Brand New Organize Your Life Website & eBook with great new offers!

I am thrilled to announce my brand new Website with lots of extra goodies for you to help you live a more balanced life. I have created a brand new eBook called Organize Your Health and Wellbeing Naturally which I am so proud of and know will help thousands more of you with the juggling act that is life.

Having experienced depression and not finding any success with mainstream medical treatment I went down the natural preventative health path and haven't looked back. If only a book like this was available all those years ago a lot of angst and heart ache could have been avoided.

We have some amazing introductory offers so head on over to our new Organize Your Life Website and check out the details via the link below.

Happy organizing,

Claire McFee

www.organizeyourlife.com.au

Author Organize Your Health and Wellbeing Naturally

Creator Organize Your Life Household Organizer

Speaker, Writer, Documentary Maker

I keep hearing about 'Planning with Kids' by Nicole Avery

'Planning with Kids' by Nicole Avery.

I keep hearing about Nicole Avery aall over the internet and her book 'Planning with kids.' Nicole is highly regarded in her field and has countless de-stressed followers.

Here is a description of the helpful book Via Amazon:-

'Planning with Kids' Product Description

Calling all parents who STRESS on school mornings, cringe at the thought of cleaning or have mealtime meltdowns...this book is for you!
Family life can be chaotic — whether you have one child or five. No-one knows this better than 'Nicole Avery', mum of five, blogger extraordinaire and lover of spreadsheets. Nicole has discovered the secret to taking the stress out of parenting and running a household: a little bit of planning can leave you with more time to have fun!
Planning with Kids will show you how to:

• plan a month's worth of evening meals in less than an hour
  
• use routines to make mornings manageable, evenings easier and 'me time' a reality
  
• organise your kids and partner to share in the housework without you nagging.

Learn how to organise your family chaos and have time left over to actually enjoy being a parent.

So worth a look I'd say. :)

Till next time.
Happy organizing,

Claire McFee Author Organize Your Life Household Organizers

The complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized

Organizing Book: I just found out about a book to get you organized from the ground up I wanted to share with you. Author Karen Ehman has published several books and really knows her stuff. This book is available in hard copy or cheaper Kindle version. I just got my first Kindle book recently and found it really handy to read on my lap top - and for a great price.

'The Complete guide to Getting and Staying Organized'
by Karen Ehman

Here is a blurb from Karen about the book:-

The key to good organization is not a one–size–fits–all method. It is a unique plan that considers personality type, lifestyle, income level, and family schedule. Karen believes that with her simple step by step process moms can recognize their own personal style of managing their households successfully and develop a unique plan that gives them the freedom to:

• manage their time wisely
• de–clutter and organize their homes
• plan menus, shop more efficiently, and become more comfortable and creative in the kitchen
• get children involved in pursuing an ordered life and home
• avoid the trap of overcommitment
• use practical tools to assist in organization

Claire McFee Creator Organize Your Life Household & Personal Organizers

Huge Life Organizing Giveaway - Lots of free goodies to help you get organized

This Huge Organizing giveaway has been organized by my new 'Author Friend' Linda Samuels - who wrote the great book "The other side of organized." It's brilliant - everything you need to get organized and stay organized. Claire x

Ultimate Organizing Giveaway!

November, 2010


Let’s celebrate and get excited! The Ultimate Organizing Giveaway is here! I’ve put together some of my favorite organizing products and books that are fun and fabulous. We’re talking Peter Walsh’s 'It’s All Too Much', The Container Store $50 gift certificate, Tate’s mouth watering Chocolate Chip Cookies and much, much more!

An enormous “thank you” to all the fantastic current and soon to be Oh, So Organized! Facebook fans, Twitter followers @LindaSamuels and The Other Side of Organized e-newsletter subscribers. My deepest gratitude for your wonderful feedback, tweets, posts, reviews and support. If you haven’t already done so, I personally invite you to join in the conversation and of course, enter the contest!

The Ultimate Organizing Giveaway of goodies was selected to organize, relax, delight and inspire you! It’s worth over $250 and includes:


• It’s All Too Much by Peter Walsh


• The Container Store $50 gift card


• “NothingElse.pad” from Buttoned Up


• One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Robert Mauer PhD


• “I will do one thing today.” sticky notes from Pretty Bitter


• “Temperature Task” clips & “Do, Ponder, File” folders from Knock Knock


• Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen


• “Forget Me Not” doorknob pad & “Work/Life Reminder” magnets from See Jane Work


• Limited edition The Other Side of Organized coffee mug and pencils


• “Relaxed Mind” Yogi Tea


• “To-Do Tattoo” from Fred & Friends


• World’s best Chocolate Chip Cookies from Tate’s


• The Other Side of Organized by Linda Samuels (autographed copy)


• The Container Store’s large black Tribeca bin organizes all of the above
I know you can’t wait to win this handpicked selection of my favorites! You have multiple ways to enter – and the more you do, the more chances you have to win. The giveaway starts on November 1st. The winner will be picked on November 11th (my birthday.) There’s no time like the present to enter. Keep reading and act now!

Rules of the contest:

1. Become an Oh, So Organized! Facebook fan (if you’re already a fan, you’re already entered to win)

2. Follow me on Twitter (again, if you’re a current follower, you’re entered!)

3. Subscribe to the Oh, So Organized! e-newsletter to get inspired and motivated! (and yes, if you’re a current subscriber, you’re entered!)

4. Comment on this blog post below with your favorite thing from the basket you’re most excited about

5. Share the contest! Post it on Facebook and tag the Oh, So Organized! Facebook page and/or Re-tweet it on Twitter and include @LindaSamuels when you do!

6. For 5 Bonus Entries, order The Other Side of Organized from Amazon and email me your receipt to linda@ohsoorganized.com
If you do all of the above – voila! You’re name is entered 10 times to win! (5 times if you do everything but order the book)

Tons of chances to win - Good luck!
Linda

Routine or No routine? Routine any day I say...well most days.

One of my favourite writers - Stephanie Dowrick, wrote a great piece in her Inner Life column in The Age Newspaper recently titled, "The bliss of a routine Life." Stephanie sums up things in such an eloquent but practical way - tying up all those loose ends about how our physical, mental and spiritual worlds can coexist together for the best results.

A lot of people confuse the goal to get organized with being anal and lacking in flexibility and spontaneity. I wholeheartedly disagree with this black and white assertion. The absolute majority of us who try to better Organize Our Lives, do so knowing our lives will never be perfect, nor do we want to be. We however know that making an effort to get organized, can make a huge difference to our satisfaction levels in our life / or our happiness quotient as others refer to it as.

Good organization and routines go hand in hand. In my view, just as much for most adults as it does for children. Stephanie's article mainly focused on the benefits of good routines for those with children, but I believe her ideas cover us all no matter what age. For those of you with children though, here is one few of my favourite quotes from Stephanie's article.

"It is incredibly helpful to parents, and soothing and stabilising for the child, to have predictable rhythms to most days' events." Dowrick goes on to say that although our modern busy lives seem to be at odds with this philosophy the two can go together. Albeit with a bit of pre-planning, organization and of course effort!

"It is understandable that parents should rate flexibility so highly. It's how we tend to live our adult lives, hurtling from one thing to another, multi-tasking madly and responding to what's most urgent, rather than what's most important...."

We can trick ourselves into thinking we are coping just fine with our incessantly busy lives but increasing stress levels; mental illness and stress related physical diseases tell us otherwise.

So it is in all our best interest, kids or no kids to take some time-out occasionally and to pre-plan your day, week etc and see if you can notice the difference in your happiness quotient at the same time.

The more satisfied you are with your life, the better able you are to want to get organized in the first place - as well as have the motivation to stay organized. It's all inter-related of course!

Happy Organizing.

Claire McFee Author
Organize Your Life Organizers

Outrageous Wellbeing Giveaway - Awesome Health & Wellbeing Freebies up for Grabs

Hi everyone,

I'm really excited to be able to tell you about the best Heath and Wellbeing giveaway event I've ever seen. A lot of Giveaway events suck you in, only to try to up-sell all sorts of stuff you don't want as part of the freebies. This event is free from any of that rubbish - it just has great quality free stuff for you - no strings attached.

Organize Your Life have some seriously good freebies on offer too. Four free Organizing eBooks covering organizing your home; organizing your family; organizing your money and of course organizing yourself.

click here to take part in this brilliant free giveaway offer if you are interested in health and wellbeing like I know most of you definitely are!!

I will drip feed what some of the other freebies are in the coming days and weeks as there are way too many to cover in one blog post! This Health and Wellgeing Giveaway Event only goes for a set period of time, so I'd get organized if I was you and hop on over there now to make sure you don't miss out! :)

Here is the link again for this amazing free Monster giveaway.

Enjoy !!!

Happy Organizing
Claire McFee
Organize Your Life Organizers

Get Organised Quote

Out Friend Carol Posener over at ''Get Organised' just sent her most recent Newsletter and it had a lovely quote I wanted to share with you. Here'tis:-

‘The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak’

20th century abstract expressionist painter Hans Hoffman

I love a good quote that helps motivate, inspire, move, educate or just plain makes you 'think' don't you!?

What are your favourite inspiring quotes?

another favourite one of mine is: "The mind is like a parachute, best when open."

and another.... "Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere."

Claire McFee

co Creator - Organize Your Life Organizers

Over 20 Solutions Organize Your Life has found to help Depression, Feeling Overwhelmed, Anxiety etc

I have just finished writing THE MOST comprehensive article I have ever written. It's about Solutions for Feeling Overwhelmed, Depression, Anxiety Disorders etc - "Solutions you've never heard about for Depression & Feeling Overwhelmed."
As many of you know I have been there, so I know how debilitating it can be. While learning to manage the depression I experienced for many years, I discovered many new ways to reduce the depression symptoms. Many of these solutions are not mainstream but have been the most effective. I certainly wish I had heard about them before to save me an untold amount of time. I am happy that I can help many of you who may be experiencing the same issues.

Having an organized home and life in general has obviously played a big part in keeping depression at bay for me, and from the feedback of countless customers in the 10yrs since I started Organize Your Life, this is your experience too. As they say "A Clutter house equals a cluttered mind."

It's all related, as is everything in our lives - one area affects another, affects another and so on. Above all we need to remember to go easy on ourselves and that BABY STEPS will get us to where we want to be for optimum Mental/Emotional Health, so we can reach our full potential. It is possible!

Here is a Snippet of the article and a link to see the full version.

Be Proactive about your Mental Health and Wellbeing
I have learned to Trust my Gut Instincts. Perhaps you need to learn to do the same? Interestingly, the thoughts that would come to me intermittently over the depressive years about what was 'wrong' with me, but at the time I thought couldn't have been causing the problem were basically the issues I ended up having to deal with that were in large part causing the depression . I now know to trust my instincts I turned my world around and if you need to you can too - or at least steer a loved one in a different direction to help their well being flourish, not flounder any longer.

Hormones Awry!?

I long believed that my hormones were a large part of the 'problems' I was experiencing, but after having blood tests through my GP they appeared quote, unquote "Normal", so I didn't look at this possible cause for another 10 or more years. 5 yrs later I saw a Naturopath, upon the recommendation of a close friend that showed otherwise. This wasn't without trepidation or scepticism. Like a lot of people, I grew up with the impression that Naturopaths and the like were not valid Health Professionals that could REALLY do anything other than a perhaps a placebo effect. Boy was I wrong, and glad to be proven so!!

Trans Cranial Magnetic Stimulation - Known as TMS - for treatment of Depression

I watched a program on ABC's Catalyst about a treatment for Depression called TMS which the Alfred Hospital was conducting a trial on and looking for participants. The treatment is basically stimulating the part of the brain where depression is said to reside, by 'exciting' the cells into acting more normally. Suffice to say I called up ad was put on a waiting list (of well over a year but worth the wait.) What I noticed about the treatment was all of a sudden, catching myself going down the wrong path thought-wise. I was less likely to catastrophize things and didn't use up valuable energy as a result which led to a massive decrease in lethargy which had a huge effect on my mood and therefore the 'depression.'

Claire McFee
co-Creator Organize Your Life e-Organizers
Organize Your Life

Life's 'Problen Solvers' - including Professional Organizers

You may have read an interesting article in The Age's 'M' magazine a little while back about 'Problem Solvers', not surprisingly including Professional Organizers, or P.O's as they are commonly known.

Organize Your Life are members of both the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers (AAPO) and the American equivalent NAPO and have met/had contact with countless PO's over the years. As a result and can vouch for the great work they do with their clients - usually everyday people like you and me -who just need a helping hand to keep on top of their home affairs due to leading such busy lives.

These days, hiring a cleaner, dog groomer or an image consultant is becoming part of everyday life for many people. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1:5 Australians works more than 50 hours a week. That’s a lot of people with very little spare time for chores and errands. The rise in the outsourcing of all manner of domestic help is linked to more and more women in the workforce, rather than at home as in the past having more time to do the household chores etc. So people are basically buying back time chewed up by all we have to fit into our busy lives.

If you fit into this category then go to http://www.organizeyourlife.com.au/australianorganisers for a list of great Australian Professional Organisers.

If you need some motivation to Start the Organizing process yourself you may like to read my article "How to Organize Your Home"

Here is a snippet for you -

How to Organize your Home

by Claire McFee

Home is truly where the heart is. It can be welcoming or overwhelming depending on how we organize our time, possessions and our psyche. The ultimate goal for ourselves is to have a home that calms and soothes us, but equally invigorates us and excites us about our future and where we are heading. For most of us mere mortals this doesn’t just ‘happen’ miraculously, it takes a bit of effort and of course Organization. With guidance it’s easier than you would think. Here are some points to think about in this important life area.

Keep on top of your ‘Stuff’

Too many possessions can be the death of a person. It is imperative to continuously ‘move on’ items that are not used or are broken beyond repair.

Do regular ‘Culls’

The average home needs to do 2-3 clear outs per year to maintain a semi-clutter free space for you and/or your family.

Get the Family on Board

If you have a partner and kids it’s only fair that it is a team effort to have a happy, well functioning household. Setting a good example is imperative here and also taking into account different personality types plays a big part too. If you have a child who couldn’t find his own teeth to brush if they weren’t attached to his head then allowing some leeway for his room to not have to be perfectly sorted everyday. Pick your battles!!

‘One in one out’ Rule

A good general idea to stick to is whenever you buy a new item for the house, you need to pass on a similar older item. This can apply to clothing; toys; books; old tools; jewellery; kitchen appliances etc.

To read full article go to "How to Organize Your Home"

How to Organize Your Home Life

I am still on a New Year's 'high', with our new family routines still going supurbly well. What a difference a year makes with the kids and what they are able to take responsibility for as they get older. They are getting so much better at tidying up after themselves and organizing their own stuff. I must say I'm really proud of them. They definitely have a happier mum as a result! Below is an article on how to Organize Your Home Life if you need some more pointers.

bye for now,
Claire

Organize Your Life Author

How to Organize your Home

Home is truly where the heart is. It can be welcoming or overwhelming depending on how you organize your time, clutter} and our psyche/mind. The ultimate goal for ourselves is to have a home that calms and soothes us, but equally invigorates us and excites us about our future and where we are heading. For most of us mere mortals, this doesn’t just ‘happen’ miraculously, it takes effort, time and of course Organization With help, it’s easier than you would think. Here are some tips to think about in this important life area.

Keep on top of your ‘Stuff’
Too many possessions can be the death of a person. It is imperative to constantly pass on items that are not used or are broken beyond repair.

Do {regular/constant} ‘Culls’
The average home needs to do 2-3 clear outsculls per year to maintain clutter free space for you and/or your family.


Get the Family on Board
If you have a partner and kids it’s only fair that it is a team effort to have a happy, well functioning household. Setting a good example is imperative here and also taking into account different personality types plays a big part too. If you have a child who couldn’t find his own teeth to brush if they weren’t attached to his head then allowing some leeway for his room to not to be perfectly sorted every day. Pick your fights!!

‘One in one out’ Rule
A good general idea to stick to is whenever you buy a new item for the house, you need to get rid of a similar older item. This can apply to clothing; toys; books; old tools; jewellery; kitchen appliances etc.

Be patient
It takes approximately 21 days to create a new habit, so give yourself time to get used to any new routine that you implement to improve your household organization.

Everything in its place, everything has a place
It’s surprising how out of place things look when not put away when there is a home for everything. It’s so much easier to keep on top of cleaning; tidying; organizing your home when you have this underlying rule to live by. Similar to the saying “A penny saved is a penny earned now” is - “A minute spent now is a hour saved later” – seriously!

Keep it simple
Consciously create more control over where you are heading and what you let into your life and therefore your home. By this I mean for example, if particular family and friends have a draining effect on you then consider cutting down the amount of time you spend with them. We can only help others so much and many don’t want to be helped anyway. You need to learn to put yourself first and not see this as a selfish thing to do – you can learn to do it in a healthy, positive way. Your organized home and anyone in it will thank you for it!

Act Locally think Globally
None of us can plead ignorance when it comes to the effect we are having on the planet anymore. So when buying anything for the home, don’t only think about whether you need or really want it, but also consider the effect of your consumerism on the wider world. It may make you think twice. Collectively we can make a huge difference. And ultimately create a happier home life through your thoughtful actions and organizing efforts.

It’s easier than you think to organize your life. So stop thinking about it and just do it!

For more Organizing Articles Click here.

Make the Op Shop you best friend for effective Organizing

School is back today - Yippee - After 6 weeks with the kids home I'm in need of some uninterrupted time to Organize my Home, the business and my life! It helped that I got the kids to help me do some de-cluttering over the weekend and we got rid of 3 bags full for the ops shop and two bin fulls of paperwork. I never tire of how good it feels to organize myself to another level, free of 'Stuff'.

I just dropped the 'stuff' to the Op-shop, with my friends saying even for me that was Super-organized. A new 'Before School Job List' made this morning go extremely smoothly. It was an easy routine for the kids to follow that made such a difference! Camping with the kids over the School Holidays (and having to be really organized to actually enjoy the experience. It was instrumental in preparing the kids for a bit extra responsibility once back at home. I have written an article on these back to school organizing tips - along with getting your house organized after holidays.

Read on for more tips...

Organize for a relaxing Camping Trip”
By Claire McFee

My husband and two young children have just gone on our first camping trip together, and my first full stop, so it’s been an eye opening experience of why so many people are converts to living in the outdoors whenever they can. The benefits are many and there are of course pitfalls, With the right mindset and good preparation and organizing before during and after your trips can make the difference between a relaxing and enjoyable holiday for everyone involved or a stressful time that you never want to repeat again!! We had a ball I’m happy to say and met lovely like-minded people along the way which is part of the appeal! Here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way and from more experienced campers as well.

Less is best
With very limited space taking as little as possible is obviously one of the most important rules of thumb. Even though it can cost a bit more to buy food once at your destination, within reason it can save a lot of angst about storing everything by buying as you go.

Worst case/best case Weather scenarios
We all hope to have good weather when camping, but the elements love to throw in a few surprises just to test our endurance. With this in mind be sure to pack thermal underwear for those frosty nights and hooded jackets and scarves for cold windy days.

Be wary of excess gadgets
If you go to any of the outdoor chain stores there is all manner of excess gadgets to supposedly make life easier. In some cases they do, but you need to be mindful of where all these gadgets will; live because the one thing that can make a camping holiday stressful it’s too much stuff to store, clean and maintain. You would be surprised at how inventive you can be if you have to be. The things I‘ve seen people do with a bit of string and some wire!!

Back up Easy meals
Having a couple of tins of baked beans for quick and easy meals is handy for those nights when you are spent from a day of high activity, so make sure you pack a few for these ‘emergencies’.

Card/board games
Camping is a great time to get back to basics and enjoy making your own fun –especially with young kids. So pack a few basics and make sure you get them out of a night time and of course on those unexpected cold and raining days.

Journaling/Paper and pencils
Keeping a diary of sorts of your trip - which can accompany the photos you take along the way for the kids to show their teachers is a great idea for some educational activity in amongst it all as well.

Camping Etiquette
Use your common sense when it comes to camping etiquette. Unfortunately alcohol can hinder reason, so before you get into the evening wind-down - usually involving a glass of wine or a beer, have your limits and stick to them. ‘Oh it’ll be fine’ roaring with laughter all night doesn’t cut it the next day living in close quarters.

Midnight Tinkles
If you are partial to needing the toilet during the night, the last thing you want to do is have to go to the toilet block on your own in the dark. Therefore having a bucket of sorts (filled with some water for dilution purposes) is a great idea. Cover with a tea towel or lid if possible and empty into the toilets along with the rest of the campers the next morning. Putting the toilet paper into a separate bag helps make this process a little less messy.


Claire McFee
Organize Your Life Author