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April 2006
1. Spring clean-out
2. FREE source for E-Waste
3. Got Books? Help New Orleans with your book donations
4. Clutter Support Group
5. New productivity tools: Send Out Cards
Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is as old as spring itself, yet the process will
invigorate and renew your soul! Our grandmas did spring cleaning
by airing out blankets and inventorying their canning jars, among
other things. Whether your space is large or small, your spring
clean-out is a little different than Grandma’s. Grandma
never dreamed of getting the loads of mail, both electronic and
postal, that you do! To be effective, start by sorting what you
have, then weed or purge, and finally, organize what is left.
Here are nine nifty tips to get you going on your own spring cleaning:
1. Crank it up. Play instrumental music that uplifts and energizes
you.
2. Keep yourself hydrated and nourished with water and snacks.
3. Open windows for fresh air and window coverings for natural
light.
4. Don’t go it alone--make it social! If you’re at
work, make it office-wide and call it “Productive Environment
Day”. If you’re working at home, make it a family
affair, or get a spring cleaning buddy and help each other out.
5. Have trash/recycle bags handy. Move the bags to the trash area
before they are too heavy to lift.
6. Have boxes on hand to contain items for donation that you no
longer use.
7. Practice the Art of Wastebasketry® by asking these questions:
a. Does this require action?
b. Can I identify a specific use?
c. It is difficult to obtain again?
d. Is it recent enough to be useful?
e. Are their tax or legal implications?
If the answer is “no”, ask: “What’s the
worst thing that will happen is I toss this?
If you can live with your answer, toss or recycle, and enjoy your
freedom!
8. Leave time for clean up at the end to put things back in order.
9. Take your donations to a local charity or arrange to have them
picked up. Prepare an itemized list if you want to claim a tax
deduction.
Get Rid of E-Waste…Free!
Do you have computers, TVs and other electronic trash that you’re
no longer using, taking up valuable space at your home or office?
Electronic Waste Management will accept your unwanted items free
of charge in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Bethel Island. Check
the link for dates and times: http://www.noewaste.com/.
Got Books?
The New Orleans Public Library is asking for hardcover and paperback
books for people of all ages in an effort to restock the shelves
after Katrina. The staff will assess which titles will be designated
for its collections. The rest will be distributed to destitute
families or sold for library fund raising. Tell the post office
that your package is for the library in New Orleans, and you’ll
get the library rate, which is slightly less than the book rate.
Send your books to:
Rica A. Trigs, Public Relations
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112
Clutter Support Groups
Would you like to establish more order in your life? Another Clutter
Support Group begins on May 11. Get the support you need to make
changes in a safe and friendly atmosphere. You might have cluttering
behavior if you answer ‘yes’ to any these questions:
Is disorganization a chronic, long lasting problem in your life?
Does disorganization undermine your quality of life on a daily
basis? Have you tried and failed to get organized on your own?
Visit http://www.marylynnemurray.com/Cluttergrp.html to register
or learn more.
Productivity Tool – Send Out Cards
How would you like to send a real card in the mail for less than
a dollar, without leaving your desk? With the click of a mouse,
you can select from more than 5,000 greeting cards, write a message
using your own handwriting font and signature, and Send Out Cards
will print, address, stuff, stamp, and send the card in the mail
for you on whatever date you want it mailed.
Send Out Cards also has a reminder service so you won’t
forget important dates such as birthdays and anniversaries. You
can import your contact addresses into the Contact Manager. Then
send one card or send the same personalized card to multiple people
at one time. Imagine the ease of sending holiday cards to clients,
friends, and family by using the campaign set-up and mail merge
capabilities! Each ‘handwritten’ card can be personalized
with the recipient’s name in the salutation and include
your own signature.
I tried it, and liked it, so I became an authorized Send Out Cards
distributor. Check this out at http://www.marylynnemurray.com/organizing_tools.html
or call me at 925-933-9737. I’ll send you a card and provide
you with a free gift account to try it yourself. If you’d
like to share this productivity tool with your friends and business
contacts, I’ll also share information about Send Out Cards’
income-earning opportunities.
Your time is valuable; thank you for taking the time to read Etips.
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