1)    Find out where you are wasting time: Create a log of your daily activities (so you can form an accurate picture of what you actually do)
2)    Create time management goals: “I will (goal + performance measure) BY (specific actions).”  When you have established goals, you are able to measure success.
3)    Use time management tools: ie. Outlook, Daytimer
4)    Prioritize your tasks – daily: Spending time organizing yourself at the start of the day will save you time during the day (when you’re setting your daily agenda, slot your most demanding tasks into your most productive working time(s)).
5)    Learn to delegate; determine what tasks can be performed by others
6)    Establish routines; you’ll be much more productive if you can follow routines most of the time
7)    Be sure your systems are organized; to the point that you can quickly lay your hands on what you need
8)    Be flexible: allow time for distractions and interruptions
9)    Conquer procrastination: When you are avoiding something, break it into smaller tasks
10)   Learn to say “NO”: be realistic about what you add to your already long to-do list

Wait! Get back here! Step away from the front door. Put down the car keys. Don’t run out and buy fancy boxes and baskets and bins just yet! (Tempting, I know) We have a bit of work to do first.

There are a few things you need to consider:

• Look at the items that are currently in the space. Do they belong there? Items should be in proximity of where they are being used or you won’t bother putting them back, no matter how good your intentions are. Sooner or later, your system will fail.
• Is all the stuff being used….at all? Could you donate, recycle or sell any of the items that are currently taking up valuable space?
• What organizational products (if any) will work best for you? To help you answer that, ask yourself these simple questions. Do you prefer to have your items in plain view or out of sight? What kind of storage space is available to you? Where will these boxes be stored? In a visible area or tucked away?

Once you have sorted, purged and moved items to their appropriate place, you’ll have a better sense of what organizational products you need. You might even find that you already have plenty of them – maybe they were just too full of stuff or you just didn’t know you had them!

OK, you’ve done your homework, now if you still feel that you need boxes and baskets and bins, I hereby give you permission to get out there and go find them!

The sad truth? This sentimental clutter can keep us from moving forward.  We become emotionally and physically stuck in the past.  Even worse, it’s taking up space that we need to grow and enjoy the things we need and love today.

When you let go of the old, you make space for the new. And when you do, you’ll be amazed how much storage space you actually have.

Here are a few tips to help you get rid of sentimental items:

• If you find you can’t be objective, ask some who can. Someone who can take the emotions out of the equation can probably help you see the value of the item…or the lack there of.
• Let go of the guilt – getting rid of the item doesn’t mean you are getting rid of the memory.
• If you are not prepared to let go, move the old stuff to a less accessible place.
• Keep it in the family. Think of someone who can actually use the item and offer it to them. 
• Take a picture of the item before you discard of it.  Create an album of these items which will help you free up some space and still keep the memory.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a few prized possessions I insist on keeping too.  Those pieces that are most valuable to you can be kept in a box without being actual “clutter”.  So if you find you can’t part with some of those items, make a deal with yourself to only keep what fits in a box.

Rather than holding on to the past, why not focus on the present and prepare for the future? 
Keep the memories not the items. Memories last a lifetime. Do yourself a favour and let it go…

Maybe you don’t know where to start.  Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed by the task.

Here are a few tips that are sure to help:

• Start small: There is no need to do it all at once.  Choose the space that concerns you the most and has the most impact on your everyday life and away you go!
• Add it to your calendar:  You are more likely to tackle a task when it is in your schedule.  Only have 30 minutes? Go for it – you’ll be amazed at what you can get done in such a short time!
• Clear your clutter: Do you really need 13 white t-shirts or 38 coffee mugs?  When’s the last time you opened that book?  Only keep what you really need; donate the rest!
• Set goals: Chances are you want to get this done before summer rolls around.  So make a pact with yourself to get it done before it’s time to hit the beach!
• Most importantly, make it fun: Put on your favorite tunes and turn it up! 

So go ahead!  Clean up, clean out, and get out there and enjoy life!

And remember, when you clear your clutter, you clear your mind!   Ahhhhh…that’s better!

At Organized to Perfection we are in the business of transforming lives.  We believe there is a better way to get things done.  There is a perfect solution for your space, your event, your life.

Whether you are feeling the anxiety of being disorganized, overwhelmed by the infinite details of planning an event or looking to live the life you deserve, we are here to provide the expertise to make it all happen – simple.  It’s what we do!

Organized to Perfection will help you:

• Eliminate the stress and anxiety that comes with disorganization
• Carry out a hassle-free event by leaving the planning to us
• Improve your team’s productivity and focus by sharing our organizational skills through customized presentations