Christa Wagner

John and I in front of Olympic Village

What an exciting time in Vancouver.  There is so much to see and do in the city; you can feel the buzz of Olympic excitement in the air.  This past weekend, John and I walked the entire city taking in all the sites, people and energy.  It was outstanding and I have to say the Olympic Village (where athletes are displaying their flags from the balcony) is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. 
 
With so much going on for this once in a lifetime event, make sure you plan some time to take in as much as you want to.  Yesterday, I was talking to a woman who told me she wanted to go see the torch relay, but she just didn’t think she could squeeze it in.  Life is about prioritizing and making choices.  I advised her if it was important to to see the torch relay then put in on the calendar and let go of another task or activity that is less important.  That’s what being organized and having balance is all about.  Make choices and prioritize. 
 
The Olympics may never come to Vancouver again, so make the most of it.  Look at what’s going on and schedule time in your calendar to take it all in.  And look for John and I on the Zipline over Robson Street!
 
Welcome world and have so much fun Vancouver!   

Christa Wagner is a professional organizer in Vancouver, BC.

Twelve percent of Vancouverites are leaving town during the Winter Olympics, and taking advantage of the huge influx in visitors. Home rentals are bringing in big dollars for those who choose to jet-set to a sandy beach somewhere far away from the chaos and congestion. 

Most would agree that allowing strangers into your home is a gamble, so before you get on the plane (if you can make your way to the airport,) do your homework and prepare your home for your unfamiliar guests.  Here are some tips to make this as simple as possible. 

1. Confirm your agreement:  Prior to your renter’s arrival, confirm all details of your arrangement to avoid any surprises.  Include details such as amount received as deposit, total rental fees, period of rental agreement, insurance coverage, and condition of property at the time of arrival.   Be sure to use simple, precise language, and provide a copy to both parties. 
2. Make your renters feel at home:  Leave a welcome letter.   This letter is a nice hospitable touch and is a great way to communicate any other items not covered in your agreement.   Explain any instructions for home appliances, alarm systems, or lighting, as well as anything else you’d like to add about your home or local area. Leave a list of phone numbers in case of emergency including the police department and fire department. 
3. Clean your home:  You want your renters to respect your home as much as you do, so take the time to clean all rooms and remove garbage.  Ask that they leave the property in the same condition upon exiting.  It’s also a good idea to remove any breakable or personal items (like birth certificates) and lock them in a safe place. 
4. Where will your renters sleep?  Who is coming, how many are in their party, and where will they sleep?  Do you have enough sleeping space?  Do you have a sufficient supply of bed linens, pillows and blankets?   Your renters are treating your home as a hotel so all sleeping essentials must be present. 
5. Bathroom:   Launder towels and washcloths. Make sure you have one for each guest.  It’s not necessary, but is a nice touch to provide basic toiletries like a fresh bar of soap, shampoo, and conditioner. 
6. Getting around town:  Your renters could be from anywhere, and they are not familiar with our city.  Help them out by gathering city maps, a map to the Olympic events and transit maps and schedules. Tourism Vancouver (www.tourismvancouver.com) provides many of these maps for free. Let your renters know that Translink offers a Games Transit Pass that provides unlimited travel on the bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain (including to the airport.)  Go to www.translink.ca. 
7. Dining out:  There are many choices for food in Vancouver. Give your renters a list of your favorite restaurants to help them decide where to dine. 

I have to admit, sitting on a warm sandy beach sounds wonderful, but in order to enjoy your vacation, take a few minutes prior to departure to prepare your home for your Olympic renters. 

For more information, go to www.savvysolutionsorganiznig.com or contact author Christa Wagner at 778.839.5792.

I am very excited that recently I was featured in the Vancouver Courier with my own “Bi Line.”   The article is “Home Game:  Preparing For Olympic Visitors. 

The Winter Olympics are just days away and our city is about to experience a siege of activity.  Perhaps you are also about to experience an onslaught of guests in your home.  

Are you ready?

The average employee gets far more email than he or she can cope with, and an increasing number of people suffer from “email overload.” People are even declaring email bankruptcy and deleting all their email at once, but that doesn’t really solve the problem since more emails just keep pouring in.

Think about this…… Let’s assume you get 50 emails each day. On average, it takes about four minutes typing up a response to each one. That’s over three hours each day dedicated to email alone. Now, let’s factor that number into five days a week multiplied by 48 work weeks a year; that’s 800 hours spent on only email. That’s almost 20 weeks dedicated completely to email! Do you see what I’m getting at? Email is a serious contributing factor to a business’s lack of productivity.

In a world of information overload where email has created the never ending workday, it’s time we start using this tool more effectively. Here are two tips you can start implementing sooner than later. 

1. Avoid opening email first thing in the morning: This may send shivers up your spine, and I am not suggesting waiting until noon, but by postponing your email, you can dedicate this high-energy morning time to a task that adds value to your day and brings you closer to your goals.
2. Process Email At Specific Times: Process your email in short doses, perhaps twice daily or for a few minutes each hour. Now I know this will be a challenge and requires a habit change, but email creates a reactionary work environment and you can greatly increase your effectiveness if you set aside specific email time frames. Additionally, when you don’t respond immediately, it sets the precedent that you are not sitting at your desk waiting to deal with someone’s email.

Since many of us have never had email training, and since we have not set up email rules and boundaries, the benefits quickly spin out of control.   Manage yourself and you can reduce time spent on email.

To schedule an email management workshop call us at 778.839.5792 or visit our website for more details.

This article was published in the Vancouver Courier on January 29.  

The Winter Olympics are just days away and our city is about to experience a siege of activity.  Perhaps you are also about to experience an onslaught of guests in your home.   Whether the thought of friends and family camping out in your small Vancouver apartment brings excitement or anxiety, use our 7 Organizing Tips To Prepare Your Home For Olympic Visitors to make this once-in-a-lifetime experience amazing for everyone.  

1. Plan it out:  You may host several guests over the course of the games.  Map it out: who is coming and when, how many are in their party, where will they sleep, how are they getting to your home?  Think of your home as a hotel or bed-and-breakfast.  You don’t have to accommodate their every whim, but planning in advance will make this busy time fun for everyone. 
2. Where will your guests sleep?  Do you have enough sleeping space?  Do you need to get an air mattress?  Do you have a sufficient supply of bed linens, pillows, and blankets?   Does the bedroom need to be cleaned?  This is a great time to get the room organized, and to donate the items you no longer need, use, or love. 
3. Bathroom:   Launder towels and washcloths and make sure you have one for each guest.  Don’t forget about toiletries such as a fresh bar of soap, shampoo, and conditioner.  This is especially important with current airline security; let your guest to know they can leave these items at home. 
4. Getting around town:  It goes without saying that traffic is going to be interesting.  Encourage your guests to take public transit, providing them with transit maps and schedules.   Translink offers a Games Transit Pass that provides unlimited travel on the bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain (including to the airport.)  Go to www.translink.ca. 
5. Set the stage in your living room:   When you’re not going to an event, you will be watching it on TV, so make sure you have plenty of seating. Consider bringing in extra chairs or use pillows on the floor to give everyone a comfy seat.  
6. Stay energized:  With so many events and activities, guests may be coming and going all day long.  Get lots of snacks, energy bars, nuts and candy around so everyone can help themselves if they need a snack.  Also don’t forget about coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, since it may be cold on the mountains.  Providing your guests a list of recommended restaurants is always a great idea to help them decide where to dine. 
7. Dig out the extra winter gear:  It’s going to be chilly on the mountain, but winter clothes take up a lot of suitcase space.  You don’t have to go out shopping, but dig out the items you don’t use anymore.   Set aside gloves, hats, scarves and ski jackets so your guests can pack less and take home more souvenirs. 

What better way to celebrate the Olympics than to host guests and show them our fabulous city?  Use our 7 Organizing Tips To Prepare Your Home For Olympic Visitors and you’ll go down as a legendary host during this celebrated time. 

Christa Wagner is a local organizing diva; for more information on home and office efficiency, go to www.savvysolutionsorganiznig.com or contact author Christa Wagner at 778.839.5792.

I love paper and love my files!!!   I am not afraid to say that out loud, but that’s because they are organized and I can find things easily. 

Over the years, I came to recognize two common issues with paper: it comes into our homes or offices in droves, and we have no idea what to do with it once it arrives.  Where do you put it?  How long do you keep it?   I get these questions daily.   And what about the computer, wasn’t that supposed to help with paper clutter?  Not really – the computer age has increased paper use by 60% over the last ten years.   

We will be tackling many of these common questions on our next teleclass on January 27, 2010, called Manage the Paper Crisis.  This teleclass is for both professional organizers and clients who struggle with paper organizing. 

But from now until then, I want to pose a challenge to you.  SORT and TOSS one small pile each night between now and January 27th.   The problem with paper is we don’t know where to start and so we never do.  Start small.  Look at the counter, the dining room table or your desktop.  SORT and TOSS one small pile from one location each night and you will be blown away at how much you can get done.   SORT like items together and let go of any paper you don’t need or plan to use.  If you don’t know what to toss, attend Manage the Paper Crisis. 

 If you want to learn more about how to Manage the Paper Crisis, attend our next teleclass on January 27th.  Register now! 

Teleclass provided by A Red Bench; Christa’s partnership with Angela Ploetz.

Something new I am using in my office is a motivational bulletin board.   I do have annual goals and keep them with me at all times, but I’ve been feeling like I need more.  I needed something to call out to me and that I can see every day.  So I installed a bulletin board and magnetic wipe board in my home office.  I placed it next to some of my favorite photos of John and I and I look at it every day. 

The bulletin board has photos, inspirational quotes and things I treasure.  Some are things people have given more and others are clippings from magazines or something I found interesting.

My Weekly Motivation

I use the magnetic wipe board to write the week’s top priorities and then create my daily To Do list from there.  So far so good - I crossed everything off my list last week. 

I know its a challenge to stay on top of the never ending To Do list, but perhaps you can install something similar in your home or office. 

Christa Wagner is a professional organizer located in Vancouver, BC.

Paper from bills driving you crazy? Get an accordion file labeled January thru December. Pay your bills and place the bill only (not the envelope or advertising) in the month paid. You are all set come tax time. At the end of the year, if you don’t need it for taxes, toss it!

To set up a paper filing system in your home or office, we recommend FreedomFiler.  Its the best paper organizing system we’ve found and we’ve used it with hundreds of clients.  For other paper organizing resources, visit our website.

Christa Wagner is a professional organizer and speaker located in Vancouver, BC.   

It’s a brand new year, which means it’s time to rotate your tax files in your FreedomFiler!Remember that you keep your tax files separated and organized by EVEN and ODD years (for taxes older than 10 years, there is a tax archive folder in your FreedomFiler). Now is the time to move your “odd year” tax folder to the back of your file cabinet and move your “even year” tax folder to the front. 

Also, don’t forget about your “Monthly” files (green labels) for the rest of your non tax related bills and statements.  Now that last year’s (2009, an ODD YEAR) files have filled up, you can move these to the back or to a second file drawer. Bring forward the EVEN YEAR’s folders to re-use. Remember that each month, you automatically empty out papers left over from two years ago. 
 
The FreedomFiler is a amazing self purging file system – it teaches you to file your paper based on how long you need it.  If you don’t have one, call us at 778.839.5792 and we’ll set you up!
 
If you have any questions about your FreedomFiler or need some assistance organizing your papers, please contact us at info@savvysolutionsorganizing.com and we’ll be more than happy to help!

Last year I introduced my Meal Planning Made Easy system and its gotten really good reviews, but a common comment is…. “I still don’t know what to make for dinner.”  I understand getting dinner on the table is a challenge for busy Moms and families so this year I am going to help you get dinner on the table with my “What’s For Dinner?” posts. 

Now, I am not a chef and most of my recipes are just tried and true recipes from chefs or my favorite cookbook.  But that’s half the battle, if I tell you what I’m having for dinner, then you can use these recipes in your own home.   Using the Meal Planning Made Easy system, you can keep track of the recipe your family loves making meal planning easier each week. 

Both my husband and I are feeling a little under the weather so this evening, I am making my very Chicken Noodle Soup that always makes us feel better.   It’s my Mom’s recipe and you will love it.  It’s simple, warm and delicious. 

Chicken Noodle Soup: 

1 large can of chicken stock
Fill can with Water
1 chicken breast
3 stocks sliced celery
3 stocks sliced carrot
Handful of frozen spinach
Handful Rosemarina Rice Pasta or Large Egg Noodles

 Directions:

1. Place stock in large soup pan.  Add water to fill. 
2. Boil chicken in stock and water.
3. Add sliced celery and carrots and boil for 30 minutes. 
4. Remove chicken and cut into small bite size pieces.  Add back to pot.
5. Add spinach, cook for 45 minutes on medium.
6. Add pasta last 15 minutes.  

You can have homemade soup in no time; this is great served with a grilled cheese, a panini sandwich or on it’s own.   If you try it, let me know what you think. 

Vancouver Professional Organizer, Christa Wagner created Meal Planning Made Easy to help busines families and Moms get dinner on the table.  For information go to www.savvysolutionsorganizing.com.