Ellen Hankes

Easy Way to Recycle Cell Phones

How many unused cell phones are in your office, home or vehicle? Here's a quick way to recycle and help others.

Go to www.CellPhonesForSoldiers.com for the information on how to recycle cell phones. The free service cannot get more convenient! The website has a printable postage free label as well.

There is no restriction on brand or condition of phone. You may find it more convenient to use one of the numerous drop-off points or you can start your own drop off point per the instructions on the website.

What do you do with your unused cell phones?

Starting a Filing System

If you are considering starting a new file system, check out  the Productivity 501 blog on "Filing Systems From Scratch."

You'll find several different approaches to getting started with a filing system. In addition to the various perspectives (see if you can find mine), there is a narrative that provides an additional viewpoint.

While there is no one "right" way to organize paper files, it is important that the system fit the user. Put those folders to work!

Let's continue the dreaming! What is your dream for a file system that works for you? I would like to hear from you.

Disorganization Can Be Roadblock on Success Path

  Adults with or without diagnosed attention deficit/hyerpactivity disorder (ADHD) often cite their inability to be organized as a personally frustrating roadblock to success in their work life. Distractions can be a major issue for workers and may result in diminished productivity and increased safety concerns.

The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization provides education and training to professional organizers and professionals who specialize in work with children and adults with ADHD.

Do you have anecdotal experience related to lost job performance related to ADHD or ADD? We would like to hear about it.

Change Up Formats

Ava told me about her To Do lists. She said she loves finding colorful, funky pads of paper to use for her lists. She starts making wonderful lists and then can't stick with her new system. The result is lots of paper with more To Do's than Done!

A creative person who uses her artistic talents in her business life, Ava likes the structure of lists but gets bored with the process. She gets aggravated at herself for not staying with one system or plan.

Since Ava's need for visual stimulation is high, I encouraged her to continue to find ways to work with her marvelous creative talent. By changing up her organizing tools such as To Do lists she will keep them fresher and more interesting to her. With her interest in photography and design, she may be motivated to design her own line.

What if yellow pads had lines down the center?

What if steno pads came in pink polka dots?

What if typical school notebook paper had bubbles or circles instead of light blue lines?

What if paper was a parallelogram instead of rectangle in shape?

What would make your pencil and paper work more fun? I would like to hear your ideas.

Don't Miss the Fun! Find the Invitation!

Graduation celebration invitations arrive in the mail. Special community activities are announced. A notice in the newspaper alerts us to the new restaurant in town.

Life is too short to miss the fun stuff! How can we keep track of all these upcoming events? The refrigerator magnet system works for some people but it can be limiting in space and visual appeal.

Fellow Iowan Stephany Lykkegaard of Designer Solutions created a magnetic message board system that will enhance your decor and get you to the party on time!

Just like refrigerator contents, bulletin board contents need to be cleaned out from time to time.

What's your system for staying on top of upcoming events? Let us know and share the fun!

Take Baby Steps to Reduce Overwhelm

If we have piles of boxes in the garage, a closet bulging with clothes that no longer work, or a kitchen shelf with long-forgotten baking pans we may not want to start the process of paring down the accumulated stuff.

We become victims of "all or nothing" thinking. We reason that since we don't have enough time, energy, or money to solve the entire problem, there is no reason to start a project. Overwhelmed by the prospects of the entire projects, we find ourselves paralyzed and cannot move forward.

That's where taking baby steps comes in. Small, incremental steps will get us headed in the right direction. Small actions will contribute to a sense of accomplishment and an "I can do it!" attitude.

What small steps have you taken that were the start of a larger organizing project? We would like to hear from you!

Get Grilling with Five Organizing Tips

With the arrival of warmer weather and the approaching of the three-day Memorial Day weekend, it is time to get the outdoor grill ready for summer fun. Here are some hints for organizing your spring grill tune-up:

1. Replace corroded or damaged parts. Check your owners manual (find one on-line if necessary) for replacement parts. In addition to mail order, replacement parts are often found at hardware stores and fireplace and grill retail stores.
2. Clean grates with stiff wire brush. Knock off loose material from grill interior. Empty and/or replace any grease receptacle. Heat grill to high for several minutes to burn off accumulated grease residue.
3. Use soap and warm water to clean exterior. Touch up with paint designed for the high temperatures of grills. Home improvement or hardware stores often stock a BBQ black paint that adds life to the appearance of grills.
4. Stock up on  consumables. Make sure you have a full tank of propane gas or adequate charcoal and enough lighter fluid. If your grill uses an alternative fuel, get an appropriate supply.
5. Find the perfect recipe for family, friends and food. Now you're really cookin'!

With a little organization at the beginning of the grilling season, you will be ready for barbecue fun.

What other ideas do you have for getting organized for the barbecue season? Please share them with us.

Expect Chaos When Organzing

Visions of neatly sorted stuff float through our minds. We start an organizing project expecting the visible progress to be proportionate to the time we spend.

WRONG!

Midway through most organizing projects, the chaos can be overwhelming. It can be discouraging as the tumble of towels and the tower of books threaten to make us call a halt to this activity.

Stick with it and keep going. Chaos is part of the process of organizing.

Have you had a chaotic experience while organizing? We would like to hear about it!

Load Your Cell Phone Contacts

Are you prepared with phone numbers on your mobile phone contact list? The phone will likely hold several hundred contacts and can serve as a mini phone book or contact list.

Don't forget these important contacts:

• Family members and friends
• Airlines and travel agency 
• Vehicle service 
• School 
• Hair salon 
• Doctor and dentist
• Favorite restaurants

Gardeners Set Goals

Gardeners are great goalsetters! Whether you are a master gardener or just like to putter with growing things, planting seeds or already established plants is a way to set goals.

Enjoy spring!