Blog – Page 32 – ReSolutions – The link to your organized future

Tip Tuesday: 5 Tips to Organizing Electronics Cords

Posted on January 19, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Electronics, Office — No Comments ↓

Living in the digital age has certainly made our lives easier, and more efficient. But there is one pesky, unattractive thing that technology brings – cords! Perhaps you received another electronic device over the holidays, and your spider web of wires has grown. Or maybe you are just sick of looking at the web of wires under your desk. The good news is that there are organization solutions for those cords! Below are my favorite organization products for taming those wires under your desk.

Binder clips – Who says organizing products have to be expensive? I love this affordable way to solve the issue of cables falling behind your desk. If you have devices like an external hard drive that require a USB cable, and you are constantly unplugging and plugging it in, this will save you from clumsily reaching your arm behind the desk and praying you find the right cord.

Tangle free cable organizer – If you prefer not to adhere an item to the back of your desk, use these as an alternative. There is a slot to slide your USB connector and also grooved space on the base to allow you to wrap your cord nice and tight.

Black box cable hub – Say goodbye to tangled cords! This black hub keeps your cable cords concealed and even hides your power strip.

Cord control – Have you ever looked behind your desk or entertainment unit to find a layer of dust on your cords? So now you have unsightly cable cords, as well as dust! This organization product for cords and cables streamlines and conceals your cords in a tube and also keeps them dust free. This is a win-win!

Cable twisters – I’m twisting and shouting for joy with these cable twisters. Not only are they fun, but also they can hold multiple cables and cords together. They come in white, black or a pack of 3 assorted colors, and you can use them to color code different types of cord groups to make disconnecting computer devices quick and easy.

As we sink further into the new year, challenge yourself to organize those cable cords. Do you have a great tip for taming your electronics cords? If so, please share them in the comments below!

Photo: Hen House

Book Club: 3 Organization Books to Start off Your Year

Posted on January 13, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Books — No Comments ↓

So much knowledge and inspiration can be found in a good book. Taking the time to break away from the noise and bustle, and sink into a book, can clear your mind and motivate you! This is the precise reason we’re starting a new blog series called ‘Book Club’. In this series I’m going to share my favorite books about organization and more!

In the first Book Club blog post of the year, I’m going to focus on my favorite topic – organization! As a Boston professional organizer, these are some of my favorite organization books to help achieve your goals get organized in 2016.

The Organizing Sourcebook – Author Kathy Waddill pinpoints nine organizing principals to help you simplify and organize. She uses real life stories and highlights the fact that you can be reasonably organized without having to feel the need to compare yourself to others. This book provides insights on managing time, decreasing stress, and dealing with cultural, personal, and emotional change.

Organizing from the Inside Out – Julie Morgenstern’s approach to getting organized is to know yourself and use your personal strengths – and weaknesses! – when starting to get organized. She has a basic 3-step system – Analyze, Strategize, Attack- that can be applied to any space or situation!

Organizing Paper @ Home: What to Toss and How to Find the Rest – Paper, paper, paper! Yes, I’m sure you have stacks of paper hanging around! Remember how they keep telling us we are becoming a paperless society? Yes, we are receiving less and less papers in our digital world but we still have some important papers that need to be addressed in our lives. Author Barbara Hemphill helps navigate the world of reducing your paper load, while also advising on what paper you actually need to keep around. This alone can reduce clutter, and truly help your home and office organization!

That wraps up this month’s Book Club. Do you want book recommendations for a certain topic or problem area? If so, comment below or send me an email!

Photo: Lifehack.org

Welcoming in 2016 – Happy Organized New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Goals, Holidays — No Comments ↓

Welcoming in 2016 – happy new year! Today is the day. Let’s all start 2016 with a bang – refresh your mind, reinvigorate your soul and relinquish any negativity from the past year. I’m wishing you and yours a productive, happy, and organized new year! Rest up today and let’s hit the ground running tomorrow!

Photo: Saffron Avenue

Tip Tuesday: Struggling to Develop Your Goals? 3 Tips to Get You Started

Posted on December 29, 2015 by

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

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, and was able to soak in every last moment of the season. Now that the glitter from the holiday gifts has settled, it’s time to start thinking about your 2016 goals. Last year, I shared some “dos” and “don’ts” for creating your annual goals. Be sure to re-read this blog post before diving into this year’s tips!

It can be challenging to think through realistic goals for your life. It requires time, and introspection. Don’t create your goals without giving them proper thought! As you’re starting to brainstorm, here are some goal setting tips to get you started.

Create a vision board. To get to the heart of a goal, start out by creating a vision board that represents what you want to achieve now and in the future. Once you see that greater vision, plan how to achieve that vision on a daily, monthly or yearly basis. This is where your smaller, annual goals come to life! Throughout the year, as you go about your goals, be sure to go back to your vision board to ensure your actions are aligning with your greater goals.

Write down your goals. I’ve said this time and time again, put your goals on paper! Studies have shown that people who write down their goals, and review them frequently, are more successful in achieving their goals. After you write down your goals, be sure to schedule quarterly goal check-ins.

Commit to 30 days. Start small, and work your way up! Break down your goal into manageable parts, and schedule the time to work on them in your calendar. Sometimes it can be easy to hit “delete” to that standing appointment, but this will only set you off track. The more consistent you are in the beginning of starting something new, the more likely you are to continue. By committing to the time you have put in your calendar, this action will slowly become a habit.

I wish you the best of luck in creating your annuals goals. As a Boston professional organizer, I’m here throughout the year if you need any advice. Happy (almost) 2016!

Photo: Serendipite Designs

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Christmas, Holidays — No Comments ↓

On this Christmas day, take a step back from your busy lives and enjoy time with loved ones. There’s always tomorrow… Merry Christmas!

Photo: Boston Discovery Guide

3 Things to Do NOW to Gain Sanity During the Holidays

Posted on December 16, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Holidays, Stress — No Comments ↓

As a Boston professional organizer, I’ve seen how hard it is for my clients to make time for themselves during the holidays. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and lose sight of the holiday spirit. Give yourself some much needed TLC by scheduling in a little time for YOU this holiday season.

Take a Walk – A daily walk can help clear your mind, and sooth your body. Even though the weather is colder, take a walk and take in that fresh air! Simple breathing can work wonders for your peace of mind. Walk around your neighborhood, or if you live near an urban area, walk around to take in the holiday dé

Schedule a Massage – Just when you think you can’t take another moment of holiday shopping or planning, pick up the phone and treat yourself to a massage. Schedule the massage on a day that’s completely free of holiday to-dos so you can make the most of your relaxation. After the tension has been released, and your stress has been reduced, you’ll be ready to finish the holiday marathon, and enjoy the finals days of the holiday season.

Go to the Library or Bookstore – Sometimes we just need to get away. Now, a vacation would be nice, but right now we’ll have to settle for a local escape. Head to your local library, or quiet bookstore, and sink into a good book. Try a holiday-themed book like Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Stroll, or find yourself in a tropical paradise with a summer beach read. If you can’t seem to get into a book, try reading a magazine.

Maintaining a stress-free life is a daily practice. Once the stress and anxiety snowballs out of control, it can be hard to reset. Try to wake up each morning and set a positive intention. By doing this you’ll minimize your stress, and be on your way to a happier holiday season.

Photo: prevention.com

5 Gifts for Neat Freaks

Posted on December 10, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Gifts, Holidays — No Comments ↓

The gift lists are out, and the shopping has commenced. Chanukah has started and there are only 15 days remaining until Christmas. It’s time to start checking those gifts off your lists. Now, what do you get the person who is a self-proclaimed neat freak? Well, I have a few suggestions for you. Hey, it takes one, to know one, right?

Reusable Labels – You can never have too many labels. I love these reusable labels. You can easily rename the label without having to create a new one, and they are removable and reusable. These also make great stocking stuffers!

Clear Storage Bins – Colored storage bins are oh-so festive. Hey, it’s fun to coordinate with the holidays and get them in your favorite colors! But unfortunately, with colored storage bins you can’t see what’s inside. That’s why I always opt for clear storage bins. You can see how much room you have, and can easily add more items.

Drawer Dividers – Every drawer needs a divider to ensure proper organization. Drawer dividers keep everything in place, and makes items much easier to find. Opt to use drawer dividers in junk drawers, or in deep kitchen drawers to organize objects like Tupperware or pots.

Car organizers – Is your car organized? The likely answer is no. A person’s vehicle tends to be the least organized part of their lives. The one way to keep those cars and trunks organized is to get a car organizer. I use collapsible storage bins to hold essentials like windshield wiper fluid, a flashlight and other emergency preparedness items. I also keep one in my car to prevent grocers from sliding around! You can also use car organizers to store kids’ toys, blankets and sporting essentials.

Battery organizer – Need I say more? It’s wonderful to be able to look in a drawer and find the size battery and quantity you need. This battery organizer by Range Kleen is a good buy. Ah, heaven.

Photo: The Container Store

3 Things to PURGE Before the Holidays

Posted on November 30, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Children, Holidays, Kitchen — No Comments ↓

During the holiday season you will inevitably see an influx of items around the home. You’ll receive gifts, food, wine…all wonderful things! What’s the saying, out with the old, in with the new? Yes, you should hold onto this mantra and purge these items from your home to clean up the clutter!

Holiday related items – As you are going through and decorating your home, look through your holiday decor and evaluate what you haven’t used in years. Why keep those items just to take up precious space when you don’t use them? Let them go. These items can be donated and ultimately another family would find use for them in their home.

Food – Holidays will be a busy cooking time. Make sure you have plenty of room in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. Purge old spices, expired dressings or condiments, and old liquor or wine. Take inventory of what you have and try to use those items up to make room for the extra items one tends to have around the holidays. Also, if you have canned or boxed food you haven’t used and are nearing their expiration date, these can be donated to the local food bank.

Toys – If you have children, please take the time to have them go through their toys. If they have toys on their list, have your kids let go of unused/outgrown toys so they can allow space for new ones to come into their lives. Also, let your kids know that their toys will be donated to other kids, and they will ultimately be making another child’s life happier during the holiday season.

Photo source: Pretty Providence

What you Need to Know When Buying an Antique Home

Posted on November 27, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Antique Homes, Closet, Kitchen, Moving — No Comments ↓

Thanks to our guest blogger, Tom Matthews from Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty. Tom and his teammate Joanne Taranto assist a wide selection of homebuyers and sellers in the Lincoln, Carlisle, Acton and Concord real estate markets.

Sometimes the best new home is not new at all. Many buyers fall in love with the history and character of antique homes. The Concord area offers many classic examples of New England architecture that simply cannot be replicated in new construction. While there’s a certain charm to living in an antique colonial, there are also some important things to take into consideration if you are looking into purchasing an antique home. Paying attention to a few of these details will ensure that you know what you are getting into before you make your purchase and that an older home is right for you.

They don’t build them like they used to.

Wide-planked wood floors, dovetailed joints, hand-scraped wooden beams, architectural molding, cast iron pipes, knob and tube plumbing, and older heating and cooling systems all contribute to the unique charm of an antique home and sometimes present challenges. Keep in mind that older homes can occasionally come with challenges brought on by older construction.

If you are considering an antique home it is important to have a very thorough home inspection to make sure that there are no surprises that may pop up after closing. This will ensure you know as much about any potential problems or additional expenses before you’re committed.

Neighborhoods don’t happen overnight.

While you can definitely find a developer who really pays attention to charm and character when building new homes, it’s important to remember that new construction is just that, new construction. If you love 100-year-old oak trees or well-established neighborhoods you are not going to be able to find that in a brand new development. Make sure you weigh the benefits of having a brand new home with the potential downfalls.

To remodel, or not to remodel?

That is the question. The current trends in home design include large, open floor plans, big bathrooms, and plenty of big closets. With some exceptions, you are not going to find this in the design styles of older homes unless a previous owner has gone through the remodeling process. Older homes tend to have smaller bathrooms and bedrooms and less storage than newer homes while offering large living, dining and kitchen areas.

If you plan to go through the remodeling process yourself to update your new antique home, make sure you check with your city, county, or historical society. Certain historic areas and some specific homes may have requirements on what you can and cannot do when updating.

Homeowner’s insurance and other hidden costs.

Last, but certainly not least, make sure you factor in the price to insure your new old home. Some home insurance companies will charge higher rates on antique homes.

One final bit of advice is to pay attention to your furniture and appliances before you decide to move them in. Older homes were built for smaller furniture and appliances. You don’t want to find yourself with a refrigerator that won’t fit through your door on moving day!

There are many reasons to buy an antique home. Older homes have history and character that you do not normally find today. It’s important to understand that with that history and character come possible complications. By being thorough and having a solid understanding of what you are getting yourself and your family into can make sure that there are no surprises down the road that might interfere with your enjoyment of your new (to you) home!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 26, 2015 by

Dawn Link Posted in Holidays, Thanksgiving — No Comments ↓

Giving thanks and counting all the ways you’re grateful can be a challenging task amidst the holiday chaos. Before or after you feast with friends and family, take some time to think about what or who you’re grateful for this year. This will open your heart even more, and make for a very fulfilling Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Photo source: Catch My Party