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What if I were FREE?

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It takes curiosity and courage to ask the question – What if I were free?

What if I was free from the stuff, people and expectations that drag me down? Often I buy into the idea that I am trapped by my schedule, my business, my family, others expectations, and then there’s the physical stuff that keeps coming at me.  Yikes, how could I possibly be free? We live in an abundant world with its own form of trappings.

Here is what I have to say – If I were free


  • I would take it easy today.
  • I would let myself just enjoy what I am doing right now.
  • I would be softer and more open.
  • I would see magic more in sweet moments.
  • I would feel gratitude for the variety of things that come my way.

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FREE Yourself with the Power of 3!

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Write down the 3 MOST IMPORTANT to do’s of your day and let that be enough.

FREE is the word we hear the most when we ask our clients to share how they feel after getting organized! Getting free of the clutter and chaos allows you to have what you really want.

One of the most challenging areas to clear & organize is our calendar.  We tend to pile on way more then we can possibly handle. And technology has only added to the overload. The stress of this eats away at our health and happiness.

At C&S we love making things simpler. So here is our favorite, and our client’s favorite, tip for your time. This is the DO IT© step. (Check out SEE IT© and MAP IT© blogs.)

DO IT© – How can I possibly fit everything into my day, much less make it simple? Try out the power of 3.

Start by taking only 5 minutes at the start and end of each day to ask what are the 3 MOST IMPORTANT TASKS for your personal and work life – the ones that only you can do? Then write them done in a simple notebook, on a yellow pad, in your smart phone notebook or app (try Wunderlist), on a 3×5 card or even a Post-it note. At the end of the day, look back and celebrate getting those 3 things done! Or you will get to notice how you got distracted so you can practice again the next day.

This simple practice will help you discern what really needs your attention each day. Along with the sense of accomplishment for getting done what matters most to YOU!

Using the Clear & SIMPLE System of SEE IT© MAP IT© DO IT©, we can show you how to make time tangible and manageable!

Let us know what your experience is once you try this – Marla, Kate & Team

iRAFT – Be FREE of Paper Pile Pain

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Did you know you can handle all of your incoming paper in less than an hour a week?!

You heard us – less than an hour a week! We know paper comes at you from all directions and that you think it’s impossible to ever manage it all. Behold
  iRAFT©! We have created a system that simplifies all your interactions with the paper & information. Remember a SYSTEM – Saves You Stress, Time, Energy & Money! Let us introduce you to iRAFT.

EVERY piece of paper that comes into your life can be handled using the iRAFT© steps


  • Incoming – every paper item that comes into your life
  • Read – magazines, articles, letters, cards
  • Act – requires you do something (make a call, pay a bill
)
  • File – file it quickly and be able to retrieve it easily
  • Toss – shred or recycle

Click for a printable of iRAFT. | or go to www.clearsimple.com/iRAFT for more

*Please note that we recommend implementing this system and starting in present time. Once you are familiar with it and have every step in place, then go to the piles, filing drawers, etc. to clear out and clean up. Paper is its own beast and is very overwhelming. If you desire the help of an organizer, please contact us.

 

iRAFT begins with INCOMING:

As we mentioned above, the information is coming from many places; the mail box is only one. Think about how much easier it is to start into your email because it is in your INBOX. So for the paper, choose a container that will hold a week’s worth of incoming paper and put everything there!  This includes mail, flyers, notes, etc
 You also need a place for thoughts, conversations and such to land.  You might use an app on your smart phone, Evernote or a small spiral notebook.

Then once a week (or more often if needed) you will take all the incoming and sort it into four piles. You simply ask do I need to Read, take an Action, File or Toss. Then take the paper (or move the emails) into the each container or folder.

READ:

Choose a cool container for your reading that is staying at your desk, your reading chair and for on-the-go.

ACTION:

Every home and office needs an action container for those papers that need your attention such as bills to pay, errands to run and items to discuss with someone else. We suggest making your container vertical so that it is easy to find what you need and leave the other items organized. It is also nice to have it portable so it can move around your space.

FILE:

We often ask our clients to describe how they feel about FILING. We hear words like yuck, overwhelming, impossible, always behind, drawers are full. And there is a constant theme of not know what to keep or for how long. So start with setting up a “to file” container and then schedule time once a week or once a month to file, depending on your volume. If you really hate filing then get someone else to do it.

TOSS:

By sorting once a week into RAFT, your tossing of the paper is now easy. Have fun noticing how much of that paper pain is really toss papers. Of course you can still throw away junk mail and such before it even lands in your space.
To summarize the SYSTEM:

 

Daily – plop all the incoming paper and information into the container.

Weekly – take 5 minutes to sort into 4 piles – Read, Action, File, Toss.  Then take each pile to it’s proper container.

Weekly – set your TimeTimer for 30 minutes and do the action papers that need to get done that week.

Monthly – take your To File pile and file into your FreedomFiler system.

Other – Enjoy your reading time.

Clear & SIMPLE, iRAFT

 

Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Party

Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Party

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By Guest Blogger:  Haley Keiser of O2E Brands

The season of warm company and home cooked meals is here! No matter how much comfort the holidays bring, they are often accompanied with a moderate load of stress, especially if you’re hosting a gathering for all your family and friends. Although your list may seem daunting, take a deep breath and use this preparation guide to leave the stress behind!

Eliminate Clutter

Regardless of the size of your home, you’ll want to start with clearing the space to plan for the increase in foot traffic – especially if you live in a small apartment. Walk through each room that your guests will be spending the most time in and rid it of accumulated clutter. It’s easy for guests to feel crowded and uncomfortable with a lot of people in one space, opening up space will not only put your guests at ease but also make a much safer space.

In each room, have three bags or baskets on hand. Place any clutter into one of the following piles, “Move Elsewhere”, “Donate”, or “Throw Out”. Everything stored elsewhere should be in a location that your guests don’t have access to, such as the garage or a storage room. If you’re in a crunch, use a service that will sort and pick up your clutter for you. We highly recommend 1-800-Got-Junk.

For those that have no idea where to start, hiring a professional organizer to ease your stress might be worth it. Lucky you, we can help!

Rearrange Furniture

Exposed chords or wires are a disaster waiting to happen. Either rearrange the furniture or temporarily cover them with a rug or duct tape. Move any coffee tables or centerpiece furniture away from the couches so guests have an easier time getting to a seat.

Clean the Place

Once the clutter is cleared and the furniture is in its place, the process of cleaning will be much easier! Similar to decluttering, start in the rooms where your guests will be. This way, if you run out of time, the extra rooms that weren’t able to be cleaned aren’t such a big deal.

Begin with dusting and surfaces in all of the main areas of the house, such as the kitchen and the living room. Vacuum or mop the floors, depending on your flooring style. The day before your guests arrive, make sure to give the house a second sweep. Clean the bathroom toilets and mirrors the day before so everything is fresh and shiny!

Add a Taste of the Holidays

After the place is tidy, add a few tasteful decorations in each room. You don’t need an abundance of fancy decorations to impress your company. Your guests understand that you aren’t the Hilton.

Hang a simple wreath to your front door and welcome your guests with a small chalkboard sign in the walkway. Drape holiday-themed tablecloths over your tables and add a small DIY centerpiece. Really get your guests in the holiday spirit with a few holiday scented candles or air fresheners.

The day of the party should be dedicated to cooking and greeting guests. After all, the beauty behind the holiday season is the time spent with the people you love most. If you find yourself stressed, don’t be afraid to ask for a helping hand.

You’ve got this!

More ideas for Back-to-School Papers

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Clear & SIMPLE, Michelle Powell

As we all get back to school and work, one thing crossing many of our minds is, “How will I manage all the paper?!” Read what Professional Organizer, Michelle Powell, has to offer as support in her article 10 Tips to Conquer Back-to-School Paperwork.

“School has not even started and I have enough paperwork to fill a recycling bin.  If you feel the same, here are a few tips to get your year off on the right foot:

  1. Create ONE organized landing spot for all paperwork, mail, schedules and schoolwork.
  2. Spend a few moments each day reviewing everything that enters the house.  In 5 minutes, you can organize a great deal of information.
  3. If something has a date, put it onto the calendar. (Electronic and/or paper.)
  4. Filter immediately.  If incoming paper does not apply to your child, RECYCLE IT immediately

”

 

Read more from Michelle HERE.

Putting it all together


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You’ve got all the pieces, now let’s put the puzzle together!

Are you starting to feel like you’re getting this R.A.F.T© thing?! We are going to walk through the process in its entirety again to help with that. As I mentioned in “Contain the Piles,” the very first thing you do is gather all of your incoming paper each day and put it in a vertical holding container.

From there, schedule some time in your week that you can R.A.F.T© through it


  • R = Read. All items that are leisurely reading go into one container
or two containers, but they are specifically for Reading.

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T = Toss

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Get it outta your life!

The final step of R.A.F.T.© is TOSS. It is a simple step, but offers a noticeable difference in your paper load. Once a week, as you process papers from your incoming container, simply toss papers into a recycle container or send through a shredder. Pay attention to what happens as you go through this process.

Common results are


  • Feeling accomplished clearing out all of that weight.
  • You and your space feeling lighter.
  • It sets a standard in your space that for all the incoming there has to be outgoing as well.

 

Send it off before it takes up residence!

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Time Tip and Tool – SEE IT

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Time is a treasured resource, but so elusive. Here is a tool to help you touch time!

We measure our life energy, our being and our doing by measuring time.  We all have the same “24 hours” in each day. How is it that some people are naturally able to be more present and accomplish what is most important while others struggle?

Using the Clear & SIMPLE System of SEE IT, MAP IT, DO IT, we can show you how to make time tangible and manageable! In this blog, and the two following – MAP IT & DO IT, we will share our favorite tips and tools with you.

SEE IT- Having a clock is not enough. How do I touch time? How do I make time tangible – physical? Start with a great tool for SEEING the task in front of you. Our favorite is the Time Timer. Using the grounding color of red, you can actually SEE how much time you have left to dedicate to that project! The color red goes directly to your body (think red stop sign). Rather than using your left brain to calculate, you just know and immediately adjust your action.

Great for all ages.  Kids can use this for play time, homework time, or projects.  It even comes in a watch form that helps people with ADD or ADHD.  Adults can use this tool in their personal life for everything from cooking, gardening, computer time, phone calls, family time and projects.  In the work life, this tool is invaluable for meetings, projects and time sensitive activities.

The Time Timer also comes in an app, wall clock, watch and now with bright color holders. You simply must check out their website and try this tool.  Our clients tell us constantly that they can’t live without it now and neither can we.

Clear & SIMPLE, TimeTimer MOD Colors

Marla, Kate & Team
SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT. © and S.T.A.C.K.S. © are property of Clear & Simple, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Gratitude is our daily practice.

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Simple ways to give thanks each & every day.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools for creating peace and happiness in our lives. It can can also support us on the days we feel low and in moving through tough times. So why is it so easy to forget and get caught up in the struggles or busyness of life? We have found that making gratitude a daily practice keeps it happening easily.

Here are 3 simple ways you can create a joyful ritual of celebrating all that you have each and every day. Whatever way you choose, commit to 21 days to create the new habit. You can choose one or mix them up!

1 – Get a Gratitude APP

  • Attitudes of Gratitude AppOn-the-go with you at all time
  • Set daily remindersClear & SIMPLE, Gratitude Journal App
  • Many of them give you an inspirational tidbit after each entry


2 – Write it down

  • Keep a little gratitude notebook, journal or use your planner. You can even use 3×5 cards or post-it notes.
  • The easiest practice is to start or end your day writing down 3 things you are grateful for. Let them come to you easily and you might get surprised.

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Level 1: The Foundation

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Launch Your Business with Confidence!

Get what you need to really stand out, attract your ideal clients and generate income in just a few weeks. This is an excellent time to have an organizing business.

Are you ready to launch an exciting, rewarding Professional Organizing Business?  Come join the Clear & SIMPLE Circle of Organizers and make your dream a reality! Skip the years it takes to come up with a successful, highly-functioning systems by taking Clear & SIMPLE’s Self Study Course. For over a decade, we have been training professional organizers around the world.  We are very proud of our successful organizers in 7 countries.

Comprehensive Foundation Course

This Course is a Self Study allowing you to do at on your own timing.  However, you also get expert guidance and one-on-one coaching through all the levels of learning. It is also the prerequisite for Levels 2 & 3.

You will receive:

  • A 240 page manual giving you everything you need to set up, launch and work with clients
  • The best systems in the industry so you will be professional
  • The tools for all types of clients and where to get them
  • 17+ audio hours of Marla Dee guiding you through the entire course
  • The forms – 35+ industry specific and fully customizable
  • The most popular Clear & SIMPLE digital products
  • The Five Levels of Client Care and the forms to go with them
  • The best systems for paper pain and time management
  • One on one Coaching with Marla Dee

 

Preview the Manual Table of Contents and Introduction

 

 

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PRICE: The complete course of 30+ hours of training is $1250 | Value $1750 **

[button_alt link=”/shop/business-in-a-box/”]Buy Your FOUNDATION COURSE[/button_alt]

 

** ** Please note that before we ship your course you will need to sign Our Copyright Agreement. Shipping and handling is an additional cost, billed separately through PayPal. Within the U.S. $35. We DO ship internationally, please contact us at info@clearsimple.com for more information.

Get your Credential upon completion – Become a Clear & SIMPLE Organizer

Upon completion of each module, you can take the exam and receive a Certificate of Completion, along with the credential of Clear & SIMLE Organizer.  This tells the outside world and your clients that you have done training in a methodology and can offer professional systems.

C&S SYSTEMS CARD

Hear from Marla Dee as she walks you through Staying in Business a Decade & Beyond!

Clear & SIMPLE, Staying in Business a Decade & Beyond

 

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