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Daft Punk released their anticipated album called, Random Access Memories yesterday and while it takes us through memory lane from the catchy beats, familiar rhythms and 70′s samples, they inspired me to write my first entry in Klosky’s Corner, which is about:

Recondition Your Brain to Better Yourself

Habits are hard to break. In fact the first time that resonated with me was when I listened to the Chicago song ”Hard Habit to Break” from 1993, which at its core was a about breaking the habit of loving someone who got away and learning to deal with the consequences of treating a loved one poorly. Not realizing what you had until it was gone.  I was thirteen and had my heart broken for the first time.

We have all been through break-ups, we have all loved, lost, hurt, been hurt and we all know in the end we move on, heal and love again. How fast that happens is truly dependent on our own actions and the habits we have conditioned ourselves to find comfort in. When a piece of your life disappears you must make the choice to live your life without that piece and continue to build rather than searching and yearning for the missing piece. Easier said then done, yes, BUT it is a choice and does take time!

I show you this picture above because our brain has the power! OR do we actually control our brain? Pathways, synapses that fire over and over again based on habits and  patterns we have formed. We truly have the power to change our habits and recondition our minds to work and fire off new synapses. It won’t happen over night, but can happen night by night then day by day until all of a sudden what you have been use to is suddenly a distant memory and old habit. They die hard, but when those bad habits die new positive ones can form. It is much easier to resort to the old habits, the ones that fire without warning, but next time you feel that habit coming on, whatever your poison may be, STOP and try something new.

Bringing this around to the O.C.D. Experience,  everything I have created in my life when it comes to organization is based off of habit and repetitions. All of the organizational systems I teach my clients are based off of the development of the habits I have formed to battle my obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which enables me to focus on being more productive and more effective rather than obsessing over things that are destructive and unhealthy. I have been doing it for most of my life now, and I know how difficult it can be to break a habit and not regress backward. It can happen, you can change and better yourself anytime you want by making the decision to!

We live in an increasingly digitized era. Tasks that used to be performed on paper are now done using smart devices such as your computer, iPad, or phone; no more are the days of filing cabinets filled with paperwork, or shoeboxes pilled high with family photos. Technological advancements have allowed us to unclutter our offices and homes, but how do we make sure that we aren’t just transferring the clutter to a different platform? Here are some tips on organizing your digital world.

One of the areas that people struggle with the most when it comes to digital organization is email. We all know the deal: Monday morning, open up your mailbox – a hundred, two hundred, sometimes three hundred emails cluttering up your path to productivity. This is a slippery slope, if you let it build, important emails might get lost amongst the junk! The trick is to work smarter and not longer. Take an hour or two to organize your email and follow these three easy steps:

1)            Unsubscribe to anything that you don’t read. We all have weekly emails that we think we’ll get around to and never do. Unsubscribe. Just click it.

2)            Create folders. Come up with categories such as: work, personal, bills, school. Then file past e-mails away. Your inbox should only be filled with current emails that you need to take care of or haven’t yet replied to. This will help you be more efficient in knowing what you’ve done and have yet to do as well as if you’re ever looking for something in the future.

3)            Don’t Use Your Inbox to Store Email. Your inbox should act as a tangible “mailbox”.  Just like you grab your everyday mail from your mailbox and bring it inside your home or office, your digital box should function the same way. Read a message, deal with it and get it out of your inbox. The only reason it should sit there is if you are waiting for a response from someone or you just haven’t dealt with it yet.

Another area that can easily get cluttered is your documents folder. Word documents, excel sheets, and PDF’s can slowly increase to the point that you don’t know where anything is. Come up with a system to categorize them. Create a folder structure that is catered to you and your work and life. Typical folders would be Business, Creative, Family, Health, Insurance, Money & Taxes, Receipts, Resumes.  You might create folders by semester and class if you are a student, by department for work, by project or deadline if you are working on several things at once. If you have monthly documents such as electronic bills, make separate folders for each company and make sure to date them with the month and year and keep them in your Money folder.

PICTURE folders can often benefit from organizing. When it comes to photos the best thing to do is CREATE FOLDERS in your main pictures folder and then break them own by category.  Break the folders down by the EVENT and always make sure to add the year to the folder and the pictures. You can have a folder for all your FAMILY PHOTOS and then break these down by event as well. If you spend time travelling, create a TRAVEL folder and then create folders in your travel folder for your trips. For those of us with extensive photo collections, you might consider downloading Picassa which will allow you to photo tag names and locations to each photo, so that if you’re looking for a picture of you in a certain location with a certain friend you can type in that location and person’s name and find the photo instantly. You can also use the BATCH EDIT function to create custom names for a large group of photos.

MUSIC is everywhere these days! If you still have CD’s piled up all over your home, it is time to DIGITZE them and import the ones you want portable to your computer.  Most digital music programs such as Windows Media Player and iTunes do a pretty good job of organizing your music for you, but some CD’s won’t be found in the database online. In cases like this make sure to label your music correctly to ensure proper organization. Think about sending all of your music to the CLOUD and use services like Google Play which will stream your music to you anywhere you have a data or internet connection. This will save you tons of space on your computer. If you decide to keep your music locally make sure that it is being backed up as you won’t want your entire music library to disappear one day!

In the process of uncluttering, make sure you delete files that you don’t need and back up those that you want to save. Once you’ve organized your computer, why don’t you take it a step further and implement your strategy on your other smart devices. Organize your text messages or contact list on your smart phone; manage your e-mails on your iPad. Better yet, sync all your devices together so that all the information on each of your platforms is accurate and up to date.

If these methods don’t work for you, come up with some that do! You can alphabetize, use colors, shapes, or pictures to create structure. However you choose to organize your digital space, make sure you come up with a comprehensive strategy and stick to it! Once you’ve set up a system, you want to file as you go, so don’t make things too complicated; your system should be easy to remember and simple to navigate; the idea is to simplify your life and save time!

If you have good tips on organizing your digital world, share them with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Photos by:
Pörrö / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Gary Simmons / Music Photos / CC BY-NC-SA

An organized home doesn’t just magically happen over night. It actually doesn’t just magically happen at all. You have to be the one to take responsibility in making your home an organized one, and all this takes is a pinch of motivation and some small dreaming. Once you’ve started envisioning how you can make your living space more efficient, you can launch a routine that will be easy to stay committed to because (hello!) you created it.

Maybe when you start your day your top priorities aren’t to make your bed, take out the trash, pick the dirty laundry up off of the floor or do the dishes from last night. But in a disciplined world, they should be. In fact all of these things should be done the night before so you can start your day off fresh.  Realize that these chores are not miscellaneous, but necessary for good living quality. Let them be only minor components of a routine that will help you achieve your major goal of keeping your home up to standard.

That stress you feel as you walk in the door after seeing nothing has been done comes from having done nothing. Organization it’s not just about keeping everything clean and nice for people to look at, but how you feel about the space you live in. If you respect your space enough, accept the responsibility to straighten up after yourself. You will inevitably feel unstoppable in an organized space, as it will encourage movement and creativity.

To be able to say, “I should put the cereal back in the pantry before I leave for work”, is a big step on the organizational stairs, which, mind you, have no loose mail, books or lame Christmas gifts on them.

photo by: axeldeviaje

So how was tax season 2013?  You looking forward to next year?  No one likes doing taxes, but creating weekly, monthly and yearly goals, you can looking forward to a relatively painless tax season and just focus on how you’ll be spending your return.  Start today.

TODAY

No time is better than the present.  Designate one credit card for personal expenses and another for business.  Since you can ignore personal expenses, this will save you time sorting through line items in bank and credit card statements.

TODAY

Download personal finance software such as Quicken or QuickBook.  This is the easiest way to keep track of spending, savings and investments all in one place.

WEEKLY

Once a week, log into Quicken or Quickbooks and reconcile your accounts.  Make sure to tag everything you can write off.  Some of the most used tags are “meals”  “entertainment”, “travel”, “auto” and “charity”.  Setting small, achievable weekly goals like this will keep tax season from becoming overwhelming.

MONTHLY

Since everything is found online nowadays, the only receipts you should keep are cash receipts.  As you collect cash receipts, make sure to write the reason for the charge on it.  Then place it in a bin, receipt spike or envelope on your desk.  At the end of the month, scan receipts, save the scan to your Taxes 2013 file and add to your records in Quickbooks or Quicken.  Recycle the paper receipt.

MONTHLY

Not all banking institutions allow access to statements year-round.  Download the PDF of your statement and save to your computer in your Taxes 2013 file.

MONTHLY

If you freelance, make sure to compile a list at the end of every month of your clients and their contacts.  This list will serve as your checklist to ensure you receive all the correct paperwork and 1099s come January 2014.

YEARLY

Scan your w2, 1099s, loan and investment documents.  Compile your paperless returns and file away!

For your daily dose of organization, follow Justin Klosky on Twitter and become a fan of Organize & Create Discipline on Facebook.

It’s tough out there.  But getting organized before you send out your first resume will give you the competitive edge needed to land your dream job.

1-        Don’t be desperate.  Be honest with yourself about what you want to spend 40+ hours a week doing.  Don’t take a job just to take a job; nine times out of ten you will be miserable and perform poorly.  Organize yourself, pick something you like and go from there.

2-        Know your strengths = Knowing YOU.  Just because you like music doesn’t mean you can be a rock-n-roll guitar god.  However, there are many other areas within music where you can shine.  If you are good at math, maybe look at being a business manager.  If law is your jam, maybe look at what it takes to be an entertainment lawyer.  And if you like events, try working with your local concert hall.

3-        Know your industry.  Who are the key players?  Which companies appear in FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® list?  What are typical salaries for your experience level?  Knowing these answers before you start applying will simplify your job search.

4-        Separate business from pleasure.  Hiring managers have two ways of contacting you, e-mail or phone.  IMaSXYBTCH2013@gmail.com screams fun, but does not have that “hire me” ring to it.  Be sure to create a simple, professional e-mail address.  Honestly, your name will suffice.  And while quirky voice mail greetings are cute, they are a turn off to perspective employers looking for dependable, business-minded candidates.

5-        Keep your resume updated. There is no sense in leaving a job with an old, out-of-date resume.  Stay on top of it.  Add those milestones and impressive job responsibilities to your resume as you excel in your current position, not after it has ended.

6-        Stay Connected.  Remember that job you didn’t get because you didn’t have enough experience before?  Now you do.  Did you keep that hiring manager’s contact information?  Hope you did.  In many instances, you will meet people you don’t end up working with at that moment. They will come back into your life down the line in a greater capacity. Keep an up-to-date contact list of all of the people you meet and stay in touch. The most important thing to remember is to nurture all of the relationships that you value in your life.

Now go out and land your dream job!

For your daily dose of organization, follow Justin Klosky on Twitter and become a fan of Organize & Create Discipline on Facebook.

BEFORE & AFTER- LAUNDRY ROOM

Before- Laundry Room

1. Clutter breeds clutter.  I am not sure how it happens.  It is as mysterious as the case of the disappearing sock.  But when there is clutter, more clutter appears and then it’s an episode of Hoarders.

2. Disorderly disaster.  Since there is no clear location for products and supplies, family members just place things anywhere and everywhere.  Such disorder will leave you wondering, “What happened to that new bottle of Windex?”

3. All rooms in one.  When other rooms migrate to one, you find yourself with a messy, overcrowded space you don’t really want to step foot in.

After- Laundry Room

1. Rid yourself of excess products.  Dirty sponges (ewww!!!), cleaning supplies you don’t use and empty bottles should all be tossed.  Only keep the items needed for maintaining an orderly and clean house.

2.  Create a labeling system.  You may have a system, but your spouse and kids may not know it.  Labels on shelves and in cabinets help the entire family recognize where products go and prevent the laundry room from turning into the hazard room.  This type of organization also helps create shopping lists and prevents you from purchasing extra of products you already own.  Cha-ching!  That’s extra money in the bank.

3. Defined spaces.  Your laundry room is not that big.  It should not be a catchall room for items from the playroom, office and guest bedroom.  Use the space for what it was intended and you will find yourself with space to actually fold clean socks, sheets and shirts.

For your daily dose of organization, follow Justin Klosky on Twitter and become a fan of Organize & Create Discipline on Facebook.

5 Tips to Remember Throughout the Year to Make Spring Cleaning a Breeze

On March 20, the spring cleaning alarm clock rang.  Everyone rushed to get a year’s worth of dust bunnies, clutter and chaos all spruced up.  It probably took hours…days.

Avoid cramming all of spring cleaning into just a couple, frustrating weeks.  Instead, “spring clean” all year-long so when spring finally arrives, you have time to stop and smell the lilacs, sweet peas and freesias.

1 – The early bird catches the worm.  Wake up 15 minutes earlier once a week and do the one thing you don’t want to ever deal with.  It could be going through mail, hanging up that pile of clothing on your floor or even getting your car washed and waxed.  15 minutes once a week is so much easier to handle than 15 hours down the line.

2 – Don’t forget those weird, hard to reach places.  Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it ain’t there.  Over the course of a year, one little dust particle can grow into a dust bunny the size of a rat’s nest.  Make sure you add cleaning your blinds, under the couch, behind the fridge, stove and above your shelves to your cleaning regimen. The more you maintain, the less it will be a pain.

3 – Shoes off baby!  Imagine how much cleaner your carpets would be if you just took your shoes off at the door.  For extra sparkle, get your carpets cleaned every four months.  They even have “green” carpet cleaners now. The last thing you want to be doing on a warm spring day is scrubbing out stains in the carpet.

4 – Purge periodically. There is no sense of going through EVERYTHING in your home when spring arrives.  Instead go through your belongings on a regular basis throughout the year.  For example, after a shopping spree, weed through your old clothes and shoes getting rid of anything you haven’t worn the last 6 months.  When you get home from Costco, go through your cleaning supplies and storage areas removing any mostly empty bottles and gross sponges.

5 – A little goes a long way!  Just keeping up on things a little bit everyday will save you time and energy when spring cleaning comes around.  You might be able to avoid it and enjoy time outside instead.

For your daily dose of organization, follow Justin Klosky on Twitter and become a fan of Organize & Create Discipline on Facebook.

BEFORE & AFTER- CHILD’S PLAYROOM

The toys took over.  It was no longer an idyllic child’s play haven.  It became menacing mountains of broken, unused, forgotten dolls and games.  After a few hours with the parents AND children, we took this room from wasteland to play land.

Before- Children’s Playroom 

1- Giant piles are perils for children.  They can easily trip or have something fall on their heads.

2- Too much of anything is unhealthy. Overabundance teaches children that more is better. Set examples by showing not telling.

3- Habits form early. Allowing rooms to remain messy during formative years, it breeds disorganization later in life.

After- Children’s Playroom

1- Get your kids involved.  Go through the piles of toys with your kids.  Let them tell you which they still love playing with, which can go to the trash and which are good to donate.  This process will kick start your children’s good organizational habits.

2- Designate areas for toys, games and books.  More time can be spent creating and playing rather than finding and putting toys away if everything is properly stored.

3- Set realistic goals. Don’t try and fix a mess this far gone over a week. It will be draining for you and your children. Instead, set aside 5 minutes before playtime ends for clean-up time.

For your daily dose of organization, follow Justin Klosky on Twitter and become a fan of Organize & Create Discipline on Facebook.

Nowadays, getting organized and STAYING organized can be as simple as a tap of a button.  Here are my 5 favorite, O.C.D. approved apps that will get your life digital and decluttered in a fun way!

1. ArtKive

Does your fridge have space for another one of Timmy’s drawings?  With Artkive it will.  This app stores your children’s treasured artwork on your smartphone or tablet.  Take a picture, file it, share it, create a one-of-a-kind mug or ‘publish’ a coffee table book with all his masterpieces.

2. Keeper

Never forget a password again.  Keeper is my go-to vault for anything related to passwords, credit cards, private notes and VIP account numbers.  This app stores all personal information right at your fingertips with secure password protection and encryption.  Just remember to DISCIPLINE yourself.  Always update your records when changing a password!

3. CardMunch

Thank you LinkedIn!  Brought to us by our favorite networking site, CardMunch allows you to snap a photo of a business card and store it as a contact.  With one more tap, this app professionally connects you via LinkedIn.  Free yourself from the piles of business cards.  Move your Rolodex from your desk to your phone.

4. Pulse

Get rid of all those bookmarks and just use Pulse. This app curates the news sites, magazines and blogs you visit daily in one place. This is a great first step to digital organization.

5. Baby Connect

Tired of keeping track of your baby’s sleeping schedules, moods and feedings?  I know you are!  For sleep-deprived, busy moms, Baby Connect will track vital information about your baby so you can rest easy.  Add nannies or daycare centers to your account and everyone can be on the same page.

For your daily dose of organization, follow Justin Klosky on Twitter and become a fan of Organize & Create Discipline on Facebook.

I recently sold a DSLR camera on eBay.  It was so awesome when the money arrived in my PayPal account and could have been such a time consuming drag having to ship the camera to the buyer.  However, I put my Organize & Create Discipline, practices into play and made shipping the eBay item quick and painless.

Wrap It Up

Packing an item is vital to the eBay process.  You want to be sure nothing is damaged during transit so the buyer receives the item in the exact condition promised.  Keep a box with the essentials so you don’t have to run to the store every time you have to ship an item.  Your box should include: packing tape, box cutter, packaging (any old newspaper or magazine will do so you don’t have to spend money on box fillers) and a Sharpie.

Shipping

Avoid lines by printing your shipping label from the comfort of your home or office.  This saves you time when dropping off the package at with the carrier.  UPS, FedEx and USPS all make this easy to do.

Communicate

Once you get home, e-mail the tracking number to your seller or, if you are really OCD, e-mail the tracking number from your smartphone right when it is dropped off!  Either way it will help you win good reviews by sowing you are an attentive seller.

Peace!

Justin OCD Klosky