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Showing posts with label Organizing Challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Organizing Challenges. Show all posts

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Decisions to be Made Before You Organize

When some people decide that they want to organize their home - they just start "organizing". They go out and buy some bins and baskets and put random things into these bins without having made some very important decisions.

Such as:

What am I trying to accomplish?

Do I have a specific place for this item to go?

Do I really want or need this item?

Do I have room for this item?

Is this item in good shape - or does it work or fit?

And one very important question that not a lot of people think about ---

    What is the intended use of this room?

You don't start the "organizing process" by organizing - you start the process by decluttering first!

Start by picking up any trash (wrappers or other things thrown on the floor or left out instead of in the garbage).

Next - do a quick pick up of things that don't belong in the room and remove them from the room (anything on a kitchen island or dining room table that doesn't belong there). 

Doing these two things will make a huge difference immediately.  

But - then you need to take a step back and decide what it is that you actually want to accomplish. And you also need to decide what you want each room to function as.

Do you want the living room to be a room where the family watches TV or they play games or the kids do their homework? 

Does your bedroom also need to function as your "office" (since a lot of people might still work from home)?

Do you want your kitchen to also be the place that the kids do their homework or that you use as your "office"?

Is your entryway closet going to be used as a coat closet or as a toy cabinet? It's your home - you get to decide how each room and each space will be used. 

Once you decide how each room and each space will be used - then you need to start the planning process. Unfotunately, this is the step that most people skip over. Take your time and come up with a list of things that you migth need to make your project a success. This will save you time so that you aren't constantly running to the store or to different rooms to get something that you need. Get everything in place before you start.

Then you need to step back and really think decide if the way you set up the room (or space) is really working for you. If not - you need to figure out why. Move things to other areas or drawers. Consolidate all like items in one place. Whatever it takes to make it function better for you.

Start the organizing process by making these decisions before you start doing any organizing! 

Good Luck and Happy Organizing!


Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Bathroom Organizing - lots of great ideas

 

Organizing small spaces is always a challenge. Read the Redfin article to get some ideas on how to organize your bathroom to make the most use out of your space. We are listed in the article!





See the Redfin article we were featured in:  22 Expert-Approved Bathroom Organizing Ideas to Make the Most of Your Space | Redfin



Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....

Friday, January 21, 2022

Organization Saves You Time and Money

Getting Organized for the New Year is one of the biggest New Years Resolutions that people make.

Unfortunately, it usually falls into the same fate as "getting in shape or losing weight". It doesn't happen.

Everyone has good intentions but there is always an excuse:

  • I don't have the time
  • I don't know where to start
  • It's too overwhelming
  • No one in the family really cares - so why bother
  • I have other things I would rather do.....

But being organized is not only about organization - it's about reducing your stress, getting to work or school on time, being able to find things, saving time and money....and so much more.

If you aren't organized you might spend time looking for things because you have no idea where you put your keys, purse, checkbook....therefore you might be late for work or school.

You can't find your keys, purse, checkbook....and you are now late....so you become frazzled, stressed and start yelling at everyone.

You might buy multiple sets of (insert whatever you keep buying over and over again....) because you didn't realize you already had it - or you can't find it. So you are losing money buying something that you already had.

Disorganization causes stress and a lot of tension in a family - especially if everyone is not on the same page as to how organized your home should be. Everyone has different organization styles and different levels of tolerance for disorganization.

Getting on the same page with your family about organizing style is really important.

So - have a meeting to decide what you want your home to look like. Break down who is in charge of what area of the home. Give everyone a detailed list of how the organizing project is going to be put into action. Set a realistic deadline of when you think the project will be completed. Set up a schedule of when your project will start and when it will be worked on.

That is a very simplified outline - but it's a start. Having the rest of the families input and participation is half the battle. The other half is actually getting everyone to do their part. 

What - you expected a miracle? 😊

Not everyone has organizational skills. Everyone has their own talents. And not everyone has the patience to organize.

Sometimes - the quickest way to get things done - is to hire a Professional Organizer! They have the expertise to look at a space and determine the best options for your space. They are efficient and will work without complaining! Professional Organizers love organizing - probably unlike your family.

And some Professional Organizers will even work with you remotely and give you all of their expertise and advice in a virtual session that is a fraction of the time and expense of an in-home session. They give you a plan and you can implement it yourself - saving you money. 

In person - or virtual - a Professional Organizer is a great investment in your home and life!

Happy Organizing!

  

Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Organizing - While You Have Time On Your Hands


While a lot of businesses are closed - and you aren't working and have "spare" time on your hands - it's time to start on those Organizing projects that you have been putting off.

Whether it's clearing out your clothes closet, or pantry, basement or garage - we are here to offer you any advice or ideas. * Send us an email and we will gladly offer you any suggestions.

Start by having a bag (we suggest different colored bags for donate and trash) to put things into that you no longer, need, want or is broken. Since most donation places are still closed - make sure that you have a place to store the bag until they reopen.

It's always easiest if you take everything out of the closet (or wherever you are working), clean it out, sweep or wipe it down - before you start putting anything back in. Remember - things always look worse before you are finished.

Be realistic about your "things". If you haven't used it in a while - ask yourself why you are keeping it. It's time to make that hard decision on letting it go!

*****

Another idea on what to Organize:

Your information!  Do you have a list of all of your critical information? All in ONE PLACE? For easy access in case of emergency? A list of all of your financial accounts, insurance information, medical information, household information, family contacts....

There are numerous ways to accomplish this! Whether it's a written form (book or spreadsheets) or an online form - whatever works for you. The point is - everyone should have a list of EVERYTHING - all in ONE PLACE.

This does take some initial work - but after that all you need to do is update it when your information changes.

*****

There are a lot of things that you can Organize during this downtime! If you need help with getting started or working on a project - we can help VIRTUALLY!  Email us and ask us how it all works.

Happy Organizing!

Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life


Organizational Consulting Services

Monday, December 9, 2019

Organizing - At Your Own Speed


Everyone has a different way of organizing. And that's OK! There is no "one size fits all". Not matter what anyone says. There are a ton of books out there on organizing and everyone has their own idea.
 
It's important that you know yourself - your style - and how your brain works. If you try to use someone else's method - and it is too complicated - you won't keep it up. You have to look at your lifestyle and how you use your home - before you can come up with an organizing solution.

Don't make things over complicated. Don't go out and buy a lot of "organizing products". 

Start slowly - start with the basics. 

As always - you start by decluttering first. This is a crucial step that you can't skip.

Then, the organizing process can take place. Keep it simple. It needs to make sense to "you" - not the Organizer.

Know yourself and your body. Be sure to take frequent breaks so that you don't get overwhelmed.

Know that it always gets worse before it gets better. When you start clearing things out - they need to go somewhere. Make sure that you have enough time - so that you can put things back where you want them (in an organized fashion). People tend to underestimate how long an organizing project will take. 

If you can't finish a project all in one session - know and understand that you might have a mess on your hands until you can get back and finish your project.  


Plan your projects out by scheduling them on your calendar. That way they might actually get done in a timely manner.

If you don't know where to start or are overwhelmed at even the thought of organizing your home - reach out to an experienced Organizer. 

We live to Organize!



Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services


Monday, April 3, 2017

Merging Families - Organization Needed


When people blend their families together they not only create a new family unit - but they usually also create a lot of excess. As in - extra stuff!

Instead of having one toaster - they now have two. And two sets of living room furniture. And two sets of .... everything!

Merging families - and their "stuff" - takes planning, patience and a willingness to let go. It's now "ours" - instead of "mine".

But where do you start?

It all depends. Are you moving into a new home or will one of you be moving into the other persons home?

If you are moving into a new home then you will need to decide what furniture will fit into the new space. Whose is in better condition? Whose makes more sense? If there are kids involved you will need to be realistic and practical. Fancy furniture and kids usually don't mix. Save yourself some tears and be practical.

If you are moving into the other persons home - well - that's a tough one. You need to start with  honesty and decide what each of you is willing to give up and what each of you needs to feel comfortable.

If you have a favorite chair or a special piece of furniture - let the other person know how you feel. But - make sure that it will actually fit into your new home.

Take a look at all of the duplicates - especially in the kitchen - and decide whose is in better shape. If your toaster is brand new and his is 10 years old - it's a no brainer. But then again - nothing is ever that easy.

If you have older kids - maybe they will want some of the furniture and things for their apartment. If not - you can sell, give away or donate the duplicates.

After you have gotten rid of all of the duplicates - think about your paperwork next - and merging files.

Merging families and households can be stressful. Think about hiring a Professional Organizer to help you with the process. An outsiders' opinion is much easier to accept than that of a family member!


Take our Personal Organizational Assessment to see how organized you really are.


Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Thursday, July 14, 2016

It's MY STUFF! You Can't Make Me Throw It Away!


As a Professional Organizer I am very aware that when I go into a person's home or business to help them with their organizing issues I am being entrusted with their things and their confidence. I give my clients possessions the respect they deserve and I maintain a strict confidentiality on what happens in their home.

When people use their friends or family to help them organize - or in most instances - just clean their home (not the same thing at all)  - there is not the same understanding of confidentiality or non-judgement. In fact - there is so much judgement that it usually - in most cases - causes issues within the family or friendship.

The number one complaint from most clients who have - at one point or another - used a friend or family member - is that they tried to make them throw out their "stuff", they threw it out themselves without asking, or they were very judgemental, condescending or just plain mean.

I know that they were just trying to help - or they thought they were helping - but they weren't.  They were putting their ideas of organization, cleanliness and decorating on their friend.

I have heard many clients say to me  "It's MY STUFF!  They tried to make me throw it away!".  And a friendship was lost. A family was torn apart from anger.

Everyone has their own idea on what it means to have an organized, clean, picked up or decorated home.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

As a Professional Organizer I try to give my clients the best advice that I can - without judgement - and being aware of how they live, what their needs are and how they function.

A Professional Organizer never MAKES a client throw anything out. It's THEIR STUFF!

How would you feel if someone came into your home and just started taking things and throwing them out?  I am sure that you would not like it - and you would be very angry.

It doesn't matter what you think - it's what your friend or family member thinks.  It's their stuff - not yours.

It's not always easy when you have a client that is so chronically disorganized (and possibly a hoarder) - to not want to get rid of things and "make it all better" - but that's overstepping the boundary. Part of a Professional Organizers job is to try and teach the person how to make better decisions, how to organize their space better so that they can fit things in where they are supposed to be. A Professional Organizer can guide a client - but they can't and should never throw things out without a client's permission.

As an "outsider" - a "professional" - it's much easier not to become attached to a clients things and to be objective.

So if you don't want someone coming into your home and taking your things - don't go throwing away your families things. It won't end well.  

It's their STUFF!



Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

Monday, August 24, 2015

Organizing Your Life - Setting Yourself Up For Success



Being organized is about more than just having "things" neatly in place.  If your "life" isn't organized everything else will fall apart.

Do you have a "plan" for how you want your life to play out?  Do you have your priorities in place?

Life today is fast and crazy. There are so many activities and commitments that we are expected to participate in. We are pulled in so many directions that everything can't be perfect and important deadlines might be missed.

By having a plan - by organizing your day and your life - you are more likely able to meet some of those challenges and do so in a more relaxed and calm manner.

Disorganization causes stress. Stress causes flared emotions and saying or doing things you might not ordinarily say or do.

By taking a step back and organizing your routine, your life and your priorities - you can decrease your stress levels and accomplish your goals.

Start by sitting down and writing out a detailed account of  exactly what you do every day. Break it down into what you do each day of the week. Then break it down into 15 or 30 minute increments.  Decide if anything can be deleted from your schedule. Or you might want to move it to another day.

By having everything written down you can get a better picture of why you are so tired all of the time or why you are late for meetings and appointments. 

Once you have your schedule written down and you are satisfied that it is more manageable break it down even further. What is required for each task or appointment or meeting?  Do you have everything ready that you need for that appointment?

For example - if you have a doctors appointment - do you have a list of all of your medications?  Do you have a list of all of your symptoms.

If you have a business meeting - do you have all of the information that you need for that meeting? Do you have all of the reports or numbers that you need?

If you are taking a trip - do you have everything ready for the trip?  Do you have a checklist of what to pack or take?  Have you made arrangements to have your mail and newspaper suspended? Is someone going to water your plants?

As you can see - being organized plays a vital role in everything that we do. Being prepared can make your life run smoother.

So - go ahead....  GET ORGANIZED !   You will be glad you did.




Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Clearing Your Clutter in the New Year


Some people are starting to put all of their holiday decorations away. So take it one step further and start the New Year off right by clearing all of the clutter throughout your home.

The easiest things to clutter - are flat surfaces!  People get into the habit of just putting things down wherever there is a surface. The problem is - they never pick it up and move it to where it's actually supposed to go.

As Professional Organizers like to say "everything should have a home".

So as you are putting away all of your holiday decorations - clear everything off of each surface (each coffee table, desk, dining room table, kitchen table, counters.....).

Then take a step back and decide what should go there - what actually belongs in that room and on that surface (table).

Keep out only what you actually need or use every single day. If it's an item that you only use once in a while - put it away (somewhere that makes sense).

The less that you have on the surface - the cleaner and less cluttered it will look.

It's a quick and easy fix that will transform a room instantly!

Go through each room of your home and do the same thing. Look at each surface and decide what you really use on a daily basis - and put the other things away. Your home will instantly be refreshed.

Then take it one step further - and for your New Years Resolution - resolve to put things where they belong immediately - so that you don't end up in the same boat a week from now. It's not easy to break a bad habit and it's harder to make a new one feel natural - but stick with it - and soon you too will live in a clutter free zone.

Happy Organizing !



Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Monday, April 21, 2014

Organizing - Start Small and See Where It Leads You


For those people that are "organizationally challenged" the thought of starting a project seems daunting.  If they can decide on which project to start with that is.....

And that's the first hurdle people need to overcome. Where to start?  

The answer - "where you want".  "Whatever area bothers you the most".

Most people tend to over think things. Organization is very important - but if you mess up - you can easily change things. It's not a matter of life and death (unless we are talking about hoarding).

There is no "right or wrong" place to start. Every client is different. Everyone has different priorities and needs.

As I've said in the past - "just start....".  Pick something - pick something up - and just go for it.

A Professional Organizer will usually have a plan - but for most people - the fact that they are organizing at all is a great first step. The step to having things in place, to finding things, to getting to work (or school....) on time. A step closer to being "de-stressed".

Once a person starts picking things up and clearing a space - they will - eventually - see what they are capable of. They will be able to see what is possible.

Once you get moving you might not be able to stop.  O.K. - maybe not everyone gets as excited about organization as I do - but it is contagious.  A cleared and organized space shows you that you are capable of being organized and hopefully will give you the incentive to continue.

Pick up the coffee cups and snack plates from the living room. Take them into the kitchen.

Pick up your clothes on the living room floor and bring them into your bedroom. No, they don't belong on the bedroom floor - put them in the laundry basket or put them in your closet (neatly, or course).

Pick up all of the magazines laying on the floor and put them into your magazine basket (or get rid of them - let another friend read them....).

Take anything that does not belong in the room - OUT of the room and put it where it belongs.

Start small - and see where it leads you!



Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Monday, December 20, 2010

What is Clutter and Your Greatest Organizing Challenge

In one of the seminars that I gave on "Clutter & Chronic Disorganization" I asked the following questions: "What does Clutter mean to you?" and "What is your greatest Organizing challenge?".


Everyone answered these questions differently. The following are some of the responses that I received.


What is Clutter ?


Too much stuff all over the place

Stuff that is not in its place

Piles

Stuff left in a haphazard way taking up valuable space

Lots of stuff around – magazines, newspapers, mail

Useless items

Excess stuff around that is not organized

Accumulation of things that prevent use of space

Papers everywhere

Messy

Anything that I don’t know where to put

Unorganized

Papers on the counter

Messy closets, basements, garage

Stuff covering all surfaces


What is Your Greatest Organizing Challenge ?


Paperwork

Organizing any space

Not knowing what to do with things

Mail, magazines, kids school stuff

Basement & garage

Dining room table

Deciding what to keep

Not throwing stuff away in a timely manner

How long to keep records

Finding places to keep things

Starting but not finishing projects

Afraid to get rid of things that might have value

Childhood memorabilia

Closets

Putting things where they belong

Keeping things just because they cost money


If any of the above statements sound like something that you would say....remember.... you are not alone.


Everyone has some type of clutter and everyone has challenges. By knowing what our challenges are we can come up with a plan to conquer the clutter and those challenges and have a more organized home and life.


Start in one small area and clear your clutter. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed. Set a time limit on each phase of your organizing project. Take a break. Give yourself a reward for a job well done.


Slowly you can take back your home and your life.


Remember: Less Clutter = Less Stress (sm)



Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/