Well... it's been an exciting week ! A couple of great articles have come out.
First, I have just completed training for a great program through NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) to teach children in grades 2 - 5 how to become more organized. It's a really fun and interactive program and I hope to be able to teach kids a lesson that they will be able to use throughout their entire lives. The program is called " NAPO in the Schools ".
http://www.pr.com/press-release/226417
Then, I was interviewed for a magazine article on "organizing in the church". Yes, churches need to be organized just as much as your home or office! I am in the article with Peter Walsh, the organizing guru on the show "Clean Sweep". What an honor !
http://www.churchmutual.com/riskreporter/pdfs/RRSpring2010.pdf
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
TIME MANAGEMENT
Time….something that most people don’t have enough of. Something that most people waste.
Time management….an interesting concept since you can’t manage “time”, you can only manage “yourself”.
So what can you do to take better advantage of the time that you do have?
First, you need to figure out what you “actually” do all day long. And it will surprise you. For the next few days write down “every single thing” that you do all day long. Break it down by the hour. If you do multiple things in that hour write it down. After a few days take a good look at your log and you will see how much time you actually waste.
Second, decide what’s important in your life (or business) and what you really want to accomplish. Then come up with a game plan, a timeline on how you are going to accomplish those goals.
People continuously complain that they don’t have enough time to get everything done in a day or to reach their “goal”. By seeing how much time you actually waste during the day you can start to make changes in yourself and re-claim some lost time.
A few ideas on managing your time:
Make each outing a “multiple purpose” event. When you are using your car make the most out of the trip by combining errands. Go to the grocery store, post office and dry cleaners all in the same trip instead of three (3) separate trips. You will save time and money on gas and wear and tear on your car.
When you have an appointment where you will be waiting (such as a doctors office or at the car shop or waiting to pick up your kids from ballet) use that time to catch up on reading your magazines or mail. Or doing homework or studying.
While waiting for the roast to be done for dinner…throw in a load of laundry.
Avoid interruptions at work by letting people know that they need to make an appointment to talk to you. This makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Be nice but be firm and say something like, “I’m in the middle of a project now, can you come back at 2 pm so that I can give you my full attention?”.
Be considerate of other employee’s time by saving up all of your questions and asking them when they have time, instead of continually stopping by and asking them ten questions throughout the day.
Learn to say “no”. (a hard one for many people)
Plan your tomorrow, today. At the end of the day today, plan out your schedule for tomorrow. That way you’ll know what to expect and will leave yourself plenty of time to get things done. Be sure to leave enough time for “unexpected” emergencies. You can also group all of your activities that require driving into a logical order.
Break your main project up into smaller projects to make them more manageable . This will also give you the feeling of having accomplished something when you finish a project.
Don’t over schedule your day or you will be stressed out. And that’s when you make mistakes.
Time…. Learn to manage it….. Don’t let it manage you.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Time management….an interesting concept since you can’t manage “time”, you can only manage “yourself”.
So what can you do to take better advantage of the time that you do have?
First, you need to figure out what you “actually” do all day long. And it will surprise you. For the next few days write down “every single thing” that you do all day long. Break it down by the hour. If you do multiple things in that hour write it down. After a few days take a good look at your log and you will see how much time you actually waste.
Second, decide what’s important in your life (or business) and what you really want to accomplish. Then come up with a game plan, a timeline on how you are going to accomplish those goals.
People continuously complain that they don’t have enough time to get everything done in a day or to reach their “goal”. By seeing how much time you actually waste during the day you can start to make changes in yourself and re-claim some lost time.
A few ideas on managing your time:
Make each outing a “multiple purpose” event. When you are using your car make the most out of the trip by combining errands. Go to the grocery store, post office and dry cleaners all in the same trip instead of three (3) separate trips. You will save time and money on gas and wear and tear on your car.
When you have an appointment where you will be waiting (such as a doctors office or at the car shop or waiting to pick up your kids from ballet) use that time to catch up on reading your magazines or mail. Or doing homework or studying.
While waiting for the roast to be done for dinner…throw in a load of laundry.
Avoid interruptions at work by letting people know that they need to make an appointment to talk to you. This makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Be nice but be firm and say something like, “I’m in the middle of a project now, can you come back at 2 pm so that I can give you my full attention?”.
Be considerate of other employee’s time by saving up all of your questions and asking them when they have time, instead of continually stopping by and asking them ten questions throughout the day.
Learn to say “no”. (a hard one for many people)
Plan your tomorrow, today. At the end of the day today, plan out your schedule for tomorrow. That way you’ll know what to expect and will leave yourself plenty of time to get things done. Be sure to leave enough time for “unexpected” emergencies. You can also group all of your activities that require driving into a logical order.
Break your main project up into smaller projects to make them more manageable . This will also give you the feeling of having accomplished something when you finish a project.
Don’t over schedule your day or you will be stressed out. And that’s when you make mistakes.
Time…. Learn to manage it….. Don’t let it manage you.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, April 5, 2010
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS CALLED UPON AS MORE SENIORS DOWNSIZE
Calling in a pro can help keep emotions out of deciding what to do with all that “stuff ”
Downsizing can be a tough process for anyone, but especially for seniors who find themselves with large homes no longer full of children. More and more are tackling the huge job of downsizing their living spaces. In fact, about six percent of Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 move each year, according to the Over-50 Council of the National Association of Home Builders.
As seniors reach the time to downsize belongings and move into smaller, more manageable homes, many have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of the “stuff ” they’ve accumulated over the years.
According to NAPO …“A major reason seniors have a hard time downsizing is they feel they are the ‘keepers’ of family heirlooms and so they have a hard time getting rid of items which they don’t really have room for anymore,”.
Here are some tips for seniors taking the plunge into a more simplified lifestyle:
• Start looking for other family members who would like to have heirloom pieces now, especially if they are not being used on a regular basis. There are many organizations that accept donations of valuable heirlooms in support of a worthy cause. Professional organizers can help seniors sort through household items to strategically figure out what will work in their new space. They also can help seniors identify which organizations to turn to that are best at finding new homes for family heirlooms.
• Find movers specializing in making the transition easier for seniors. Professional organizers can help find the perfect “mover match” for a client, and can help pare down items before the move making the process easier at moving time.
• Have a professional organizer reassess every five to ten years or as needed to make sure the senior’s home is still working for them. Sometimes seniors don’t realize that everyday activities and household chores can be made easier just by adjusting the setup in their homes. Professional organizers are great resources to help identify easy ways seniors can simplify to improve their overall quality of life.
A professional organizer won’t tell the seniors what stays and what goes, but they will ask the tough questions to help them decide for themselves. Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part, and having a professional with an outside point of view to assist is the perfect way to move forward.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Downsizing can be a tough process for anyone, but especially for seniors who find themselves with large homes no longer full of children. More and more are tackling the huge job of downsizing their living spaces. In fact, about six percent of Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 move each year, according to the Over-50 Council of the National Association of Home Builders.
As seniors reach the time to downsize belongings and move into smaller, more manageable homes, many have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of the “stuff ” they’ve accumulated over the years.
According to NAPO …“A major reason seniors have a hard time downsizing is they feel they are the ‘keepers’ of family heirlooms and so they have a hard time getting rid of items which they don’t really have room for anymore,”.
Here are some tips for seniors taking the plunge into a more simplified lifestyle:
• Start looking for other family members who would like to have heirloom pieces now, especially if they are not being used on a regular basis. There are many organizations that accept donations of valuable heirlooms in support of a worthy cause. Professional organizers can help seniors sort through household items to strategically figure out what will work in their new space. They also can help seniors identify which organizations to turn to that are best at finding new homes for family heirlooms.
• Find movers specializing in making the transition easier for seniors. Professional organizers can help find the perfect “mover match” for a client, and can help pare down items before the move making the process easier at moving time.
• Have a professional organizer reassess every five to ten years or as needed to make sure the senior’s home is still working for them. Sometimes seniors don’t realize that everyday activities and household chores can be made easier just by adjusting the setup in their homes. Professional organizers are great resources to help identify easy ways seniors can simplify to improve their overall quality of life.
A professional organizer won’t tell the seniors what stays and what goes, but they will ask the tough questions to help them decide for themselves. Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part, and having a professional with an outside point of view to assist is the perfect way to move forward.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, March 29, 2010
ADD and Organization
Children and adults with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) have a harder time trying to stay organized. They get easily distracted and have problems focusing and ignoring those distractions. Telling a child to “clean up their room” doesn’t really mean anything to a child with ADD. Parents are likely to get frustrated because the child is not “listening” and “doing what they were told”.
The problem is that the parent wasn’t more specific. Instead of saying “clean up your room” the parent needs to say “put away all the toys on the floor” or “put your laundry in the hamper”. Very specific tasks. With short task times.
There are many different theories on what causes ADD. One is that it is caused by “chemicals in the brain which coordinates and regulates function and behavior”. A “deficiency in these neurotransmitters can cause a lack of attention” which in turn can lead to clutter and disorganization.
Some people don’t believe that ADD is a “real physical” problem. They think that the child just doesn’t want to “listen” and do what they are told.
Some people believe that diet plays a major problem in ADD. Because of all of the chemicals in our food today they think that kids have been poisoned and their brain functions have been affected.
It’s not really too far fetched. With the huge “organic” movement people are starting to realize that if mother nature didn’t produce it…. it should not go into our bodies.
Some other reasons that people believe are behind ADD are: drugs, brain injury, genetics, sleep disorder and so on…
Children, especially teenagers have so many “normal teenage issues” and then throw in those “hormones” and it’s not easy to distinguish between “normal” childhood and ADD.
Some people aren’t diagnosed with ADD until they are adults. If a person is extremely intelligent or creative it takes longer to diagnosis ADD.
People with ADD have a short attention span. They are easily distracted and can’t stay focused on a task. They get bored easily and therefore avoid doing “boring thinks” like housework.
In order to make things more interesting a person with ADD might wait until the last minute to get things done and then be in “crisis mode”.
People with ADD also tend to be “impulsive” and sometimes make decisions too quickly, such as getting rid of something and then they “regret” it later. After that they might never make another decision again, which can lead to chronic disorganization, clutter and even hoarding.
A person with ADD gets bogged down with “details” and can’t see the big picture.
A Professional Organizer can help a client with ADD stay focused on a specific task and stay on target. Structure is very important with an ADD client. By helping the client make a plan and having a decision making process in place the ADD client can become organized and learn to function better.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
The problem is that the parent wasn’t more specific. Instead of saying “clean up your room” the parent needs to say “put away all the toys on the floor” or “put your laundry in the hamper”. Very specific tasks. With short task times.
There are many different theories on what causes ADD. One is that it is caused by “chemicals in the brain which coordinates and regulates function and behavior”. A “deficiency in these neurotransmitters can cause a lack of attention” which in turn can lead to clutter and disorganization.
Some people don’t believe that ADD is a “real physical” problem. They think that the child just doesn’t want to “listen” and do what they are told.
Some people believe that diet plays a major problem in ADD. Because of all of the chemicals in our food today they think that kids have been poisoned and their brain functions have been affected.
It’s not really too far fetched. With the huge “organic” movement people are starting to realize that if mother nature didn’t produce it…. it should not go into our bodies.
Some other reasons that people believe are behind ADD are: drugs, brain injury, genetics, sleep disorder and so on…
Children, especially teenagers have so many “normal teenage issues” and then throw in those “hormones” and it’s not easy to distinguish between “normal” childhood and ADD.
Some people aren’t diagnosed with ADD until they are adults. If a person is extremely intelligent or creative it takes longer to diagnosis ADD.
People with ADD have a short attention span. They are easily distracted and can’t stay focused on a task. They get bored easily and therefore avoid doing “boring thinks” like housework.
In order to make things more interesting a person with ADD might wait until the last minute to get things done and then be in “crisis mode”.
People with ADD also tend to be “impulsive” and sometimes make decisions too quickly, such as getting rid of something and then they “regret” it later. After that they might never make another decision again, which can lead to chronic disorganization, clutter and even hoarding.
A person with ADD gets bogged down with “details” and can’t see the big picture.
A Professional Organizer can help a client with ADD stay focused on a specific task and stay on target. Structure is very important with an ADD client. By helping the client make a plan and having a decision making process in place the ADD client can become organized and learn to function better.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Organizing Questions......
If you have any questions, problems or suggestions on topics related to "being organized, how to organize, organizing dilemma's" or anything else in your home, office or life.... just send us an email at kefconsulting@gmail.com .
Put "Organizing Questions" in the subject line and we will try to come up with a solution for you.
We try to cover all the bases, from business organizing, residential organizing, time management, life management.... and show you how "organizing" affects all aspects of your life.
Organizing isn't just about the "clutter" in your closet.... it's about the "clutter" in your life.
Ask away......
Put "Organizing Questions" in the subject line and we will try to come up with a solution for you.
We try to cover all the bases, from business organizing, residential organizing, time management, life management.... and show you how "organizing" affects all aspects of your life.
Organizing isn't just about the "clutter" in your closet.... it's about the "clutter" in your life.
Ask away......
Monday, March 22, 2010
ORGANIZING YOUR KITCHEN
Today is “organize your kitchen day”. Don’t worry. It won’t hurt too much. Take a deep breathe and jump right in. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is.
Start by having a “donate box” set aside. If you have duplicates (or triplicates) of an item…consider donating it. You’ll get a tax write-off and more space at the same time!
Dishes:
Get rid of all of the broken cups and plates. Keep like items together. Keep all of your plates together, keep your cups together, keep your glasses together….
If you don’t have a complete set consider putting the items in the “donate box” and replacing it.
Plastic Containers:
Go through all of your plastic containers and make sure that you have matching lids (they are probably hiding with the missing socks!). Throw out any containers that don’t have lids.
Drawers:
Go through each drawer and take everything out and put it on the kitchen table. Wipe out the drawer now that you have the chance.
Put like items together so that you can see what you have. Do you really need 3 meat cleavers? Or 4 large slotted spoons? If you don’t….put them into the “donate box”.
Get some type of “utensil divider” for your drawers. This will keep things neat and organized.
Plastic Wrap / Foil / Bags:
Keep all of your plastic wrap, foil, paper lunch bags…. together in one spot in a drawer or pantry.
Kitchen Towels / Pot Holders :
Keep all of your kitchen towels, dish rags, pot holders….. together in one spot in a drawer or pantry.
Pots / Pans and Lids:
There are a number of different ways to store pots and pans. You can hang them if you have a hanging rack. If you have pull out drawers it makes it really easy to get to them when you need them. If you only have regular shelves you will have to stack them (largest on the bottom).
For your lids….some people like to put the lid right on the pot it belongs to. Some people have a drawer just for lids. There are some “dividers” out there that help you keep your lids more organized. It all depends on preference and space constraints.
But if your lids have no matching pot….. get rid of it !
Baking Sheets & Cake Pans:
Keep all of your baking supplies in one spot. There are great “dividers” that let you stand your baking sheets upright so that you can utilize a small narrow space.
Cleaning Items:
Take everything out from under your sink. If you have more than one (1) of each cleaning item, put the extras in your basement or storage closet. Keep only the supplies you need under the sink. Get some sort of caddy or bucket to hold all of your items (dish detergent, cleansers, steel wool pads, hand soap refill…).
Since most people still keep plastic bags …. get some type of plastic bag holder (there are a variety of options) to keep them all in one place so that they don’t look too messy.
Food Pantry:
Keep like items together (see a theme….). Put all of your cereal, pasta, canned items, spices…together. Stack them if you can. There are shelf dividers out there that can double your storage space.
Now you’ve gone through the entire kitchen and organized each space you will be amazed at how much more room you have.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Start by having a “donate box” set aside. If you have duplicates (or triplicates) of an item…consider donating it. You’ll get a tax write-off and more space at the same time!
Dishes:
Get rid of all of the broken cups and plates. Keep like items together. Keep all of your plates together, keep your cups together, keep your glasses together….
If you don’t have a complete set consider putting the items in the “donate box” and replacing it.
Plastic Containers:
Go through all of your plastic containers and make sure that you have matching lids (they are probably hiding with the missing socks!). Throw out any containers that don’t have lids.
Drawers:
Go through each drawer and take everything out and put it on the kitchen table. Wipe out the drawer now that you have the chance.
Put like items together so that you can see what you have. Do you really need 3 meat cleavers? Or 4 large slotted spoons? If you don’t….put them into the “donate box”.
Get some type of “utensil divider” for your drawers. This will keep things neat and organized.
Plastic Wrap / Foil / Bags:
Keep all of your plastic wrap, foil, paper lunch bags…. together in one spot in a drawer or pantry.
Kitchen Towels / Pot Holders :
Keep all of your kitchen towels, dish rags, pot holders….. together in one spot in a drawer or pantry.
Pots / Pans and Lids:
There are a number of different ways to store pots and pans. You can hang them if you have a hanging rack. If you have pull out drawers it makes it really easy to get to them when you need them. If you only have regular shelves you will have to stack them (largest on the bottom).
For your lids….some people like to put the lid right on the pot it belongs to. Some people have a drawer just for lids. There are some “dividers” out there that help you keep your lids more organized. It all depends on preference and space constraints.
But if your lids have no matching pot….. get rid of it !
Baking Sheets & Cake Pans:
Keep all of your baking supplies in one spot. There are great “dividers” that let you stand your baking sheets upright so that you can utilize a small narrow space.
Cleaning Items:
Take everything out from under your sink. If you have more than one (1) of each cleaning item, put the extras in your basement or storage closet. Keep only the supplies you need under the sink. Get some sort of caddy or bucket to hold all of your items (dish detergent, cleansers, steel wool pads, hand soap refill…).
Since most people still keep plastic bags …. get some type of plastic bag holder (there are a variety of options) to keep them all in one place so that they don’t look too messy.
Food Pantry:
Keep like items together (see a theme….). Put all of your cereal, pasta, canned items, spices…together. Stack them if you can. There are shelf dividers out there that can double your storage space.
Now you’ve gone through the entire kitchen and organized each space you will be amazed at how much more room you have.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Thursday, March 18, 2010
HOARDING - (part 2 of 2 part article)
The NSGCD (National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization) has a “Clutter Hoarding Scale” that has five (5) levels, from Level 1 being low, to Level 5 being high. They have four (4) different categories which define the severity of clutter and hoarding potential:
* Structure and zoning
* Pets and rodents
* Household functions
* Sanitation and cleanliness
Hoarding can be deadly if you eat old food. Hoarding can cause you to lose your kids. Hoarding can be deadly if a fire breaks out and you don’t have a clear path to the door.
People can’t part with things for many reasons. They can have an “emotional or sentimental” attachment to things. The object reminds them of an “event” or “person” or “place”. By throwing it out they are “throwing out” that memory. And that can’t happen.
For a lot of hoarders they can’t make decisions. “What if I need it someday”. By not making decisions they can’t make the “wrong” decision.
A lot of people don’t know how to organize. The hoarder might use that excuse for his “piles”. He also might use the excuse that he needs to “see it” to find it. Therefore everything is out and piled high. Very visual.
A lot of hoarders are older people that want to “have things” for their children or friends….”just in case they need it”.
Control issues are a major problem with hoarders. Once they “let go” of an item they won’t be able to “control it”, therefore they won’t get rid of it.
There are a few treatments for Hoarders that have helped. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Behavioral Therapy.
The therapist helps them “restructure their thoughts and beliefs” and can “teach the hoarder how to tolerate their fears”.
Family and friends of hoarders don’t always understand that “hoarding” is an “illness” and that the hoarder needs professional help. They sometimes feel that by just going in and cleaning out the house (sometimes even when the hoarder doesn’t know that they are going to do it) that everything will be “o.k.”. Once the mess is gone. Problem solved. But that can actually make it worse.
A Professional Organizer can teach the hoarder how to improve their organizational skills.
It’s a long process. The hoarder did not get that way overnight.
You can’t rush the process or the hoarder might complete shut down. You have to start slowly and show a lot of compassion. If you just “throw out” all of the “stuff” the hoarder might feel that you really don’t understand or care. And you will have lost the battle. By giving away or donating some of the objects you might be able to break through to the hoarder by making him feel that his “things” had a purpose. A purpose for someone else, not him. This is a very delicate area. You are trying to teach the hoarder how to be more organized, yet you don’t want to convey the message that “yes, this stuff is really worth something which is why I should have kept it”.
Hoarding is a complex issue. An issue that not even the mental health community can agree on. An issue that there might not be a cure for.
It’s a problem that many people won’t admit they have and one that might cost them their family or even their life.
A problem that is more common than you think.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
* Structure and zoning
* Pets and rodents
* Household functions
* Sanitation and cleanliness
Hoarding can be deadly if you eat old food. Hoarding can cause you to lose your kids. Hoarding can be deadly if a fire breaks out and you don’t have a clear path to the door.
People can’t part with things for many reasons. They can have an “emotional or sentimental” attachment to things. The object reminds them of an “event” or “person” or “place”. By throwing it out they are “throwing out” that memory. And that can’t happen.
For a lot of hoarders they can’t make decisions. “What if I need it someday”. By not making decisions they can’t make the “wrong” decision.
A lot of people don’t know how to organize. The hoarder might use that excuse for his “piles”. He also might use the excuse that he needs to “see it” to find it. Therefore everything is out and piled high. Very visual.
A lot of hoarders are older people that want to “have things” for their children or friends….”just in case they need it”.
Control issues are a major problem with hoarders. Once they “let go” of an item they won’t be able to “control it”, therefore they won’t get rid of it.
There are a few treatments for Hoarders that have helped. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Behavioral Therapy.
The therapist helps them “restructure their thoughts and beliefs” and can “teach the hoarder how to tolerate their fears”.
Family and friends of hoarders don’t always understand that “hoarding” is an “illness” and that the hoarder needs professional help. They sometimes feel that by just going in and cleaning out the house (sometimes even when the hoarder doesn’t know that they are going to do it) that everything will be “o.k.”. Once the mess is gone. Problem solved. But that can actually make it worse.
A Professional Organizer can teach the hoarder how to improve their organizational skills.
It’s a long process. The hoarder did not get that way overnight.
You can’t rush the process or the hoarder might complete shut down. You have to start slowly and show a lot of compassion. If you just “throw out” all of the “stuff” the hoarder might feel that you really don’t understand or care. And you will have lost the battle. By giving away or donating some of the objects you might be able to break through to the hoarder by making him feel that his “things” had a purpose. A purpose for someone else, not him. This is a very delicate area. You are trying to teach the hoarder how to be more organized, yet you don’t want to convey the message that “yes, this stuff is really worth something which is why I should have kept it”.
Hoarding is a complex issue. An issue that not even the mental health community can agree on. An issue that there might not be a cure for.
It’s a problem that many people won’t admit they have and one that might cost them their family or even their life.
A problem that is more common than you think.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
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