Organize Now

Sort... of like getting organized

2009-10-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

Continuing my list of definitions -- “Sort”

After you have gathered all your stuff (see previous post), it is time for step 2 of my 5 step process – Sort.

Sorting is when you start to bring some sense to your big piles of stuff you have gathered. In this step, you put together like items. For example, if you are organizing a closet and have gathered everything into a big mess, you start sorting by putting all blouses, all pants, all shoes, all accessories, etc. together. By doing this step, you can see duplicate or near-duplicate items you have, and it is another way of seeing the amount of space you will need.

The sorting process is not the time to decide what you are going to do with an item. Like all of my 5 organizing steps, this step helps to break down the organizing task into smaller, less time consuming processes. By sticking with each step, you will not feel overwhelmed and you’ll complete your project more quickly.

Next post will be the definition of step 3 - Categorize.

Gather ye’ all… your stuff!

2009-10-15T14:27:00.001-07:00

Way back when I started my blog I defined “stuff,” and said that I would be posting more definitions. So here’s another definition…

“Gather”

“Gather” is the first of my 5 steps in organizing -- getting everything together so that you can see all that you are working with. For example, if you are organizing a closet, you get all the clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. from other places. This is the only way to know exactly how much space you are going to need.

Gathering is usually a messy process. More than likely there is going to be a lot of stuff just strewn about. It is important to allow this mess to happen. If you try to sort, categorize, and distribute as you gather, it becomes overwhelming. Breaking down the organizing task into manageable steps allows the process to be done quicker.

Maintaining a clutter-free home

2009-09-18T13:05:00.001-07:00

Let’s say you get your house organized. You’ve worked hard, probably with a knot in your stomach, but you are rewarded with no junk, no clutter, no extraneous stuff. Good job. Now you can move on to the real secret of being organized – maintenance.

Maintenance isn’t nearly as time consuming as initially organizing, but it does call for diligence. This step in the process of being completely organized calls for a change in habit. Like any habit we change it means doing things differently and establishing a new pattern.

Here’s a tip that is a tremendous help with maintenance, and only takes 5 to 10 minutes a day. Go through your entire house and pick up stuff. It doesn’t matter what time of day as long as it is around the SAME time each day (I do this when I get home from work because I am NOT a morning person). To start this new habit, literally walk through every room. Look for stuff that is out of place and put it back in its spot. Remove items that don’t belong and put them where they do belong. Most importantly, finish the room before moving on to the next.

Let me repeat that – finish the room before moving on to the next. It is too easy to get distracted by trying to tackle multiple rooms all at once. Distraction is probably the number one culprit of not having a good maintenance routine.

When you first start a maintenance routine it may take you longer than 10 minutes. But each day the time you dedicate to maintaining will shorten. Before you know it, your house is consistently organized, and that is a habit you can definitely live with.

The need to fill empty space

2009-08-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

I hear, “Well, there sure is a lot of space now.” That statement puts fear into the heart of an organizer because when most people are faced with empty space, they feel a strong urge to fill it. Then guess what – more clutter!

Here are a few tricks to fool the eye that the empty space just doesn’t exist:

Arrange your clothes with 2 to 3 inches between each piece. This gives the illusion that the closet is full, but gives more actual space if needed. (An added benefit – your clothes won’t get wrinkled being crammed together.)

Don’t stack shoes on top of each other. Line up each pair neatly with space in between. Again, this makes good use of space and allows you to add to your collection.

If you have adjustable shelves in your linen closet, arrange them so there is just enough space for washclothes and hand towels, and another for just enough space for body towels. This will help keep you from stoving other items in with your towels.

Use knick-knacks to fill shelves, particularly book shelves. The visual break of different dimensions and colors makes the shelf look fuller.

For garage or basement shelving, place large items at eye level. This gives the appearance that the storage areas are full.

All of these tips allow for future storage while at the same time keeping the need to fill up the space at bay.

“What do I do with all these hangers?”

2009-08-09T14:45:00.001-07:00

That is a frequent response of my client who have gone through a closet purge. It is as if the hangers are whispering sweet nothings, saying “put something on me. I’m lonely up here on this closet rod. How can you stand to just leave me hanging!”

I help those who suffer from “empty hanger” syndrome by taking the hangers away. Not all the empties; the client and I figure out how many extras are needed by taking a quick inventory of clothing that needs washing, ironing, or dry cleaning. I encourage the client to trash the freebie hangers from the dry cleaners and from purchases.

Now this can be the really scary part for the client – I tell them that the number of hangers they have right at that moment is finite! That means when they get new clothes, and they don’t have an extra hanger, they must purge something old. This is the ONLY way that a closet is going to stay clutter-free.

Five year plan

2009-07-21T15:58:00.001-07:00

In the spirit of full disclosure, let me start off by saying that the below is from a client who enthusiastically encouraged me to write about the idea.

My client, we’ll call her Sue, was downsizing. She hired me to help get rid of clutter so she didn’t have to pay to have it moved her to new digs.

As we went through her stuff, she was so excited. Not only was she getting rid of things she hadn’t seen in years, she was starting anew – new house, new town, new non-cluttered surroundings.

She offhandedly commented, “I should have done this five years ago!” And then the idea grew – she said that she is going to get in the habit of heavy-duty purging and cleaning every five years.

I knew exactly what she was talking about. Growing up, my Mom did “spring cleaning.” If you are over the age of 40, you’ve got a good idea what I’m talking about. Spring cleaning is stripping a room down to the bare bones, cleaning every nook and cranny, maybe repainting, definitely rearranging the furniture. It is a time to bring freshness back after a stuffy winter.

Sue’s suggestion is to take spring cleaning one step further by acting as if you are moving -- and need to get rid of stuff and clean. She’s realistic enough to know that in our busy lives, rarely do we have time to take on this project annually. Thus, the five year plan.

Why not make this year the first year of your five year plan? Give me a call or shoot me an email so we can work together to make your house fresh and new again!

Sentimental clutter

2009-07-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

We all keep mementos of the past as a trigger for the memory connected to the thing. Presumably the memories attached to the thing are good memories, otherwise, why would we hold on to it? Many are afraid (strong word, but very appropriate) to get rid of the memento for fear the memory will fade also.

But you know what? That supposedly good feeling from the memory triggered by the thing is trumped by the bad feeling of clutter!

What memories will you have 5 10, 15 years from now of your home? Will the plastic flamingo key chain from Florida with one of the legs broken be what you remember? How about the t-shirt that says, “I’m with stupid” that you bought with your younger brother when you went to the beach in sixth grade? Will you be thinking of the dried carnations from the corsage your boyfriend gave you at the senior prom? Will you remember the gads and gads of STUFF from places you visited (or worse, the gifts from places other people visited)?

No, I have the feeling that in 5, 10, 15 years, you will be remembering the clutter in your house, and the regret of allowing the stuff to make you miserable.

By the way – starting now, when you want a memento of a special occasion, buy something useful. For example, one a trip to visit a friend in California, we walked down the famous Sunset Strip. I bought a pair of boots that I wore and wore and wore. When they finally had enough, I tossed them. As evidenced by my recounting of this story, I still remember the trip and the good times we had.

Make new memories now. Do something with the objects of sentamentality so that you feel better in the moment, and for years to come.

This lil piggy went to... find my keys

2009-05-06T08:40:00.001-07:00

How many times have you misplaced* your keys in your purse? Go ahead, I’ll wait while you recount the number of times.

I have done it myself (it happens to all of us) even though my purse is organized. But a little piggy saved me – here’s how.

I was given an orange piggy key fob. I don’t collect pigs and I don’t like to have a lot of extraneous stuff on my key ring. But I thought, “wait a minute!” What a great tool to have to help me find my keys. The vibrant color makes it perfect to see when I’m searching the depths of my purse. The unusual shape is great to get ahold of when I’m rooting around the pockets. And if by a slim chance my keys are grouped with other sets, I instantly know which set belongs to me.

So, get yourself a silly, brightly colored, odd shaped key fob. This tip won’t help you from misplacing* your keys, but it will make it easier to find them when you do!

*Note I wrote “misplaced.” I don’t believe we ever “lose” anything that we eventually find. And it sounds a lot better to ourselves to admit we’ve “misplaced” an item instead of “losing” it.

Computer Organizing, Part Two

2009-03-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I gave some advice for keeping emails organized. Now I’d like to tell you how I keep my computer files neat.

I use my virtual desktop like my real desktop. I keep only the files I need access to, shortcuts to programs, and shortcuts to documents that are filed on my hard drive. The shortcut option on a Windows desktop is a good tool for organizing. It allows you access to those documents and spreadsheets that are tucked away, without cluttering the desktop.

I file documents directly on my hard drive. By this I mean I do not file in the “My Documents” folder. It seems to be an efficient way to file in that it takes an extra step to get to my documents.

Much as I set up my virtual desktop like a real one, I set up my virtual filing system like a real one. I have folders labeled by theme (Organize Now, Taxes, Letters, etc.). Within those folders, I have subfolders (Invoices, Expenses, Advertising, Quotes, etc.). I think of the main folders as file jackets, with file folders inside.

I am extremely careful to not duplicate documents and files. I have plenty of computer storage space, but it goes against my very being to waste it on duplicates. If I make a duplicate document (say, for example, I am playing around with a different ad), I save the new “working” file to the desktop. Once I have made my changes, I “save as” to the appropriate file folder, and delete the copy.

The wonderful thing about computers is that you can store and retrieve in numerous ways. By all means, my way of decluttering isn’t the only way – just the one that works for me. Let me know how you organize and declutter your computer. Or if you just can’t seem to do it to your satisfaction, let me know how I can help.

Computer Organizing, Part One

2009-03-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

When I organize for a client, I focus mainly on the stuff in the house. But for my own organizing, I apply the principles to my computer file storage as well.

Let’s talk about email first (in future blogs, I cover the desktop and electronic file storage).

Like most of you, I get emails that vary from friends’ quick notes to requests for organizing services. And of course, the ever-present “junk!” I treat my email like the snail mail (see my previous blog). The junk gets deleted immediately. I read the friendly notes, respond in kind, and usually delete them. (I liken these types of emails to phone calls. I don’t record my phone calls so why would I save these emails.) I will “save” the friendly email if I need to use it as a reminder (more on that later). Finally, I read and respond to business email, save to the appropriate folder, and print if necessary.

I have set up folders in the Inbox, much as I have hardcopy folders. The folders are labeled for the appropriate topic: “organize now,” “taxes,” “charities,” “saved,” etc. Some of these folders have subfolders to take the organizing one step further. As soon as I am done with an email thread, I file the LAST email in the folder and delete all the rest. I only save the last email when the person I am emailing and I reply to back and forth. That way, I have all that was written in one document.

I also use the “For Follow Up” option on my email as a reminder system. There are different colored “flags” and I assign one color per folder. This is a great system, and it keeps my main Inbox neat. Here’s an example: let’s say a friend wants to see a concert in a couple of months. We “e-chat” back and forth and finally decide on a date and time. Because I need the last email as a reminder for scheduling in a future date, I save it to my “friends” folder.” Then I flag it purple. Once or twice a week, I go through my “For Follow Up” folder to see what’s happening soon.

Email is a wonderful tool. But it can get just as cluttered as your home. If you want to get rid of any clutter, please email me.

The Postman always brings twice …. as much junk mail.

2009-02-11T15:13:00.000-08:00

Does this sound familiar? Your mail contains bills, the rare correspondence, MAYBE some money, and lots – LOTS of junk mail.

One of the top five clutter culprits is junk mail. Fliers, brochures, credit card offers, and catalogs clutter our mailboxes everyday. I see tons and tons of this unusable paper at my clients all the time.

It is tempting to grab all the mail and think, “I’ll just go through this later,” and toss it on the counter. There it is – CLUTTER. Rarely do we go through that mail that day. Instead it stacks up and spreads out. It starts on the kitchen counter, then on the dining room table, and next thing you know, its littering a coffee table or an end table. And the worse offense is when it ends up in stacks on the floor.

If this happens to you, don’t fret. There is a quick simple solution. When you have your mail in your hands for the first time, go through it. Do not set it down anywhere. Take three to five minutes to sort it into categories: bills, cards/letters, junk, and other. Open the bills, throw away the inserts, and file the bills where you keep them. Open the cards/letters, take a quick glance, and put next to a chair for reading later. And the junk mail – a quick peek to determine if you are at all interested, then throw away the stuff that is not useful. File the junk mail with your bills (more on how to organize personal paperwork in the future blog).

The fewer times you have to handle your mail, the least likely it will turn into clutter. And “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays (these organizers) from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater

2009-02-02T05:42:00.001-08:00

I have to admit it. I cheated! Not on my husband. Not on my taxes. Not even the tip I left the waitress.

I cheated on my To Do List. Egads! Say it isn’t so. Yep, its so.

This was the To Do List in question from last weekend:

Laundry, groceries, bank, email Dell, clean.

Now, the cleaning I had in mind was my bathroom. The down and dirty, get all the crevices clean type. (Shiver) I do not like to do this type of cleaning. Period. End of story. Plus it was cold. And I’d had a busy week. And I have another busy week coming up. And on, and on, and on.

Instead, since it was nice-ish weather, I decide to clean the inside of my car. The down and dirty, get all the crevices clean. I guess the decision was based on the fact that I spend more time in my car than I do in my bathroom.

So, when I took account of the weekend’s work, sure enough – I crossed off “clean.” That’s right, even though I didn’t do the cleaning I had in mind, I felt I had accomplished something.

It is the same with an organizing project. You may have in mind to organize your kitchen cabinets, but instead tackle the laundry room. And that is perfectly O.K. At least you spent the time working toward a goal, and you can always get to the kitchen cabinets next weekend.

At least that is what I told myself about the bathroom.

Don't be afraid

2009-01-25T15:14:00.001-08:00

Fear is a powerful emotion. Most times, it causes us to not move forward, to stop in our tracks. Even when our brain is saying, “its ok,” the fearful spirit says, “but I’m afraid.”

Starting the process of organizing can be a scary experience, especially when you bring in an outsider to help.

Here are some things that clients have told me they thought before letting me help:

“Will she judge me?”

“She’ll think I keep such a messy house.”

“Is she going to just come in here and tell me to trash everything that is dear to me?”

Part of the reason why I started this business is to help with the fear. The fear of starting a new project. The fear of working with a stranger. And yes, even the fear of neat surroundings.

I understand that people are apprehensive to start the journey of organizing. I know how some possessions bring about memories. But I also know that clutter causes unneccessary discomfort, that a messy house is stressful.

I work very closely with each client to relieve any fears and doubts. I strongly believe that your home should include the stuff YOU want. If that means throwing out the 20 year old wardrobe, I can help. If that means keeping the set of glassware you got on your honeymoon, well, we can find a place to keep it.

Be brave, and start organizing now.

A simple, uncluttered message

2008-12-22T10:11:00.000-08:00

I wish you a peaceful Christmas and clutter-free New Year!

To my customers and clients – thank you for your loyalty this past year. I look forward to continuing our work into 2009.

Turkey Day

2008-11-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

I just volunteered to host Thanksgiving dinner for my immediate family. Talk about the last minute! (Although, I suppose Wednesday would be the VERY last minute.)

This type of spontaneity is just one reason for maintaining organization in your kitchen. In my own case, I have enough to think about with the menu, who is going to bring what, grocery shopping, and places for everyone to sit. Knowing that when I start cooking Thursday morning that everything I want is in the right place helps to make the day fun.

The average kitchen is usually built for good organization by the fact that there are cabinets. And most people have their stuff in the right cabinets. I have found that the biggest culprit of kitchen clutter is too much stuff – too much food, too many duplicate utensils, too many pots and pans.

This holiday season as you cook or bake, take a critical look at the “extras” in your cabinets. If you haven’t used something in two years, time to discard it. If you have a cooking implement that is for a particular dish, consider storing it elsewhere so you have room for your everyday kitchen duties. Check your foodstuffs for expiration dates and trash anything that has expired, and consider donating to a food bank those items you know you won’t use.

Preparing a holiday meal for friends and family should be a delight. Don’t let kitchen clutter make a chore instead.

Being "clothes" minded

2008-11-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

Here's an easy way to keep your clothes organized -- use the same color hangers! You will be surprised at how much neater your clothes seem when they are on the same color hangers. White hangers are great, but you can be colorful too (there are even purple hangers out there). And one more thing -- keep a place on the closet rod to hang empty hangers. Once you wear an item, place the empty hanger in this space. That way you don't have the empties jetting out all over the place.

To really get your clothes straight, start by sorting all like items together -- jackets, suits, dresses, skirts, pants, tops. Then organize the like items together by color and hang them up going from dark to light. This method works just as well in dresser drawers -- keep like items together and sort by color.

This simple method of organizing will definitely save you time when getting dressed. Another easy step is to prep your clothes the night before. Gather an outfit and put it in front of all your other clothes (or you can have a hook on the wall especially for your outfits).

If you just don't have enough room, it is time to purge (I know how scary the thought is). Please let me help you -- drop me a line. I'll come out to visit you to assess the situation and give you a free estimate.

Old Dog ... New Tricks

2008-10-20T13:33:00.000-07:00

Like most people, I’m set in my ways. I have a certain way I like things done and I get rather verklempt when the process veers off course.

I’ve learned though that I can make new habits from the people around me. Let me give you some examples…

From my sister-in-law, Angela, I have learned to sweep the kitchen floor as part of the after-dinner-clean-up routine. Now instead of having two items on my to do list (clean up dishes and sweep floor) I have just one (clean up kitchen). It doesn’t seem as bad having one chore instead of two.

From my step-daughter, I have learned the importance of “zombie time.” This is when I completely immerse myself in an activity that requires no brain function nor physical movement. It restores the mind and spirit.

From my friend, Jeannie, I have learned how to let things roll off my back. I have seen people insult her to her face, and she has an uncanny ability to laugh it off. She is the embodiment of “I’m rubber, you’re glue. What you say bounces off me and sticks to you!”

From my husband, I have learned how to clean up as I cook. I used to cook a meal and leave all the pots, pans, utensils, etc. in the sink to be cleaned later. Then when later came, I had a big mess. Now I tidy up as I cook and clean up is so much faster.

From several of my clients, I have learned the convenience of Lysol and/or Clorox disinfecting wipes for cleaning up small messes.

So, if you think that you’ll never be able to stay organized – don’t despair! With my help, you can make new habits too.

The iron age

2008-10-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

I must confess, I like to iron (I like to paint too, but that's a story for another blog). I love the way a wrinkled shirt becomes smooth and perfect as I glide the hot iron across the fabric. I love the smell of pressed pants. I love the feel of a linen skirt that is wrinkle-free.

But I ain't got the time, know what I mean? So, the ironing piles up and piles up until I'm facing a rack-full of wrinkly garments.

I found a way to remove wrinkles without the ironing board.

I put the dry clothing on a hanger, button up the shirts, hang the slacks with the crease, and clip my skirts nice and tight. I take it all outside to the clothes line. I hook the hanger over the line, and spritz everything down with water from a spray bottle. As the breeze goes through and the sun shines down, the wrinkles disappear! By the end of the afternoon, my pile of ironing smells fresh and looks wrinkle free.

Note, this trick will not remove stubborn wrinkles and the clothes don't have a pressed/starched look. But for everyday cotton and cotton-blend shirts, pants, and skirts, it is a time-saver, a money-saver, and an energy-saver.

Be green (as in environmental stewardship) by better managing green (as in dollar bills)

2008-10-06T11:19:00.001-07:00

The clutter that many Americans face is due to buying more than is needed (or at least more than space is allotted). It is tough to not buy stuff. It is the basis of our economy. We want to be proud of our prosperity, and we do so with purchasing power.

However, a dollar spent ends up being a dollar cost. The cost is in space – both your space and space at the landfill. When you run out of space and de-clutter, more than half of the stuff will go to the dump.

What it all boils down to is this -- too much stuff comes from too much buying. Building sustainability at home, at work, in your community, starts with better resource management. And resource management starts with not wasteful spending.

With the economy sliding downhill, now is the right time for better resource management with a halt to wasteful spending, and thus discover space to live in!

Working at the car wash, yea

2008-09-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

For those of you who remember the disco era, you may recognize the title as part of a song that was popular in the 70's.

It came to mind recently as I was sitting, ironically, in a car wash. I was bored! The radio was all static, I didn't have a CD to play, and no one can hear me on my cell phone, what with all the swishing going on in the background as my car gets its bath.

So, I started cleaning out my purse. Granted, there isn't much to clean out. I keep an organized purse. What kind of professional organizer do you think I am :-)? I straightened up my wallet. I took everything out, shook out my purse to get all the little bits of paper and fuzzies, and replaced it all neatly. The car wash wasn't even at the rinse cycle yet.

I moved on to my immediate surroundings in the car. I emptied the console and wiped everything down with a hand-wipe. I got my maps and puzzle books and misc papers from the seat pocket, threw away paper I didn't need, and replaced it all in a stack. I did a quick wipe of the dash, squirted some Febreeze, and I was done. As was the car.

If you find yourself sitting still in your vehicle, take that time to do a little organizing. (I strongly urge you NOT to do this task while in traffic). It takes less than 10 minutes, but you'll feel like you've made a major accommplishment.

My definition of STUFF

2008-07-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

I've been searching for articles on organizing that are RSS (Really Simple Syndication). It hasn't been easy. That's good! I can write to my lil heart's content so that others can discover organizing peace.

So, to get started, how about I define some words that I'll use here.

First, STUFF.

I use "stuff" a lot, and this is why. Its a nice word that describes everything one could want to organize -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. Its a substitute for all the clothes in the closet, all the holiday decorations in the attic, all the trinkets around the living room, all the extra plastic food containers in the kitchen. Its the cast-offs, the mess, the debris. Its the nice vase from your favorite aunt, the jacket you wear once a decade, the lasagna pan you use to bake that delicious apple crumb (by the way, does anyone have a good recipe for a delicious apple crumb?)

"Stuff" isn't judgemental. The old adage, "One man's junk is another man's treasure," is true, true, true! When I work with a client, I don't question why she wants to keep a piece of notepaper yet get rid of a perfectly good hammock.

"Stuff" is a soft word. It helps the client feel more at ease, and that is extremely important to me. We all get attached to our stuff. One of the keys to organizing is letting go of that attachment. And it ain't easy! So the muted word "stuff" softens the blow.

And finally, "stuff" is universal. We professional organizers use terms such as clutter, junk, treasures, muddle, untidiness, etc. But, as I've said, "stuff" is the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Besides, how can it be bad when it is the root of the word "stuffing," and who doesn't like stuffing.