My Latest Posts

No More Junk Mail

Posted on: March 1st, 2013 by Jana Hartwell | No Comments

If you are like most people, more than 85% of the mail you receive is unsolicited (aka: Junk Mail).

Determining what is truly worthy of your attention and what is junk can often be very time-consuming and distracting. No wonder most of my clients delay this task to the point where they are overwhelmed with piles and piles of unopened mail.

Let’s finally nip this in the bud, shall we?

It won’t be easy at first and will take some patience, but you CAN reduce the majority of junk mail you receive by following the steps recommended in the following article: Junk Mail: How Did They All Get My Address?

And while waiting for those lists to remove your name and address, you can prevent piles of mail from multiplying by doing what I do:

1) Place your recycle bin on the route from your mailbox to where you normally enter your home

2) Dump all “junk mail” into the recycle bin before entering your home

3) Place important mail into a bin or basket designated only for mail to be sorted

4) Keep a small shredder and recycle bin near your mail basket/bin

5) Make time to open and handle your mail within 15 minutes of placing it into the mail basket/bin

6) Have your calendar and “tickler file” handy when you sort your mail

7) Handle and decide on your mail each and every day, if at all possible

If you are having trouble developing any of the above new habits, call me for some accountability coaching. →

Jana Hartwell, CPO®

Sensible Organizing Solutions, Inc.

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Making Room for What You LOVE…

Posted on: February 12th, 2013 by Jana Hartwell | No Comments

With LOVE as our theme for this month, think about how you demonstrate your love for the special people and things in your life.

Can there be a love which does not make demands on its object?   ~ Confucius

What demands (or conditions) do you place on the things you profess to love? Are these “treasures” hidden in boxes, bins, closets or cabinets to collect dust and rob you of valuable “loving” space?

This month, sort through some of your buried treasures. Make a commitment to cherish the items you truly love by finding a suitable place in your home or office to honor (display) them.

And, if you are lacking space to display treasures…Let go of some things not so cherished to make room for what you really LOVE!

Result: People around you feel more cared for when you let go of extra stuff (stagnant weight) that blocks the flow of love.

Jana Hartwell, CPO
Sensible Organizing Solutions

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Managing Your Emails

Posted on: February 1st, 2013 by Jana Hartwell | No Comments

This cannot be stressed enough. Approximately 80% of the information we hold on to will never get referenced again!

Our society has developed a mindset of KEEP. And because computer storage capacity has grown exponentially, we CAN keep stuff – forever!

We keep everything.

We keep because we can.

We keep because, well … you never know.

As a result, our email folders – and even our In boxes – are overloaded. We store outdated information that may never get looked at again.

Change your mindset from one of KEEP to DELETE.

Delete Key

Assume that every email arriving in your inbox will automatically be deleted once you’ve read/acted/deferred it.

Keep only the exceptional information.

Any message you can bring yourself to delete is one less message to file, one less message to slow down your searches, one less message to fret about in the future.

Change your mindset. Keep less stuff. Get more done.

Jana Hartwell, CPO®
Sensible Organizing Solutions, Inc.

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You Can Stay Organized All Year!

Posted on: January 12th, 2013 by Jana Hartwell | No Comments

January has been designated “National Get Organized Month“. But you can get organized any month of the year and learn to stay that way.

Remember: Organizing is not a one-time event — It is a process. Like bathing or brushing your teeth, your efforts need to be consistently maintained.

Make room for the fresh and new by first letting go of the old and no-longer-useful. Otherwise… we WILL have clutter. It really is that simple.

Jana Hartwell, CPO

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Can Gratefulness Reduce Clutter?

Posted on: December 1st, 2012 by Jana Hartwell | No Comments

Patterns of greed, over-consumption and instant gratification create financial and spiritual havoc that leave many insecure and empty. Instead of feeling the joy of abundance, we often feel the sting of debt and a restless soul.

We’ve been led to believe that if it is on sale and we can get a “good deal”, there is no reason not to buy it — whatever IT is. Advertising hype may impel us to part with our hard-earned income in exchange for items we don’t even appreciate after a day or two. These unappreciated things end up cluttering our lives and blocking personal growth.

Instead of allowing yourself to get caught up anymore in the frenzy of acquiring more things (even gifts for others), try focusing instead on giving more time, energy and quality attention to loved ones and friends. Notice all the blessings you have, both material and immaterial and be grateful.

Gratefulness erases the void that no thing can fill and replenishes you with great fullness.

The more you honor what you already have, the less you will want for more.

So I ask again… Can gratefulness reduce clutter?

Jana Hartwell, CPO

Sensible Organizing Solutions

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