Clean Out Your E-Mail Inbox

Clean Out Your E-Mail Inbox

An overflowing e-mail inbox might not make your home look cluttered, or course, but the negative psychological effects can be overwhelming.

Frustrated that you cannot find an email you just know you have because you have just too many in your inbox? As in 20,000 emails? Or more? (I know someone with 88,400 and counting!) You know you should clear them out, but that task seems rather daunting.

Here is a time-saving technique for deleting massive amounts of email, while saving those you want to keep.

First, create a folder and name it something like Save or Keep. If you want to do this like a pro, create multiple folders that you can sort your emails into. (See my previous blog, Overwhelmed by Email? Three Ways to Gain Control for how to do this)

Then do a search and find for senders whose emails you want to keep (your boss, friends, or family). One at a time, move those to your Save folder. Repeat until you have found the messages you want to keep. You can use the Search feature or simply scroll.

Whatever is left in your Inbox then should be e-mails you do not need any more. You can Search and Delete emails from retailers who send you daily or weekly sales notifications. Do likewise with nonprofits, political organizations, and others that regular send you emails and will continue to send you more up-to-date newsletters and notifications.

Deleting these should put a serious dent in your Inbox.

When you feel confident you have saved all the messages you DO want, then you can delete the rest in one large mass.

Another approach is to sort your mail from Oldest to Newest and select the Oldest messages (how many is your call) to delete, on the good odds that email more than 3 years (or 1 year, or 5 years) old is no longer relevant. Just remember, before deleting, move the messages you want to keep into another folder. You can always move them back into your inbox if that is your preference.

Photo: Pixabay

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Seven ‘Housekeeping’ Chores to Perform on Your Mobile Phone Today

Seven ‘Housekeeping’ Chores to Perform on Your Mobile Phone Today

Managing apps on a mobile phone can help improve performance, free up storage space, and make it easier to find and use the apps you need. Here are seven ‘housekeeping’ chores to perform on your mobile phone today to help you achieve such goals:

  1. Organize Home Screen: Group similar apps together in folders. For example, create folders for social media, productivity, photography, and travel. Place frequently used apps on the home screen for quick access. You can even put your favorite apps in a folder on the home screen labeled “Favorites”.
  2. Remove Unused Apps: Regularly review your apps and uninstall those you no longer use. Unused apps take up storage space and may run background processes, affecting performance. Consider using the “App Usage” feature on your phone to identify apps you rarely use.
  3. Update Apps: Keep your apps updated to ensure you have the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. If comfortable, enable automatic updates in your app store settings to save time.
  4. Use Widgets: Customize your home screen with widgets. Widgets provide quick access to app functions without opening the app. Use widgets for weather, calendar events, notes, and more.
  5. Optimize Notifications: Manage app notifications to reduce clutter. Disable notifications for less important apps and customize the types of alerts you receive.
  6. Use App Shortcuts: Take advantage of app shortcuts (available on some Android devices and iOS) to quickly access specific features within an app. Press and hold an app icon to reveal shortcuts or quick actions.
  7. Backup and Sync Settings: Backup app data and settings to your cloud account, if available. This can be useful when switching devices or in case you need to restore your phone. Take advantage of app-specific cloud syncing options for seamless data transfer between devices.

Just as we do regular cleaning in our home, we need to also apply those same cleaning principles to our digital lives. I know, it is one more task to add to our already busy lives, but it will prove useful in the long run.

Photo: Pixabay

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Eleven Creative Storage Solutions

Eleven Creative Storage Solutions

Creative storage solutions can help you keep your belongings organized while also adding aesthetic appeal to your living spaces. Here are eleven creative ways to store belongings:

  1. Floating Shelves: Install floating shelves on walls to display and store items without taking up floor space. Arrange books, plants, or decorative items on them in a way you find attractive.
  2. Hanging Storage: Use wall-mounted hooks, pegs, or hanging organizers to store items like hats, bags, or accessories. Hang a decorative ladder on the wall for storing blankets, scarves, or magazines.
  3. Under-Bed Storage: Take advantage of the space under your bed by using storage bins, drawers, or bed risers. Alternatively, buy a bed with built-in storage drawers.
  4. Multi-Functional Furniture: Choose furniture with built-in storage, such as sofas, ottomans, coffee tables, or benches.
  5. Clever Closet Solutions: Install pull-out or slide-in organizers within closets to maximize space. Use hanging shoe organizers on the back of closet doors for shoes, accessories, or small items.
  6. Repurposed Furniture: Repurpose old furniture, such as vintage trunks, crates, or cabinets, for unique storage solutions. Use an old ladder as a bookshelf or display unit. Use an old dresser in your entryway to store gloves, scarves, and hats in the winter and sunglasses, hats, and suntan lotion in the summer.
  7. Magnetic Wall Storage: Install magnetic strips on walls or inside cabinets to store small metal items like knives, tools, or spice containers. Attach magnetic boards for notes, reminders, and small items.
  8. Pegboard Organization: Install pegboard on walls or the back of closet doors to create customizable storage for tools, craft supplies, or kitchen utensils. Hang baskets, hooks, and shelves on the pegboard for added versatility. Take it a step further by outlining the items, especially tools, so that once the tool is removed and used, one knows exactly where to hang it back.
  9. Curtain Rods with S-Hooks: Install curtain rods in various spaces (kitchen, closet, bathroom) and use S-hooks to hang pots, pans, or other items. Hang scarves, belts, or bags on curtain rods in the closet. Under the kitchen sink is a great place to utilize this. Hang your cleaning bottles on the curtain rod.
  10. Corkboard or Bulletin Board: Use a corkboard or bulletin board to organize and display notes, jewelry, or small items. Attach small containers or pouches to hold pens, keys, or other essentials.
  11. Open Wardrobe Rack: Create an open wardrobe using a clothing rack to display and organize clothes. Add shelves or baskets for shoes and accessories.

The key to effective storage is combining functionality with aesthetics. Applying creativity with practicality can result in storage solutions that enhance both the organization and the visual appeal of your living spaces.

Photo: Pixabay

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Eight Factors Driving the Psychology of Clutter

Eight Factors Driving the Psychology of Clutter

Ever wonder why we clutter? The psychology behind clutter is complex and can vary from person to person, but here are eight factors that contribute to why people accumulate and struggle with clutter:

  1. Attachment and Sentimentality: People often form emotional attachments to objects, associating them with memories, relationships, or significant life events. Letting go of these items may feel like letting go of a part of themselves or their past.
  2. Fear of Waste or Loss: Some individuals have a fear of wasting resources or money, leading them to keep items they no longer need or use in the belief that they might find a use for them in the future. This fear can be rooted in a scarcity mindset.
  3. Decision-Making Challenges: Sorting through possessions and deciding what to keep and what to discard can be mentally taxing. Decision fatigue, perfectionism, or a lack of organizational skills can contribute to the accumulation of clutter.
  4. Procrastination: Procrastination can result from a lack of motivation, feeling overwhelmed, or a tendency to prioritize short-term rewards over long-term benefits.
  5. Consumer Culture: Living in a consumer-driven society can contribute to the accumulation of belongings. Constant exposure to advertisements and societal pressure to acquire more possessions can lead to impulsive buying and the accumulation of unnecessary items.
  6. Stress and Coping Mechanism: Clutter can be a physical manifestation of internal stress or emotional turmoil. Some people use the act of acquiring and holding onto possessions to cope with stress, anxiety, or other emotional challenges.
  7. Perceived Value: Some people may overvalue their possessions, believing that they are more valuable or useful than they are. This overvaluation can make it difficult for them to part with items.
  8. Lack of Time and Energy: Individuals may lack the time and energy required to regularly declutter and organize their living spaces.

Addressing clutter often involves a combination of psychological insights, behavioral changes, and practical strategies. Professional organizers and therapists can be valuable in assisting individuals in understanding and overcoming the psychological barriers associated with clutter.

Photo: Pixabay

 

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Preparing for Un-Decorating This Season

Preparing for Un-Decorating This Season

Have you had enough of your Christmas and holiday decorations yet? Someone I know leaves her Christmas tree up until Valentine’s day, and another, leaves her artificial Christmas tree up all year long. She takes off the ornaments but loves the ambiance of the white lights on the tree throughout the year.

Whenever you begin to dismantle your holiday decorations, take inventory of what you liked and the way you decorated by capturing the room or themed area with a photo. When you put the items away, try to keep them together to make next year’s task an easy, peasy, repeat, and decorate! Do not forget to label your bins after you put the cover on.

Take note of items that you still have boxed up that you did not put out this year. Is it time to let them go? Constantly re-evaluating your items keeps you from overstoring unwanted ones. As you buy or are given new holiday decorations, take stock of what you have, and switch things up, especially if you have grown tired of a certain theme like snowmen or Santas or if you have decided to have minimalistic décor. It is your house; you can do what you want!

Next, make a list of holiday themed items you are running low on such as wrapping paper, gift tags, ribbon, bows, plastic ware, or paper goods. When you are out shopping, you may come across deep discounts on these items. Keep the list handy so that next year you know precisely what you do and do not need to restock if you have not been able to find these items on sale after Christmas.

The year flies by so quickly, and we may not exactly remember the various ways we like to decorate or entertain for the holiday season. Maintaining pictures and lists may just give our memories the boost they need to make next year’s holiday more enjoyable and perhaps even easier on us. Enjoy your last few days of 2023!

Photo: Pixabay

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Organizing Gifts Ideas for the Holidays

Organizing Gifts Ideas for the Holidays

If you are still struggling with finding gift ideas for your family/friends/co-workers, here are a few ideas that will help even the most organized person feel even more organized!

  1. AirTag – I bought a packet of four AirTags prior to my trip to Italy in July. I put one in my checked luggage and one in my anti-theft crossbody bag. The other two I gave to my friend who was traveling with me, and she placed her two in her luggage and crossbody bag. She did not have an iPhone, so I traced our devices along the way. They came in handy when we were waiting and waiting at Logan, after our trip, for our luggage to come out. The same bags kept going round and round and not ours. I used the Find My app to make sure they were indeed at Logan and viola, they were! I know people who use these on their dogs, key rings, and bicycles. Handy to have for lost items. A client even slipped one in a packed box to track the truck as it moved her items from a storage unit in MA to her in FL. She knew exactly when it left and where it was on route.
  2. Cable Cord Box – Who likes looking at a jumble of cords under their desk? This box makes your home office look ten times better with the ability to put a power strip INSIDE the box and run the cables through the slits in the front and one the sides of the box. Since there is a cover, you can even set your phone, watch, or ear buds on of the box with all their charging cords hidden below.
  3. Universal Lid for Pots and Pans – This stainless-steel lid is perfect for two reasons. One is that you do not need to have a separate lid for every pan/pot in your kitchen. Two, if you have lost a lid to your favorite pot, here is your replacement! It fits cookware between 6 inches to 12 inches.
  4. Laptop Bag Set – Need to protect your laptop when in transit? Want to also have a laptop stand? This bag does both! It is stylish and no need to carry a separate laptop stand.
  5. Linen Sheet Organizer – What is the best way to organize your sheet? This product is amazing. It keeps the entire set together, and the best part is that you do not have to properly fold your sheets to store them. Bonus – there is a window that shows you the sheet color and a place for you to label what is inside. This can transform your messy linen closet!

May your holidays be less stressful this year and may this list make the gift recipient feel more organized in 2024!

Photo: Pixabay

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Fed Up with Companies Selling Your Personal Data?

Fed Up with Companies Selling Your Personal Data?

Are you sick and tired of companies selling your personal data? Consumer Reports has developed an app, “Permission Slip,” that reveals the kind of data that companies collect, trade, and sell. With a simple tap in the app, you can tell those companies “Do not sell my data” or “Delete my account.”

All you need to do is enter your information—name, address, email address(es)—into the app and the app will send the necessary documentation to the company.

The app is free, and you do not need to subscribe to Consumer Reports to use it. It is available in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android phones.

How easy is it to use? In less than 10 minutes I made 21 requests, which the app estimates would take 42 hours if I had to navigate each site and make the request manually. How effective is it? Well, the only way to prevent the giants (such as Amazon, Google, Facebook, X) from selling your account is to delete your data and delete your account. So, it’s not perfect, but it’s something.

Photo: Pixabay

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Giving Back

Giving Back

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us our attention turns to the next holidays. While we are still basking in the theme of giving, why not explore ways to give back to your community? Here are a few organizations that are always looking for help.

  1. Food Banks – They are always looking for donated food and funds. The local food bank not only is a resource for providing food assistance to those who need help but also provides assistance in helping people apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which is a nutrition program that gives money for food based on income and household size. They are connected to community food pantries in your area. By starting here, you can connect to a local pantry to then see how you can best help them. My church works with the food pantry in our town, and we are provided wish lists of various needed food. At Christmas time, we collect brand new blankets for them, and they gift these to community families.
  2. Local Animal Shelters – Besides donating money, you can volunteer your time in various ways such as fostering a pet, attending an event, creating a fundraiser, and donating supplies such as cat and dog beds, or toys. As I am working with clients and they have gently used towels or sheets they no longer want, I will take them to a local animal shelter or vet office. I always call ahead as sometimes they do not have the space to store these items. I know what they are looking for, so I do not just dump unwanted items on them.
  3. Council on Aging/Senior Centers – Call your local center to see how you can best serve your community seniors. My local center has two collection bins that accept books in one and clothing in the other. Funds generated by these bins help support the center.
  4. United Service Organizations (USO) – The government does not fund this organization, so they depend on donors. To volunteer, you can go to their website to see if there is a location near you.
  5. Toys for Tots – Who doesn’t love watching a child open a gift? Help by donating a toy to a drop site near you. In my county we can donate from our homes by going to a specific website and all the items ordered get delivered to the local warehouse.

There are many other local organizations that can benefit from any assistance you have to offer. I wanted to focus on national organizations as my readers are from all areas of the United States and beyond.

Photo: Pixabay

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Sharing Your Gratitude for Posterity

Sharing Your Gratitude for Posterity

This Thanksgiving, start a new tradition: the gratitude tablecloth.

Set your table with a plain white tablecloth. Give everyone a Sharpie or other permanent marker. Have all guests write something they are thankful for this year. Do not forget to include the little ones—they will have the cutest comments. Of course, you will need to write it out for them, but, depending on their age, they can write their name or draw a picture. Or you can trace their handprint. Make sure that everyone signs their name and the year.

After the holiday, wash and put the tablecloth away till next year. As the years go by, you will all enjoy reading past years’ comments. And you will cherish the comments from those who have since passed away.

A nice white linen tablecloth paired with a set of markers also makes for a nice wedding gift!

Some people use butcher paper and provide crayons, colored pencils, and markers instead. This method might not stand up to year-to-year reuse, but it is another option.

If you do not want to use the tablecloth as your yearly gratitude vessel, you can also do the same thing by using 3” x 5” index cards. Each year you can review the past years and continue to add to your Thanksgiving tradition as guests change over the years.

Photo: Pixabay

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Let These Apps Stretch Your Shopping Dollars

Let These Apps Stretch Your Shopping Dollars

Nowadays, all of us are experiencing the impact of higher prices. Perhaps we are especially feeling this sad new reality around this time of year with the big holiday season right around the corner. Want to try to save money on your holiday (and year-round) shopping? Check out the following tools that let you compare prices and apply discounts (promo/coupon codes).

Here are some websites/apps you can check out:

RetailMeNot: Receive coupon codes, deals through the app, cash back on purchases with certain retailers. Retailmenot.com

PayPal Honey: Install the browser extension and Honey will search for and apply relevant coupon codes in your shopping cart. joinhoney.com

Rakuten: Install the browser extension for coupon codes and cash back. rakuten.com

CamelCamelCamel: Tracks prices on Amazon, provides price history, and alerts you if a product you’re interested in has a price reduction. camelcamelcamel.com

CNET Browser Extension: Get promo codes, price tracking, comparison pricing, and price drop alerts. cnet.com

Google Shopping: Find sales and special deals, track prices. shopping.google.com

Do not overlook retailers’ websites, Facebook pages, and apps, which might offer special deals and coupons to loyal shoppers and followers.

Photo: Pixabay

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