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Mid-Year Goal Check-In

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Calendars, Goals, Time Management — No Comments ↓

It’s August, and the end of summer is approaching! I’m sure your days have been filled with hanging out at the beach, ice cream dates and other fun summer activities. Soak in every last minute!

With the close of summer, the end of the year is on the horizon – and that means it’s time to check in on your 2017 goals!

Have you reviewed yours lately? Are you on target or have you forgotten what you set out to do this year? It’s not too late to refocus, reboot, and achieve those goals! Here are three tips to help you if you are off track.

  1. Look at your goals each day. Perhaps you had these tucked away in a journal. It’s time to bring them out! Put them in a spot you always look at each morning such as the mirror in your bathroom. By doing this, you start the day with these intentions and can adjust your day to make sure your goals are being met.
  2. Schedule time in your calendar. Planning is key. You can’t expect your goals to be met if you don’t actively plan for them. When someone asks you to do something, look in your calendar to see if you have time. Better yet, ask them if you can get back to them so you have time to think about it. If it fits in with your goals and your schedule, go for it! Don’t feel pressured to answer on the spot.
  3. Be realistic. This is the most important of the tips! Since it is August, it is better to readjust your goals to make you feel successful at year-end. You are in charge so don’t feel bad or guilty about altering your original goals. After all, a little progress is better than no progress at all!

What advice do you have to help others stay on top of their goals?

Photo: Bekah Bee

We’re Loving – USPS Informed Delivery Service

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Mail, Travel — No Comments ↓

Summer means vacation time for many Americans. Often, this means weeks of uninterrupted relaxation and time with family and friends. In today’s digital world, we can largely stay up-to-date on correspondence via email, but what about snail mail? Many of us, including me, still depend on the United States Postal Service.

Will you be traveling this summer and expecting an important piece of mail? If so, there is a new service for you called USPS Informed Delivery Service! The United States Postal Service has been photographing our mail for years. With this new service, you can now view what mail parcels are being delivered to your physical mailbox. This is certainly advantageous for those who travel a lot or want to be sure they are getting the mail they expect.

This is a free service, all you have to do it sign up on their website. It is now available in most zip codes. Just enter your zip code to see if you are eligible. If so, once enrolled, you will receive an email each morning with images of what you can expect in your actual mailbox each day. Currently the system only works for letter size mail but they hope to add flat size pieces like catalogs and magazines in the future. How cool is this?

Photo: USPS

PURGE! Cleaning Out Your Bedroom Closet

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Bedroom, Closet — No Comments ↓

The closet, whether a huge walk-in or a tiny apartment closet, can be the holder of everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. It’s the go-to place when folks are looking to hide an item that they can’t get rid of, but they don’t want showcased in the home. Cleaning out the closet is not the most exciting task in the world; however, the benefits outweigh the burden of doing this.

I recently moved and settled into my new home. The move was a rush due to circumstances out of my control. My bedroom closet was never fully settled and I really avoided using it. The closet just felt like a dumping ground and there was no order to the space. I finally took the time this past month to reclaim the closet and make it my own. Now, I’m happy when I enter the closet! Below are tips to make the process easier to tackle.

  1. Break Down the Process – Break the project into chunks of time. We all lead busy lives, and it may be hard to devote an entire day or weekend to the task. Plus, this project takes time, and you want to dedicate enough time to do it completely.
  2. Think about Your Clothes – Take out your hanging clothes. Yes, it can be a messy task but it’s best to take all of them out. (If you have way too many hanging clothes, try to do it by categories like all of your pants or tops.) Then, evaluate what you currently own.
  3. Try on Your Clothes – Again, not the most exciting task, but it’s time to be honest with yourself. We all have clothes hanging in our closet that, for whatever reason, we can’t purge. Whether the piece of clothing holds a memory, or you desire to fit into that item one day, all it is doing is taking up precious space in your closet and your mind. Time to let it go!
  4. Say Goodbye to Tattered Items – Now is the time to let go of the items that are torn, stained, or just not flattering.
  5. Organize Your Clothes – After you tackle these first four steps, you’re ready for your remaining items to reenter the closet. You may want to put your clothes back by category, or take it a step further and organize by color. Choose whatever organizational method makes you happy or helps you more easily get dressed.
  6. Shoo the Shoes – These can take up a lot of space. Do they fit and are they comfortable to wear? Get rid of old scuffed up shoes and shoes you haven’t worn in a few seasons.
  7. Purge the Purses – Purses can hold sentimental value. I wore this clutch to my best friend’s wedding. My husband got this for me for my wedding anniversary. Evaluate which ones you use and like. Donate the others.
  8. Sort Through Everything else – What other categories of items are in your bedroom closet? If you store your jewelry or hats in your closet, do the same thing by looking at each item and making a decision. If you have random items or misfits that don’t belong in your closet, create a pile and find its proper home, or simply let it go.

Trust me, when it is all done, you will be elated and your bonus will be time saved each time you need to get ready to leave your house. What item did you find in your closet that you simply forgot about? Share in the comments!

Images: The Container Store

Tip Tuesday: Moving this Summer? 5 Ways to Declutter and Downsize Your Stuff

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Downsizing, Moving, Summer — No Comments ↓

We’re smack dab in the middle of summer. Yes, this means it’s beach season. But it also means it’s moving season. The real estate market is in full swing, and there’s a chance you’re in the middle of a big summer move.

 

Moving can be stressful, but I look at it as a wonderful opportunity to pare down possessions. I’ve helped many clients prepare for a move, both locally and across country. Decluttering and downsizing seem like an overwhelming task to tackle along with all the other details surrounding a move, but it can be done. Here are 5 ways to help you downsize and declutter your stuff.

  1. Have a Plan – Select a date for when you want to be finished, and work backward from there. You may have to move out of your home by a certain date, and if you know that great. If not, put a date on the calendar. Knowing your end date will keep you on track and motivated. In addition to your finish date, put in your calendar the blocks of time you will devote to decluttering and stick to it.
  2. Schedule Charitable Donations – Schedule a few dates now for a charity to come pick up your items. Again, having these dates and a goal in mind will encourage you to let items go, knowing they will be picked up and go to a new home.
  3. Sell What You Don’t Need – If you have time and really want to hold a yard sale, summer is a great time to do it. If it will stress you out, don’t do it! Charities are a good fallback to offload useable items. You could also see if one of your older children would enjoy posting and selling items on Craigslist with the incentive of them keeping a portion of the proceeds. Caution, this is time consuming and may not yield you a lot of money.
  4. Know the Room Size – No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to fit a nine-room house into a four-room condo. Select your favorite pieces. Then decide if there is a family member interested in the pieces you don’t want or plan on donating/selling those items that you won’t be taking.
  5. Be Honest with Yourself – Now is the time to be brutally honest with yourself on what items you really love and use. You can always take a photo of an item that you cherish but just won’t fit into your new space. Don’t move items just for the sake of sentimental value. You will end up regretting the decision and your new space will be overrun with nonfunctional pieces.

Downsizing and decluttering are not an easy task, but in the end you will feel lighter and be able to enjoy your new home!

Image: Real Simple

Happy 4th of July!

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in 4th of July — No Comments ↓

 

Wishing you all a happy, safe, and awesome 4th of July! Let the celebration begin!

Photo: Huffington Post

Start Planning your Winter Vacation NOW

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Budget, Calendars, Children, Family, Finances, Summer — No Comments ↓

The sun has been shining, and it has been hot around New England. By now, you should have a bit of color on your skin, and a sufficient amount of vitamin D. As you’re enjoying these beautiful summer vibes, you should also think about winter. Okay, not the snow and cold, but your winter vacation. Remember, planning ahead and organizing your calendar is key to saving money and actually scheduling something fun for the family. If you have kids in school, there is only one winter vacation week, and if you don’t book flights and hotels now, you risk losing out on a nice, affordable vacation.

Below are four tips to consider when planning your next winter vacation.

  1. Think Budget – This first question to ask yourself is, “Do we have the funds?” Don’t go into debt or further debt just because you think you must go somewhere. If the budget is tight this time, there are plenty of day excursions you could explore in your own back yard. This type of vacation will save you money on flights and hotels and yet it will still feel great to get out of your routine and explore new places.
  2. Ask the Family – Where do you want to vacation? The goal is for your family vacation to be a time to bond and have fun. Talk to your family to see what everyone would like to do! Do you want to head north to enjoy the snow, or escape the cold down south? If your family is torn into two camps, flip a coin and plan to do the other vacation the following winter.
  3. Consider Timing – If you don’t have children or they aren’t in school yet, consider traveling during any winter weeks. This will save you money, and most likely hotels and flights will be less booked. If this is something you can’t avoid, consider flying out on odd days. For example, most families will fly out on the Friday or Saturday following the end of the school week. Opt for a Sunday travel day, and return a day earlier to combat the crowds.
  4. Book Early – Once there is the consensus on where, it’s time to book. Set up a price alert on kayak.com to get a feel for hotel and airfare costs. Airlines like Jet Blue also have great hotel/flight/rental car package deals.

Once you have the date in the calendar, and you’ve booked the big ticket items, it’s time to start saving for your food and activity budget. Nothing is more stressful than overspending and regretting the vacation after the fact. After all, vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing.

What are some of your go-to vacation planning tips?

Photo: Sarah Jayne Photography

PURGE! What to Get Rid of at the End of the School Year

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Children, Family, Summer — No Comments ↓

I know, I know. You blink, and all of a sudden school is out for the summer. The saying is true, “The days are long, but the years are so short.”

Yes, the years are certainly short, but you know what is shorter? The amount of time left you have to prep for summer! It’s time to start organizing the mounds of items from the past school year. What do you do with all your children’s school papers and art projects? What should you get rid of at the end of the school year?

I know most parents, especially the moms, agonize over this decision. Perhaps they are traumatized from their own childhood where their mom threw out all their papers, or worse, their mom kept every single piece of paper that was created. Like anything in life, you need to strike a balance. Below are three tips to consider as you’re organizing your child’s school items.

  1. Keep Only What’s Creative – There has to be a happy medium, right? In working with moms during this time of year, the best advise I can offer is IF you have to keep any of your child’s work, make sure it is creative. Don’t keep the math worksheets or spelling words, as that doesn’t show their individualism or creativity.
  2. Go Through Items with Your Child – The best plan is to go through the papers with your child and see what they want to keep. If you think this is an overwhelming task for them, edit the pile before sitting down with them. Have a number in mind for how many you want to keep and make sure it doesn’t exceed a small storage container.
  3. Purge as You Go – Instead of waiting until you gather a year’s worth of school projects, take the time each month to purge as you go. By doing this, you are not left with this daunting task at a time when everyone wants to put the school year behind him or her and enjoy summer.

Sentimental items like kids’ artwork is always more difficult to purge. Remember, it can feel good to get rid of that lingering pile of paper, but make sure to save a few mementos from each year. It is always nice to look through their work and see the development over the years. After all, the years are so short.

Photo: Design Improvised

Happy Memorial Day!

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Memorial Day — No Comments ↓

For some of you, this is the unofficial summer kick-off. Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971 to honor men and women who died while serving the United States. Spend time today at your town parade or visiting a cemetery where your loved ones who have served are buried. Remember the sacrifices they made for us. God bless America!

Photo: Pixabay

Do or Don’t – Hiring a cleaning service

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Cleaning, Family, Finances — No Comments ↓

Cleaning can take a large chunk of time from your week, and if you’re busy with work or kids, it can seem near impossible to stay on top of everything. We all feel so much better when the house is clean, but is it worth your time and energy to do it yourself or should you hire a cleaning service?

Here are four things to consider before deciding to hire a cleaning service:

  1. Cost – Examine your budget and do the math. How much do you make an hour and how long does it take to clean your house? If the math comes out in your favor, then it is a no-brainer to hire someone to clean. If it is going to cost you more than you are comfortable paying, and you really want someone else to do it, what can you give up so it doesn’t break your budget? Also, look at the opportunity cost. If you are spending 6 hours a week cleaning, when you could be spending that time with your kids or on your business, it might be a worthy investment.
  2. Stress – Do you have the time it will take to clean your house so you can really relax and feel comfortable having people in your home? It may be worth the money and reduce your stress level to have someone clean your house. You can also choose to hire someone to do the deep cleaning once a month to save your sanity. You may love it so much that you hire them to come at least once a month!
  3. Your Habits – Every person I know does a cleanup before the cleaning crew comes. If your floors are covered in clutter, a cleaning crew will spend more time picking up after you than cleaning what they need. If you are really time strapped and can’t pre-clean for the cleaner, then you may have to either readjust what they clean or do the cleaning yourself.
  4. Your Comfort Level – Are you ok with having strangers in your home cleaning while you are either in the house or away? You need to feel comfortable in your decision to have others touching your items. Some people are not ok with this and you need to consider how that will feel before picking up the phone. It is also wise to hire a housecleaner based on references. This can help with your comfort level!

Have you hired a cleaning service? If so, what advice do you have for others exploring this option!

Photo: Kaboom Pics

Ramping up for the “Busy” Summer Months

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Summer — No Comments ↓

Truth be told, I don’t have a “busy” season. I work 12 months out of the year helping people organize their homes and businesses. After being in business for 20 years, I have never been able to guess which season will be busy or slow.

That said this is the time of year when many of my clients are trying to get organized before their children are home for summer break. They realize their days are numbered before they have their kids full time. Additionally, clients with summer homes are trying to sneak in various organizing projects before they head out for the summer.

This time of year, clients are getting ready for the summer. In August, they’re prepping for back to school season. In September, clients are getting ready for the holidays. It’s a year-round gig! I always tell people that it depends on the person at the other end of my phone as to what project I will be working on and how long the project will take me.

The scope of work always varies as well. Most people think that I only work with people who are disorganized. While this can be true, it’s not always the case. I can help people who are downsizing their homes, looking to move across the country, or even having a baby. It’s important for people to know that I’m here for proactive organization, in addition to those who are buried in clutter.

Are you looking to get organized? I can certainly help you proactively – or reactively – get your life and home in order.

Photo: Kaboom Pics

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