paper

Storing wrapping paper

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

wrapping paper storage

Wrapping paper is one of those things that challenging to store. There are gadgets you can buy, such as bags specially designed for storing wrapping paper, but they hold only so much. And where are you going to put it, especially when storage space is at a premium? Well, fear not, dear readers, I have just come across the most ingenious solution ever.

Store your wrapping paper in the ceiling of your closet. If you haven’t got one of them, then maybe a broom cupboard might do or a utility room. Anywhere where there is ceiling space that doesn’t get seen very often.

The website, filled with many other amazing ideas is lovelyish.com and here are the two blog posts that show really, really cool organising ideas – the one with the wrapping paper is in the 2nd link.

Why didn’t I think of that? 9 ways to organize your life and 14 more simple organization ideas. Click and enjoy!

Posted in paper, storage, Ultimate Blog Challenge | No Comments »

My 3 favourite organising tools

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

Butler Bag Inside

People often ask me “what are your favourite organising tools” and expect me to come up with some cool techno gadget. But even though I love gadgets, when it comes to organising, I love the basics. They simply work best for me. So here are my top 3, in no particular order:

1. Pen and Paper

Yes, I know, that’s 2 things, but they go together. When it comes to making lists, nothing beats pen and paper for me (although pencils are pretty cool, too). There is something about writing by hand on paper that makes what I write down stick in my head much better than typing it out on a computer or using a smartphone. I find typing on a smartphone more than annoying, I only use it for diary entries on the go.

If I could make paper send me reminders, like my Outlook calendar does, I would revert back to a paper diary. I love the tactile quality and the elegant beauty of “real” diaries/planners.

Paper is also great for mind mapping. Even the best software can’t get close.

2. Online-stopwatch.com

One of the most useful tools to keep track of yourself while online. It’s a tool that can either track how much time you spend on a task or site and it can also count-down if you have set yourself a time limit. Great for staying on track with social media!

You can choose from fun options, such as an egg-timer or a bomb that explodes when it gets to zero. And make sure you have your sound up, so that you can hear the alarm go off at the end of the timer! Or choose the cash clock, that works out how much money you’ve earned so far.

3. My Butler Bag

I know that’s a girly item (sorry guys), but I was so impressed with this handbag that I started selling them. It has built-in rigid compartments that keep even small items upright and this makes finding things in your handbag so much easier. No more missed calls because you can’t find your mobile. No more getting drenched in the rain because you can’t find your key. Everything is at your fingertips. This bag is so worth every penny!

If you’re in the UK, check out my range of Butler bags. If you’re in the US, go directly to the Butler Bag website. Other countries, please check the US Butler Bag site for distributors.

So that’s it, my 3 favourite tools to get organised. What do you use to stay organised? Please comment.

 

 

Posted in Butler Bags, diary, organisation, paper, social media, Ultimate Blog Challenge | No Comments »

How to organise your office

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

It wasn’t the first time I have come across this statistic and it shocks me every time. We only use about 20% of our stuff. That means 80% of all we own is stored, piled and unused – therefore clutter.

In this video Los Angeles Professional Organizer John Trosko shows how you can easily organise your office, in this particular case a home office. The video is from 2007 so a little bit grainy but the content is still as valid as ever.

Why don’t you post a comment and let me know what you think? What are your office organisation challenges?

 

Posted in clutter, organisation, paper, Ultimate Blog Challenge | No Comments »

Tuesday’s Tip – Clutter Entertainment

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

I found this great little video on YouTube that I would like to share with you today. It’s a clip by American comedienne Lois Morton named: Confessions of a Clutterholic.

Enjoy!

Posted in clutter, labels, paper | No Comments »

Piling or Filing

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Many people have piles on their desks. And for some of them these piles actually work. Some people are very visual and want to leave everything out in sight that they are working on because they are worried they’ll forget it if it’s files away. One problem of those piles is that they take up a lot of space. Another one is that no-one but you will know where anything is. Co-workers have virtually no chance of finding anything on a piler’s desk.

There are a few practical solutions that save space and will make it easy to at least identify which pile holds what.

Using filing trays is one option. The ones that are stackable and are usually used as in-trays. Simply divide all your piles out into your different projects, then assign one tray per project and also label the tray.

If your projects are very paper intensive and would take up more than one tray, you can either divide your project logically into two trays (i.e. one for active documents, one for background literature) or you could use a literature sorter which can hold a lot more.

Getting your paper organised will help you save time finding things which you can use on actually working on your projects rather than looking for relevant documents.

Posted in desk, filing, labels, paper, time saving | No Comments »

Tuesday’s Tip – Think on Paper

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Whenever you are planning your day or thinking through your goals, do it on paper. It makes your thinking sharper and more focused.

A written To-Do List is more likely to get done. A written goal is more likely to get achieved.

With written lists you also have the satisfaction of ticking things off once you achieve them, making you feel more successful, like a winner.

Writing things down also helps you prioritise since you see in front of you all the things that need to be done. It makes you a better planner and helps getting things done.

Posted in getting things done, organisation, paper, planning, priorities, time management, to-do list | No Comments »

Declutter your Head

Friday, September 26th, 2008

For my first blog I would like to share with you some thoughts on decluttering. Most people associate with it a big clear-out, getting rid of stuff. But you can not only get rid of physical clutter but also mental clutter. Here are 3 top tips on how to free your mind.

  1. Get it down on paper
    Many of us are still trying to juggle diaries, to do lists, important dates, etc. in our heads. And we they beat ourselves up when we forget something. In these hectic and stressful times we should be kind to ourselves and give our brains a break. Put things on paper. Note important appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, schedules on a wall calender, a pocket calender or into the computer using one of the many available diary software programmes like MS Outlook. Use an attractive notebook for your To-Do-Lists. And write your shopping list down instead of going to the shops only to come back without the most essential items that you went out for.
  2. Shorten your To-Do List
    You are the only one that has control over your time. You decide what is important and what is not. And you are the one who has to say No if you are overwhelmed with things to do. Nobody else will do that for you, they are only too happy to add items to your list. There are only 24 hours in one day, and some of those you need to rest. Decide which items on your To-do List can either wait, be delegated to someone else or scrapped altogether. You will be amazed how freeing this experience can be.
  3. “Don’t cry over spilt milk”
    Most things that we get annoyed about are not really a big deal. Someone cuts in front of us on the road, we drop something, we spill some coffee on our outfit just before leaving the house – so what? It is up to us whether these things will spoil our whole day or just aggravate us for a few minutes. Of course you will be annoyed, maybe even angry but then let it go and decide not to let it bother you. It is up to you to let the rest of the day be a good one.

Posted in declutter, mind clutter, organisation, paper, to-do list | No Comments »

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