Tip Day Wednesday: 6 Ways to keep an organized desk

Posted on June 2, 2010July 25, 2016 by Denise Caron-Quinn

Each Wednesday In Order to Succeed’s blog features at least one tip on organizing, time management, moving and relocation, balancing home and business or well anything else we think you will find helpful. This week’s Tip Day Wednesday is about creating and keeping an organized desk.

Throw away pens and pencils you don’t need: How many pens and pencils do you really need? Keep at maximum five pens and or pencils in a container on top of your desk.
Organize items by frequency of use: place items by frequency of use and near where you use them most.
Organize as you work: It’s easier to stay organized then to spend time organizing. Make an effort to put things away after you use them and work on clearing clutter everyday.
Get rid of post-it notes: yes they are quick and easy , but they are also easy to lose. Instead of jotting down important reminders on post-it notes, keep a notebook on your desk to write down remainders. You won’t be as likely to forget to do something and your desk will look and feel less cluttered.
Keep a scratch notepad: Place a notebook on top of your desk and use it only to write down all of the little things that come up during the day such as telephone numbers, names, addresses, and things you of to do such as pick up up the milk. At either the end of each day or the beginning go through the things you wrote down over the course of the day or the day before and cross off the things you took care or put the things you need such as new addresses in your address book.
Store cleaning supplies near your desk: Having a clean, organized workspace will help you maintain productivity and efficiency. If you keep the supplies you use to clean your desk nearby you will be more likely to clean your workspace throughout the day.

Have a tip you want to share or something you want a tip on? Let us know by leaving a comment or emailing us.

Image by DeaPeaJay via flickr.

Tip Day Wednesday: Commit to an Organizer Book

Posted on May 26, 2010July 25, 2016 by Denise Caron-Quinn

This Tip Day Wednesday post was brought to you by guest writer Jessie Ann Fitzgerald, a time management expert and writer. Learn more about her at timemanagementexpertwriter.com.

Whether you purchase a fancy organizer book or you simply use a legal pad, a notebook, the day planner that came from a client, or one you bought at the grocery store, find something with a calendar in a book (or book-like) format and commit to it.

Record all of your tasks for each day on it. Keep your appointments in there. Store contact information in it, even if only the most crucial numbers. And, speaking of crucial, help yourself to develop the habit of actually looking at it
every day.

While keeping an organizer book or a date book may seem like over-working yourself, you’ll find that you’ve got an organizing ally in your pocket (or purse, or on your desk) that keeps you from A) stressing out about trying to remember everything and B) forgetting the actual appointments and tasks you have to complete each day.

Have a tip you want to share or something you want a tip on? Let us know by leaving a comment or emailing us.

Image via flickr by Mike Rohde.

Tip Day Wednesday: Office Productivity

Posted on May 19, 2010July 25, 2016 by Denise Caron-Quinn

Put an old fashioned egg timer on the desk to maximize office productivity. When I start a long or boring project, I’ll set the timer at 15 minutes, and no matter what happens, I’ll force myself to take a break when the alarm goes off. At first I thought the timer will A) stress me out or B) distract me. But it turned out to be a great idea. I often procrastinate because I hated doing long and boring projects. But if I promise myself a 15 minute break no matter what, I’m much more likely to be productive.

Have a tip you want to share or something you want a tip on? Let us know by leaving a comment or emailing us.

Image via flickr by Then and Again.

Introducing Tip Day Wednesday

Posted on May 12, 2010July 25, 2016 by Denise Caron-Quinn

We are trying out a new weekly blog post here at In Order to Succeed. Wednesday will now be known not as hump day but as tip day. In the interest of full disclosure we got the idea for Tip Day Wednesday from Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project. From now on every Wednesday In Order to Succeed‘s blog will offer at least one tip on organizing, time management, moving and relocation, balancing home and business or well anything else we think you will find helpful. Some weeks this tip might be a quick one sentence item other weeks it may be a series of tips but we promise to make them short, sweet, and most importantly useful for everyday life and if you have a tip you want to share or something you want a tip on please leave us a comment or send us an email.

Tip Day Wednesday

5 Ways to make the most out of small window of time

We all find ourselves places waiting for something to take place. During these short openings . . .

Keep an extra cell battery and have your call list handy
Respond to emails on your hand-held
Have reading available (carry an article, download a book onto your laptop or hand-held devise,)
Keep your to do list with you at all times and update it when you have spare minute or have completed a task
Keep a clear thin baggie in your handbag or briefcase so if you find yourself waiting for a train, plane or appointment you can clean out your wallet or purse.

Have a tip you want to share or something you want a tip on? Let us know by leaving a comment or emailing us.

Photography via flickr by Laffy4k.

How Can A Professional Organizer Help You?

Posted on May 5, 2010June 22, 2023 by Denise Caron-Quinn

iStock_000009194822 Have your asked yourself, “how can a professional organizer help me?” Professional organizers help people decrease stress and increase the time they have to spend towards friends and family. Professional organizers help people regain control of time, space and improve the functionality and appearance of their home and office. Professional organizers work with clients in their home or offices to enhance efficiency, boost productivity, allowing clients to channel more energy toward individual talents. Professional organizers help to simplify lives.

In Order to Succeed is a full-service professional organizing firm providing home and business organizing solutions, moving and relocation assistance, and time management to people in New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey and downstate New York State. Our Professional organizers help clients throughout the tri-state area make their homes and offices less stressful and more streamlined.

Our professional organizing specialists and professional organizing assistants work with people in New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey, and downstate New York state to de-clutter homes, offices, or calendars and create sustainable organizing systems to keep lives organized and clutter-free. By hiring a professional you’ll be able to increase productivity, save time, and optimize your resources.

How do you know if you should hire a professional organizer? If you answer yes to any of the following questions a professional organizer could help you simplify your life.

You feel overwhelmed when you open drawers and closets
Do you feel stressed out more often than not?
Do you want to understand why you accumulate stuff?
Do you want to learn how to efficiently sort, purge, and organize the stuff you have?
Do you want to design an effective organizing system for your home or business?
Do you want that organizing system to be one you, your family, and employees will actually use?
Do you want to find space within the space you already have?
Do you are moving your home or business and want it to be as stress free as possible?
Do you can’t see the surface of your desk in your office under piles of paperwork?
Do you frequently miss important deadlines?
Do you have difficulty keeping track of work and family schedules?
Do you want to learn how to work more efficiently?
Do you are embarrassed to invite people to you home due to all the clutter?
Do you want to create an efficient and effective organization system for your kitchen?
Do you have trouble completing tasks and feel there is never enough hours in the day?
Do you want to learn to work more efficiently?
Do you want to save money by being more efficient and productive?
Do you want to learn effective time management skills?
Do you have boxes in your closet, basement, or garage you haven’t looked in in three years?
Do you want to learn how to simplify your life?

In Order to Succeed has professional organizers in Brooklyn, New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey and downstate New York who need to organize an office, tame their paper piles, and technology, fill out insurance claims, de-clutter any area of a home such as a kitchen, or office space. Our professional organizers handle clutter clearing, wardrobe editing, cabinet, closet and storage area organization to make the most of any space. They define and a create a space for things most often used, create filing systems, develop simple systems for mail management, bill-paying, and household maintenance, and offer time consulting services to figure out your key life objectives and priorities. Our professional organizers will manage properties, set up email management and technological support, and handle lifestyle management and concierge services. Basically our professional organizers take on projects based on the needs and wishes of our clients. We want to help you be more productive, feel a sense of balance, recapture time and take the stress and complexity out of your home, work or move. Professional organizers simplify lives.

Image from iStockphoto.

Wall Street Journal Features Professional Organizing

Posted on April 8, 2010July 11, 2016 by Denise Caron-Quinn

The Wall Street Journal features Professional Organizing Firms from across the United States in today’s Life and Style section, and we are so excited that among the four featured In Order to Succeed was one of them!

The article entitled “Law and Order: How a Pro Helps Tackle Clutter“, explains some of the ways that we work with clients to help bring order and clarity to their homes and businesses. The article tells how In Order to Succeed’s Robin Reid Hunt helped a Manhattan client and her family get settled into their new home. You may read about it in today’s paper, or online here.

In honor of In Order to Succeed being featured in The Wall Street Journal we are offering 10% of our home organization services.

Find out more information here: In order to Succeed in Today’s Wall Street Journal & Special Offer!

Smart Kitchen Storage Solutions

Posted on March 31, 2010July 11, 2016 by Denise Caron-Quinn

More than ever before has it become essential to be organized, as kitchens become more of a living and entertaining space, and with just about everyone getting into cooking and entertaining. In any kitchen, especially a small one, day to day living becomes more of a pleasure if you have planned your kitchen and dining areas well. In a large kitchen, it is equally important to optimize the space to realize its potential. If your kitchen is already fitted, you can rationalize and implement extra touches to your storage even more effectively. If you are putting in a new kitchen, then you have no excuse not to be really putting into practice the ‘science’ of storage. Here are my ten essential tips for smart kitchen storage:

1 ] Utilize redundant space.

This is important if you already have a fitted kitchen to add personality to bland units; a small area of shelving with your own quirky objects combined with practical kitchenware. If you are installing shelving, think laterally with your installation – you can go floor to ceiling for example. Use insides of cupboard doors for hanging, quality hooks are good if well installed, however, be ‘clever and don’t crowd’

2] Display rather than conceal.

Be creative when storing your utensils, pots and pans and ornaments and make it fun. Create open and closed storage by combining closed cupboards with open displays units, these can be bought or custom made.

3] Get rid of the fitted kitchen look.

Free up the walls, use freestanding antique dressers, [glass fronted ones let you see everything at a glance] rails for hanging, metal industrial shelving units, or bakers racks from catering suppliers – store the least used things at the top!

4] Organize drawer space.

You can get an array of different drawer dividers, my favourites are the wooden ones which add a bit of interest and don’t mark like their plastic counterparts, make sure you measure accurately before purchasing

5] Thoughtfully load your larder.

If you are lucky enough to have a larder [or pantry as it is also called] you should use the space thoughtfully, mainly for storing groceries. In our house we have shelves in the upper half, with containers at the back with less used ingredients and the good looking jars, containers, packets and tins at the front which are a display in their own right. The lower section has two wire basket trolley units which are pulled out for ease. The design of your pantry should be a bit like the inside of your fridge – with all the surfaces utilized.

6] Group items by function.

Whether it’s an interesting ceramic pot with your wooden spoons in, or bake ware in a dedicated drawer – it is always far easier to find things in logical places.

7] Circulate your gadgets.

We are all proud of our latest gadgets, but more often than not we build up a space hungry collection – too much to display all at once. So put away the sandwich toaster in the summer and get out the zinc beer cooler ready for that barbeque.

8] Get Containers for every use.

Clear plastic containers are good for cereals, but best stored in a cupboard and bought out only at breakfast, whereas tall elegant glass ones containing pastas and pulses in great shapes, textures and colours can go on display in large glass containers. Square containers are good in cupboards for space savers, although we use a collection of wooden square Cuban cigar boxes, Victorian enamel bread bins and flour containers can be found at your local bric-a-brac/antique shop and make a great authentic addition to any kitchen.

9] Be Clean and safe.

Long gone are the days when you had a plastic bin hidden under the sink unit, where dirt and germs collected – this space is now freed up for cleaning and utility product as bins and recyclers are designed to be space effective and look great. Corner bins are often practical where space is limited. Make sure you have a good range of clips, pegs and fasteners to keep food fresh and plan a cycle of storage cleaning to ensure everything hidden is kept regularly spic and span. Think of kids and pets when planning to keep certain things like cleaning product out of harms way.

10] Cut out the distance.

Utensils and cutting knives are best near their place of use. There are now a diverse range of storage products for knives from work top freestanding units to wall magnets. Also consider practicality of where things are, i.e.it is good to have your large dinnerware quite close to the dishwasher to save time and effort. With a bit of planning and enthusiasm you will be able to treat kitchen storage as a creative project – not just a functional chores.

by Guest Blogger Mike Furniss, a keen cook and kitchen enthusiast.

Further Reading
Mike Furniss has worked successfully in retail and interior design in London and Europe for over 25 years. To find out more about enhancing your home kitchen and dining experience, go to; http://www.kitchendesires.com, http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Furniss
How to Successfully Organize a Kitchen (September 2009)
Image courtesy of Rubbermaid Products.

5 Reasons Your Business Should Hire a Professional Organizer

Posted on March 17, 2010November 28, 2019 by Denise Caron-Quinn

Professional organizers help clients decrease stress, regain control of time and space, improve the functionality and appearance of their office, enhance efficiency, boost productivity and help simplify lives, but you didn’t here it from us. Here are 5 reasons your business should hire a professional organizer, spoken by 5 people who did:

Stacks of various paperwork were scattered throughout my home office, and it became beyond burdensome. My family members and patients alike were dismayed to see the disarray. I knew something had to be done, but my tight family and work schedule allowed little time to do so. When I found In Order To Succeed®, I was more than happy to leave it to them to create order out of my chaotic situation. The results were dramatic! Denise immediately understood my working style and designed a plan to specifically fit my needs. She systematically eliminated the chaos and developed a system of filing and organization that is efficient and easy for me to use. And, anyone else who comes in to assist me finds the system seamless as well. I was worried that the vast amount of paperwork and clutter in my office would be too daunting, but Denise tackled the barrage head on, and then showed me ways to keep my office neat, organized and smooth- running from now on! I am forever grateful for her help. I cannot stress enough how much time and money In Order To Succeed® has saved me. My office is now a well-oiled machine! GR, Physician, Hoboken NJ

We hired In Order To Succeed® for a project of conducting much needed research. Our firm needed to determine whether to launch a new product our medical center had been considering for quite a long time. Our problem had been that we did not have the time or resources to take the first step. In Order To Succeed® managed to gather all the data necessary, both quickly and accurately, which helped us to make the decision to take next steps for new product development. In Order To Succeed® enabled us to get the ball rolling on an initiative that has been well received by our clientele, and profitable to our Center. In retrospect, we wish we had made the decision to hire In Order To Succeed® years ago. Major Medical Center, NY, NY

Nina, working with you was such a pleasure. I had been procrastinating about organizing my office. It just seemed like it was too much to do. Especially so, when I considered my large, time consuming regular work schedule. You made it easy, efficient and fun. Before I organized my workspace with your help, I had papers and magazines everywhere. I could never find anything and did not have a good paper flow. I had supplies in several different areas and I was constantly getting up from my desk, consistently disrupting my work. Now, I have organized files – both electronic and paper; and, my desk is clean and no longer cluttered. I’m so much more efficient. I no longer must get up from my desk all the time. SH Interior Designer, Fairfield CT

If you are starting a new phase in your personal life or business practice, I highly recommend utilizing Denise and her team of professional organizers. She helped me evaluate what was working and what was not working in my practice. She helped me develop a plan that I could achieve, and she kept me accountable for accomplishing the changes. Because she understands business processes and has a strong handle on what enhances professional effectiveness, she helped me go to the next level. If your hesitation is about giving up time out of your already crammed schedule that is all the more reason to hire her – with a little help from Denise in the time management arena you will have MORE time, not less. CC, Marketing Consultant, New Canaan, CT

I really benefit from knowing that our convenient weekly phone call is scheduled as a “standing meeting,” and that I’ll come out of the discussion with very concrete and customized goals for the coming week that suit MY specific needs. Denise keeps me accountable for making real progress each week. She’ll stay on top of me and always offers fresh ideas and sound advice. I never knew how much more I could accomplish by being more focused and organized. ASC, Advertising Executive, NY, NY

Further Reading
Learn more about In Order to Succeed’s Business Organizing Solutions
Image Courtesy of Adam Saponara

5 Green Kitchen Products We Love

Posted on February 24, 2010July 11, 2016 by Denise Caron-Quinn

These tools are beautifully designed and easy on the planet. Here are 5 of our favorite green kitchen products:

1. Charcoal Water Pitcher: The natural charcoal and stones, which come from the mountains in Kanazawa, on the Sea of Japan coast, fit into the pticher to filter and deodorize water. Design Within Reach $85 for the pitcher, $25 for the stones.

2. Twist Sponge Blossoms: Biodegrable, dye free, and made of natural products these small space saving cards become a full size sponge when added to water. Sponge Blossoms: $5 for four at twistclean.com.

3. Sigg Lunchbox: A durable, lightweight, leakproof resuable lunch box. Sigg $36