3 Productivity Tips for Working From Home | Houston Professional Organizer

Raise your hand if you are still working from home ✋We have helped endless clients get organized in their various spaces to help them better work from home. Professional organizers have been on overdrive the last year and half too because a majority of companies went to work at home situations, so as a professional organizer we have been been helping clients figure out their various work from home situations. Some people are now either going back to into the office or doing a hybrid work from home / go into the office situation. 

• Master to do list: write everything down that you need to do. Try to focus on 1-3 things to accomplish a day. That way you do not set yourself up for failure.
• Use the Pomodoro technique: set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on tasks for those 25 minutes. Then take a 5 minute break. Using the Pomodoro technique helps you stay focused on things that are important and need your undivided attention. 
• Use site blockers: it blocks you from going to various websites like social media. This helps you stay focused and get things done!

What are some of your work from home productivity tips?

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5 Things To Get Organized With Now

Since summer is beginning, the kids are out of school and travel is in an upswing, I thought I would share 5 things that you should be organizing right now. As a professional organizer, each season comes with various things to organize or activities and events that are popular during those season. When you are trying to pre-plan anything think about all the aspects of things that need to get done and how to best get organized for those events or activities. 

Now that school is out for most kids, it is the perfect time to start going through all your kids art work. Toss what you don't like or need. Display, make a book or put away in keepsakes what you want to keep. Use weathertight bins or archival boxes. 

Are your kids going to summer camp? If so, now is the perfect time to get organized for it because most kids go to summer camp in June and July. Think about what you need to pack and what the kids need to bring with them. Order name tags for clothes, swim and all items. Don't forget to buy stamps. Stock up on sunscreen and bug spray. Here are some past posts I have written in regards to how to get organized for summer camp and summer camp packing list. 

Are you traveling this summer? Now that people feel more comfortable traveling since many people have COVID vaccines, there is an increase in summer travel and people going stir crazy and wanting to get out of the house and out of town. Start thinking about what you will need to take with you. Start making packing lists, gather specific items in a particular area of your house of what you will need, if items are too bulky consider having them sent to your destination via Amazon or by mailing them, don't forget cables & cords, what meds you will need, put together an itinerary if you made plans for specific activities, don't forget to bring cash, etc. Here are some travel tips & tricks, how to organize for a weekend getaway, and road trip essentials. 

Do you live in an area prone to hurricanes? If so, start gathering your emergency prep items, so you have them in case you need them. Stock up on water and batteries. If you have to evacuate know where you will be going and have an evacuation plan. Make a list of items you want in your go bag. Have a mini go bag ready in case you have to leave unexpectedly. Make sure all external batteries are charged. Always keep your gas tank full. Here are some past articles about emergency prep, how to start an emergency preparedness kit and things you should do, what you should have in your emergency go bag, preparing for hurricanes and free resources, and get organized: hurricane preparedness. 

It is officially move season and there are so many upcoming client moves we have. We specialize in move management and coordination here in Houston and beyond. Moves can financially add up really quickly so start planning now if you have an upcoming move. Declutter your house before you move, book movers & packers, if you are diying it start packing a little at a time, make a list of address changes, book professional organizers, etc. 

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8 Tips on How To Be More Organized as a Family in 2021

I know we are about to be in the 2nd quarter of the year, but here are some tips that I pitched to a magazine on how to be more organized as a family in 202, but they didn't accept so I thought I would share them here. These are tips that as a professional organizer we help clients with all the time. Having a family, running a household and trying to do it all can be absolutely overwhelming and stressful. 

Start small. Don't decide one day you are going to organize your whole house because you will become very stressed and overwhelmed very quickly. Start small and pick one cabinet, drawer, area, etc. This way it doesn't feel so overwhelming. Get everyone in the family involved.

Plan ahead by setting up morning and evening routines. This makes your day go so much smoother. Set out clothes you need for the next day the night before, do a brain dump before bed or write a to do list of want you need to accomplish the next day, pack lunches for the next day, make beds in the morning, have down time in the morning and evening so you are not constantly rushing, clear off counter tops, etc. 

Create a command center. it will be where your bags go, keys, bulletin or message board, chargers, etc.

Create a supply area. Have a station where you keep various school supplies in other areas than their room like in a study or kitchen, so you aren't constantly dragging supplies everywhere. 

Master to-do list. Make a list of everything you know will need a place to live like, backpacks, papers to be signed, purses, keys, jackets, schoolwork, etc. Then figure out your organizing plan and what type of organization supplies you may need.

Utilize a family calendar. Get a family calendar and write down everything everyone has going on. This way you will know when to plan for what. You may want to use a physical calendar or use something like an iCal, Google Calendar, Cozi or something similar.

Do tasks as a team. Make sure the whole house is involved in helping stay organized throughout the year. Everyone no matter what age can have a tasks or chore to be responsible for. This makes staying organized so much easier

Utilize apps. Apps like Cozi, OurHome, Evernote, Busy Kid, TimeTree, etc. 

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9 Items to Get Organized in the New Year

There are constantly new products coming out in the organizing world. As professional organizers, we are constantly on the hunt for what is new, aesthetically pleasing, functional, etc. These are some products that I know many clients will love in 2021 and beyond. Many we have already used before and already love. 

Rolling cart storage: I love the color of this cart and it is perfect in a beach house, playroom or under a console table where you need more room or storage. 

Metal stacking bins: These are new and I thought they were so fun. Great for a craft room or playroom.

Cleaner and sweeper holder: I saw this on Simply Organized and thought it was such a great idea. It is a docking station for cordless vacuum. 

Magazine file: I use these on projects all the time and love them. 

Xbox game console organizer: If you need to corral your game system this organizer will help everything stay contained and organized. 

Narrow space saver: This is perfect for skinny spaces like beside a washing machine or dryer.

Acrylic cart: If you have been around awhile you know I have posted many uses for a cart. This one has office organizers already included with it.

Transparent sticky notes: Personally, I like using these in my planner. You will need to use Sharpie based pens or markers when writing on them. 

Acrylic hat stand: If you want to display your hats, this is perfect. 

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NAPO Houston Professional Organizers' #1 Tips for Getting Organized in the New Year

Happy New Year! Hope your new year is going well so far. Being part of NAPO and NAPO Houston January is considered GO (Get Organized Month) and I asked some of my colleagues what their #1 tips were for getting organized in the new year and here is what they had to say. 

Amy Vance of Eco Modern Concierge: Start small on projects. When you start small, you don't set up yourself up for failure as much and are often able to accomplish the projects you want to. Instead of saying I want to organize my whole bedroom and closet today. Say I want to tackle this dresser or a drawer within a dresser. Tackling projects bit by bit helps you eventually tackle the whole, big project and you obtain the goal you want. 

Lisa Giesler of atimeandplace: Writing a list of things you liked and didn’t like in 2020. Write goals large and small that you’d like to accomplish. Set new routines. Find the perfect quote or scripture that inspires you to be your theme for the year.

Prathima Kodali of Sorted Nest: Have a dedicated place for everything and put everything in its place.. Create yourself a habit and stick to the habit for 21 days. Habits can be as simple as keeping the shoes back on the shoe rack, instead of leaving them on the floor , doing one load of laundry a day, or.. discarding the junk mail as it comes in the door...

Ellen Delap of Professional-Organizer.com: The single most important action every day is all about your bedtime routine. Set the same morning alarm time rise time and same bedtime each evening. A great night’s rest ensures a good mood and better productivity.

Helen Schutz of HBS Organizing: Stay on top of your taxes - set up a file folder and put important tax documents in it as they come in the mail. Also put in any donation receipt letters and paperwork from any other big ticket items such as new house, new car, property taxes paid, etc. in the tax file.

Adonna Braly of Clutter Roundup: Have a morning ritual that feeds your mind, body and soul. For your mind, you can read or journal. For your body, stretch, or do some kind of movement/exercise. For your soul, meditate, pray, or use affirmations. Whatever works for you. This starts your morning out feeling grounded and able to face anything. It gives you the umph you need to tackle your organizing endeavors!

Mary Jo Contello of Organized by MJ: Don't buy organizing products first. You should group like things, then edit/purge and then a place to store it. Last  buy a product to contain / store.

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Photo by Olya Kobruseva from Pexels

National Clean Off Your Desk Day!

Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day!

Here are some quick tips to cleaning off your desk.

1. Throw away trash that is on your desk. 
2. Sort like items together and contain in bins, baskets, drawers, etc. 
3. File papers that need to be filed. 
4. Put action items in a desktop file or desktop sorter / trays.
5. Label bins and sorters so you know where things go. 
6. Create systems that work for you for incoming / outgoing paperwork. 
7. Keep supplies you use often within reach. 

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January is Get Organized Month

January is Get Organized and Be Productive Month! What are you doing in January to get organized and be productive?

Here are some are some quick tips to get started organizing.

Start small. Don't decide one day you are going to organize your whole house because you will become very stressed and overwhelmed very quickly. Start small and pick one cabinet, drawer, area, etc. This way it doesn't feel so overwhelming.

Purge / Declutter. Go room by room or area by area and start to get rid of things you no longer want, need or have room for.

Sort. Put like things together and take items that don't belong in a certain area to their appropriate places.

Contain. Then begin to contain like items together whether this is in a shoebox, bin, basket, etc.

These quick tips are will hopefully feel more ORGANIZED once you begin. Happy organizing. Send me your progress pictures.

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Professional Organizer's Holiday Binder to Help You Get Organized During The Holidays

As a professional organizer based in Houston, TX it is vital that I stay organized for my clients and myself during the holidays. This video shows the importance of the holiday binder and how I use it personally to stay organized during the holidays. How do you stay organized during the holidays?

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5 Back to School Productivity Tips for Students

I don't know about where you are, but here in Houston school is back in session for many districts and it is time to get organized and start the school year off right. Below are 5 productivity tips for students.

Write it down! Pen & paper is the perfect way to keep track of what you need to do and when you need to do it. Consider getting a paper calendar and a plain 'ol notebook to keep track of everything you need. Electronic is great, but with your looming to do list pen & paper is great way to visually see what you need to do and help you retain it.

Get ready the night before. Prep the night before so you start the day off right. Get your bag, clothes and lunch ready so when you wake up you have to make as few decisions as possible. This helps you start the day off not stressed and ready to learn.

Get rid of distractions. When you are studying, doing homework or trying to focus block out distractions like t.v. and your phone. Leave the t.v. off. Put apps on your phone like Moment, Cold Turkey & Self Control that prohibit you from checking social media.

Take breaks. It is not good for your mind or body to never have a break. If you are studying or focusing for an extended periods of time, get up walk around, get some water, step outside or do whatever you have to do take your mind off of something.

Take care of yourself. Remember that it is important to take care of yourself. You need to get proper sleep, exercise, eat healthy (don't load up on energy drinks) meditate or do whatever you need to do to keep your body & mind performing at its best. That's help you all around in your everyday life.

What are some productivity hacks you have for back to school?

Photo by Plush Design Studio from Pexels

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Client Non-Profit - Storage Closet Before & After

At Eco Modern Concierge we try to do one non-profit project a month whether that is organizing or some sort of concierge project. Last year we did an organization project at Heroes for Children here in Houston and fellow NAPO Houston member Mary Jo helped me on the project. We organized their store room to make it more functional to find things for events and the holidays. We did not get rid of anything and used what they already had. Do you know a non-profit that could use some organizing help? I'd love to chat with them.

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How to Organize Loose Documents

As a professional organizer in Houston I often get tasked with taking care of client's paperwork and there is usually all kinds of loose documents hanging around. 

1. Use file folders and file them away in a file cabinet. 
2. You can use file folder organizers to take them with you on the go.
3. If you want to be able to readily access them you can use a desktop file.
4. Some of my clients love accordion style file holders.
5. This is another desktop file option.
6. Document bags are great to use when traveling. 
7. You can use magazine holders to hold all kinds of loose paper. 
8. Some of my clients love filing loose papers in binders. I also use binders for magazine cutouts I save. 

How do you like to organize loose documents? 

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5 Tips for Getting Organized in 2019 from Recent Magazine Articles

The beginning of the year is always about fresh starts and many people have desires of getting organized. Here are some organizing tips based on recent January 2019 magazine issues, including, Real Simple, Better Homes & Garden and House Beautiful.

Go vertical. When you are trying to organize small spaces, going vertical is usually a must. Put things up high that don't get used as much

Sort clothes by color. This will help you find things easier, not to mention it is aesthetically pleasing.

Use over the door racks. This is great to hold things like winter gear where you can easily grab and go.

Utilize lazy susans. Great for using in corners of cabinets and on shelves for those hard to reach places.

Label. Label bins and containers so you know where things should go when you finish using them.

What are some tips you have?

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Eco Modern Concierge on Dumpsters.com 30 Day Decluttering Challenge

Since it is the new year there are so many decluttering challenges going on right now. At the end of last year Dumpsters.com asked me to contribute some tips to their 30 day Decluttering Challenge, which you can find on their website here. What are you hoping to get organized in the new year?

Photo from: Dumpsters.com

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January is Get Organized & Be Productive Month

I decided to repost content from last year because it is pretty much the same thing I would say for this year. Happy Get Organized and Be Productive Month!

January is get organized month. The beginning of the year is always a great time to hit the reset button and declutter / organize. I personally have been doing a lot of that this last month. Here is a look back at a post I wrote in 2017 on the Eco Modern Concierge blog. I get calls from all over Houston from clients needing professional organizing help whether that it checking things off of their to-do list or organizing a closet. 

Here are some additional tips to think about:

• Getting organized this year? Here are some challenges that are currently going on right now: January Cure, Simplicity Challenge, 31 Days to Get Organized and Home Organization Challenge. 
• Purge unnecessary holiday items. 
• Create a daily to-do list.
• Make a list of yearly goals and check in each month.
• Go through mail when it comes in.
• Put those returns in your car and head to the store after work or during a lunch break.
• Hire a professional organizer / productivity consultant whether it is Eco Modern Concierge or other professional organizers. 

Happy Organizing this year! Feel free to call or email Eco Modern Concierge to get started on your organization journey. info@ecomodernconcierge.com / 281.961.1914

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The One Thing Houston Professional Organizers Do Every Day

I asked some NAPO Houston professional organizers, what is one thing you do everyday? These are some of the responses. THANK YOU to all my fellow Houston organizers for sending me your responses. 

Dena Wilson of Places! Professional Organizing: "Have to make my bed each day. If for some reason I don’t (running late) I make it before I go to sleep."

Melony Davis of All About Space Organizing: "I unload my dishwasher every morning while my coffee makes, I make a realistic to-do list, I make my bed (even if I don’t use all of the decorative pillows every day), and I always wash my face before I go to bed."

Mary Jo Contello of Organized by MJ: "I make my bed, then I've always accomplished something. Check email before I leave house."

Valerie Thompson of Chronically Organized: "Hmm...am I the only organizer who doesn’t make my bed?!? I make a cup of earl grey tea every morning, after that it seems like every day is different."

Ximena Lopez of Zensible Organizing: "Coffee first thing in the morning , stretching exercises, make bed, check calendar, emails and FB ( have lots of family and friends far away) have breakfast at home,work from home or with clients, check emails before 6 pm, cook a nice dinner ( 70% of the week days), watch nice TV show or movie ( no news), sleep."

Gayle Goddard of The Clutter Fairy: "I do the bed every morning, but all my clearing/ resetting happens at night. I put everything back in the kitchen, food away, dishes in dishwasher, get through mail and pick up any trash, put the day's clothes/shoes/jewelry away, and manage cat boxes. I don't have any juice in the morning to do anything other than getting out the door!"

Naomi Kealy of Charming Spaces: "Make the bed, coffee, check my calendar and check my to do list. At night, I deal with mail right away, check the kids backpacks, have dinner as a family at the table, dishes, and I always wash my face and remove my makeup before bed (took years to form this habit lol)."

Ellen Delap of Professional-Organizer.com: "I love my morning routine! Walk first, tea, email, get ready for the day and off to clients."

Tammy Atchison of The Busy Corner: "Before going to bed, I set up the next day. Have everything ready for client, create a daily list from my master list, usually look at Facebook! 

...I’ve simplified my bed linens, so it’s easy to just pull up the covers!"

Meredith Brister of Sorted and Styled: "Make bed, floss, update bullet journal, unsubscribe from emails, classify mileage, take trash out, feed cats. Not in that order but at some point in the day."

Tiffany Mensing of Space & Serenity: "Coffee. Just thought of one other thing I always do...mascara. Or no one can see my eyelashes! "

Susan Wade of Sunflower Strategies: "If errands are needed, I write them down in the order I will go geographically so I'm not wasting time. Also, always add an item to the grocery list as I run low or use the last of.....can't stand going to the store more than once per week!"

Ellen Cooley of Southern Sequence: "I don’t go to bed without putting everything away and tidying up the main living area. i.e. fluff the pillows on the couch, straighten items on coffee table, etc. Helps me start the next morning fresh and less distracted!"

Amy Vance of Eco Modern Concierge: "I get everything ready for the next day this includes laying out clothes, checking my calendar and making sure I have all the supplies that I need for the next day. I check my email every morning, but don't always make the time to respond to everything right away. Only if it is urgent. I also take our dog, Rothko, out first thing every morning." 

Photo by Logan Nolin on Unsplash

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Eco Modern Concierge On Veronika's Blushing Blog

Head over to Veronika's Blushing blog to check out where I contributed organization tips for various areas of the home.

What area of the home do you desperately need to get organized?

Photo by Veronika's Blushing

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Made in the USA: Weathertight Bins

Lately, I have been purchasing Weathertight bins for clients. They are great especially if you store items in the garage or attics. They are ideal for sports gear, camping gear, travel gear, etc. An awesome bonus is that they are made in the USA!

Currently they are on sale for 30% off at The Container Store until May 12th.

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5 Things to Organize This Weekend

Here are 5 things that you can organize this weekend:

• Your water bottles. Most of us have SO many. Downsize on them.
• Your Tupperware. If it doesn't have a matching top or bottom get rid of it.
• Garden supplies. Spring is here time to purge old garden supplies that no longer work, are broken or are dry rotted.
• Get rid of extra pens and pencils you no longer use.
• Socks with no matches.

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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

ORGANIZING FOR 2018 WITH ECO MODERN CONCIERGE on Sunday Beach

Earlier this month I contributed to Lauren Mill's blog Sunday Beach! Go head to her blog and see why I love these products for the new year.

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5 Tips for Getting Organized in the New Year

If you get a chance head to the Eco Modern Concierge YouTube Channel to see what 5 tips you can do to get organized in the new year.

What are some of your tips?

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