This month JAM Organizing presents another informative post from a guest blogger. Enjoy!

​One of the greatest side effects of the modern, fast paced lifestyle is stress. With rushed mornings, long work days, and late evenings, many of us feel like we spend our lives in a state of chaos trying to keep up with our to-do list. But did you know there are specific ways we can foster a calming environment that will help us relax? By integrating soothing elements into your surroundings at home, you can transform the way you begin and end each day and create a space that promotes peace and serenity.

Having a home to call your own is a wonderful feeling, but let’s be honest here: there will be times when you find yourself nitpicking at certain details of your house. Is there a particular backsplash in your kitchen that you aren’t fond of? Does your living room and kitchen look cramped? Do you dislike the interior of your bathrooms? A lot of times, these little problems that you have with your house won’t go away with time, but there are lots of simple ways to revamp your old home that will have you falling in love with it once more. 

April is Stress Awareness Month - a perfect time to reflect on your home and whether it's a port in the storm or a storm in itself. If you're fearing it's the latter, don't fret. Recognition is the first step, and you're not alone.

There are two giants in the world of digital photo organization: Forever and Mylio. They are both rated superior and are highly recommended by experts, but there are notable and important differences. So, how do you know which is best for your needs? Let's review them both, and I'll tell you my experiences and opinions so far.

How many digital photos do you have?
1,000? 5,000? 10,000? 25,000? 50,000? No idea?
You're not alone. Believe me. Over 1.2 trillion digital pictures were taken in 2017 and there are currently over 4.7 trillion photos tucked away on hard drives. So, now that I've thrown a couple overwhelming numbers at you, what should you do with all these photos?

Let me say that again. Being disorganized is costing you money. You may not have personally experienced that single large loss that properly hammered the point home, but I can guarantee you've felt some of the smaller losses. The smaller losses add up over time and make a big impact on your wallet and earning potential.

No judgment here. The struggle to get organized and maintain it is universal. It looks different in every home and in every business, and the root causes of disorganization can be just as varied. We can all benefit from a quick look around our home and our lives to see how we are losing money by being disorganized and what we can do to change it.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and some of the examples can easily fit into more than one category. I just want you to see how getting organized and finding the systems and strategies that work best for you, your family, and your business can help greatly reduce the cost you're currently paying. 

Individual tubes of mascara and bottles of foundation don't take up much room, but collectively all the beauty products and cosmetics we’re saving can take a toll – both on available storage space and on our health. At best, cosmetics past their prime just won’t work as well. At worst, they can cause irritation and infection.

Well-formulated cosmetics can remain stable for a couple of years if stored unopened at room temperature. When they're opened and air comes into contact with the product, certain ingredients start to oxidize and degrade.

Every time you touch these products, germs are transferred onto them and, in turn, onto your face and skin. Heat and humidity promote the growth of mold, yeast, bacteria, and fungi, making the bathroom a poor choice for cosmetic storage. (Full disclosure: mine are in the bathroom, but after researching this, I’m planning to make a change.)

So, how do you know how long is too long to keep and use your beauty products? Beyond the obvious signs (mascara drying out, liquids separating), it can be difficult to tell. Plus, U.S. labeling regulations don’t require an expiration date.

I'm always reading and learning more about organization, whether it's new tips and tricks or the psychology behind clutter. Regardless of the subject, sometimes I come across a gem that I must share. I read this two days ago, and I can't stop thinking about it. It's simple and completely accurate. I definitely identify with several of these laws, and I bet many of you will feel the same. I'll reproduce it here in its entirety. Anything I add will be minimal and in brackets. (See below for the source.) ​

Law 1: Stuff breeds. The more you have, the more you need. 
Well, okay, if you leave two objects in a dark corner, they don't actually reproduce, but sometimes it sure seems that way. Let's suppose you buy a new computer system. This basic system consists of a keyboard, a mouse, the CPU, and a monitor. Oh, and of course there are all those manuals and cables. And let's not forget a printer. Oh, and extra printer cartridges. You should probably have an external hard drive to back up your files. Of course you'lll need new software and maybe an Internet router so you can go wireless. Plus there are various gadgets and cleaning solutions to keep your computer in tip-top shape. And so on, and so on. ​