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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.

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Hi there, I’m Carmen Coker, professional organizer and creator of The Clutter Cleanse®, and I’m here to talk about making lists that work.

Generally speaking, a list is a good thing because when you write a list, it helps you focus. When you follow a list, it keeps you on track and moving toward list completion. And when you cross off list items, you feel productive.

On the one hand, making to-do lists works for many people, and there are a lot of people – not just Santa Claus – who love and believe in the power of listmaking.

On the other hand, despite proven results and positive qualities, lists don’t always work for everyone, every time because when you have to make a list, it means you have lots to accomplish. When you have lots to accomplish, you suddenly don’t want to do anything but sit on your couch, watch TV, and eat ice cream. Am I right or am I right?

In other words, making a list is making you procrastinate. At this point, you’d rather be doing anything than what’s on your list. You’ve entered into a mind game between your lazy self and your productive self, and your lazy self is winning.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, I encourage you to fight back by creating a NOT-To-Do List to help you get organized.

The Not-To-Do List is exactly as the name implies – a list of things you do not want to do.

For example, the Not-To-Do List for Housekeeping, which would be something like: throw shoes by the front door, let mail pile up on the kitchen counter, and forget to file bills at the end of the month. These things create clutter in your home, so you do not want to do them.

Another example would be the Not-To-Do List for Time Management. Some items that might be on this list include: hit the snooze button on the alarm more than once, check email first thing in the morning, and turn on the TV while getting ready for work. These things make you lose time, so again, you do not want to do them.

You see, the Not-To-Do List is a technique that leverages reverse psychology. Plus, you’re giving your lazy self permission to be lazy while, at the same time, giving your productive self permission to get things done.

Now, that’s not just a win-win. That’s a #WinWin.

That’s why, your Easy Organizing Challenge™ is to create your first Not-To-Do List and use it for three days. See if the psychology behind it works better for you than a normal to-do list, and then go from there.

If you want bigger and better time-management results, then follow the arrow [see below link] to download The Ultimate Productivity Planner™. It’s free, and it will help you save 90 minutes or more every day even if you think time management is a myth.

This is Carmen Coker, signing off, we’ll see you next time.

© 2007 – 2016 | Carmen Coker International | All Rights Reserved

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! Download The FREE Ultimate Productivity Planner™, and save 90 minutes (or more) every day simply by using this 3-minute trick…even if you think time management is a myth.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION

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.

© 2007 – 2016 | Carmen Coker International | All Rights Reserved

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!

VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION

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.

© 2007 – 2016 | Carmen Coker International | All Rights Reserved

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!

You can be an encouragement to others – share this on Facebook or share this on Twitter with your family and friends!

Piles, piles, and more piles! If this conjures thoughts of your home office, then here are three ways to get rid of office clutter – fast.

1. Pull double-duty.

Books are one of the biggest space hogs in any home office. Placing risers along the back of shelves, and then situating books on top of and in front of, with a little space in between rows, can easily double the storage capacity of a bookshelf.

Done-For-You Quick Clutter Solution: Drawer Organizer, flipped upside-down.

DIY Quick Clutter Solution: Find and cover a long box (such as one for waxed paper, plastic wrap, or foil) with acid-free paper. Leave the empty roll inside of the box for extra support.

Hint: For best effect, measure the length, width, and height of each shelf before you decide upon, buy, or make your shelf risers.

2. Find a quick hide-away.

Getting cords, cables, and wires under control can almost single-handedly transform the look of any office space. The fastest way to achieve this feat is by strategically (not lazily) hiding power strips and excess cords from view.

Done-For-You Quick Clutter Solution: CableBox.

DIY Quick Clutter Solution: Find a lidded, solid-colored container with similar dimensions to the CableBox. Using the CableBox as a model, cut holes where appropriate to guide the cords and cables.

Hint: For best look, tie together the cords extending outside of the cable management box with zip, twist, or Velcro ties.

3. Focus on the underutilized.

Not making use of vertical space like walls and doors is one of the top office organizing mistakes most people make. When used appropriately (and eye-pleasingly), vertical space can store office supplies, corral papers, and create more room to work and play.

Done-For-You Quick Clutter Solution: Magnetic Bulletboard, with Mini Bulldog Clips and Magnetic Spice Tins.

DIY Quick Clutter Solution: Find a large hanging frame that matches your office decor. Hang it, mark the opening, then remove. Cover the marked opening with magnetic paint, and rehang the frame.

Hint: For best use, display only things that inspire and motivate you, that you need to use or see often, or that keep you focused.

How’d you like to finally have the organized office you’ve longed for – in 24 hours or less? Join the Totally Organized Office™ Bootcamp by clicking here!

You can be an encouragement to others – share this on Facebook or share this on Twitter with your family and friends!

This bull calls it like it is. If you have time to Facebook, you have time to get organized. NO MORE EXCUSES! #TidyUp

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! If you would like to find more time in your life, download your FREE copy of The Ultimate Productivity Planner™ right now, and start saving 90 minutes (or more) every day…even if you think time management is a myth!

© 2007-16 | Carmen Coker International | All Rights Reserved

You can be an encouragement to others – share this on Facebook or share this on Twitter with your family and friends!

Cave intermissio. Beware of the interruption.

Why? The statistics speak for themselves. Studies show, on average, that…

• You experience one interruption every eight minutes. That’s up to seven per hour, and up to 60 per day.
• Barely-noticeable interruptions of only two seconds are enough to throw your productivity off-track.
• It can take up to 25 minutes to regain your mental focus and work flow after being interrupted, depending on the complexity of the task.

The Big Reveal

There’s no denying it! Interruptions are one of the most lethal time-sinks known to mankind. You don’t even have to be good at math to realize that these statistics spell trouble for your get-stuff-done factor.

The problem is this: Interruptions are inevitable, and they can come from anywhere with little to no notice. Your boss requests a hot tasker. Your spouse phones to say “hi.” Your office mate asks to borrow a dollar. Your kids call for you. Your assistant needs your signature. Your cousin pings you on Facebook. Your dog wants to play ball. Your friend texts with drama.

Then what happens? Human nature practically dictates that you give the interruption immediate attention, action, and precedence over whatever you were doing in the first place, no matter how important.

Even more dangerous are the interruptions you welcome, allow, or encourage. After all, who wouldn’t want to find out how your spouse’s day is going, share a memory with your child, or enjoy some fresh air with your dog? All good (and arguably necessary) things, but sometimes, these good intentions come with bad timing.

The Ins & Outs

Martin Luther King once said: “The major problem of life is learning how to handle the costly interruptions. The door that slams shut, the plan that got sidetracked, the marriage that failed. Or that lovely poem that didn’t get written because someone knocked on the door.”

As MLK so eloquently explained, no matter what the situation – pinning a simple poem or achieving a world-changing dream – interruptions should be avoided, if and when possible. Here are three strategies to do just that:

• First, identify the source(s). Download this tool to help you analyze the who’s, what’s, and when’s of your daily interruptions, allowing you to either eliminate or reorganize to save time.
• Second, have a game plan for interruptions you can’t ignore or delay. Bookmark your place; jot down your last thought on a sticky note; or, if appropriate, ask for 10 minutes to get to a proper stopping point. All of these ideas will make restarting your tasks faster and easier.
• Third, have a game plan for interruptions that you can ignore or delay. Put to memory a script like: “I’d love to help you! But now is not a good time. Can we talk later today at 3pm? I’ll be able to give you my undivided attention then.” Being prepared to say “not now” with confidence and integrity means you can get back to being productive asap.
• Plus, stop interruptions before they even have a chance. Of course, there is always the popular close-your-door approach or do-not-disturb hours. More importantly, however, is cultivating a work and home environment that eliminates interruptions where possible. Teach – and show by example – to interrupt only when it is a top priority, and when it is not, to find a way to honor the other person’s time.

The Bottom Line

Most people understand the importance of not letting interruptions get in the way of productivity. But it is only a highly productive person who follows through on this understanding and gives time and attention only to those who deserve it, not to those who demand it.

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! If you would like to find more time in your life, download your FREE copy of The Ultimate Productivity Planner™ right now, and start saving 90 minutes (or more) every day…even if you think time management is a myth!

© 2007-16 | Carmen Coker International | All Rights Reserved

You can be an encouragement to others – share this on Facebook or share this on Twitter with your family and friends!

Do you find that you are constantly tangled in a web of too-many-things-to-do, rush-rush-rush, and no-time-for-just-me?

You wouldn’t be alone. Studies show a whopping 78% of people wish they had more time to “smell the roses.” You also shouldn’t be surprised. With all the demands of a busy life, it’s common to feel that:

• Your to-do list only gets longer, and longer, and longer.
• Your home, work, and life responsibilities are overwhelming.
• You can’t truly rest because there is simply too much to do.
• You need a vacation, but who has time for that?
• And the most common of all…You just don’t have enough *&%$#@! hours in the day.

Here’s the thing: I’m willing to bet, if you scrutinize your schedule, you will find tasks, projects, commitments, appointments, or other that are…avoidable. This could mean they are temporarily avoidable, allowing you to reschedule for a better time, or it could mean that they are permanently avoidable, allowing you to eliminate them altogether or delegate them to someone else.

Today’s easy organizing challenge is to leave something “avoidable” behind. Look at your to-do list or planner, and ask these questions of each entry:

• Is it necessary?
• Is it urgent?
• Is it important?
• Does it support my priorities?
• Does it support my goals?
• Can it be deleted?
• Can it be postponed?
• Can it be delegated?

Warning: So this is ridiculously easy. Like, making a Pop-Tart®-easy! In fact, the more times you do it, the easier and faster it becomes. But, sometimes during this process, feelings of guilt, perfectionism, and ego may bubble up.

Recognize any of these? So-in-so is counting on me. I’ve done this for years, why stop now? I already gave my word. Someone else could do this, but I want to get credit for it. No one can do this better than me. I don’t trust anyone else to get this right.

These feelings can have a strong pull – if you let them. DON’T. Don’t accept your excuses, don’t give into your fear, don’t let the devil on your shoulder get its way. If necessary, drink some virtual Gatorade® and get a big kick of Win from Within. (Really, when you see what these champions have overcome, you’ll probably feel silly for even letting these feelings get in the way of your time-management success.)

Once you’ve made your wise decision(s) about your schedule, don’t look back! Simply relish the freedom of letting go…

Want bigger results? Instead of picking one thing to leave behind for just today, pick three things each day for an entire week.

Ready for more time in your life? Download your FREE copy of The Ultimate Productivity Planner™ right now, and start saving 90 minutes (or more) every day…even if you think time management is a myth!

© 2007-16 | Carmen Coker International | All Rights Reserved

You can be an encouragement to others – share this on Facebook or share this on Twitter with your family and friends!

When it comes to your life, would you categorize yourself as…

a. A highly effective person?
b. A moderately effective person?
c. A poorly effective person?

Now, here is the cold, hard truth about your answer, no matter which it may be: YOU CAN BE BETTER.

Granted, this very truth brings up the million-dollar question: how?

The answer is simpler than you think! Better yet, the effects are immediate. Even better still, it is a rinse-and-repeat system that will take your time management and productivity skills to new heights.

The Big Reveal

In life, there are those individuals who are goal-setters and those who are goal-getters. A goal-setter is someone who either likes the idea of or is very good at setting goals, but doesn’t put the necessary actions behind them. As such, the goals never come to life and remain well-meaning (but worthless) words on paper. On the other hand, a goal-getter doesn’t just set and believe in goals, but also has the follow-through to achieve them.

Dr. Stephen R. Covey wrote about the secret of goal-getters in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “The key is not to prioritize your schedule but to schedule your priorities.”

A-ha! Much of what comes into your day – emails, text messages, phone calls, meetings, snail mail, conversations – they are just vehicles for other people’s priorities in your life. If you always schedule in “all that stuff” first, then there will always be little to no room for your own priorities, goals, and dreams.

The Ins & Outs

This is the very reason why you should trust your priorities to help you make decisions, infuse your priorities into your daily routines, and stick to your priorities, no matter what challenges you face. In the end, doing so is the best way to avoid common time-sinks like lack of focus and procrastination.

Here are three guidelines to defining your priorities and becoming a goal-getter who is the envy of everyone around you:

1 – Deep down, you are driven by a set of core values and principles. For example, maybe you are motivated by faith, family, excellence, independence, love, power, honesty, wealth – or maybe a mixture of. From the get-go, decide what these values are. They will set the tone for your goal-getting success.

2 – Brainstorm the wish list of objectives that you would like to accomplish, either in the short-term or long-term. Next, break this wish list down into projects and tasks.

3 – Calendar out the projects and tasks in order of importance and also set a date for project completion.

REMEMBER: act as the gatekeeper for your time. Before putting anything on your schedule, ask if it will support your priorities – fully, partially, or not at all. While there will be surprises and unavoidable hiccups here and there, stick to your schedule as much as possible.

The Bottom Line

Your priorities act as your internal compass, helping you to stay focused, make clear decisions, and feel balanced and fulfilled. A highly productive person uses his/her values to guide every step, including how and where to spend time. Here’s how you can learn more and get started today!

Ready for more time in your life? Download your FREE copy of The Ultimate Productivity Planner™ right now, and start saving 90 minutes (or more) every day…even if you think time management is a myth!

Need perpetual inspiration? Download the above graphic here for your personal use.

TODAY IS YOUR DAY…

1. To GET ORGANIZED now, not later.
2. To MANAGE TIME carefully, not carelessly.
3. To DECLUTTER big, not small.
4. To SEEK SIMPLICITY, not chaos.
5. To ENJOY your home and life, not let them pass you by.

…START FRESH!

Has this inspired you to get organized? I’d love to find out! Please share your thoughts, experiences, ideas, and other comments below.

© 2007-15 | Carmen Coker International | All Rights Reserved

Carmen Coker is a former US Air Force officer turned professional organizer. If you want to whiz through to-do′s quicker than ever before, she recommends (& uses!) this FREE MP3 to boost productivity. Try it, and…get stuff done!