Tan Bing Song

By: Tan Bing Song Do you walk in the house after a long day at work and just sigh at your cluttered house? Have you planned to organize one morning but do not know where to start or are just not in the mood? Are you caught in a vicious cycle: as soon as you organize one room another one has turned to chaos? Maybe you just need to prioritize, find motivation, and ask for help. Easier said than done J? Prioritize As with most goals in life, you want to strive for progress and improvement, not perfection. Most of us do not have time to achieve perfection in everything we do and still live a happy, fulfilling life. When you set goals, make them achievable, attainable. When you make that progress, create a visual way to track it or remind yourself of all you have accomplished (i.e. stickers on a chart, a check list, a flower/penny/or other item to represent each task you have completed). Since we will never have more than 24 hours in a day, we may have to say “no” to some activities and...

By: Tan Bing Song You know what the real problem is with getting organized? We have too much stuff!  I'm willing to bet you have some things you (or someone you live with) keep without having a good enough reason. So why DO we keep so much stuff? The thing is, it's easier to find excuses for why you should keep something and delay making a decision rather than making a firm (and sometimes difficult) choice to say goodbye to your "stuff." Here are four of my favorite excuses... 1. "I might need it someday." Yes, you might. But the thing is most of the items we keep can easily be found or replaced within a day or two. Lots of men (my dad included) keep every screw and nail created and store it away like a squirrel with his nuts. But what happens is these little tiny items create more and more clutter and it gets to a point where you can't find that little screw anyway because it's like finding a needle in a haystack. 2. "I'...

By: Tan Bing Song High gas prices, wedding presents, graduation parties, July 4th picnics, activities, vacations. Who has the time or money to organize? YOU DO! Organizing does not have to take forever or cost money. Don’t believe me? Keep reading.  How much time do you have to organize? A half a day or whole day or a week would be great, but most of us are not that lucky. If you want to get organized as quickly as possible, it is worth setting aside a large chunk of time to achieve that stress relief. To get twice as much done in the same amount of time, enlist a friend, family member, or professional organizer (bonus: experience, ideas, answers). If that much time is not a possibility (at least at the moment), then utilize pockets of time. Do you watch TV, watch commercials, ride the bus, wait at the doctor’s office, take car trips, wash the laundry, arrive early for meetings, lie awake at night, etc.? If so, take a reading file with you, sort a drawer, go through your magazi...

By: Tan Bing Song Do you get hit with late fees because you forget to pay your bills on time? Do you constantly waste time searching for that cable bill you left somewhere in the house?  Spend an hour organizing your personal bills and papers now, and this will save you time and frustration in the future. Plus, this helps make tax time easier because you already have everything in one place. First of all, have a place where you sort your mail every day.  Junk mail gets trashed or recycled right away.  Magazines and catalogs should go in a rack to read later. Open your bills, make a note of the due date and immediately put them on your desk in a small file until you write the check. A small letter file that sits on your desk works well- no need to buy any fancy tickler file unless you think that will work better for you. It’s best to start in January, but you can begin to set up your filing system at any time during the year. Use a filing cabinet or plastic storage b...

By: Tan Bing Song Are you always digging around for the right tool?  Hammers abound, but why are the flat-edge screwdrivers always missing?  Wouldn’t it be great to have everything in an easy-to-find space?  Here are some steps and tips to get you on your way.  Step 1:  Inventory.  First, start by gathering all your tools.  Make a list of the locations where you found your tools.  Garage, kitchen, basement, car, truck?  Lay them all out on a bedsheet or blanket.  Sort them by type to get an idea of how many different kinds of tools you have.  Next, examine each tool and decide what to keep.  • Is it a duplicate?  If so, how many of this tool do I need? • Have I ever used it?  Some tools passed down thru the family should be kept for sentimental reasons, but others that you’ve never used can surely go. • Is it broken?  If it isn’t usable and can’t be repaired then discard it. • Have I replaced it wi...

By: Tan Bing Song If you are looking to attract positive change and seriously move  stale energy out, start with your neglected clutter.  Getting rid of all the things you are not using will create space for new energy and movement. I’m a firm believer that * if it doesn’t work… * if you can’t remember when you last used it....or… * if it doesn’t make you feel good …then… MOVE IT OUT! Now, I know… sounds easy doesn’t it? Then why do we all have so much clutter? Here are some tips and techniques that have worked for me to move unused items from my life. You see I’ve tested them on my own personal clutter and I know they work.  First you will need some bankers boxes (you can get these anywhere you purchase office supplies).  Bankers boxes work the best because they have lids and are stackable. And a hand-held recorder (you can get one cheaply at any electronics department). Here’s what you do to quickly eliminate your clutter: (1) Label the boxes an...