7 Simple Steps to an Organized Home Office

From a client who just emailed me about her homework progress:
"Guess what I did tonight? I went through my filing cabinet and ended up with one full box of papers to recycle, as well as two garbage bags of shredded docs to recycle. Wow, does it feel great! Up next is going through a few piles that need to be filed--I'm guessing that most of those papers will be tossed as well."

The Small Business Association says that 80% of the papers we've been piling, stuffing, filing aren't even needed! Start purging!

1) Overwhelmed? Start a timer for 30 Minutes and go through one piece at a time, make a decision if it's file, to do, recycle/shred, memorabilia. Only those 4 piles should be created--no more. The first focus is to PURGE. Not try to sort and file.

2) If it isn't a tax write off, dispute or memorabilia--you don't need to file it.

3) You only save taxes for 7 years. So 2008--2015.

4) Purge the top of your desk first, then every single file in your cabinet (look at every single piece of paper). After you finish the top of your desk and existing files, start on the boxes of papers, if you have them--check garage/storage/closets.

5) Go through your office supplies--stationary, cards, dead pens, chewed up pencils, your three staplers. What can you toss/donate?

7) Now put everything away! Create a better, simpler filing system. File Everything--no more boxes or piles or "clutter catchers" on your desk. Store office supplies within arm's reach of your desk chair. Rearrange furniture and decor to complete the look.

On average, office organizing takes 3-4 days to de-clutter and organize. I highly recommend that clients do 2 days back-to-back of paper purging. Then the next week file it all. Then 3rd week go through supplies/move furniture/rearrange decor. You'll be at the finish line!

Too overwhelmed to Do It Yourself? Call me at 415-786-8266.

http://www.BayAreaProfessionalOrganizer.com

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Unique Organizing Ideas!

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Bay Area Professional Organizer "De-Clutter to De-Stress!" Kiera Rain, 415-786-8266, info@TheBayOrganizer.com http://www.BayAreaProfessionalOrganizer.com

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."

Hang Mixing Attachments with stick-on hooks to the inside of cabinets! Follow me on Pinterestfor awesome Organizing Ideas! Time to CHANGE your Life! Hire Kiera Rain, professional organizer of over 12 years, to transform your messy, stressful space to a serene environment you can truly call HOME. Call 415-786-8266 for a Free Phone Consultation. Serving Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties, CA. Email:  info@TheBayOrganizer.com Website: http://www.BayAreaProfessionalOrganizer.com Jewelry Organizer using towel rack and shower curtain rings! Handyman in your blood? Cool DIY Garage Tool Organizing System using cheap supplies!

5 Steps to Get the Most Out of Your Meetings

Have you ever attended a meeting and felt like it was a waste of your time? I think we all have . . .

Maybe that meeting was mandatory, maybe it was simply volunteering your time.

Whatever the case, your time is limited and it pays to make sure that you leave every meeting that you attend with something that helps you move forward with either your goals or your intentions.

Here are 5 best practices to remember when you attend any meeting:

1. Every meeting that you attend or schedule should have a clearly specified purpose and well thought out agenda. What this means is you should know what you wish to accomplish before you sit down and begin. Even if the meeting has nothing to do with your personal or business goals, maybe there will be someone in attendance that you need to connect with and otherwise would not see. If this is the case, schedule a time to meet them either before or after the meeting to get what you need from them. Make every meeting count, even if it is not about the business discussed during that meeting.

2. When scheduling meetings, always leave a minimum of 15 minutes between each appointment. For field calls, 30 minutes is best. This buffer will keep you on schedule regardless of traffic, late clients or the unexpected.

3. Meetings that are not directly related to generating revenue should be grouped together, preferably at the end of the week. These meetings are the necessary busy work in your business representing matters that need attention to but are not top priority. 

4. Show up to each meeting with a list of questions and topics that will help you during the following week. 

5. If you attend regularly scheduled meetings, keep a folder for that meeting on your desk and add questions or topics that you need to discuss with the others in attendance. Take that folder to your meetings and get your agenda handled no matter what else happens during that meeting.

Remember:

“Use every meeting that you attend to your advantage. Always know what you want to achieve before you walk in the door."

by Kathi Burns, Certified Professional Organizer

Add Space to Your Life

TOP 10 THINGS ORGANIZERS FIND IN HOMES!

Check out the Organizing Video Kat Reichmuth and I did last night!

TOP 10 THINGS ORGANIZERS FIND IN HOMES!

Check out all of Kiera's YouTube Videos Here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11_COP9_0uEDegOcyBNEBA

Clear the Clutter for Peace of Mind!

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Bay Area Professional Organizer "De-Clutter to De-Stress!" Kiera Rain, 415-786-8266, info@TheBayOrganizer.com http://www.BayAreaProfessionalOrganizer.com

If not now, When? It's time you invested in YOURSELF. You're worth it!

Homework Tonight! 1) Go through all of your cookbooks--donate ones you no longer want/need. 2) Have a few books/magazines where you only want certain recipes? Take a photo with your ipad or phone, then donate the book/magazine. 3) Create a Pinterest.com account. Add recipes and upload your own in a snap. Purge your "pins" (aka posts) every few months so it doesn't get cluttered. Organize your recipes by: Dessert, Appetizers, Entree-Chicken, Entree-Fish, Entree-Vegan, Party Favors, Large Party Entertaining, Kids' Birthday Party Ideas, etc. 4) Have books/magazines you aren't sure if you like or not? Sit down and pour over them. Add a glass of wine and some favorite music in the background. Relax and enjoy. It's not a chore unless you make it one. ;-) ORGANIZING DEALS to Ramp Up for Spring Cleaning! Offer Good for April 25-May 7, 2015 ONLY. One-Time Special! Full-Day Initial Session with Professional Organizer, Kiera Rain, at discounted rate of $399, normally $475! 5 hour session with 30 minute lunch break. The Initial Session is a full day of sorting and purging to transform the space! Free donation and recycling haul-away services after every session. Donation Receipts Mailed for Tax Write-Off. AND....10% off the already-discounted 6 and 10 session packages! (No current specials for pay-as-you-go sessions or the 4 session package.) 6 Session Package, Discounted Rate: $2700, ONE-TIME ADDITIONAL 10% OFF: $2430 Total Savings of $870! 10 Session Package, Discounted Rate: $4200, ONE-TIME ADDITIONAL 10% OFF: $3780 Total Savings of $1,720! Details: Free Phone Consultation at time of Booking. No Travel Fees. Free donation and recycling haul-away services after every session. Must reside in Alameda, Contra Costa or Solano Counties, CA. All Sessions are 5 hours with a 30 minute lunch break. This allows us to knock out more, in less time. I assign easy-to-do homework in-between sessions to speed up the process. Sessions are 10--3:30pm. Open Weekends and Weekdays. Closed Mondays and Thursdays. Sessions/Packages are pre-paid via debit or credit card, receipts are text messaged and emailed immediately after processing payment. Professional Organizing is a tax write-off for estate clean-outs and business office organizing. Donation receipts are mailed to every client as well, for more tax write-offs! Time to CHANGE your Life! Organizing Process FAQ And Pricing Schedule a Session Call 415-786-8266 for a Free Phone Consultation with Kiera Rain, owner of Bay Area Professional Organizer Co! Serving Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties, CA. info@TheBayOrganizer.com http://www.BayAreaProfessionalOrganizer.com "I don't even want to come home. There's just too much "noise" from all the stuff. I can't relax. It just stresses me out to look at it, and I dread doing it, so I don't." --Kathy, client

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