You'll love my new, exclusive . . .
Get Organized Now! BINGO! Organizing Printable!

It's a new, quick, easy, fun way to get organized. Each GON Bingo! card lists 24 easy organizing tasks you or your family can accomplish. Get five in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally and you get to select a reward from the rewards list. Kids love to play too!

To access and print it, visit:
getorganizednow.com/free-resources.html

Happy organizing and enjoy some GON BINGO! organizing fun!

Maria Gracia

P.S. Please forward this newsletter to friends and family so they, too, can access this resource. Thank you for spreading the love!

Here are a bunch of tips and thoughts from GON Readers to brighten your day...

An Idea I Came Up With Last Night
Hi Maria!

I always love your newsletter, but your April 25th issue was especially good because it gave me a little confirmation for an idea I came up with last night.

I was cleaning out my closet and have two shoe racks. I figured out that if I am careful about how I put my shoes on the rack, that I only need one. This has freed up more space in my closet.

I am going to put the other shoe rack on my widest pantry shelf and see if that helps me get it more organized. I have been trying to make the pantry more functional for so long that the running joke in the house is that every 3 weeks it has changed.

I am also going to use your quote as a journal prompt for my students this week as we are doing a project on making a difference in our local environment. Thanks for all your ideas and inspiration!

-- Sherah

Over the Years, I Learned a Few Similar Lessons
In reference to your April 21st issue, I had a similar ironic incident. After staying three hours late after my 11am-7pm shift, working so hard to get things done 'properly', I went home exhausted. The next morning, to my absolute horror and shame, I got to work, at 11am, turned over the page of my daily planner to see '8am, Work Smarter, not Harder seminar at headquarters' (which had been booked at least a month before) (This was, to slightly excuse myself, the days before electronic schedulers were common.) The lesson of turning over the diary page to see the next day's tasks before leaving work was learned, but I did not ever get another opportunity to attend a seminar of this type, and it was one that I really, really needed.

Over the years though, I have learned a few similar lessons to the ones you mentioned.

Regarding estimating time: I truly believe that when you are emotionally engaged in a task, the part of your brain which knows roughly how much time is passing is suppressed. Use a timer! It's sometimes horrifying to find out how quickly 10 minutes passes, or even 30 minutes.

Regarding 'To Do' lists: Be prepared to "disobey" it if you are planning to make any appointments on time! Just because it is on your To Do list, does not make it gospel, or the law. You do NOT have to do every single thing on your list before your appointment.

Regarding 'Just one more thing': My expression of 'downfall' is 'I'll just do this....(fill in the minor task of choice.)'...

The combination of being an optimist and being a perfectionist makes you late every time! Or else, it stops you from starting whatever it is you want to do, perfectly, because there isn't time to do it properly.

Perfection is only needed in my house when the Queen of England announces that she will be visiting it, but that still doesn't stop long-entrenched neural pathways of thinking. I really have to fight perfectionism and all its disadvantages every single day.

Regarding procrastination: I loved it when I heard someone say, 'It can take you five minutes, or it can take you six months and five minutes.' I do try to remember this, but mostly forget. (I think I need it on one of those old fashioned embroidery samplers on every wall...actually I think I need it written in marker pen on the back of my hand every morning (LOL).

Thanks (again) for all your wisdom and encouragement,

-- Barb

5 Things I Will Do Today to Become More Organized
Maria,

These are my five things I will do today to become more organized.

1. Take plastic bags back to store.

2. Check pantry for expired items.

3. Put away items not in use in kitchen.

4. Take clothes to Goodwill.

5. Put hairdryer back in cabinet.

And because it's Earth Day when I'm writing this letter, pick up garbage in the community.

--Janet R.

This Week's Recommendation

Get Rid of Clutter
and Plan, Promote, and Profit
from your Next Garage Sale with the

Get Organized Now
Garage Sale Toolkit

Plus, Get 3 Complimentary Bonuses
Until Friday, May 28

To fast-forward to the Garage Sale Toolkit, visit:

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Garage sales are a WONDERFUL way to get rid of your clutter and spring/summer is the perfect time to host one! If you've hosted a sale before, you probably already know it's no fun planning and setting up for a garage sale, just to find out you have only a few customers throughout your day, little more than your starting cash, and a whole lot of your stuff at the end of your sale.

If you've been frustrated with the work and energy you put into your garage sales...with little profit to show for it when you're done...the Get Organized Now! Garage Sale Tool Kit is for you!

Here's what just one customer had to say...

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Don't settle for average results and minimum pay back. Give yourself the best chance for maximum results. You won't be disappointed.

P.S. This is the perfect time to begin planning your garage sale. Start today by getting yourself a copy of my Garage Sale Tool Kit. When you do, you'll get these 3 COMPLIMENTARY eBook BONUSES, in addition to everything else included, to make your garage sales even more successful...but ONLY UNTIL FRIDAY, May 28.

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Take Action

___ 1. Do today's task on my May Monthly Organizing Checklist. The May 26 TO DO focuses on your shoes. Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my May Monthly Organizing Checklist.

___ 2. Clean off the top of your desk. Whether it's a desk at home or at work, remove everything from the surface and clean it thoroughly. Then, only return those items that truly need to be on it. Put everything else where it belongs, or trash/recycle it if it's no longer needed.

___ 3. Get another May challenge done. There's still time to get one or two of our May challenges done. Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my May Organizing and Life Challenges.

Inspiration

'You may think having a cluttered desk isn't that big of a deal. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Disorganization can stunt your professional growth and decrease your productivity.' (John Rampton)

In Closing

I'd love to hear from you.

I LOVE GON reader mail! Whether it's a comments, suggestions, or just a note to say hello, REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...there's no better time to get organized, than to Get Organized Now!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!
getorganizednow.com

How to Use This Newsletter In this newsletter, you will find stories, ideas, inspiration, links and more to help you live a less stressful, more organized, more fulfilling life. We encourage you to apply these ideas to your own life AND share them liberally with your family, friends, and fan base via email, on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, other social media outlets, and in person, of course! When you share, please mention my name and web site - Maria Gracia - GetOrganizedNow.com as the source. Thank you for helping to spread the gift of organizing far and wide! -- Maria

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