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“Help! I can’t stand it anymore! My office is a disaster. Papers are piled everywhere. I don’t know where things are. I don’t know what supplies I have until I run out. My bulletin boards have announcements for events that happened two years ago attached to them. I’m behind on my work, and I hate being in my office. My life is a mess!”

“Was this a phone call I received from a potential client?” you may ask. No. This is what I said two weeks ago when I felt like I was drowning in paperwork, and my life was a mess. “But wait,” you exclaim. “You’re a Professional Organizer. You know how to organize stuff. Why can’t you just organize your office?” The answer is that even we, who are experienced and proficient organizing other people’s things, sometimes cannot do it for ourselves.

Every morning I would walk into my office with incredible determination. “This will be the day that I finally and completely organize my office and my life!” But when I walked into my office, something happened. I looked at the piles of paper and the disorganization, and I became paralyzed with dread.

It doesn’t matter whether the area that is disorganized is an office, a kitchen, a bedroom or a play room. Sometimes it just feels as though as much as you really, really want to get organized, you’re just having a hard time doing it. So I asked myself what I would tell a prospective client if they called me with a similar situation.

1. Just because your (insert name of area here) is disorganized, it doesn’t mean that your entire life is a mess. Remember, you can gain control over the disorganized area.
2. Set aside a time that you want to do some organizing. Find a timer (a kitchen timer or one on your cell phone works well). Set the timer for five minutes. Yes, I realize that’s not a whole lot of time and that you won’t get a whole lot of organizing done, but it is a manageable period of time to start the process.
3. Choose a very small section to work in. Remember, you only have five minutes.
4. Get rid of the easy stuff first. You know, the stuff that is out of date, moldy, torn, or the thing you just never really liked anyway. Take these items and either recycle or trash them.
5. By now the timer has probably gone off. If you are on a roll and you don’t mind going further, set the timer for another five minutes. This may seem like an arbitrary amount of time, and it is, but I have found that five minutes of doing almost anything seems easy.

But what do you do if you can’t get yourself to commit to tackling that cluttered area for even five minutes? Take a tip from a professional who has been-there-done-that. Either call a friend who is nonjudgmental and willing to help or call a professional; which is what I did. I figured that if I call a doctor when I’m sick and go to the dentist when I have a toothache, I should call a professional organizer when it feels like my (insert name of area here) needs organizing. What about you? Take just 5 minutes and call for help. Now? Yes! If not now, when?

Are you one of the (scientifically identified) 6 million people who avoids shredding your sensitive documents because of your home shredder. 5.9 million of that number have actually burned up at least one home shredder at some point. 5.8 million have burned up more than one. (I might have made those numbers up.) It might be twice that high. Most families should own a cross-cut personal shredder. They are actually very easy to keep in good shape.
Here’s help on how to use your home paper shredder.

• Buy the best home shredder you can afford, without breaking the bank. You can find many options under $50. If you work at home or like to shred a lot, you might need a higher capacity machine costing between $50 and $200.
• Know your sheet capacity. If the shredder says, “Max. 8 Sheets,” like mine does, it really means 4-6 sheets of regular copy paper at a time. It does not allow for heavier paper, plastic, brochures, or folded items.
• Don’t try to shred everything. Don’t just shred everything because it has your name or address on it. Information anyone can get from a quick Google search or from the phone book doesn’t need to be shredded. However, anything with financial account numbers on them (like your bank statements and brokerage accounts) should be shredded. Your grocery store junk mail, just because you may have a frequent shopper club number there, is not sensitive information. Really, it’s not. Nor are most of your utility bills, believe it or not. Don’t make your little household shredder work harder than it needs to. Use it only for what needs to be shredded.
• If the shredder is usually unplugged for safety or other reasons, then you’ll probably be batch shredding. Your machine will only shred for 15-20 minutes before it overheats. Just give it a rest, and finish your batch another day, or after the machine has had a chance to cool down. Better yet, stop when you hear the motor or the blades laboring. That “rrr…rrr…rrr” sound means you are either feeding it too much paper, or the machine needs a break.
• Occasionally, give your shredder a little treat and lubricate the cutting blades. You can purchase special feeder sheets or shredder oil for this purpose. I’ve used my sewing machine oil with good results. You only need to do this a few times a year.
• Don’t keep shredding if the bin is full. The already shredded paper will jam up against the rotating blades, over-heating the shredder faster than needed. Empty the bin often.
• Unless your shredder specifically allows for it, don’t feed plastics through the machine. They tend to gunk up the blades. I’ve had to surgically remove hunks of melted plastic from household shredders. If your shredder is equipped to shred credit cards and/or computer disks, empty the basket of paper before shredding these items. The paper is recyclable with household recycles in most places. The disks probably aren’t. Throw plastic bits out in the trash separately from the paper.

If you follow these guidelines, your home shredder should do the job for many years. However, if you regularly have more than 2 shopping bags full of material to shred, you can search for free or low-cost community shredding events in your area. Just Google “shred events” and your city, zip code, or region. You can find a current list of shredding events in the greater Philadelphia region

Here is a list of breitling replica shredding events in the Delaware Valley. If you are planning to attend an event, it’s wise to check the website or to call or e-mail to make sure the event isn’t canceled due to weather or other circumstances.

If you can’t wait for an event, try drop-off shredding services from Staples, Office Depot, Wiggins, or Mail Source (Springfield) for about $1 per pound.

Happy shredding!

Saturday, May 31  10 am – 12 pm  Philadelphia
Passyunk Square Civic Association (PSCA)
1400 East Passyunk Avenue & Reed  Philadelphia, PA 19147

Events

Friday, June 6  3 pm – 5:30 pm  West Chester
West Chester Wiggins Auto Tags
1301 West Chester Pike  West Chester, PA 19380
2 paper grocery bags are $10.00
http://www.wigginsshredding.com/residential/tear-fests.php

Saturday, June 21  9 am – 12 pm  Glenside Residents Only
Copper Beach Elementary School
825 North Easton Road  Glenside, PA 19038
http://www.montcopa.org/DocumentCenter/View/6715
http://www.shredone.com/community-shredding-events

Saturday, June 21  10 am – 12 pm  West Chester
West Chester Wiggins Auto Tags
1301 West Chester Pike  West Chester, PA 19380
2 paper grocery bags are $10.00
http://www.wigginsshredding.com/residential/tear-fests.php

Saturday, June 28  9 am – 12 pm  Doylestown
Doylestown EAC Central Park
Wells Road  Doylestown, PA 18901
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, July 12  9 am – 12 pm Abington Residents only
Abington Township Public Works
2201 Florey Lane  Abington, PA 19001
http://www.shredone.com/community-shredding-events

Here is a list of rolex replica shredding events in the Delaware Valley. If you are planning to attend an event, it’s wise to check the website or call or e-mail to make sure the event isn’t iphone 5c refurbished canceled due to weather or other circumstances.

If you can’t wait for an event, try drop-off shredding services from Staples, Office Depot, Wiggins, or Mail Source (Springfield) for about $1 per pound.

Happy shredding!

Friday, May 2  3 pm – 5:30 pm West Chester
West Chester Wiggins Auto Tags — 1301 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19380
2 paper grocery bags are $10.00 http://www.wigginsshredding.com/residential/tear-fests.php

Saturday, May 3  9 am – 12 pm Buckingham
Buckingham Township Public Works Building — Residents Only
4991 Upper Mountain Road, Buckingham, PA 18912
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, May 3  9 am – 11 am Newtown
First National Bank & Trust of Newtown — Bucks County Community College
272 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, May 3  9 am – 11 am
Middletown Township (Residents only)  — 3 Municipal Way, Langhorne, PA 19047
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, May 3  10 am – 1 pm Lawrenceville
Rider University Faculty, Staff, Students & Alumni only
Rider University General Services Building
2083 Lawrenceville Road  Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
http://www.shredone.com/community-shredding-events

Saturday, May 3  8 am – 12 pm Phoenixville
Schuykill Township
(CAT Pickering on Charlestown Road)
1580 Charlestown Road  Phoenixville, PA 19460

Events

Saturday, May 3  10 am – 12 pm Ridley Park
State Rep. Nick Miccarelli
605 E. Chester Pike  Ridley Park, PA 19078

Events

Saturday, May 3  1 pm – 3 pm Dallastown
York Township
190 Oak Road  Dallastown, PA 17313

Events

Saturday, May 10  9 – 1 pm  Oaks
State Rep Warren Kampf
422 Business Center  Mill Road  Oaks, PA 19456

Events

Saturday, May 10  9 am – 11:30 am  Philadelphia
State Rep. Mike McGeehan
Linden Avenue Boat Launch
Linden Ave. & Delaware Ave.  Philadelphia, PA 19114
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, May 10  9 am – 12 pm Philadelphia
State Senator Stack
Parkwood Shopping Center
12361 Academy Road  Philadelphia, PA 19114
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, May 10  9 am – 12 pm
First Federal of Bucks County
Bucks County Community College – Lower Bucks
1304 Veterans Highway  Bristol, PA 19007
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, May 17  9 am – 12 pm
Borough of Media
301 North Jackson Street  Media, PA 19063

Events

Saturday, May 17  9 am – 12 pm
Bucks First Federal Credit Union
Bucks County Tech. High School
610 Wistar Road  Fairless Hills, PA 19030
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, May 17  10 am – 12 pm  West Chester
West Chester Wiggins Auto Tags
1301 West Chester Pike  West Chester, PA 19380
2 paper grocery bags are $10.00
http://www.wigginsshredding.com/residential/tear-fests.php

Saturday, May 17  9 am – 11 am Easton
Williams Township
Municipal Office
655 Cider Press Road  Easton, PA 18042
(Residents only)
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, May 31  10 am – 12 pm  Philadelphia
Passyunk Square Civic Association (PSCA)
1400 East Passyunk Avenue & Reed  Philadelphia, PA 19147

Events

Shredding Events in Spring 2014

It’s that time again! Paper shredding event season has begun. Here is a list of shredding events in the Delaware Valley this spring. If you are planning to attend an event, it’s wise to check the website or to call or e-mail to make sure the event isn’t canceled due to weather or other circumstances.

If you can’t wait for an event, try drop-off shredding services from Staples, Office Depot, Wiggins, or Mail Source (Springfield) for about $1 per pound.

Happy shredding!

Saturday, April 12  9 am – 12 pm  Abington Residents Only
Abington Township Public Works
2201 Florey Lane  Abington, PA 19001
http://www.shredone.com/community-shredding-events

Saturday, April 12  9 am – 11 am  North Wales
EZ Storage – Montgomeryville
289 Dekalb Pike  North Wales, PA 19454
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, April 12  9 am – 12 pm  Berwyn
Friends of Easttown Public Library
720 First Ave.  Berwyn, PA 19312

Events

Saturday, April 12  9 am – 12 pm Collegeville Residents Only
Montgomery County
Perkiomen Valley Middle School East
100 Kagey Road, entrance on Campus Drive  Collegeville, PA 19426
http://www.shredone.com/community-shredding-events

Saturday, April 12 9 am – 12 pm Collegeville
Perkiomen Valley Middle School East
100 Kagey Road (enter on Campus Drive)  Collegeville, PA 19426
http://www.montcopa.org/DocumentCenter/View/6715

Saturday, April 12
NBC’s Great Shredder Event
Wells Fargo Center
See http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/contact-us/community/ for updates.

Saturday, April 19  9 am – 12 p.m Douglasville
Amity Township Crime Watch
Redner’s Market
Intersection of Rt. 422 and Rt. 662  Douglasville, PA 19518

Events

Saturday, April 19  10 am – 12 pm York
State Rep. Kevin J. Schreiber
101 South George Street  York, PA 17401

Events

Saturday, April 26  9 am – 12 pm Philadelphia
American Heritage FCU Main Office
2060 Red Lion Road  Philadelphia, PA 19115
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, April 26  9 am – 12 pm Philadelphia
American Heritage FCU Rhawn Street Branch
430 Rhawn Street  Philadelphia, PA 19111
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, April 26  9 am – 12 pm  Horsham
American Heritage FCU Horsham/Maple Avenue Branch
339 Maple Avenue  Horsham, PA 19044
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, April 26  9 am – 11:30 am  Chalfont
Merck Sharp & Dohme Federal Credit Union Chalfont Branch
335 West Butler Avenue  Chalfont, PA 18914
http://www.titanshredding.com/Community-Shredding-Services.aspx#calendar

Saturday, April 26  11 am – 2 pm Philadelphia Residents Only
Philadelphia Fed Credit Union Operations Center
12800 Townsend Road  Philadelphia, PA 19154
http://www.shredone.com/community-shredding-events

Recently, my workshop for the Holistic Mom’s monthly meeting on “Paper Management for the Green Home” was rescheduled due to a foot of snow. Like many of us, you may be stuck inside during these cold winter days. So why not take advantage of being indoors and organize your home office? Here’s a plan to help you clear your desk while “going green” with less paper.

The first step is to go online and opt out of the unwanted mail coming into your home. Try DMAChoice.org for general junk mail, TrustedID.org for unwanted catalogs and Optoutprescreen.com for pre-approved credit card offers. Create a new email address for coupons and ask to have your monthly statements sent via email.

There are also some wonderful apps for your phone. Catalog Spree allows you to view a variety of different catalogs online. Retail Me Not offers coupons to local stores, and Snip Snap stores your coupons digitally after you take a photo of them on your phone.

Now that you’ve reduced the paper input, it’s time to tackle the existing paper piles.

SORT

• Sort the important mail from the unwanted mail which can be recycled
• Store coupons in your glove compartment
• Place bills in a basket on your desk
• Assign each family member a file or basket

PROCESS

• File your new insurance policy, bank statements and receipts immediately
• Add events to your calendar then use a clipboard for your invitations
• Shred monthly utility bills after the new one comes in

FILE

• Set up your files in alphabetical order
• Assign labels, examples include:
  • Auto- EZ pass, AAA & car purchase receipts
  • Banking- pin numbers, credit card information & credit report
  • Insurance- auto, life & homeowners
  • Medical- test results, EOB’s (Explanation of Benefits) & paid bills

SHRED

• Anything with your social security number unless you need it for tax purposes
• Documents with your signature
• Forms with your birthdate on it
• Account numbers

Holistic living is a lifestyle which seeks balance knowing that all things are interconnected. What you bring into your home directly affects how you feel. How does your home make you feel? Is your home office stressing you out? Try to tackle your paperwork often, perhaps in short intervals, every other day. If you need help, get help! Remember, your home is your sanctuary.