NAPO2015 Expo Fun New Products

The National Association of Professional Organizers held their Annual Conference and Organizing Expo last week. Though I found no shortage of new and innovative products to keep us productive, these four simple items spoke to me as they addressed some of my own organizing challenges.

The NEET Cable Keeper by NEET Products

Tired of that tangled mess of charging cords? This handy new product – like a zippered sock for cables - actually serves a dual purpose. It keeps your cords knot-free and separate from one another; while an internal wire (think wire-edged ribbon) allows you to “shape” your cables and protect their connection sites.  My recommendation: zip a different colored one over each charging cord for tangle-free organizing.

The Time Timer Watch PLUS by Time Timer

The Time Timer is much revered by those who:

·         overestimate task completion times

·         underestimate task completion times

·         struggle with ADHD

·         need to “see”  the passage of time

·         like to focus for short periods of time

The watch version keeps the amazing Time Timer concept “on hand” at all times – and who can resist the lime green? My recommendation: try the Watch PLUS if you’re already a Time Timer fan; newcomers can get acquainted with Time Timer via the APP. 

The Wrap iT Gift Wrap Organizer by Wrap iT

Rolls of gift wrap are unwieldy at their best, boxing partners at their worst. This gift wrap organizer is the best I’ve seen. The deluxe version will even tame those longer 40” rolls! Plenty of pockets hold cards, tags, bags, ribbon, bows, and of course, scissors and tape.  The bag has a slim silhouette and hangs nicely in a closet. My recommendation: by two – one for all occasion and the other for the holidays.

The Grab n’ Go by Finder Enterprises

Part charging station, part personal valet, the Grab n’ Go by Finder Enterprises is a simple solution for those oft’ misplaced items like keys, phone and wallet. Available in white or smoke, the Grab n’ Go can accommodate up to six mobile devices, comes with pre-printed plus blank labels and is affordable at just $24.95.  My recommendation: declare a “no electronics in bed” rule and use the Grab n’ Go as a family charging station elsewhere in the house.

Do any of these products provide an organizing solution for you?

How a Keystone Habit Is Changing My Life...

The countdown is on.

 I’m 49 years old with fewer than 12 months before the Big 50; so naturally, I made a list of all the goals I’m hoping to reach before I hit the half-century mark.

Health goals, intellectual goals, family goals, spirit goals, financial goals.

And I want a theme – something catchy.

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Right now I’m feeling Fifty and Fragmented.

Sometimes Fifty and Forgetful.

At best Fifty and Functional.

I’m going for something big – like Fifty and Phenomenal.

This is going to require some serious new habits.

This is going to require a Keystone Habit.

KEYSTONE HABITS

I read about Keystone Habits in Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit. A Keystone Habit is one really good (or bad) habit that spawns a bunch of other good (or bad) habits.

Those who exercise, for example, also tend to drink more water, eat more healthfully, and manage their calendars. Exercise, therefore, is the Keystone Habit.

I need one mother of a Keystone Habit – because I have a mother-load of goals.

KEYSTONE SUNDAY

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I’m calling my new habit Keystone Sunday. It’s the ONE thing I simply must do every week if I want to hone all the other habits necessary to reach my goals.

This is how it works, in all of its absolute simplicity (why haven’t I been doing this for years!?)

I plan my week, in complete detail, every Sunday.

I meal plan, grocery plan, exercise plan, work plan, volunteer plan, kid plan, house plan and dog plan.

I fill my vitamin box, empty my inbox, and load up the icebox.

I do everything I can to set myself up for success in the coming week.

KEYSTONE TOOLS

These are a few tools I’m using to support Keystone Sunday.

One Note: I use this software to track my “big picture” goals and projects. Evernote would be a similar option.

Product of Microsoft

Wunderlist: This handy App tracks my to-do lists, syncs between my PC and mobile devices, and allows me to send items straight to my calendar. I check it daily and add to it constantly. Things, Toodledo and Errands are other popular to-do Apps.

Wunderlist

Outlook: I use the calendar in Outlook to track my daily schedule. I put EVERYTHING on my calendar that needs to get done on a given day. Google and iCal are additional electronic calendar recommendations.

Product of Microsoft

Focused

I’m hoping Keystone Sunday leads me to all sorts of wonderful successes. I’ve been at it for about five weeks now. I’m humbled by the habit – planning takes time and effort – sometimes many more hours than I ever dreamed. But I’m also in awe of this Keystone Habit’s potential – I’m accomplishing tasks and projects at an unbelievable pace and honing new habits along the way. 

Which leads me back to my “theme.”

Habits pave the way to success. By taming our impulses they unleash the possibilities we hold within. And it’s with this understanding I set my intention for the coming year:

Who's with me?

10 Items Obsolete in 10 Years

In honor of Totally Orderly’s 10 Year Anniversary (2004-2014!), I bought myself a new work bag. We professional organizers love our work bags full of little organizing gizmos and gadgets.  I’ve had at least five bags - one so big my client hesitated to allow me through the door! Another so small I had to ask to borrow a pen. Not impressive. I had a vintage toolbox that proved too heavy, and a bag on wheels with too few compartments.  

This time I settled on a lightweight but roomy black tote with just enough pockets. I found the list of supplies I had created back in 2004, and to my surprise, at least ten were no longer needed – and they were all replaced by a single item – my iPhone! Here goes:

Ten Organizer Work Bag Objects Replaced by Smartphone Apps:

·         Camera – (Gorillacam)

·         PDA – (iCalendar)

·         Calculator – (Calc)

·         Level – (iHandy Level)

·         Laptop – (Tablet)

·         Map to Client’s House – (Google Maps)

·         Handouts/Articles – (Safari – to connect to mywebsite)

·         Photos – (Pinterest)

·         Invoice – (Square)

·         Donation Resources –  (iRecycle)

My bag is so much lighter! There’s still no electronic substitute for paper clips, rubber bands or a good sharpie pen. And I still love a fresh pad of paper. But I don’t miss the rest, and something tells me my work bag will be practically virtual by 2024. What do you think?