Send In Maureen

2011-03-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

(I wrote this e-newsletter in January but somehow it didn't make it onto my archive list. You'll have to use your imagination as I refer to the beginning of the year!)

Hello Everyone!

We're well into the new year now. How's it going for you? I've always been energized by the promise of new beginnings; you too? What have you started this month that you plan to continue all year long?

The thing that really holds true for me this time of year is that there's a renewed sense of hope. Hope that with a fresh start, just about anything is possible. So, once again, I'm focused on weight loss and like my friend quips, I'm on a 'savings spree'. I hope this is the year that some of your wildest dreams come true too!

It's a wrap!

Preceding each new beginning, there's usually a marked ending.

As you continue to plan for 2011, some goals may appear so large and in the distance that they feel absolutely ominous. One way to sanely attend to them is to create and follow project time-lines. Become a Project Manager in your own life! Here's an over-simplified example:

If, in December, you need to have your financial summaries ready for tax prep...
you'll need to get your reports from your bookkeeper.

If, you need to get your reports from your bookkeeper...
you'll have to send him/her your receipts and deposit slips monthly.

If, you need your receipts and deposit slips in order...
you'll need to have written the clients' name on them each time.

If, you need to identify the client on the deposit slip...
then, it would be handy to have a pencil and deposit slips in the car glove box!

Essentially you're walking backwards from each large goal to identify the myriad of necessary steps to progress in the appropriate sequence. This discovery process may end up highlighting a seemingly insignificant 'something' - in this case, putting deposit slips in the car. These time-lines are also a very sneaky way to ward off procrastination because you've parceled out a large project into many tiny manageable steps.

By the way, did you take a look back over 2010 to see where you've been? There's something about acknowledging the joys and the concerns, the successes and the difficulties on the path I've just walked that better prepares me to take on new challenges. It's almost a gentle push that ensures I'm starting new adventures without any excess baggage. I'm going to try to journal a bit throughout the year so that at year's end, I can accurately reflect on it.

I hope you feel good about each passing year. Consider taking time to congratulate yourself for jobs well done, games well played, life well lived. Well, heck. I'll take the time to sing your praises now: Yeah Baby! Keep up the good work! Rock on! Atta girl/boy! Hoo-rah! Keep on truckin'! (Oops, I think I may have gone too far!) ;D)

Plan your work; work your plan!

If you're like many entrepreneurs and small business managers, you're spending a significant amount of time planning for the year. Very important work indeed! If getting organized is on your list of things to accomplish in 2011, give me a call.

Organizing is what I do best and it's what I love to do. And believe me, once you're better organized you'll be better at everything else you do too!

Best Wishes for this Brand New Year!

Simply,

Maureen Heinen
Send In Maureen, LLC

"Due to a typing error, the U.S. sends in the Maureens." W. Pauluk

2011-03-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

Is time moving a little too fast for you too?

Harold Taylor, the Canadian time management expert touts that you can't manage time. The best you can do is to make sure you spend the limited time you have (the same amount of time we all have) with the people and things that mean the most to you.

Hmmm... I guess you'd have to know exactly who and what are at the top of your priorities. So, when was the last time you sat down and contemplated what belongs on that exclusive list?

Hint: now's a good time!

Rock 'n Roll!

Stephen Covey of Franklin Covey and all the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" books says we have to fill our container with the 'big rocks' first. Those being the most important things in our lives: our family and closest friends, our 'life's work', the things that feed our body and soul. Only after we attend to them do we add the 'little rocks' (some may be important, but not necessarily the most vital things).

While it takes a certain degree of discipline to keep us from wasting our precious time, if those big things we initially identified really are big things, it's worth it. My advice: schedule important people, places and things into your day way ahead of time. And don't forget to schedule time with yourself to exercise, rejuvenate and have fun. (That's what's often referred to as 'sharpening the saw'.)

Don't let another week go by where you said something was important to you but you didn't actually spend time with it. Utilize your most energetic time of the day for your most important tasks (and people). Conversely, use your least peak times for more mundane tasks (did someone mention filing?). Julie Morgenstern, the world-renowned professional organizer wrote a book to help you with all that: "Never Check E-Mail In the Morning: And Other Unexpected Strategies for Making Your Work Life Work".

But what about all those other things that take up so much time? When are you going to find the time to do them? Establishing mini-routines at the beginning and end of each day can serve several purposes. It has a centering effect, it gets you on somewhat of a predictable schedule, and it insures that you attend to them on a regular basis.

My morning mini routine involves things like quickly posting to social media, following up with contacts from the day before and loading supplies into my car from my garage inventory. My evening routine includes making a note of the commitments I've made that day, prepping my receipts/deposit slips for my bookkeeper and putting away things to prevent a clutter buildup by week's end. And I'm not talking about hours each day, just minutes. But that's the beauty of mini routines. Work at things a little bit each day and you keep up with them. If you put it off and wait until the end of the week, you're likely to be overwhelmed with all you have to do.

Another tool to help you keep up is to have standard checklists for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly tasks. I'll cover checklists in another newsletter soon.

One last thing... after you've identified the most important things in your life, take a good look at the 'time wasters' that might be lurking around every corner. Here's where you need to get ruthless! Mindless TV shows wouldn't be a big or even a little rock. Or shopping for the heck of it. Or leafing through junk mail. Stop wasting your time on things that don't serve you. Your time is worth more than that. You're worth more than that!

Discriminating taste...

Take time to think about the life you want to create for yourself. What's important, vital, essential, valuable, critical, necessary, useful, precious, loved or cherished? That's what (and who!) you want to fill your life with! Take a discerning look at the 'things' in your world. If they don't fall into these categories, maybe it's time to be ruthless. Have the courage to let go of things that don't serve you, that don't bring value to your life. It may not be easy, especially at first. But it is worth the time and effort. You are worth the time and effort!

And make a point not to bring in new possessions unless they meet that criteria as well. A side benefit of that whole process is that you will have less 'stuff' to deal with overall. And it'll certainly be easier to 'keep up' with it all when it has demonstrated value to you.

If you need a little help determining the mini routines or checklists that would really serve you the best, consider contacting me. I can help you with 'values clarification' and making the most out of the 24 hours you have each day. It's not rocket science but it often requires a thoughtful process with someone who does it all the time.

And remember, being organized is just another way of being prepared. With simple and sustainable systems in place, you can prepare your home for guests, prepare your office for productivity, prepare your life for fun and relaxation! But don't forget to...

Keep It Simple Sweetheart!

Simply,

Maureen Heinen
Send In Maureen, LLC

"Due to a typing error, the U.S. sends in the Maureens." W. Pauluk

Are you familiar with The Blue Sky Guide? That great coupon book that lists savings for everything from yard and garden to dining and entertainment? Well it's now called The Chinook Book and for the first time, Send In Maureen has a coupon in it! (I also have a limited supply of the Chinook Books available for purchase. Just let me know if you want one.)

Wishlists & 5 Year Anniversary

2011-03-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

Is it Spring yet? You'd think it was months off with the temperatures so low the last couple of days. Need something to hold you over until Spring really arrives? How about a celebration? Send In Maureen is now 5 years old! YAY!!!!! Time for a little soiree, don't you think? Scroll down for all the particulars and be sure to Save The Date: 3/22/11

I just love March! It's my anniversary, it's the heralding of spring and more of my wonderful organizing clients contact me than in any other month of the year! It's so much fun to work with people who are eager to leave those dark winter months behind and start to bring new energy into their home or business. It must be a 'creature' thing. No matter how complex our human brains are, we're still so often affected by the change of seasons, the lunar cycles and who knows what other strictly natural factors. So we might as well put those 'animal urges' to good use, yes?

Music, Movies, Books, Oh My!

If you're like me, you come across titles of CD's, books or movies that you're interested in but you don't want to buy one every time you think of it. So how do you keep track of these 'someday' items?

You can create 'wish lists' on iTunes and Amazon! You can even create accounts at the local county libraries.

Want to listen to a few songs before you buy the CD? Go to YouTube and watch the videos. It's a great way to test the waters before you commit. You can also purchase individual songs on iTunes without shelling out for the whole CD. Then you can make your own mix CDs of your favorites! (Don't forget to click on SendInMaureen's link on YouTube for a few little videos and a quick laugh!)

If you're not inclined to tackle learning how to use these sites yet, you can go about it in other ways. Create an entry (as if you're recording a name and address) in Outlook or Google Contacts (or your Address Book on Mac). Name it something like 'Media Wishlist' and add the titles whenever they come to mind.

Want to do it all without using the computer? Keep a paper file or a notebook to house your various 'interests'. Beyond your standard Financial, Legal, Medical documents, you can have files that contain any information you want to keep track of. Don't let little slips of paper and Post It notes overrun your desktop. Put these items in a file so you can retrieve them easily. Name it 'Interests - music' or 'Interests - books' and all your Interests files will be neatly nestled together. (Cozy!)

Spring into Action!

Don't know where to start? Just begin by thinking about your goals for your space. Do you want to find things more easily? Have less 'stuff' overall? Create a simpler, lovelier environment? You don't have to know 'how' to achieve these goals; that's where we professional organizers really shine. You just have to imagine the results you want to achieve. Then call me. I'll help you do the rest.

Organizing is what I do best and it's what I love to do. And believe me, once you're better organized you'll be better at everything else you do too!

Simply,

Maureen Heinen
Send In Maureen, LLC

"Due to a typing error, the U.S. sends in the Maureens." W. Pauluk

Celebrate, celebrate...

dance to the music!

Need another reason to celebrate this spring? How about an anniversary party? This month Send In Maureen is 5 years old! And YOU are invited to a lovely little soiree from 4:00 to 6:00pm on Tuesday, March 22nd.

Let's see... that's 4 on 3/22/11... what could those numbers possibly mean? How about lively conversation and easy networking with great folks enjoying nummy refreshments and enough luck to win lots of drawings for cool door prizes? (Did I mention 'good parking'?)

Visit the link below for all the information and to RSVP:

http://5yearsofsendinmaureen.eventbrite.com/

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
Roseville Professional Building
(basement conference room)
2233 North Hamline Avenue
St. Paul MN 55113

See you there!

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

2011-03-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

2011-02-16T14:47:00.000-08:00

Today I've been focused on planning and goal-setting. It really never ends for me; I'm continuously developing systems and standardizing processes to make my work (and my life) more efficient so I can be more effective in what I do. Although I like to keep it as simple and sustainable as I can.

I've created a month by month yearly plan for my business. Starting out with these basic categories: Focus, Budget, Marketing, Networking, Communication, Research & Development, Continuing Education and Record-keeping, I consider what needs to be done in each category for each month. It acts as an at-a-glance reminder of where I'm at in terms of accomplishing tasks and setting benchmarks toward my ultimate goals.

You can do the same kind of thing with your personal goals and planning this way as well. Julie Morgenstern's book: "Time Management from the Inside Out" is a 'must read' if you want to be a master of your own time. I've recently re-read it to prepare for a workshop I'm presenting at a local company later this month.

Consider your own major life categories (Family, Friends, Money, Health, etc) identify your 'big picture' goals (closer relationships, balanced budget, good nutrition and regular fitness), establish dedicated times in your calendar to focus on each category (dinnertime with family, 1st & 15th of the month budget review, Monday and Friday afternoons at the gym) and finally plug in incremental tasks (call Aunt Adela, make extra mortgage payments 4 times a year, buy yoga mat and hand weights).

Over-simplified, I know! But that's basically it. You have to give the important people and things in your life a 'place'. Otherwise, you'll never achieve those big, audacious goals you're set on accomplishing!

I know I've written about this kind of thing before, but I just had to say it again in a new way. Hope it gets you motivated to 'plan your work and work your plan'. That's how the successful folks do it. And you can too. Happy planning!

2010-10-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

Fall is such a wonderful time! Over the years I've noticed a natural tendency: Spring is the time to expand; Autumn is the time to contract.

Is down-sizing on your list of things to do this season? Some of my professional organizer peers refer to the process as 'right-sizing' because it's not merely about having 'less' stuff; it's about having just the right amount for your family and household's size and lifestyle.

I'm aware of another noticeable pattern: we spend the first half of our lives collecting and amassing quantities of things, but we end up spending the last half trying to divest ourselves of the same items. What a lot of work on both ends!

If you're ready to let go of some of your excess, this issue is all about how to prepare for the release and where to take things once you've decided they've got to go. Get your pens and pads handy for this resource-packed newsletter!

Less is more!

Here's an assortment of approaches to systematic reduction:

Set a bag or box in the entry and/or in each person's closet to be able to toss in an unwanted item whenever you think of it.

Schedule a 'once a month purge' session; the whole family can be involved.

Adopt the 'one new in; one old out' principle: whenever you buy something new (or even something used) you make a point to let go of a different item. This works especially well when you have cramped quarters.

A serious minimalist lives by 'minimum/maximum guidelines': for those of you who like to make lists, here's an opportunity for you to write out how many (of any given category) you'll allow yourself, e.g., 5 sleeveless tops, 5 short sleeve, 5 long sleeve, 7 shorts, 5 jeans, 7 dress pants, 3 jackets per season, no more than 10 pairs of shoes total and so on.

However you decide to tackle the problem, it is well worth your effort. Don't give up! Even if you only make one trip per season to donate items, they'll no longer be competing for your limited space.

Where oh where should my donations go?
(If you have additional resources to share with readers, please let me know! Look for subsequent newsletters that highlight some 'unusual' donation sites! FYI: Did you know you could take your unfinished weaving projects to the MN Weaver's Guild? Who knew?)

American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org or 1-800-227-2345

Value Village Thrift Stores & Pickup Service
www.arcsvaluevillage.org or 612-866-8820

Courage Center
www.couragepickup.org or 952-881-1100

Epilepsy Foundation
www.efmn.org or 651-287-2300

Salvation Army
www.thesalvationarmy.com or 612-332-5855

Vietnam Veterans of America
www.vvapickup.org or 651-778-8387

Charities Review Council of Minnesota
www.smartgivers.org (Rates various charities)

www.GoodwillEasterseals.org offers these tips about donating:

When in doubt, throw it out! (if you wouldn't wear it, it probably won't sell either)

If it isn't sale-able, please dispose of it properly. (don't contribute to their trash bill)

Check with donation site to ensure that item meets safety standards. (no hazardous waste!)

Your donation is tax deductible! (Be sure to get a receipt.)

In closing, remember that being organized is just another way of being prepared. With simple and sustainable systems in place, you can prepare your home for guests, prepare your office for productivity, prepare your life for fun and relaxation! But don't forget to...

Keep It Simple Sweetheart!

2010-10-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

Are you having a fun summer? I hope you're taking lots of photos and videos. Can't wait to share them with loved ones? Me too!

Here are a few more resources and ideas to help you capture those images to keep forever and ever and ever and ever...

Am I repeating myself again, again?

I received so many favorable responses about the photo and film resources I highlighted in my last newsletter that I want to add a couple more.

If you're ready to stop all the manual cutting and gluing, "The Future of Scrapping" offers digital scrap booking classes (group and individual). Just one more small album to do by hand and then I'm ready to go digital. Join me!

Do you need the services of a professional photographer? I know a couple of photo wizards who do wedding, portrait, event and even exhibition photography. Say "in beauty" and that's where you'll be when you work with Wendy and Karl Blomseth of Inbeaute Photography. They also teach you how to take better photos in their Fertile Mind Foto workshops.

Christmas tips already?

I know, 'Christmas in July' marketing has never really captured my attention either, but I want to plant a seed in your mind for something you could do at any time, not just Christmastime.

As you're trimming your tree and thinking about all the wonderful memories associated with each of the ornaments, why not tell the stories aloud and capture the whole event on video? If your loved ones can't all be together, you can at least share the event with them by sending off a mini-movie.

You could do this with any memorabilia at any time of year. If necessary, especially in the case of downsizing, you can finally let go of some possessions you no longer have the space to store. Fortunately you'll have captured their essence on film so you'll always have the recorded images to enhance your memories.

In closing, remember that being organized is just another way of being prepared. With simple and sustainable systems in place, you can prepare your home for guests, prepare your office for productivity, prepare your life for fun and relaxation! But don't forget to...

Keep It Simple Sweetheart!

2010-10-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

Summer's going by so quickly!

It's hard to keep up with the fast pace of the world today, don't you agree? Just when I think I've 'entered the 21st Century' by learning a new skill (usually a form of technology), something newer is introduced and I'm running to catch up once again.

It's a good thing that I'm committed to informing you of the latest and greatest resources. It motivates me to stay on top of my game.

Say CHEESE (without the guilt)!

So we've all been taking photos and movies since we were kids. Some of us have those photos neatly tucked away in albums; the most creative of us have clever displays in scrapbooks!

There's been so much innovation in the field of photography in recent years; now our photos come on CD's and we can save them all to our computer.

But are you feeling pangs of guilt because these precious memories aren't being properly showcased? Do you have physical snapshots that haven't made it into albums yet? Still have all those great old movies on VHS or 8mm instead of DVDs? Don't have time to scrapbook? Wish someone could just take over? Have I got some great resources for you!

- First of all, you can haul your boxes of photos to Midway Training where skilled and supervised employees with developmental disabilities will scan your photos to CDs.

- Saving Tape will not only transfer your VHS or 8/16mm movies to CD's... they can even add your narrative!

- Wish you could delegate the artistic process? "I Hate Scrapping" to the rescue where two lovely women in Bloomington will create meaningful photo arrangements and have them printed in bound books (you can even order duplicates)!

- Lastly, History Crafters or Just A Pipe Dream can take the whole process a huge step further; they'll interview you or your loved ones to get the story behind the photos and create an heirloom book to last more than a lifetime.

I've either recently used or will soon utilize all of these resources. I hope you give their respective websites a 'look-see'. Your memories will be preserved forever and your guilt will be long gone!

But where do I begin?

So, how to best begin organizing photos if you've fallen behind and you want to do it yourself? I suggest creating a time line. I list each year followed by my age and then the grade I was in during that year until I graduated from high school. I continue through to include my daughter's information and end at the present day. I put in other important milestones such as places I worked or where we lived. Here's just one year's info:

2006: I'm age 50, Rose age 17 in 11th grade, officially started SendInMaureen.com

Now it's time to look at your loose photos. Create a box (or envelope) for each particular chunk of time - let's say 'by decade' to start: 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and the first ten years of the new millennium (what would you call that?!)

Maybe you can't remember what year the picture was taken but you might remember where you lived at the time or some other time-related fact. Just start putting as many photos in their corresponding boxes as you can. For the ones you just can't be sure of yet, leave them aside; later you may find that something will jog your memory and you'll just intuitively know where they belong.

An alternate approach to organizing photos would be according to subject or season e.g., all birthday celebrations or all holiday snapshots together.

How ever you feel compelled to sort your backlog of photos, the main thing is to begin. Just get started and you'll gain momentum. And here's a friendly reminder: perfectionism only leads to paralysis. Don't let it stop you from enjoying the process. Have fun with your memories of a lifetime!

And as I sign off, please remember...
being organized is just another way of being prepared. With simple and sustainable systems in place, you can prepare your home for guests, prepare your office for productivity, prepare your life for fun and relaxation! But don't forget to...

Keep It Simple Sweetheart!

2010-10-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy..."

Are you feeling the 'ease' of the summer season or are you feeling stressed out by your never ending 'to-do' list? Maybe you're stressed out because of your unwritten list of expectations of yourself... your list of should's!

Recently I'd been feeling a lot of pressure about my should's. I attended a presentation by Anne Newell at a Women In Networking event and subsequently bought her book,"The Myth of Time Management: The Simple Formula for Finding the Time You Need to Do the Things You Want to Do". Within a few days I had the good fortune of going on a writer's retreat with other business owners and I read the book in less than a day.

My perspective about my lengthy 'to do' list immediately changed and I still feel much less pressure about all of it. And I've experienced a profound attitude adjustment regarding my relationship with time.

One main point Anne makes is about finding where your passions, talents and habits all converge. Here's just one example: I love to organize, I'm good at it and I work at it weekly. What's one of yours? There are so many more great concepts in the book; I recommend reading it before the summer is over!

"Limited Edition" is good enough

I know of several elderly people who used to take great pride in their immaculately clean homes. Some of these same people wonder what the fuss was all about now that their aches and pains prevent them from doing things they would otherwise enjoy. I think they wore themselves out doing things that may not have been that important in the first place.

Some of the best advice I received when I was pregnant was 'good enough is good enough' and 'pick your battles'. I took both of them to mean there's no need to strive for perfection in all areas of your life. So I chose the places that deserved the highest standards (in my parenting it was always health and safety) but lowered my expectations accordingly in other less important areas (like having my toddler's clothes match or the 'clean plate' expectation). Overall that approach significantly contributed to saner living during those early (and busy) child development years.

Regarding achievement, especially for women, we've asked ourselves for decades: Is it possible for us to 'have it all'? You know what I mean, ladies, don't you? Well, I believe we can have it all but maybe not everything all at once. You can have your career and your marriage and your home and your children and your vocation and your hobbies and your leisure... but some of the biggest lifelong goals may have to take turns and happen sequentially, not all simultaneously.

So, if you don't have the time or energy (with or without toddlers in tow) or if you've never learned how to (efficiently or sufficiently) clean your home, my advice to you:
exercise the limited edition!

LTD: Laundry, Trash, Dishes. If every day you do something in each of those three areas, you won't get backlogged and you'll always have:

1) clean clothes to wear
2) clean dishes to use and
3) a place to put your garbage

On the flip side, if any of those areas gets backed up, the old saying is definitely true: 'it'll take a lot more energy to catch up than to keep up'.

As far as additional cleaning goes, have a mini routine once a week for the other major tasks: (Windex, dust, vacuum, bath & kitchen) and subsequent routines for monthly, quarterly and yearly chores (contact me if you need resources for these routines). But above all, consider your priorities (especially when you have young children) and don't make yourself crazy trying to live in a museum when your home is really meant to have that 'lived in' look.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the person writing this newsletter for the sole purpose of recommending a saner approach to living for clients who may be tackling these tasks themselves. These opinions in no way reflect the kind of high quality cleaning methods the Send In Maureen team utilizes when we clean your home or office... perfection is our default position. ;)

Speaking of recommendations...

I use the non-profit, free service, Catalog Choice, to reduce unwanted mail: not just the standard junk mail, it now includes credit card offers and phone books!. (They ask for your social security number and birth date but can easily process your request without that information.)

Just one more resource... Are you familiar with The Simple Truth inspirational mini-movies? "212 Degrees" and "The Dash" are just a couple of my favorites. They provide the perfect internal lift on a gray or drab day. The website allows you to watch the brief movies for free but also offers a multitude of products for sale (great gift ideas).

(See all the websites for today's resources in the Quick Links section in the above left of this newsletter.)

And remember, being organized is just another way of being prepared. With simple and sustainable systems in place, you can prepare your home for guests, prepare your office for productivity, prepare your life for fun and relaxation! But don't forget to...

Keep It Simple!

2010-10-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring! I just love all the myriad shades of green this time of year! And all the fragrant flowers - they're everywhere!
I hope you have some beauty blooming in your yard or at least something really colorful you can see from your windows.

We have the good fortune of living on the banks of a little lake, our own oasis in the city. The muskrats are busy swimming back and forth, the geese are loudly claiming their territory and the beautiful egrets have finally returned.

I can't wait to hang some flowers from the balcony and plant my little herb garden in a nice big pot. What's on your spring to-do list? Anything I can help you with? Keep in mind that I'm really well connected too, so if I can't help you I can probably find someone who can.

'To do' or 'not to do', that is the question...

So you've got a 'to-do' list a mile long. Where do you begin? First of all, I like to start my lists with action words: 'call', 'go', 'do', 'read', 'write', 'consider' is my standard format. I make a chart. One column for each action.

You may have other more specific categories: 'at home', 'at work', 'with family' etc. If each 'to-do' item begins with an action word or specific category you can cluster similar tasks together e.g., make all your phone calls in one time block, schedule your errands in a loop in order to make the most of your mileage or have uninterrupted time at your desk to get your writing done.

Research indicates that switching gears back and forth from one type of task to another throughout the day is not only inefficient, it uses up precious mental energy and focus. Wondering about the 'consider' column? I use it for things I need to reflect on or discuss with someone before I make a final decision.

Are you familiar with Steven Covey's thoughts regarding 'important vs urgent' tasks? To read more about it on his blog, see the Quick Links section in the upper left of this newsletter.

Remember that a professional organizer can help you finally accomplish those 'important but never urgent' items; the kinds of things that need to get done but never really have a deadline e.g., create a paper or digital filing system, or plan, create or troubleshoot other systems for time management and record-keeping.

If it has anything to do with information, an organizer will always have plenty of ideas about how to manage it. Contact me to discuss your current information management needs. Let's get those important things off your 'to-do' list!

All the news that's fit to print...

Sending out my first e-newsletter was so exciting for me! I hope you enjoyed it. I spent a lot of time figuring out exactly what I should say and how I should say it. But learning how to put it all together with Constant Contact didn't take much time at all.

I called the support line a few times to re-size the photo, align the text and make some changes to the contact list (virtual assistant Kris Jamieson from Resourcefully Yours imported it - thanks Kris!). Overall it was really an easy process.

If you're thinking of having a newsletter for your business or organization (or even for your family and friends), I highly recommend Constant Contact. For more information go to the Quick Links section (above left).

Remember, being organized is just another way of being prepared. With simple and sustainable systems in place, you can prepare your home for guests, prepare your office for productivity, prepare your life for fun and relaxation! But don't forget to...

Keep It Simple Sweetheart!

name change to: Send In Maureen LLC

2010-10-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

I recently changed my business name from Send In Maureen Organizing Services to Send In Maureen, LLC. Over the years clients have requested that I offer more services, so I've gladly accommodated them. Now they're available to you as well.

Through my newsletter and this blog you will receive easy tips and tricks to help you get and stay organized. You'll also learn clever ways to manage your home and accomplish your tasks.

Don't let disorganization prevent you from being effective, efficient or even spontaneous. I'll show you easier, faster ways to do things. Then you'll have more time and energy to live that wild and wondrous life of yours!

Do you really love to send greeting cards? Are you the person who always remembers everyone's birthday and anniversary? Do you feel good after sending off a quick 'thinking of you' note to a friend or a get well card to a family member? Do you like to keep in touch with clients by writing a personal message?

Or are you the kind of person who can't seem to get it together to ever send anything out on time? Do you end up writing 'belated' best wishes for just about every occasion? Could it be that you mailed your holiday greeting cards... in February? Do you wish you had a systematic way to touch base with your contacts that didn't take so much time?

Whichever way you operate, I may have just the thing for you. I recently learned about a great service that allows you to:

* create a card with your own handwriting, photos, images and your own message

* or choose from many types of cards with predetermined images and messages

* do all of this at any computer at any time

* create reminders or schedule to have your card sent on a specified future date

* your recipient receives a greeting card - in the mail, yes, via 'snail mail'!

Visit this website and notch up your communications to a much higher level:

www.SendOutCards.com/sendinmaureen

How can I help you?

Are your closets, basement or garage 'disaster' areas? Have your living spaces been taken over by too much stuff? Do you wish you had a simple system for retrieving your paper or digital documents? Would you like someone to present to your staff about how to be a more organized office worker?

Perhaps it's time to Send In Maureen!

I'd be glad to roll up my sleeves to help you rearrange things in order to maximize your physical space. I can help you determine criteria to help you decide what possessions to keep and where best to keep them. I can teach you very simple ways to ensure that your information can easily be accessed. I may even bring about some ease and simplicity into your world with just the right personalized touches.

Remember, being organized is just another way of being prepared. With simple and sustainable systems in place, you can prepare your home for guests, prepare your office for productivity, prepare your life for fun and relaxation! But don't forget to...

Keep It Simple Sweetheart!

A Few Organizing Tips For Your Home

2009-08-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Some research states that your home is 40-80% easier to clean if it’s organized and uncluttered. Well, let’s get organized! Take a tour with me…

In the bathroom put hair and other product bottles into the medicine cabinet or into baskets or bins. Use up the last little bit in each bottle so you can recycle it. Keep only one conditioner and one shampoo in the shower at a time. Consider buying a bundle of washcloths so you can use a fresh one each day.

Kitchens are places of constant action. If you don’t have enough cupboard space for all your dishes and groceries it could be time to let go of some of the never-used dishes, serving items, and small appliances. Challenge yourself to use up the groceries you have in stock before you shop for more. It could save you at least a week’s worth of meals.

It’s nice to keep the living room ready for guests. Reduce the look of clutter by clustering all like items together. Keep books with books, music with music, magazines with magazines and so on. Grab a laundry basket and pick up items that don’t below there and have a ‘reverse treasure hunt’ finding where they do belong. I keep a small basket by the recliner with a variety of frequently used items: remote controls, pens, scissors, nail file, lotion, lip balm.

I love my bedroom! The best habit I have is making my bed (almost) every day. It makes the room look more spacious and ready for a good night’s sleep. If you’re like just about everybody else, you have too many clothes in your closet that you don’t wear. One trick to help you distinguish favorites from others is to hang all the hangers backwards. When you wear an item and wash it put it back on a hanger the regular way. Over time the hangers that are still backwards let you know that you haven’t worn those clothes in a long time. Maybe it’s time to drop them off at the thrift store.

Storage closets can be dark and scary places. Be brave! Get in there and ask yourself if you’ve used those things recently or will need them soon. Box similar items together: electronics, cleaning supplies, holiday decorations can each have their own box. Be ruthless about things you don’t need, love or are beautiful or special. Let someone else enjoy that clock radio that you haven’t used in years.

Mail and papers are the hardest area to organize. Let’s save that topic for another post. Enjoy your home. Let it be your oasis. Keep it organized and you’ll feel like a giant weight has been lifted.

2009-08-15T20:36:00.001-07:00

Does "getting and staying organized" sound overwhelming? Start practicing just a few new habits and the rewards will amaze you...

1. Read with a pen: Tired of re-reading material over and over again to find the essential information you need? Frustrated that the details you wanted to remember in the article you just read are nowhere to be found the second time you look at it? Go back to those studious habits of reading with a pen! Circle the dates, amount due, and all key information so the next time you pick up that piece of paper, the critical information will jump out at you.

2. Right hand corner reminder: Are you a member of the "I Hate to File" club? Take care of the toughest task the first time you touch any document by writing down the subject of the information or action you need to take in the upper right-hand corner (e.g. 'Bank-privacy info' or 'RSVP by 12 Oct'.

3. Box your "to-do's": Simply make a check box in front of any action item you write. It will stand out from the other writing on the page and you'll feel great when you can check it off.

Launching new e-newsletter!

2009-08-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

Since my last blog post was a year ago I'm thinking that maybe I'm not the 'blogging kind'. So clearly it's time for another mode of communication. I'm preparing to launch my first e-newsletter. It'll have tips and tricks to help you get organized, stay organized and have fun in the process. Yes, organizing can be fun!

What would you like to read about in relation to organizing? Do you have specific questions you'd like to pose to a professional organizer for her opinion? Do you want particular topics covered such as organizing your child's artwork or keeping an entryway clear for traffic? Is there some area in your home or office that simply does not respond to typical organizing methods? I love a challenge! And I'm a creative 'think outside of the box' problem solver.

Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions. I'll incorporate them into upcoming e-newsletters for the world to see. (Okay, maybe not the whole world.)

If you'd like to subscribe to my e-newsletter please send me an email at maureen@sendinmaureen.com and soon you'll be receiving the solutions you crave.

In the meantime, remember to Keep It Simple Sweetheart!

Maureen

Organizing for life... and for the end of life.

2008-08-14T02:59:00.000-07:00

Thinking about ‘organizing for life’ sometimes brings me to the issue of planning for death. Morbid? Not necessarily. If I don’t make these decisions and plans it leaves them for the people I love the most at a time when they have to cope with loss. It’s kinder and more practical that I make my own decisions - that way my friends and family can spend time laughing about my life’s escapades instead of worrying if they were able to guess what my last wishes were.

Last week I attended a local funeral/cremation services company for a little seminar about pre-planning. I wanted to know what to expect myself and I wanted to be able to inform my clients of the process should they want to ‘get their ducks in a row’ in all areas of their lives.

The brief presentation provided simple, straightforward information in a very pleasant and relaxed tone, and there was not even a hint of sales posturing. I came away rather surprised and well informed. These free one hour evenings of information are offered periodically (pizza, beverages and dessert were included).

What did I learn? There are a lot of decisions to make!
Burial vs cremation? Below ground or mausoleum? Visitation, viewing, funeral service, memorial service, and/or graveside service? Grave space, marker, casket, casket lining, vault, decorations, urn or box for ashes? (Did you know that you could have the deceased’s ashes made into a diamond? Who knew?) Speakers, music, pallbearers, refreshments, childcare, transportation, guest accommodations and more…

Wow, that’s a big set of tasks for the widow, widower or other family members to attend to.

So I’ll leave all that for the individual planning appointment I make with the funeral/cremation service. But in the meantime I can encourage myself and my clients to get the paper trail in order ahead of time. I suggest that at least some of the following information be accessible to the key person(s) who’ll be attending to your affairs. Keep it in a fire safe at your home or office or in a safety deposit box at your bank. Consider giving the important people in your life copies, summaries or at least instructions regarding this information. Oh, and tell them how much and why you love them…

Essential Documents:

⁪ Advance medical directive and living will

⁪ Health care proxy or medical power of attorney

⁪ Health insurance policies, statements of benefits, proof-of-premium payments

⁪ Life insurance policies, proof-of-premium payments, viatical settlements or buy-out agreements

⁪ Retirement planning, investments, beneficiary designations

⁪ Disability policies, proof-of-premium payments, official determinations of disability

⁪ Social Security identification and information

⁪ Pension and retirement plan contracts, statements of benefits, eligibility certification

⁪ Birth, marriage and death certificates

⁪ Proof of citizenship: passport, voter registration card

⁪ Proof of current residence (phone, electric bills, rent receipts, etc.)

⁪ Veteran status and benefit information

⁪ Mortgage and proof-of-note payments

⁪ Deeds to real estate

⁪ Property tax assessments and payment records

⁪ Leases and rental agreements

⁪ Title and registration for autos, recreation vehicles or other expensive property

⁪ Loan or finance agreements, credit card accounts statements, other creditors, proof-of-payment

⁪ Financial power of attorney or springing power of attorney

⁪ Financial records: banks, savings, money market, CD/IRA accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, income: royalties, annuities, dividends, trusts or bequests

⁪ Last 6 years’ income tax returns & supporting documentation

Welcome!

2008-08-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first-ever blog entry!

Visit my website at www.sendinmaureen.com for information about services, recommendations and more!

Keep It Simple Sweetheart,
Maureen