Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®, and I’m here today with a little inspiration to get you moving toward your organizing goals, whatever they may be.
As I record this video, we stand at the beginning of a new year. A whole year of days, weeks, months – opportunities, if you will.
Really, it doesn’t matter if you are watching this video in January, in July, or in December, today can be the start of a new year for you. That’s one of the things that is so beautiful about life. Each day is a clean slate, ready for you to make and mold it into what you will.
Take that idea a step further, and think about where you were 365 days ago. Are you still stuck there in that same place?
If so, you might not want to think about it. It can be uncomfortable, at best, and agonizing, at worst. When you have big plans for how you want to improve your home, life, and you, but you seem to be perpetually stuck, getting nowhere, it can seem like a big #MeFail – and not just once, but over and over and over again.
And, yet, here comes that clean slate. Yes, it’s cliché. Go ahead, roll your eyes at me. Yes, it’s optimistic in maybe a Pollyana sort of way. But you know what? It’s also true. You can choose to break the ugly cycle in which you find yourself at any time and at any place.
So, if you’ve been telling yourself for a while now that you need to get organized and simplify life, then it’s time to stop thinking and talking about it, and start getting it, achieving it, enjoying it.
To learn more about how you can declutter your life finally, even if you feel like it’s a hopeless cause, then follow the arrow [to http://www.carmencoker.com/free-get-organized-webinar] to register for my free webinar.
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®, and let me ask you…how many times have you bailed on getting organized because you felt unmotivated to keep going, or even get started?
There is more to organizing and decluttering than sorting and storing. In fact, your lifestyle choices heavily influence how engaged you feel during the organizing process and, as such, heavily influence your organizing results as well.
Here are five science-based solutions that will boost your motivation to reach your get-organized goals.
Number One: Get restful sleep.
And that doesn’t mean sleeping in front of the TV or with your cell phone, but sleeping like your dog sleeps – soundly, deeply, and for a good while.
Too little sleep hinders your productivity and focus, amongst other serious health consequences. [Source: Sleep Foundation]
Make sure you go to bed early enough, tonight, to get the right amount of sleep you need for organizing, tomorrow.
Number Two: Wear bright colors.
Warm colors like red and orange stimulate your mind. One British study found that, when evenly-matched Olympic athletes competed, those in red won significantly more. [Source: Health Magazine]
Wearing these colors will supercharge your energy levels to achieve more while organizing.
Number Three: Fuel your body properly.
Evidence points to the fact that your diet impacts your brain chemistry, which in turn, impacts your personal energy and mood. [Source: WebMD]
Drinking lots of water as well as eating fresh fruits, leafy greens, and lean meats – instead of all the fatty, greasy, and sugary options available – are all smart choices to fuel your body for high-performance and organizing success.
Number Four: Turn up the music.
Music energizes you. OK, well, maybe not the pots and pans kinda music, but clinical music therapy uses music to connect people to movement and motivation. [Source: American Music Therapy Association]
By turning up your favorite tunes, your energy, intensity, and big decluttering results are sure to follow.
Number Five: Have a positive attitude.
Human beings have a strong mind-body connection, and because of this, the psychological benefits of attitude often manifest into physical benefits. [Source: Mayo Clinic]
Using positive self-talk like “I can get organized” is a must-have resource in your organizing toolkit.
There you have it: Five get-organized power tips. To learn more about how you can declutter your life finally, even if you feel like it’s a hopeless cause, then follow the arrow [to http://www.carmencoker.com/free-get-organized-webinar] to register for my free webinar.
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®.
We all know that boxes and bins can organize your holiday decorations, but what about decorations organizing your home? If you like the sound of that, then I’ve got a great Christmas craft idea for you.
Here’s the thing: Just as ugly Christmas sweaters and other questionable fashion choices have a way of coming into our homes and lives over time, so do little trinkets, gadgets, and gizmos.
I’m sure you have a few! Souvenirs, your graduation tassel, your first toy, the bib from your first marathon, and mixed tape, anyone? Especially for some, these mementos are difficult to throw away because of their sentimental value.
But the million dollar question is: What can you really do with this stuff?! Normally, it ends up crammed in a drawer somewhere, never to be seen again for a very long time.
As a whole, these things can really hamper not only an organized home but also an organized Christmas. Because they become just as annoying and useless as a ball of ornament hooks when you are trying to decorate the tree and if you’ve ever battled with one of these, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
But instead of allowing these items to be clutter in your home, gather them up and put them to good use with this Christmas craft idea: A Keepsake Christmas Wreath™.
Now, this is actually a picture of the Keepsake Christmas Wreath™ my mom made for me almost 30 years ago. As you can see, you essentially put your special keepsakes on an artificial wreath, top it with a bow if you like, this one doesn’t actually have one, and voila!
That’s the short version of how to make it, but if you’d like more detailed instructions that you can print off, then follow the arrow [to link http://www.carmencoker.com/keepsake-christmas-wreath] to grab your copy. They’re available for free, and I did that to save us time, here, in this video.
My favorite thing on my Keepsake Christmas Wreath™ is the pair of green glasses up top. I used to wear those all the time as a little girl, including to pretend I was Connie Chung reporting the nightly news. I guess I thought the glasses made me look smarter or something. Some of you out there will remember who Connie Chung is.
But, the point is, where would those glasses be now, where would that stuff be now, if it wasn’t for my Keepsake Christmas Wreath™? Who knows?! They brought me such joy as a child – endless hours of entertainment and pretending and creativity. There’s huge sentimental value in them for me. And now, thanks to my mom, I get to see them on my wreath each December, and I get to relive all those good times.
The bottom line: The Keepsake Christmas Wreath™ not only makes a great conversation piece, but it also functions as an unusual memory box. Plus, it can be a fun project for the whole family to enjoy.
And I hope you agree that the Keepsake Christmas Wreath™ is one Christmas craft idea that will help you get organized.
Some people may think that an organized home is a little like Santa – a nice concept, but never a reality. Well, I believe in a little Christmas magic, and the Keepsake Christmas Wreath™ is the perfect proof that your Christmas decorations can not only look pretty, but also, in fact, organize your home!
Remember, if you’d like a free printable version of the detailed instructions for how you can make a Keepsake Christmas Wreath™ of your own, then follow the arrow [to link http://www.carmencoker.com/keepsake-christmas-wreath] to download those now.
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®, and let me ask you…
How long have you been telling yourself that you need to get more organized? Honestly. A month? A year? A decade? A lifetime?
No matter how long you have been tolerating clutter in your home and life, you will likely agree on three things:
One, nothing good comes from clutter – only chaos, stress, frustration, loss, pain, wastefulness, hassles, and ineffectiveness.
Two, any amount of time is too long to struggle with clutter and the ill-effects it has on your time, space, mind, energy, money, and more.
Three, you can get started today, removing clutter and making space for the more important things in your life.
If you are like most, acknowledging these three factors is the easy part, but acting upon them, especially the last one – getting started today – is the hard part.
You may explain away your inaction with reasons like: I don’t have the time to get organized. I don’t have the money either. It’s too hard. I’m too overwhelmed. I’ve gotten by so far, so what’s the point? I’m not sure where or how to get started.
No matter the reasoning, the reality won’t change. Your reality won’t change. Tomorrow, you will either be one day closer to your organizing goals and the home and life you desire, or one day further away from these goals.
The question is: What will your tomorrow reveal about your today?
It’s time to face the stories you are telling yourself about getting organized and set your excuses aside. Here are 10 easy ways to help you get more organized today – in 15 minutes or less – and anyone, absolutely anyone, can do them.
Pick one chore that you’ve been doing but that could be done by another person, like a spouse, older child, or assistant – then delegate it permanently. Doing so will free up some “me” time or some time to get organized.
Consolidate half-full bottles of cleaning or laundry supplies. Doing this will make extra space in your cabinets and on your shelves.
Create a project to-do list for something that you’ve been procrastinating about. Doing so will make you feel as if you are getting things done, and boy – isn’t that a good feeling?
Go through your kitchen fridge and freezer and toss any expired food, beverages, or condiments. Doing this will inspire you to restock with some big-energy foods that will help you be super-productive. Plus, it’s a great chore for your kids – taking us back to the delegating bit.
Open your mail that’s been piling up, recycle or shred what isn’t needed, and file the rest away. Doing this will help you finally get rid of that nagging task that has to get done anyway.
Remove three pieces of clothing from your closet that bore you or no longer fit, and donate them. Doing so will help tidy up your closet – and help those in need at the same time.
Clean out your purse or briefcase or backpack, making it more orderly. Doing this will get rid of clutter you don’t need and make your day lighter, literally and figuratively.
Choose a recipe that you’ve never tried before and plan a healthy, home-cooked meal for this week. By the way, doing this – taking care of yourself and making sure you’re healthy – is the foundation of finding life balance.
Start writing your Christmas cards early, before the season catches you off guard. Now, I can feel some of you groaning as we speak. You’re saying: “The holidays are weeks away!” But not only will doing this get you ahead of the game, it will make your friends and family insanely jealous that you have got it so together.
Schedule an appointment you’ve been putting off, like one with your hairdresser or barber, auto shop, doctor. Doing so will help you feel like you are finally getting back on track.
Pick one to do today, or do them all over the course of the next week. Either way, you will feel more energized and organized.
So we circle back to this: What will your tomorrow reveal about your today? Make it count.
Are you ready to kickstart your efforts? Then follow the arrow [see below link] to take The 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™. It’s free, and it will put you on the right path!
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Carmen Coker is a former US Air Force officer turned professional organizer. Thousands of busy people have benefited from her expertise featured by CBS, NBC, The Washington Post, and Real Simple magazine – now it’s your turn! Take the FREE 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™, and get more organized, find more time, and enjoy more simplicity in your life…in just 3 days!
Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®, and did you know that you are a repeat offender?
That’s right. It’s highly likely that, just today, you did it again. It’s a good thing you can’t get fined or go to jail for this offense. But karma will come back around.
So what exactly are you guilty of? Well, every home inevitably has a “drop zone” (or two, or three, or more). A drop zone is a place where stuff tends to get “dropped” without so much as a second thought, and it happens so often that a small pile morphs into a massive one in a flash.
Your drop zones will immediately spring to mind: the kitchen counter, the bedroom floor, the desk, or any flat surface that happens to be within arm’s reach.
With a drop zone, it’s easy to let clutter multiply because it’s an old habit, and as we all know, old habits die hard, if at all.
It’s easy to ignore clutter in your drop zone because it’s been there for a long time – sometimes, so long that it becomes a part of your everyday life, whether you want it to be or not.
It’s easy to justify leaving the clutter in your drop zone “as is” because, let’s be honest here, it’s the lazy way out; or maybe because it allows you to keep procrastinating; or because anything seems more fun than organizing.
But have you ever heard the saying, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got”? While the application of this wisdom is practically limitless, it is especially powerful when it comes to the clutter in your home and life.
If the status quo is “bombs away” in your drop zone, and you make no attempts to change this behavior, then you will be dealing with mess for a very long time to come. Which is to say, if you always “do” clutter, you’ll always “get” clutter.
The bottom line is to be consciously aware of how you treat your space. Because, in the end, karma wins. If you do not value and honor the space you have, it will not value and honor you. It’s that simple.
So how do you get the good organizing karma flowing? With your Easy Organizing Challenge™, which is this: Pick your biggest drop zone, and for one week, think twice before you pass it by, mindlessly drop stuff, and then move on without a second thought. If you have a family or roommates, challenge them to do the same.
Remember, it takes just as much energy to drop something randomly, as it does to put something back where it belongs.
Now, if you want bigger and better results, then try eliminating, not just improving, at least one drop zone altogether!
And if you want help accomplishing this Easy Organizing Challenge™, then let me turn your attention to a challenge of another kind. To start creating more space in your home and life for the things that really matter, follow the arrow [see below link] to take The 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™. It’s free, and it will put you on the right path!
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Carmen Coker is a former US Air Force officer turned professional organizer. Thousands of busy people have benefited from her expertise featured by CBS, NBC, The Washington Post, and Real Simple magazine – now it’s your turn! Take the FREE 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™, and get more organized, find more time, and enjoy more simplicity in your life…in just 3 days!
Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®.
Did you know that, right now, you are just five minutes away from being a more organized you? That’s because I’m here with your Easy Organizing Challenge™.
The battle drums are rumbling. It’s time to suit up for Clutter Combat. Let Operation Organize commence! Rest assured, this is one battle that will reduce the amount of clutter in your life – quickly.
Your Easy Organizing Challenge™ is to select one area of your home at random – just one – and for five laser-focused minutes, declutter with all your might. A blitz, if you will.
TheFreeDictionary.com defines the word “blitz” as an intense campaign, and that’s exactly what you’re gonna do. Go crazy, and do not let anything stand in the way of your blitz victory.
If necessary, and to conquer more of the battlefield, call in reinforcements – your kids, your spouse, your friends – to help.
The toys that you trip over daily – blitz ‘em. The utensils taking over your kitchen – blitz ‘em. Your messy jewelry and your even messier sock collection – blitz and blitz. The mountain of old sticky notes and the stack of magazines you’ve been meaning to whittle down – blitz ‘em. The commitments that have become time sinks – you guessed it, blitz away!
Enjoy the full-out assault on your clutter, and celebrate when you can proclaim MISSION COMPLETE.
With your Easy Organizing Challenge™ laid out, let me caution you – do not be fooled by its simplicity. If you are or feel disorganized, and yet while I was describing this challenge, the words “that’s not anything new” or “I already know that” crossed your mind, then turn those thoughts into actions.
Which is to say, turn “I know that” into “I did that.” You see, getting organized is not always about getting new and novel. It’s about getting started and getting finished, using what you already know but just haven’t yet implemented.
What if you want to get even bigger results? Then instead of leading a five-minute blitz, try a 20-minute one instead. Not once, not twice, but five times this week.
If you want help accomplishing this Easy Organizing Challenge™, then let me turn your attention to a challenge of another kind. To start creating more space in your home and life for the things that really matter, follow the arrow [see below link] to take The 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™. It’s free, and it will put you on the right path!
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Carmen Coker is a former US Air Force officer turned professional organizer. Thousands of busy people have benefited from her expertise featured by CBS, NBC, The Washington Post, and Real Simple magazine – now it’s your turn! Take the FREE 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™, and get more organized, find more time, and enjoy more simplicity in your life…in just 3 days!
Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®. Let me ask you…
Have you ever been at home, and yet thinking of something that needs to be done at work? Or the opposite – been at work, and yet thinking of something that needs to be done at home?
No matter if you try to separate them, your personal life and work life are intrinsically linked. That is to say, the parts and pieces of your life integrate less like this [straight rope line], and more like this [woven rope line].
So if you feel unbalanced personally, then that feeling can bleed into your work life and leave you feeling unbalanced professionally, or vice versa. That’s why it’s important to think of work-life balance in a holistic way.
With that in mind, work-life balance, in reality, can’t be separated into two distinct sides, where you are trying desperately to give equal attention and weight to both. It’s more like work-life harmony, where work and life have a symbiotic relationship.
Balance, harmony, integration – we’re getting into semantics here. Call it what you will, and there will be people who argue with you anyway, huh?
For our purposes here, I’m going to stick with work-life balance because, as it’s used in modern society, most people understand what I’m getting at.
More importantly, the question is not, what’s the right word to use or is work-life balance achievable, but rather…how can you stop being pulled in a million different directions? How can you stop experiencing guilt because you “should” be doing this or you “should” be doing that? How can you feel more well-rounded, fulfilled, happier? How can you experience more of these positives?
Well, here’s your starting point. When you are feeling unbalanced, in order to find relief, you must become aware of your clutter.
Now, you may be thinking: “I know where my clutter is! I trip over it every morning on the way to the closet.”
But that’s just the problem! We tend to think of clutter as “stuff” in our space: piles of paper on the desk, stacks of mail on the kitchen counter, and heaps of toys on the rug.
While this is true, there are other types of clutter that can creep into your life.
For example: Do you over-commit to people, organizations, or causes? Then you have something that clutters your schedule.
Do you have someone in your life that bleeds your energy and patience, so much so that the very mention of their name causes you great stress? Then you have something, or someone in this case, that clutters your spirit.
Do you look for a distraction, like a TV show or Facebook or a video game, whenever you know you have work to be done? Then you have something that clutters your habit patterns.
You see, clutter can permeate more than just your surroundings; clutter can permeate all or parts of you. And in the same respect, organizing is more than managing your belongings. Organizing is managing you – all parts of you – so that you feel balanced and fulfilled.
So the next time you seem discombobulated…stressed…overwhelmed…chaotic…unbalanced…then your Easy Organizing Challenge™ is this:
Examine the areas of your life – both at home and at work – that need to be decluttered. Remember: It’s not just about your space. Doing this will ultimately help you pinpoint the source, or sources, of the problem so that you can find relief fast.
If you want help accomplishing this Easy Organizing Challenge™, then let me turn your attention to a challenge of another kind. To start creating more work-life balance for yourself, follow the arrow [see below link] to take The 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™. It’s free, and it will put you on the right path!
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Carmen Coker is a former US Air Force officer turned professional organizer. Thousands of busy people have benefited from her expertise featured by CBS, NBC, The Washington Post, and Real Simple magazine – now it’s your turn! Take the FREE 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™, and get more organized, find more time, and enjoy more simplicity in your life…in just 3 days!
Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®. And whether you have a little bit of clutter, a lot of clutter, or anywhere in between, you are in the right place! Because I’d like to share something with you that will challenge the way you think about clutter from this point forward.
There is a story about an old Cherokee who was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them: “A battle is raging inside me. It is a terrible fight between two wolves.
“One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
“The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”
The old man fixed the children with a firm stare. “This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”
They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win the battle?”
The old Cherokee replied: “The one you feed.”
Now, you may be thinking: “Nice story. But what does this have to do with getting organized, simplifying life, and finding time?” A lot, actually, if you look at the story this way…
I have a battle raging inside of me, and it is a terrible fight between two wolves.
One wolf represents clutter, and all the things that come with it like: chaos, stress, frustration, loss, pain, wastefulness, hassles, ineffectiveness, and overwhelm.
The other stands for order, and all the things that come with it like: clarity, peace, gain, pleasure, usefulness, waste-lessness, ease, efficiency, and simplicity.
This same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too.
Which wolf will win, you ask? The one you feed.
Your Easy Organizing Challenge™ is to think about how you can feed order in your life, so that you can enjoy all the goodness that comes with it. Then, put your thoughts into action by consciously choosing organization over clutter, simplicity over chaos, and finding time over wasting time.
If you want help accomplishing this Easy Organizing Challenge™, then let me turn your attention to a challenge of another kind. To start feeding the “right” wolf and start getting rid of clutter once and for all, follow the arrow [see below] to take The 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™. It’s free, and it will put you on the right path!
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Carmen Coker is a former US Air Force officer turned professional organizer. Thousands of busy people have benefited from her expertise featured by CBS, NBC, The Washington Post, and Real Simple magazine – now it’s your turn! Take the FREE 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™, and get more organized, find more time, and enjoy more simplicity in your life…in just 3 days!
Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®.
Today, I’d like to introduce you to Jane. She, like you, wants to get organized. Together, we’re going to cover the top five residential “trouble spots” for clutter, and what you can do to organize them.
The good news is – you don’t need one of these [wrecking ball] to accomplish this goal.
First up, the home office.
The problem: Overcrowded libraries with books, magazines, and files as well as large electronics like computers, printers, and shredders translate to little useable, extra space.
The solution: Toss magazines and newspapers first, as they are normally the easiest to part with and will give you a motivating “win” to start. Give away unwanted books to charity. If your budget allows, consider switching out a desktop computer for a laptop, opening up more room. Dust, label, and arrange the computer cables in an attractive manner.
Second, the bedroom closet.
The problem: Closets always seem to feel too small, especially to the ladies. I’m talking to you with the big shoe collection!
The solution: Remove out-of-season clothing and accessories, and place them elsewhere in the home. Relocate or purge any items that don’t belong in a clothes closet, like sports equipment, papers, and junk. Then situate the remaining in-season items as if on display in your favorite store or magazine.
Next, the kitchen.
The problem: As the heart of the home, the kitchen sees high-traffic volumes – and it normally looks worse for wear.
The solution: Make your kitchen into an orderly command center. Remember: you want to make sure that your kitchen has everything you need to survive a crisis, not that it looks like you just went through one. Rethink any small appliances you don’t use on a daily basis. Chuck the junk mail, and use a tidy basket to hold bills and other essential paperwork.
Fourth, the garage.
The problem: The garage is a catch-all for…well, everything.
The solution: Pull everything out of the garage, purge the clutter, and then separate the remaining items into categories like auto accessories, camping equipment, yard tools, recycling containers, etc. Find a home for and use tasteful storage to display each category. The key to organizing a garage is to make use of the elevated space, like the walls for storage racks and the ceiling for a false attic.
Fifth and final, the yard. Which most people don’t consider, actually, and that’s really…
The problem: It’s easy to ignore the dead patch of grass in the backyard because you have more pressing matters, but the outside of a home is reflective of the inside of a home.
The solution: Have a “discovery session,” where you walk around your house, making a list of necessary outdoor improvements. Then schedule a daily to-do on your calendar, or outsource the tasks – this is a great chore for kids – until all items are crossed off.
See, I promised. So simple even Jane can do it! And the best part? No wrecking ball necessary.
This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.
Carmen Coker is a former US Air Force officer turned professional organizer. Thousands of busy people have benefited from her expertise featured by CBS, NBC, The Washington Post, and Real Simple magazine – now it’s your turn! Take the FREE 3-Day Simplify-Your-Life Challenge™, and get more organized, find more time, and enjoy more simplicity in your life…in just 3 days!
Maybe you’ve been telling yourself that you need to get organized for days, weeks, months, or even years – and yet, you are still not there.
When it comes to getting organized, it may be easy to say…
I don’t have the time.
I don’t know where to begin.
I don’t know what to do.
I don’t feel like it.
I don’t have the patience.
But where does any of that get you?
If you could change the message you are telling yourself to be positive (I do) instead of negative (I do not), how would your get-organized outcomes be different?
Is your home office one of those someday-I’ll-organize-it spaces? Finally have the organized office you’ve longed for – in 24 hours or less!
