The Motivation
The motivation for me to finally paint my living room was simple: I had invited a large portion of my family over for a Saturday brunch in two weeks. And that cool yellow colour in the living room was not "me". It didn't make me feel warm and comfortable. The colour was out of place and yet it was on all four walls. That was motivation enough to cover it up!

The Solution
Sylvia O'Brien clearly considered my love for earth tones that would compliment my beautiful red couch. And Tila Silverio kept us focused on what the area represented with regards to the Feng Shui theories. I had to say very little because at this point I had ultimate faith in the team I had assembled. My gosh they were efficient - in a matter of minutes we had the perfect swatches picked for the walls (both upper and lower) and the perfect black for my massive TV unit (which, in its lightness, stood out like a sore thumb in my beautifully improved space).

The Results
I'm speechless - the new colours create a warm flow from my living room into the dining room. The shades so beautifully complement all of my furniture, and the newly painted and antiqued TV unit provides the perfect balance of colour to round out the entire room.

I want to thank JM for all the time, effort, humour, tolerance, determination, and advise to buy painters tape which made the 11 hour adventure bearable, memorable & fun. I would share Greek food and Neil Diamond with you anytime! Thank you!

What is your motivation to enhance, perfect, de-clutter or call in the experts for one or more rooms in your home?

The Motivation
I'm not sure I need to convince any one of you about a motivation to get a handle on 'time'. If it eludes you, consider time tracking the mundane but essential activities that you regularly conduct so that you have a clear idea of how long they actually take you. You might be pleasantly surprised at how little or how much time they actually require.

The Solution
Create a system for time tracking. Acknowledge optimum working periods that are suited to your energy levels. One of my peak periods is at 5am which means I am rarely at my peak at 10pm -- this is why I only do my banking after a good night's sleep. I feel better, the process is faster, and I am apt to make less mistakes.

The Results
One happy camper - honestly, no one feels good when they aren't on their game. Think about one thing you can begin to incorporate into your day to get you closer to the top. Just pick one thing and start with it.

The Motivation
I've had my coloured sub folders in my office for about 3 weeks now. I piled them up and painted around them on the weekend expedition of painting. Did I tell you we changed the office from a deep coral (which I think made my heart beat faster - not good in an office) to a beautiful shade of 'water' - which is a great Feng Shui colour for your office. I put my faith in the experts after Sylvia gave me a colour preference quiz - that was a very positive experience for me. I learned that while no colour is wrong, there are some colours that are better than others.

Can you tell I'm still avoiding my sub folders? Here's the situation: The files need to be purged -- the last time I did this was on New Years Eve day last year. Now I need to fine tune, archive, prepare 2007 documentation for tax purposes and set up my 2008 sub folder system. This year I've decided to colour code. I've already decided what each colour represents and I know how long it's going to take me (appx 3 hours) but I keep avoiding scheduling it in my daytimer just in case something more fun comes up!! Does this sound familiar?

You see, I have the same challenges that you have - it's tough getting started but I am always thrilled with the end results. I'm actually getting excited just writing this! Who knows, maybe by the time you receive this magazine I will have scheduled the time!

The Solution
Buy the supplies (and plenty of them) before you start the process. In my case, these include coloured sub folders (we always recommend using the same coloured sub folders when starting to organize file systems), removable Avery labels or a label maker (with extra tape), recycling bins and a comfortable chair or pillow for the floor.

Tip: I also like to turn off my computer because it's easy for me to get distracted by incoming emails.

The Results
I'll be confident that my files are updated, old stuff will be handled, and I will feel gratified. Scheduling it in my daytimer is the first step - but once that challenge has met, there will be no more worrying about when I'll be able to get to it.

I've nearly completed all the big organizational projects in my new house - and that was my objective for this year. Yes, you read that correctly - this year. If you read back through the past 11 editions of the Organized Lifestyle Magazine you will find that I've tackled some pretty monumental projects; from kids' closets to linen closets, from painting walls and TV units to putting the final touches on optimizing my office - physically and electronically. It has truly been a work in progress.

I hope that you will look at your projects with compassion for yourself and your time, and schedule the time to accomplish each one. We are here if you need us and we can testify that the feeling on the other side is pretty great!!