Get Organized Now!

In Less Than 5 Minutes!

by Maria Gracia

March 13, 2025

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Take 10 minutes to do a quick home reset—walk through your main living areas and put away anything that’s out of place.

Clever Advice from GON Readers

We love hearing how you all tackle organizing and home life in ways that are creative, practical, and just plain smart. Here are three fantastic tips from fellow readers who know how to get things done—without the stress.

1. The ‘Company’s Coming’ Basket Trick

Hi Maria,

You know how, no matter how clean your house is, there’s always that one pile of mail, that random sock, or that half-empty water bottle lingering around when guests are about to walk through the door?

I keep a decorative lidded basket in my living room for exactly this reason. If I need to do a two-minute tidy before someone arrives, I toss in the stray stuff, pop the lid on, and it instantly looks like I have my life together.

Bonus: I set a reminder on my phone to actually sort through it later, so I don’t end up with a ‘basket of shame’ full of forgotten mail and mystery objects.

-- Ellen M., Statesboro, GA

2. The ‘Use It or Move It’ Kitchen Rule

Maria,

I used to have about six different cooking utensils sitting in a big container next to the stove, but I realized I was only using the same two over and over.

Now, I play a little game with myself: every time I use a utensil, I put it in a separate jar. After a month, anything still sitting in the old container goes in the donation box.

I’ve done the same thing with coffee mugs (goodbye, ‘World’s Best Boss’ mug from 2010), and I’m working my way through my spice rack next. If I don’t use it, I move it—right out of my house.

-- Kelsey, Haines City, FL

3. The ‘Silent Alarm’ Fridge Clean-Out

Hi Maria,

First, I just adore your newsletter! Here's my tip...

Every Sunday evening, I make myself a cup of tea and set a timer for five minutes—then I power through my fridge. I toss anything expired, wipe down the shelves if they need it, and take mental stock of what’s about to go bad so I can use it up that week.

The trick is setting that timer. It keeps me focused and stops me from getting distracted (or grossed out) by whatever science experiment is happening in the veggie drawer.

I call it my ‘silent alarm’ because once you make it a habit, you just do it automatically. Less waste, no mystery leftovers, and I always know what I have for the week ahead!

-- Misti, Maryville, TN

Got a brilliant, quirky, or just plain useful tip to share? Send it our way! You never know—it might just be featured in one of my upcoming newsletters!

On another note...

Do you know someone who could use a little extra comfort right now? Whether they’re recovering from an illness or surgery, facing a tough health challenge, or simply in need of a pick-me-up, I’ve put together a Gifts of Comfort Idea List. It’s filled with thoughtful and practical gift ideas designed to lift spirits, provide warmth, and bring a little joy when it’s needed most—easy, meaningful, and sure to brighten their day!

From "No Way" to "Okay": The Emotional Path of Change

Ever notice how change tends to follow a pattern? Whether it’s a personal challenge, unexpected news, or a major life shift, most of us go through the same emotional journey. It’s called SARA—Shock, Anger, Resistance, Acceptance—a roadmap for how we process change.

It starts with Shock—the disbelief, the moment when you feel frozen in place. “This can’t be happening.” Your brain scrambles to make sense of the new reality.

Then comes Anger—frustration at the situation, at others, or even at yourself. “Why me? This isn’t fair!” It’s the emotional pushback, the fight against what feels beyond your control.

Next is Resistance—the attempt to hold on to what was, hoping things will somehow return to normal. “Maybe if I just ignore this, it’ll go away.” But deep down, we know change is already unfolding.

Finally, there’s Acceptance—the shift from resisting to adapting. “Okay, this is my reality—how do I move forward?” It doesn’t mean we love the change, but we stop fighting it, and that’s when true growth begins.

No matter where you are in the SARA process, know that it’s normal. Change isn’t easy, but it’s often where the biggest breakthroughs happen. And once you reach acceptance, you might just find a new beginning waiting for you.

Enjoying my newsletter? Please REPLY and let me know!

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GON Member Bonus!

As a valued member of GON in Five Minutes!, you get exclusive bonuses whenever new ones are available, PLUS unlimited access to all of my previous ones. This month's bonus is:

Heartfelt Thanks:

A Guide to Writing Memorable Thank You Notes

Claim this printable and explore my vault of other complimentary resources, including my printable 2025 Organizing Calendar, click here

Get Rid of Clutter Challenges: Take control of your space with 10 simple daily challenges designed to help you declutter your home and simplify your life.

March 2025 Monthly Organizing Checklist

Results of last month's poll: Which of these items would you find hardest to part with during a decluttering spree?

"As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life."
-- Amy Poehler

I'd love to hear from you.

I LOVE GON reader mail! Whether it's a comment, suggestion, or just a note to say hello, REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...there's no better time to get organized, than to Get Organized Now!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
GetOrganizedNow.com

How to Use This Newsletter

In this newsletter, you will find stories, ideas, inspiration, links and more to help you live a less stressful, more organized, more fulfilling life.

We encourage you to apply these ideas to your own life AND share them liberally with your family, friends, and fan base via email, on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, other social media outlets, and in person, of course!

When you share, please mention my name and web site - Maria Gracia - GetOrganizedNow.com as the source.

Thank you for helping to spread the gift of organizing far and wide!

-- Maria

Maria Gracia,

Get Organized Now!

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-- Maria Gracia

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USA

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Mar 13 - Clever Advice from GON Readers - GON in 5 Minutes Newsletter