*SIGH* ... July 25, heading into the last week of July. I love July, with its parties and beach days and fireworks. I'm always so sad to see it go. But when August comes around the corner, I know it's time for other things I love: lists of school supplies and new shoes to go in the shoe rack, clean lunchboxes and crayons with the points still sharp. It's almost time to get ready for school again.
If you're dreading it, even a little; if summer has taken hold of your life and created so much chaos that the thought of a schedule is scary, I have something for you. It's even FREE.
Linear Thoughts Organizing has put together, just for you, a week-by-week back-to-school schedule, so you don't miss the big or little things. We've included tips on when to contact the pediatrician for that epipen you know the school nurse will need, to managing everyone's schedule, to organizing back-to-school clothes and supplies. This list makes quick work of the things you need to do that keep drifting in and out of your head in between swimming and barbecues.
Let Linear Thoughts make your to-do list for August. Just contact linearthoughts@comcast.net and we'll email it to you. Or call 781-632-4313 and we'll send it through the snail mail.
Fall is coming... let Linear Thoughts help you make a fresh start for school.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Don't feel bad
For those of you who are looking at your homes, offices and lives and feeling sad and overwhelmed, I just want to say this:
No matter how bad you feel about your lack of organization at any given time, you can't let it define you. Who you are is such a complex thing. You're so many things to so many people. Clutter isn't terminal, it isn't permanent. And it can't erase all that you have to offer.
Your circumstances may be exhausting -- maybe you're a new parent, maybe you have a job that takes the majority of your time and brain space, maybe your house is too big to manage. But none of those things have real power, because at any point, if you don't like what you see, you can make it different.
That's the beauty of human nature. You can choose change. You can set goals and reach them. All of the successes you've had in your life are the result of work to reach a goal. If organization is something you strive for, if your dream is uncluttered space that makes you want to invite the neighborhood over for dinner, then go for it. First you have to have a dream, then one day you wake up and say, "That's it. I'm doing it." Setting short-term goals will get you where you want to go.
Change is hard, but it's also the only doorway to becoming the person you will be in the future. It will happen through sheer will -- or it will happen without you. If you make change on your terms, you will realize how empowering it can be to set your mind on something and make it happen.
So, please. Don't stand before an abyss of clutter and feel bad about yourself. You can look at your desk, under that landfill somewhere, and feel ambivalent, annoyed or disgusted about its current status. But you can't look in the mirror and feel like a failure. Those two things just don't connect. Repeat after me: "This is not the 'me' I am. This is only trash." And trash day comes without fanfare every week.
Don't let it be more important than that.
No matter how bad you feel about your lack of organization at any given time, you can't let it define you. Who you are is such a complex thing. You're so many things to so many people. Clutter isn't terminal, it isn't permanent. And it can't erase all that you have to offer.
Your circumstances may be exhausting -- maybe you're a new parent, maybe you have a job that takes the majority of your time and brain space, maybe your house is too big to manage. But none of those things have real power, because at any point, if you don't like what you see, you can make it different.
That's the beauty of human nature. You can choose change. You can set goals and reach them. All of the successes you've had in your life are the result of work to reach a goal. If organization is something you strive for, if your dream is uncluttered space that makes you want to invite the neighborhood over for dinner, then go for it. First you have to have a dream, then one day you wake up and say, "That's it. I'm doing it." Setting short-term goals will get you where you want to go.
Change is hard, but it's also the only doorway to becoming the person you will be in the future. It will happen through sheer will -- or it will happen without you. If you make change on your terms, you will realize how empowering it can be to set your mind on something and make it happen.
So, please. Don't stand before an abyss of clutter and feel bad about yourself. You can look at your desk, under that landfill somewhere, and feel ambivalent, annoyed or disgusted about its current status. But you can't look in the mirror and feel like a failure. Those two things just don't connect. Repeat after me: "This is not the 'me' I am. This is only trash." And trash day comes without fanfare every week.
Don't let it be more important than that.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Organization is freedom!
(As posted July 2, 2008)
Cue the tin whistle, fife and drum:
Declare your independence from the things that weigh you down!
Now is the perfect time to purge -- old linens, coats and snowsuits from the last two seasons, an entire collection of used CDs that all live happily on your iPod -- clutter that's messing up your mojo.
Why not hold a huge yard sale and make some cash for your trash? Just get some stickers and start the bidding.
And then the clutter is someone else's problem. But let me worry about that ...
Happy Fourth!
Shelagh
Cue the tin whistle, fife and drum:
Declare your independence from the things that weigh you down!
Now is the perfect time to purge -- old linens, coats and snowsuits from the last two seasons, an entire collection of used CDs that all live happily on your iPod -- clutter that's messing up your mojo.
Why not hold a huge yard sale and make some cash for your trash? Just get some stickers and start the bidding.
And then the clutter is someone else's problem. But let me worry about that ...
Happy Fourth!
Shelagh
No more excuses
(As posted June 26, 2008)
OK, so summer's here and you've got nothing but time.
I dare you, right now ... go to the one spot in your house that you hate, pull everything out and throw away half of it.
You won't believe how awesome it feels! We get so caught up in "Oh, I have no time," and "I'll do it when the kids are older," and "I just don't know where to start." Change isn't something you can necessarily wade into. If you are stuck in a rut of any kind in your life, take a barely consequential spot in your home and dig into it! Change! It's motivating and puts in perspective how deeply rooted in unhappiness we can become if we settle for our own excuses.
Getting organized can be the catalyst for positive change in your life. You'll be surprised by what you can accomplish.
Now get on it before it's time to light the grill.
Shelagh
OK, so summer's here and you've got nothing but time.
I dare you, right now ... go to the one spot in your house that you hate, pull everything out and throw away half of it.
You won't believe how awesome it feels! We get so caught up in "Oh, I have no time," and "I'll do it when the kids are older," and "I just don't know where to start." Change isn't something you can necessarily wade into. If you are stuck in a rut of any kind in your life, take a barely consequential spot in your home and dig into it! Change! It's motivating and puts in perspective how deeply rooted in unhappiness we can become if we settle for our own excuses.
Getting organized can be the catalyst for positive change in your life. You'll be surprised by what you can accomplish.
Now get on it before it's time to light the grill.
Shelagh
Organizing is the new black
(As posted May 19, 2008)
Do you know what's "in" this season? Organizing what you have. You know how expensive camp is, which probably puts a bit of a damper on your summer clothing budget, doesn't it? So, get some more fabulous out of what you already own.
Financially, organizing really makes sense. By managing what's currently in your closet, you're more likely to know what you have (a lot), less likely to buy what you don't need (another white t-shirt), and it will be much easier to roll out of bed and hit the beach.
Once the kids are gone to camp, that is.
Shelagh
Do you know what's "in" this season? Organizing what you have. You know how expensive camp is, which probably puts a bit of a damper on your summer clothing budget, doesn't it? So, get some more fabulous out of what you already own.
Financially, organizing really makes sense. By managing what's currently in your closet, you're more likely to know what you have (a lot), less likely to buy what you don't need (another white t-shirt), and it will be much easier to roll out of bed and hit the beach.
Once the kids are gone to camp, that is.
Shelagh
Death and taxes
(As posted April 1, 2008)
The taxman cometh -- can you find all of your receipts?
Here's an idea for all of you who freak out around this time: Make this the year you change your tax process.
Start a folder for all the W-2s and other necessary pre- and post-filing tax documents and label it "Taxes 2007." Clear out a drawer in your filing cabinet (yes, a whole drawer). Keep that folder in there. When your taxes are done and you have your returns, add those to the folder as well.
When you start to get records that will be part of next year's taxes (receipts, bank and retirement account statements, etc.), start a new folder, label it and put it in the drawer, too. When tax time comes again (and unfortunately, it arrives without surprise or apology), you will be prepared.
In the midst of your filing frenzy now, can you imagine how much stress this small change will save you next year? That just might motivate you to get going. Next year's returns are looking better already.
Hope you're getting a big, fat refund!
Shelagh
The taxman cometh -- can you find all of your receipts?
Here's an idea for all of you who freak out around this time: Make this the year you change your tax process.
Start a folder for all the W-2s and other necessary pre- and post-filing tax documents and label it "Taxes 2007." Clear out a drawer in your filing cabinet (yes, a whole drawer). Keep that folder in there. When your taxes are done and you have your returns, add those to the folder as well.
When you start to get records that will be part of next year's taxes (receipts, bank and retirement account statements, etc.), start a new folder, label it and put it in the drawer, too. When tax time comes again (and unfortunately, it arrives without surprise or apology), you will be prepared.
In the midst of your filing frenzy now, can you imagine how much stress this small change will save you next year? That just might motivate you to get going. Next year's returns are looking better already.
Hope you're getting a big, fat refund!
Shelagh
Introducing Clean, Serene & Green
(As posted March 15, 2008)
I'm feeling the green right now -- and not just because St. Patrick's Day is nearly upon us.
I've been busy perfecting a major new system for all of my smart and well-intentioned clients who want to incorporate some reducing, reusing and recycling into their lives. Toward that end, I've created Clean, Serene & Green, a dynamic system that promotes healthy change for people and the environment. It puts in place a simple process that provides relief for organizing obstacles while seriously reducing our environmental footprint.
So how lucky is that?
Shelagh
I'm feeling the green right now -- and not just because St. Patrick's Day is nearly upon us.
I've been busy perfecting a major new system for all of my smart and well-intentioned clients who want to incorporate some reducing, reusing and recycling into their lives. Toward that end, I've created Clean, Serene & Green, a dynamic system that promotes healthy change for people and the environment. It puts in place a simple process that provides relief for organizing obstacles while seriously reducing our environmental footprint.
So how lucky is that?
Shelagh
Who's your Valentine?
(As posted February 13, 2008)
Oh, chocolate and flowers are fine. They are, they're awesome. Jewelry is always an excellent choice, too...
But what if someone could give you what you really want? More time would be so amazing. Time to laugh on the phone with a friend. Time to make a really complicated recipe. Time to read a whole book. (In the tub. By candlelight.)
Now that's true love.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Shelagh
Oh, chocolate and flowers are fine. They are, they're awesome. Jewelry is always an excellent choice, too...
But what if someone could give you what you really want? More time would be so amazing. Time to laugh on the phone with a friend. Time to make a really complicated recipe. Time to read a whole book. (In the tub. By candlelight.)
Now that's true love.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Shelagh
Happy New Year from LT
(As posted January 4, 2008)
Do you have a New Year's resolution yet? Getting organized is always right up there with losing weight and spending more time with family and friends. Though cleaning our closets can't make us thin, it can motivate us to get rid of clothing that makes us feel bad. Organization can also free up a lot of social time, giving us back the six weeks a year that we waste looking for lost items. Are you ready to make a small change or a total transformation? Organization -- at home and at work -- can improve the quality of your life and increase your productivity. All you have to do is decide. Then get started.
Declutter your head, then your home
For anyone who feels overwhelmed at the thought of getting organized -- beset by collections, family heirlooms, outgrown baby clothes -- this is your year. Conquer the chaos and become the fun, free person you really want to be. Purging makes way for new items, attitudes and adventures. Make change a priority in your busy life and you will find that organization's rewards are more free time and less stress. And who wouldn't welcome a year full of that?
Find your inspiration
Once you decide to get organized, you're already on your way. Make a commitment to yourself that you will keep, and enlist the help you need to make it happen. Desire for change tends to wane once the winter doldrums set in, so create a deadline and hit it. Once you realize some of the benefits, small changes in your organizational behavior will become a powerful incentive to keep going.
A Happy New Year wish and thanks to all my fabulous clients!
Shelagh
Do you have a New Year's resolution yet? Getting organized is always right up there with losing weight and spending more time with family and friends. Though cleaning our closets can't make us thin, it can motivate us to get rid of clothing that makes us feel bad. Organization can also free up a lot of social time, giving us back the six weeks a year that we waste looking for lost items. Are you ready to make a small change or a total transformation? Organization -- at home and at work -- can improve the quality of your life and increase your productivity. All you have to do is decide. Then get started.
Declutter your head, then your home
For anyone who feels overwhelmed at the thought of getting organized -- beset by collections, family heirlooms, outgrown baby clothes -- this is your year. Conquer the chaos and become the fun, free person you really want to be. Purging makes way for new items, attitudes and adventures. Make change a priority in your busy life and you will find that organization's rewards are more free time and less stress. And who wouldn't welcome a year full of that?
Find your inspiration
Once you decide to get organized, you're already on your way. Make a commitment to yourself that you will keep, and enlist the help you need to make it happen. Desire for change tends to wane once the winter doldrums set in, so create a deadline and hit it. Once you realize some of the benefits, small changes in your organizational behavior will become a powerful incentive to keep going.
A Happy New Year wish and thanks to all my fabulous clients!
Shelagh
Too much to be thankful for
(As posted October 23, 2007)
Not long from now, you'll be shopping for the makings of a Thanksgiving feast. What a blessing, to gather your loved ones for a wonderful meal. But before they start to descend, you might want to make some room for them.
Check out that guest room: Is it an extension of your closet, cluttered with piles of castaway items? Or is it a welcoming, comfortable space that you're proud to share?
Don't let clutter force you into avoiding houseguests -- throw open those doors! Because once everything has a place, you can relax and enjoy the company.
Shelagh
Not long from now, you'll be shopping for the makings of a Thanksgiving feast. What a blessing, to gather your loved ones for a wonderful meal. But before they start to descend, you might want to make some room for them.
Check out that guest room: Is it an extension of your closet, cluttered with piles of castaway items? Or is it a welcoming, comfortable space that you're proud to share?
Don't let clutter force you into avoiding houseguests -- throw open those doors! Because once everything has a place, you can relax and enjoy the company.
Shelagh
Kids can organize, too
(As posted November 30, 2007)
Children make the most wonderful messes. They enjoy what they're doing so much, they don't even notice. The only bad part is someone has to clean up when the fun's over, and that someone is usually you. Teach them how to manage their belongings and you will give them a skill that will last all their lives.
Playrooms
Let Linear Thoughts provide a thorough purge before holiday season kicks off -- bringing with it, what else? More toys. Once your children (ages 3-10) work with a professional organizer, they'll understand the benefits of having a place for everything. They'll always know where their favorite toys are. They'll enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with creating order, and because they are part of the process, they'll know where everything goes when they're done playing. It will probably surprise you, but children love to sort and clean. Just give them a chance.
Teens & Tweens
Have you all but given up on your son or daughter's room? Do you ever wonder how they find the bed at night? Linear Thoughts works with teens and tweens to get a handle on that hot mess. They don't want to live in a landfill, they just don't know how to fix it. And admitting a parent into their inner domain would so not work. Consider this: Organized spaces can translate into more organized schoolwork and better grades.
Family Rooms
Everyone's belongings end up in family spaces ... your daughter's bookbag, your son's sports equipment, your husband's work files, the shoes you couldn't wait to take off ... that's just the way it goes. If you find yourself hauling stray items from room to room looking for a home, Linear Thoughts will work with you to find places for all that stuff that doesn't belong. Whether you need a mudroom makeover, more usable storage in your living/family room, or a total purge, Linear Thoughts can help. Once you have a place for everything, there will be more space for family in your family spaces.
Edit your life!
Shelagh
Children make the most wonderful messes. They enjoy what they're doing so much, they don't even notice. The only bad part is someone has to clean up when the fun's over, and that someone is usually you. Teach them how to manage their belongings and you will give them a skill that will last all their lives.
Playrooms
Let Linear Thoughts provide a thorough purge before holiday season kicks off -- bringing with it, what else? More toys. Once your children (ages 3-10) work with a professional organizer, they'll understand the benefits of having a place for everything. They'll always know where their favorite toys are. They'll enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with creating order, and because they are part of the process, they'll know where everything goes when they're done playing. It will probably surprise you, but children love to sort and clean. Just give them a chance.
Teens & Tweens
Have you all but given up on your son or daughter's room? Do you ever wonder how they find the bed at night? Linear Thoughts works with teens and tweens to get a handle on that hot mess. They don't want to live in a landfill, they just don't know how to fix it. And admitting a parent into their inner domain would so not work. Consider this: Organized spaces can translate into more organized schoolwork and better grades.
Family Rooms
Everyone's belongings end up in family spaces ... your daughter's bookbag, your son's sports equipment, your husband's work files, the shoes you couldn't wait to take off ... that's just the way it goes. If you find yourself hauling stray items from room to room looking for a home, Linear Thoughts will work with you to find places for all that stuff that doesn't belong. Whether you need a mudroom makeover, more usable storage in your living/family room, or a total purge, Linear Thoughts can help. Once you have a place for everything, there will be more space for family in your family spaces.
Edit your life!
Shelagh
Introducing Linear Thoughts
(As announced October 9, 2007)
Dear friends,
As you might know, I left the newspaper business a little more than a year ago to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. In my experiences, I have come across a great number of clients who are in an overwhelmed state, missing something crucial in their lives -- organization.
It is with this knowledge and inspiration that I announce the opening of Linear Thoughts -- my new organizing consulting firm dedicated to helping others reclaim the time, space and sanity they need and deserve.This 100% confidential service will leverage my priority management, change motivation and interpersonal skills to help clients overcome thier biggest organizing challenges. I will offer a hands-on approach to fun, functional, productive living. I won't simply get you organized, I will keep you organized with resourceful, efficient systems and comprehensive follow-ups to help you better manage and enjoy your unfettered life. Linear Thoughts will drastically reduce your frustration, anxiety and wasted time.
My work at Linear Thoughts is guided by this basic philosophy -- When everything you have is in its rightful place, you have more time to enjoy life. And that's really what it's all about.
My organizing expertise is derived from a decade of work as a manager, copy editor and writer for corporations, newspapers, magazines and e-publications. As a professional organizer, I am committed to discreetly restoring order and calm to my clients' homes and lives. Let's edit your life.
Shelagh Collins
781-632-4313
Dear friends,
As you might know, I left the newspaper business a little more than a year ago to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. In my experiences, I have come across a great number of clients who are in an overwhelmed state, missing something crucial in their lives -- organization.
It is with this knowledge and inspiration that I announce the opening of Linear Thoughts -- my new organizing consulting firm dedicated to helping others reclaim the time, space and sanity they need and deserve.This 100% confidential service will leverage my priority management, change motivation and interpersonal skills to help clients overcome thier biggest organizing challenges. I will offer a hands-on approach to fun, functional, productive living. I won't simply get you organized, I will keep you organized with resourceful, efficient systems and comprehensive follow-ups to help you better manage and enjoy your unfettered life. Linear Thoughts will drastically reduce your frustration, anxiety and wasted time.
My work at Linear Thoughts is guided by this basic philosophy -- When everything you have is in its rightful place, you have more time to enjoy life. And that's really what it's all about.
My organizing expertise is derived from a decade of work as a manager, copy editor and writer for corporations, newspapers, magazines and e-publications. As a professional organizer, I am committed to discreetly restoring order and calm to my clients' homes and lives. Let's edit your life.
Shelagh Collins
781-632-4313
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