Ten Simple Ways to Be More Organized in 2010

It's going to be a new year AND a new decade! So many people want to "get organized," but that can feel overwhelming if not clearly defined. Here are ten simple changes you can make that will go a long way. So get yourself through the upcoming weekend and have a lovely holiday– and next week start thinking about doing some of these:

1. Start using online banking. Set up automatic payments for amounts that don't change, and set up payees to be ready to pay the others with varying amounts. Who needs stamps? And who likes signing checks? You also can set payments up in advance and have them go out exactly when you want them.

2. Establish a "Destination Station" where you enter and exit the house daily. Our paid Clutter Diet® members know that we talk about this all the time, and we revisit this area in our weekly project plans several times a year. It's that important! You can put your purse, keys, shoes, chargers, gadgets, errand items, school stuff, and eco-friendly grocery bags there.

3. Outsource or delegate something you don't like doing. Either pay someone to do it for you, or delegate it to a family member. Life is short, and you are busy, and you should focus on what you do best. Comment here on what that might be for you! Maybe it's mowing your lawn, or getting a dry cleaning service that delivers, or hiring a neighborhood teen to run errands for you.

4. Clean up your contacts/address book. You are getting all of these holiday cards right now with everyone's updated information contained therein. Take a few minutes to update this information in your records.

5. Be more mindful of what you bring into the house. In our online program and my book, we talk about how organizing is like losing weight– both require a program of Prevention, Reduction, and Maintenance. You can prevent clutter from getting in the door by using our downloadable wallet reminder sleeves, which include the 5 questions you should ask before buying anything! You store your credit or debit cards in them and have a physical reminder each time you're at the checkout.

6. Organize your primary wardrobe closet. It's one of the first places you see each morning upon waking up, and it can start your day well or make you feel frustrated– you choose! It's one of the best projects to do first because it makes a difference in your life every single day. You can save time, save money making better purchasing decisions, and reduce your stress in one fell swoop.

7. Do your Sunday Planning once a week. Just ten minutes a week can really change everything with regard to how your family functions. We talk about this in our f*ree report, 30 Ways to Find Time to Get Organized.

8. Get ONE calendar or planner you really like and stick to it. It's that simple. Start and end each day looking at it to orient yourself to the day ahead and plan for tomorrow.

9. Make one positive change to your morning routine. Whether that means doing a load of laundry, making a better breakfast, getting up earlier, or exercising, do ONE THING to improve how your morning begins. It will set your day off right and better organization usually is the result.

10. Get affordable help from me and my team of organizing experts! We have all kinds of ways to help you:

• Get our daily #ClutterTweetTip on Twitter by following me @clutterdiet, and/or join our Facebook fan page.
• Read this blog regularly to get motivation and tips. Subscribe to this blog on the Kindle, add us to your RSS reader, or get the posts emailed to you (fill out address field under my photo on the web).
• Get our f*ree newsletter each Thursday that is a digest of this blog, a sneak peek of our exclusive weekly "menu" plan of projects, and other news and tips. (Subscribing to this also gets you the bonus items of the wallet reminder sleeves and the 30 Ways to Find Time to Get Organized report!)
• Read my book, or just read a complimentary sample chapter to see if you like it! The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life is available at all major bookstores and on the Amazon Kindle (a #8 nonfiction bestseller).
• Get UNLIMITED HELP online 7 days a week for the price of a pizza with our online program! We give you a weekly plan of projects and access to our expert team of Certified Professional Organizers®. You can upload photos and ask us all of the questions you like!

Happy Holidays, everyone!