TOTALLY ORGANISED MAGAZINE by Wendy Davie

TOTALLY ORGANISED

RESOLUTIONS AND YOU

ASK THE ORGANIZER

Tracy Foulkes tackles those New years resolutions

Wendy tackles some Christmas curly questions

FIT, HEALTHY & FUN CHRISTMAS Cate Grace shows us how to enjoy the season and not lose fitness focus

WELCOME TO TOTALLY ORGANISED MAGAZINE I am thrilled to introduce you to your new Magazine “Totally Organised”, bi-Monthly we will bring you great articles to guide you in how to live a more organised life. We will be bringing you International Experts in Organising and Productivity. Also we will have articles from leaders in the fitness, food and lifestyle industries. This magazine is for YOU and aimed at helping you live a more organised life and have the time and energy to achieve all your dreams. As we are heading into the Holiday season we thought it was the perfect time to introduce our Magazine to you . In this issue you will find ways to start 2011 on the right foot and have a wonderful Christmas & New Year celebration. Your feed back is important so feel free to drop us a line editor@totallyorganised.co.nz I am here to answer all your questions, so send us your question and we may feature it in our “ASK THE ORGANISER” column. Enjoy this 1st Edition and have a wonderful Holiday Season. Wendy Davie

CONTENTS Dec/jan 2011 PAGE 3 – MAKE YOUR RESOLUTIONS WORK FOR YOU PAGE 4 – GIFT IDEAS & “ASK THE ORGANISER” PAGE 5 – TIPS FOR A MORE ORGANISED CHRISTMAS PAGE 6 – FITTER, HEALTHIER AND FUN CHRISTMAS PAGE 7 – DON’T BE SUCKED INTO BUYING PAGE 8 – MAKING THE HOLIDAYS EASIER NEXT YEAR

FOUNDER/EDITOR

PAGE 10 – YOUR BEST BUSINESS YEAR EVER

Published by: Totally Organised Ltd 2010 PO Box 30-143, St Martins 8246 Christchurch, New Zealand © Totally Organised

MAKE YOUR RESOLUTIONS WORK FOR YOU Tracey Foulkes

Hands up if you’ve achieved your resolutions this year. Everything crossed off your to-do list? Big picture planning projects written and analyzed? Finance ducks in a row? As you spiral to year- end, you may find yourself reflecting on the year that was. You committed to 2010 being the year to get things done, focus and add value but if you are honest with yourself you have far too many projects still outstanding. In the quest to ‘do it all’ you have been less productive than you’d have liked, it’s a mad rush to reach (and surpass) annual targets and you know you need a holiday but finances and work load don’t seem to be coming to the party. CLEAR THE CLUTTER Clutter in your space slows you down. If you can’t lay your hands on a document, file or folder in a couple of seconds chances are you don’t have a paper flow system that suits your organization style and/or job function. Statistics show that we only need 20% of the papers we keep, but many hours are wasted annually filing and then searching for documents that are misfiled. At desk level, start by separating your papers into two piles: one for filing and one for action. You’ll need an effective, easy to implement and quick to retrieve filing system in pace to pave the way to productivity. KEEP MOTIVATED All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, it’s also a recipe for being less productive at work and less fulfilled at play. Decide on your holiday dates and destinations early in the year and immediately check these off in your calendar. Human beings respond well to reward and your looming time off might be just the motivation you need to get more focused in the office. By balancing work & play you will feel more energised and less guilty. Remember that it is not always viable to change everything that is not working in one go. Focus first on the one area that is causing you the most concern and work hard to change whatever isn’t working. Once you have gained control in that area you can move onto your next biggest challenge. Even a small change can go a long way to getting more focused and productive. Tracey Foulkes, Organiser and Productivity expert, speaker & trainer. Founder of Get Organised 2002 (South Africa & Ireland). www.getorganised.co.za / wwww.getorganised.org / www.traceyfoulkes.com 3

GREAT GIFT IDEAS That will not become clutter! DOORGANISER Don’t forget a thing, holds your keys, phone, mail, bills and even DVD’s

BLING HANG-IT Fun and Funky jewellery hanger.

PLANNER/DIARY One great planner will be a gift that lasts for years.

ASK THE ORGANISER

My Partner and I separated this year and now I am feeling the need to out do him with the purchase of Christmas gifts for the Children. He earns well and can afford to buy them the latest of everything, I cannot afford this but I feel they may prefer him over me as he can give them more. How can compete with him? Being a wonderful parent is not a competition. It is always difficult tackling your first holiday season as a single parent, and the need to satisfy the kids desires can be great. However what really matters is that you love them and spend time with them, create amazing memories, because that is what they will remember, not who bought the most gifts. If you can have a conversation with your Ex and tell him how you are feeling, then you may be able to come up with a solution. If this is not going to work as wounds are too raw, then focus on giving your kids loads of love, fun, attention and experiences. If you buy them a gift buy something long lasting such as a watch, picture, piece of jewelry, special toy or something they can start a collection with. Remember what kids want most is the love and attention of you. E F

Wendy Davie CPO ®

I have three children, and I find I become quiet stressed at this time of year as they already have plenty of toys and games. There is a pressure to supply the latest gifts and gadgets, however when we do they house becomes overrun with kids stuff. How can I have a generous, fun Christmas without breaking the bank and filling the house with kid clutter? You are not alone, this is a problem faced by many parents at this time of year. There are a few things you can do to prepare for the gift onslaught. Take some time to sort and declutter the kids current toys, then get your kids to gift/donate them to other Children in need. You can do this through refugee’s centers, Salvation Army and Hospitals. That way they see the older toys going to good homes. When it comes to selecting gifts for this years, then look ahead, purchase quality not quantity also giving experiences rather than material gifts can work well with kids. Things like a boat trip, fishing day, Movie Vouchers, Music Vouchers etc canDalso be great. 4

TIPS FOR A MORE ORGANISED CHRISTMAS WENDY DAVIE

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Do your Christmas planning in mid to late November. This is the time for you to sit and make up the lists of events, tasks and gifts to keep your holiday season on track. Make the most of the lists. Use lists for Food, Gifts, Cards and your budget. You can add to these lists. Make sure you keep them in an easy to find and central location. Draw up a schedule and delegate tasks to family members. This is really important, as you need to relax and enjoy the holiday season as well. Even if you are doing the hosting, get everyone to participate. Many people will have traditions and specialties that they love to cook or prepare for Christmas, let them be involved. Schedule a Christmas shopping day in early December. Have the list of gifts and recipients at the ready. It is also important to stick to the budget. By shopping early with a planned list you will avoid impulse and expensive last minute gift mistakes. Take a little time to write a Family Newsletter that can be included in your Christmas Cards. This can take as little as one hour to write, and makes a great addition to you Cards. Post your cards early. Have them written and addressed by the end of November. If you need to send parcels to family and friends overseas do this in Mid November. Always keep your diary handy to ensure you do not miss any parties, school breakups, appointments and it is also a great place to make notes if you remember something on the run.

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Shop for some inexpensive general gifts that can be used for unexpected guests and gift givers. Have these wrapped and under the tree. If you do not use them they can be brought out next year. Plan a “secret Santa” or gift spending limit to reduce the pressure on family gift giving. Set up a challenge for your family to find the funniest, most practical or original gift for one other family member. Remember Christmas is about spending time together not who can out gift someone else. Organise to make a charitable donation or give a gift this Christmas that will make a difference to someone else this year. This is a great opportunity to spread some love and care. Involve the family in deciding how you would like to achieve this. Spend some time early in December to declutter your home and make it clean and clear for the upcoming celebrations. This can be a good time to reduce and recycle unwanted items from around your home. Prepare your decorations and tree trimming. Check for broken or missing bulbs and ornaments. As you are bringing these items out of storage, check for wear and tear. This is a great time to replace tired decorations. Have a baking and gift making session. It is fun to give home made gifts and baking. Do this early in December and you often freeze some of the baking and the gifts will be ready to go under the tree.

Tips for a fitter, healthier, fun 2010 Christmas Cate Grace

The festive season no longer needs to be a time for ditching your well being regime. Cate Grace is a personal trainer and fitness motivator from Leap Fitness & Motivation Ltd. Here are her 7 tips to help enjoy this season; Lifestyle There are no good or bad foods in our world just everyday foods and sometimes food. Ensure your sometimes foods are enjoyed in moderation. Remember all food is fuel to help our body function at its peak performance. Choose to eat more food from the ground and less food from wrappers. Exercise Lift Heavy things once a week & find something you enjoy doing to get huffy puffy. Try things like skipping, hula hooping, running, walking, dancing, gardening and biking to get started. Do three minutes of your favourite huffy puffy and slowly build it up to 30 minutes per day. Appreciate Alone time Find at least three guilt free minutes every day to do something you love on your own. It can be anything that allows you time out of your busy day. Try things like meditations, sitting in nature, reading a book, listen to music, have a bath, journal, play solitaire or read your favourite magazine. Play Play like a 5-year-old child at least once a day. We believe everyone has an inner 5-year-old child ready to come out and play. Find things that get you having fun and giggle and laugh. Have a water fight, swing at the playground, make a daisy chain, smile at a stranger, buy an ice cream in a cone, balance on a fence, skip down the street, do a dead ant in the middle of a park, toast marshmallows on a fire, sing songs out loud, play patter cake or hopscotch. Just remember to have fun! 2 litres of water Keeping hydrated in the heat of summer is important to ensure your body is functioning well. Drink enough water that your urine is clear. If you are thirsty then you are already dehydrating so keep a water bottle handy. Enjoy your festive drinking by having water in between each alcoholic beverage. Invest time Invest time in you and your family - wherever you are this festive season BE there. Turn off your phones, facebook, emails, computer, TVs, DVDs, and invest in some good old face-to-face conversation with loved ones around the BBQ, dinner table or picnic. Try something new Stretch yourself and get out of your comfort zone by trying at least one new thing this festive season. Try a new food, new place, new anything. Enjoy the experience by using all of your senses sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. CATE GRACE – Fitness and Lifestyle Consultant www.leap2it.co.nz

Don't Be Sucked Into Buying! Linda Clevenger I have been watching my 2 year old granddaughter play with her toys. She does not have an abundance of things to play with but we think it is enough. Over the last 2 weeks she has spent time playing with 2 things...her Noah's Are with all of the animals - we go over the noises that they make, their color, etc; and some basic wooden blocks that we fit into a square. Last night she entertained herself for 30 minutes putting the block into the square, taking them out, talking about the, counting them and stacking them. The best part is that these were given to her by a good friend who has yet to even meet her. What is my point? It is the holidays and the stores are more than willing to suck us into making purchases that we don't need or have the room for. I used to stress about who needed what, how much it was going to cost, how much money I needed and it never seemed like it was enough. The stores know how to get to us. They draw us in with their mark downs with exactly what they think we want and need. Bigger, better.... more, more, more. The stores follow trends about what they believe you will buy, not caring whether you still have one of these items at home. That is not part of their consideration. Their concern is the profit that goes into their pocket. So why am I bringing this up? Because there WILL be another sale next week. Kohl's will have the "Biggest Sale of the Holiday Season" again next week and again on the weekend before Christmas and yet again after the New Year. Stick to your plan. Stick to your list. Stick to your budget. You don't have to have the latest, greatest, brightest thing on the market. Ask yourself just two questions before making a purchase - Do I really NEED this? and then Will I REALLY use it? Keep your life simple! Now imagine this... What would your space and life be like if you only keep the things that helped you reach your goals? LINDA CLEVENGER www.OrganizationDirect.com DON'T AGONIZE - ORGANIZE

MAKING THE HOLIDAYS EASIER NEXT YEAR BY RAMONA CREEL

Now that the holidays are over, it's time for an honest assessment. What did your season look like this year? Calm, relaxed, and stress-free -- or a lot of overwhelm and rushing around at the last minute? You really don't have to invest quite so much effort to make things merry, if you keep track of what worked and didn't work this time around -- then take a few steps to get organized for next year in advance. End Up The Year The Right Way I know you will be in a rush to get the house back in order after the holidays are over -- but invest a few minutes to do it right. Don't just throw everything in a box. Take time to wrap your lights, either around a "cord winder" or even just a piece of cardboard -- so they won't get tangled. Pack fragile items carefully, surrounded in tissue paper or bubble wrap (if necessary) to insure that nothing is damaged or broken. Replace burned-out bulbs, donate ornaments that no longer suit your tastes, and discard of candle stubs and other items that have no life left in them. Then store like items together (ornaments, snowmen, yardart, whatever) -- just be sure to label your boxes so you know each container's contents before you ever remove the lid! Also, make it a priority to organize your holiday card mailing list -- preferably in a computer program which will allow you to print labels (I promise that the time you invest now will save you hours later on!) Whether you keep your list on the electronically or by hand, double check your addresses against the envelopes from cards you received this year. If you see any mistakes or people you forgot, update their listings while it's still fresh in your mind.

Keeping Track It always happens during the holidays -- some things go smoothly and others do not. Maybe you tried to have a huge buffet and the food got cold before everyone could eat it. Or you thought fresh greenery would be nice -- but the needles fell off a week after you set out the garlands. Or you plugged in so many lights that you shorted out the whole neighborhood! On the other hand, you may have discovered a great pattern for a gingerbread house, found community event that you want to attend again next year, fallen in love with your next door neighbor's cheese ball recipe, or landed on the perfect gift for Aunt Martha. Make a note of these pluses and minuses and stash your list with your decorations. Review your list next year and act accordingly You also don't have to limit your seasonal planning to months of November and December. Collect up your favorite holiday recipes into a special notebook and store it with your other cookbooks so you can make those items at other times during the year. And don't throw out that wish list of gifts you wanted to give this year -cross off any items you know were already received and continue to add to your list throughout the year, then use your list for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions Getting Ready For Next Year There is nothing uglier than coming up on the holidays knowing that you are going to go into serious debt. We can certainly debate the merit of spending huge amounts of money on gifts -- but the easiest way to deal with gift-giving, decorating, and entertaining bills is to plan ahead. Banks used to (and still may) offer "Christmas Clubs" -- savings accounts that you add to throughout the year and can't touch until December. If your bank doesn't have such a creature, set up a separate account that you treat as a Christmas club. Put aside a small amount each month, and swear not to spend it on anything except the holidays. Then promise yourself that you will limit yourself to what you have in your account (and no more) during the yuletide shopping spree

Some things (like greeting cards, wrapping paper, and lights) are hard to find outside of the holiday season. But if you buy them right at the start of December, you will end up paying an arm and a leg. Head out to the day-after-Christmas sales to stock up on these sorts of goodies -- all marked at least half off. You can even find potential gifts for the next year at huge savings. Then store all of your bargains away with your decorations, ready for action next holiday season. Resource Box: Copyright Ramona Creel, all rights reserved. Ramona Creel is a modern Renaissance woman and guru of simplicity -traveling the country as a full-time RVer, sharing her story of radically downsizing, and inspiring others to regain control of their own lives. As a Professional Organizer and Accountability Coach, Ramona will help you create the time and space to focus on your true priorities -- clearing away the clutter other obstacles and standing in the way of that life you've always wanted to be living. As a Professional Photographer, Ramona captures powerful images of places and people as she travels. And as a travel writer, social commentator, and blogger, she shares her experiences and insights about the world as we know it. You can see all these sides of Ramona -- read her articles, browse through her photographs, and even hire her to help get your life in order -- at http://www.ramonacreel.com. And be sure to follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ramonacreel and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ramonacreel.

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YOUR BEST BUSINESS YEAR EVER Clare Fountain

New Year – New Focus This article will save you time by supporting you to take stock at the end of the year and make sure running your own business is still working for you. Check List – for making next year the best year yet for your business Do you need to get financial advice regarding your tax liability for the current year? It might be a good idea to call your accountant for advice that could save you more than their fee. Check your legal structure is still appropriate and is there anything to change to improve performance in the year ahead. Do you understand your current financial status? Take a look at your year to date figures and if you have been in business for a few years compare them. How much profit did you make, where did it come from, is it what you expected? Take the time to understand your finances and make sure you are managing them so they don’t manage you. Is this what you still want to be doing? Is it supporting your dream lifestyle? How is your health, how is your relationship with yourself and your family and friends? Take stock and list the pros and cons of running your business to check you are on track. What needs to change? What worked in the last 12 months? What didn’t work? What is blocking you? Take the time to pull your head out of the business and take a look around. Henry Ford said ‘ Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal’. Refine your goals or write new ones for the year ahead. What are the 5 Key actions you need to focus on for the coming year to make your business, yourself, your family and community thrive? Make sure your actions include taking time out for yourself. A tired business owner has a tired business. I notice that when my business owner clients take time off they often end up making more money as they return refreshed and ready to take on the challenges. This is a perfect time of year to form new habits......enjoy the benefits refocussing provides. CLARE FOUNTAIN www.clarefountain.com