The Spark! Blog by Suzanna Kaye
Your Work At Home Office
Right now we're in the middle of STAYING HOME. It's been game changing for many and we received an email from our friends at RedFin asking if we'd seen their tips for a home office.
Working from home has become pretty common, however, more people are working remotely than ever before because of COVID-19 (myself included). Over these last few weeks I’ve realized how important having the right home office set up is for staying productive -- it’s been so much easier to focus with a clean and tidy space.
That’s why I highlight using a cleaning or organizing service in my new article, “5 Essential Home Office Design Tips for Working Remotely.”
You can see the full post here: https://www.redfin.com/blog/
home-office-design-tips/
Their tips are good: 1. Use Feng Shui, 2. Add life with plants, 3.Use Natural Light, 4. Choose good furniture, 5. Maintain your space.
I'd like to add some Spark! Organizing bonus tips that work...
How to Identify Your Priorities
By Suzanna Kaye
Goals and values
5 years
top 3 closest, fastest.... You're familiar with these ideas.
Most of us are confident we could be amazing if we could just finish..... whatever it was that was so super important. However, just as many of us struggle with prioritizing what needs to be done and when. Ending up with nothing done because we never got started or we simply never finished.
Often times we start with what we believe is going to be doable instead of the thing that ultimately matters the most to our goals. I can't tell you how many times I've started the laundry but managed to completely forget that I needed to stay on top of that task. Clothes that were very important to a good next day were, as I'm sure you can imagine, neglected. Yet, I couldn't quite stay focused on that goal.
It's a simple example that proves even when we understand the need we don't always do what needs to be done most.
Yet, we do understand that we need to set priorities....
How to Create a Simple Bullet Journal
Transcript
Come watch how I simply create a basic bullet journal. If you're new to the idea, it's a planner scheduler that you create around your needs and not a preprinted or digital system. Many of us prefer the act of writing things down and this is a way to collect your ideas, dates to remember, tasks and more.
In a nutshell, a bullet journal is a simple way to capture what you need to do.
Whether you're planning your entire year or simply brain dumping information a bullet journal allows you to come back to those thoughts. Many types of bullet journals have popped up on Pinterest and it's grown into a movement. However, don't let all the fancy stuff overwhelm you. The basic framework that I demonstrated is all you truly need.
Consider using a rocket book for your bullet journal. Check out my post on the magic of a rocket book here.
Also, like I mentioned last week, if it doesn't fit on a sticky note, it won't fit into a day. I purposely put on my day...
How to Store Kids Artwork
Kids are amazing creators.
Add in a few school assignments and if you're not careful you could be swimming in artwork, science projects, and more. Each precious and not so precious. What to do? Watch Suzanna Kaye, Professional Organizer for some great tips and suggestions you can use now.
49+ Easy Ways To Show Love Today and Every Day
By Ruth Zeman
Simple acts that take little or no time or money
- Let someone in while in traffic
- Smile at someone
- Bring an empty cart back into the store as you go in
- Say thank you to someone
- Call someone (especially an elderly or homebound person) just to say hi
- Tell someone else about these ideas so they can do them too
- Text someone to let them know you love them or are thinking of them
- Pay for the person's coffee behind you at a coffee shop
- Buy a small gift card to give to a random person
- Talk to a homeless person and listen to their story
- Tell someone they are doing a great job
- Wave at someone
- Give a hug
- Send a thank you or thinking of you note by regular mail
- Pray for someone
- Donate to a charity
- Hold the door for a stranger
- Let someone else have a closer parking space
- Bring your neighbor's trash cans up and put them away
- Make someone laugh
- Share a happy thought or quote on social media
- Leave an extra tip in a tip jar
- Leave a note for someone to tell them they're awesome
- Pick up...
More Clever Travel Tips
By Ruth Zeman
Here are some more clever travel tips you're going to want to start using immediately!
Make a quick fix tool bag.
Wrap a bit of duct tape or gaffe tape around a pill bottle or pen so you don't need to bring the whole roll. I ended up using a little flashlight I had on hand. Safety pins, rubber bands, binder clips. To fix a gap in the curtains, temporarily hem a pair of pants, fix broken luggage, create a finger splint, you get the idea.
Extension cord.
Admit it, I don't have to explain this in the time of cell phone chargers and stuff. These magical tools make us feel like wizards, it wouldn't do to let them lose power.
Suction cup hooks.
To hold your stuff in the shower. Way better than the floor or tub side. You went swimming? Hang your suit...
Clutter-Free Gifts for the Holidays (Give a gift they will love)
As an organizer, I deal with people's clutter year-round. Among this clutter is usually a TON of gifts my client has received from a loved one that isn't their style or they do not really have a use or space for, but they feel obligated to hold on to out of guilt or fear of hurt feelings.
The last thing we want to do when we give a gift is place pressure on that person and create guilt and negative emotions.
This year I challenge all of us to make a resolution early - to make our holiday gift-giving clutter (and guilt) free.
Here are a few ideas for some clutter-free gifts you can give the person who really does have it all (or wants to have less):
- Services to remember
Paying for services to improve the home, relax and de-stress them or help out with difficult chores can be a great gift that will be remembered for years to come. Professional Organizers, maids, carpet cleaners, handymen and more will often accept prepayment for services as a gift.
...
The heart of Spark! Organizing....
Suzanna Kaye
Organizer, Productivity Coach
