Pack up items that you haven’t used in a while and store them in the basement / attic. Put a date on the box. After three (3) months have passed and you haven’t missed the item…. get rid of it ! Obviously you didn’t really need it / use it….so why should it take up valuable space in your house.
Look at your calendar and make a list of all of the birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions that you have during the year. Count them up and buy the appropriate number of cards for each occasion. Go to the store and buy all of your cards at one time.
Use a pendaflex file organized by month and insert the cards into the appropriate month. At the beginning of the month fill out that months cards (address & stamp). You can put the actual date in a corner or back of the card. At the beginning of each week pull the cards that need to be mailed for that week and put them in the mail.
Keep a basket of healthy snacks in a basket for your kids on a kid level shelf. That way they can help themselves to snacks and you know what they are eating.
Use shelf dividers in your kitchen to double the space in your cabinets.
Check your medicine cabinet for expired medications. Don’t forget to look at non-prescription bottles and lotions.
Check your make-up. There are guidelines for make-up expiration. Be safe. Be healthy.
Create a spot near the door for your purse, keys, briefcase / backpacks…so that you can find things in the morning.
Plan all of your errands for the day before you leave the house so that you take the most direct route and don’t drive aimlessly from one side of town to the other…over and over again.
Sit down with your family Sunday night and go over the weekly schedule so that everyone is on the same page and there are no surprises during the week.
Have everyone in the family make a list of their five (5) favorite meals. Then put them on the calendar for the month. By doing this everyone gets a turn getting their favorite meal. For added “family time” have them help make that meal. Or you can have them make a list of all of the requirements for that meal so that you have a grocery list all ready.
Pick a day and have everyone in the family go through their closet and gather clothes that they no longer wear or that don’t fit. Remember to donate them and you can get a tax write-off !
Have a set spot for mail. Have 3 baskets. Whoever gets the mail should immediately divide it into: bills, personal mail, other. That way the bills don’t get lost or forgotten and you can deal with them immediately (at least put them in the appropriate bill spot for paying bills). Junk mail should immediately be put in the trash.
Trade “chores” with your neighbors or friends. If they take the kids to sports practice you can run your errands …alone… and get them done faster. When they need to do something you can swap kid duty with them…. or any other chore…. If they like mowing the lawn but hate weeding…and you like weeding because it’s relaxing….trade with them. Lots of possibilities….
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, August 2, 2010
RANDOM ORGANIZING IDEAS
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Level II CD Specialist Certificate Announcement
Karin E. Fried Earns Specialist Certificate In Working with Chronically Disorganized.
(Cleveland, Ohio) Karin E. Fried of Organizational Consulting Services has earned her Level II Chronic Disorganization (CD) Specialist Certificate from the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD).
This Specialist Certificate provides in-depth information on chronic disorganization and how to help CD clients manage more effectively in relation to getting and staying organized. In order to earn this certificate, Fried first had to receive her Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization. She was also required to complete extensive educational requirements including reading several books and publications, attending numerous teleclasses, and passing a general exam based on her coursework and general knowledge of CD.
My ongoing education allows me to work with clients who are chronically disorganized in a very specific manner,” said Fried. “The benefits of this continuing education are immeasurable as they enhance the quality of service I can provide to my clients.”
The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization is a non-profit group for professional organizers and related professionals. Its mission is to benefit people affected by chronic disorganization. The NSGCD explores, develops and communicates information, organizing techniques and solutions to professional organizers, related professionals and the public. For more information, please visit www.nsgcd.org.
Organizational Consulting Services provides both business and residential organizing services. Whether your needs are for basic organizing services, chronic disorganization, hoarding or anything else, we can help. For more information, please visit www.organizationalconsultingservices.com or call (440) 666 – 9326.
(Cleveland, Ohio) Karin E. Fried of Organizational Consulting Services has earned her Level II Chronic Disorganization (CD) Specialist Certificate from the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD).
This Specialist Certificate provides in-depth information on chronic disorganization and how to help CD clients manage more effectively in relation to getting and staying organized. In order to earn this certificate, Fried first had to receive her Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization. She was also required to complete extensive educational requirements including reading several books and publications, attending numerous teleclasses, and passing a general exam based on her coursework and general knowledge of CD.
My ongoing education allows me to work with clients who are chronically disorganized in a very specific manner,” said Fried. “The benefits of this continuing education are immeasurable as they enhance the quality of service I can provide to my clients.”
The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization is a non-profit group for professional organizers and related professionals. Its mission is to benefit people affected by chronic disorganization. The NSGCD explores, develops and communicates information, organizing techniques and solutions to professional organizers, related professionals and the public. For more information, please visit www.nsgcd.org.
Organizational Consulting Services provides both business and residential organizing services. Whether your needs are for basic organizing services, chronic disorganization, hoarding or anything else, we can help. For more information, please visit www.organizationalconsultingservices.com or call (440) 666 – 9326.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Being Organized – An Investment in Yourself
A lot of people think that being “organized” is expensive. That you will have to go out and spend a lot of money buying a new closet system or a ton or “organizing” products. That’s not the case.
And in today’s economy a lot of people can’t afford to spend extra money.
But…. What is the cost of being disorganized?
If you can’t find the things that you need…whether it’s at home or in the office….that’s a problem.
You might buy something that you don’t actually need….because you can’t find what you were looking for. And then later….guess what…you found it! So, there goes money….out the window.
Yes, you had a pair of black pants already. You didn’t need an extra pair. But you couldn’t find them when you needed them.
And that report that your boss wanted. The one that you couldn’t find. And spent hours searching for. And then had to re-create. Time wasted.
Being disorganized has a cost. Calculate out that cost and you will be shocked.
For an easy example….let’s say that you had a bedroom that you never used because it was so cluttered and disorganized and couldn’t really function as a bedroom.
If your house cost $200,000 and it was 2,000 square feet it means that the cost per square foot was $100.
If your “disorganized bedroom” was 10 x 10…. that’s 100 square feet.
That means that it is costing you $10,000 to use your bedroom as a “storage room”. Pretty expensive storage fee isn’t it.
By investing in “yourself” you can increase your productivity and decrease your stress. You can save time and money.
How do you feel when you walk into your house that’s “disorganized” ?
How do you feel when you walk into your friend’s house that is “organized” ?
I’ve had people say to me “it’s so calm here”. Yes, it is. Because everything is in it’s place.
By being organized you feel proud of yourself. You feel better about yourself. You feel more in control.
By creating a “usable” space …. Uncluttered and orderly…. You automatically create a sense of calm.
Invest in yourself. Become the organized person that you want to be. If you can’t do it on your own there are “professional organizers” out there that can give you guidance. Let your home or office reflect the way you want people to really see you.
Remember …… LESS CLUTTER = LESS STRESS SM
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
And in today’s economy a lot of people can’t afford to spend extra money.
But…. What is the cost of being disorganized?
If you can’t find the things that you need…whether it’s at home or in the office….that’s a problem.
You might buy something that you don’t actually need….because you can’t find what you were looking for. And then later….guess what…you found it! So, there goes money….out the window.
Yes, you had a pair of black pants already. You didn’t need an extra pair. But you couldn’t find them when you needed them.
And that report that your boss wanted. The one that you couldn’t find. And spent hours searching for. And then had to re-create. Time wasted.
Being disorganized has a cost. Calculate out that cost and you will be shocked.
For an easy example….let’s say that you had a bedroom that you never used because it was so cluttered and disorganized and couldn’t really function as a bedroom.
If your house cost $200,000 and it was 2,000 square feet it means that the cost per square foot was $100.
If your “disorganized bedroom” was 10 x 10…. that’s 100 square feet.
That means that it is costing you $10,000 to use your bedroom as a “storage room”. Pretty expensive storage fee isn’t it.
By investing in “yourself” you can increase your productivity and decrease your stress. You can save time and money.
How do you feel when you walk into your house that’s “disorganized” ?
How do you feel when you walk into your friend’s house that is “organized” ?
I’ve had people say to me “it’s so calm here”. Yes, it is. Because everything is in it’s place.
By being organized you feel proud of yourself. You feel better about yourself. You feel more in control.
By creating a “usable” space …. Uncluttered and orderly…. You automatically create a sense of calm.
Invest in yourself. Become the organized person that you want to be. If you can’t do it on your own there are “professional organizers” out there that can give you guidance. Let your home or office reflect the way you want people to really see you.
Remember …… LESS CLUTTER = LESS STRESS SM
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, July 19, 2010
BACK TO SCHOOL ORGANIZING FOR COLLEGE KIDS
College aged kids have different “organizing” needs / issues than grade school or high school aged kids. Obviously (this is where my daughter would roll here eyes and say “really Mom ?”).
Yes, really.
You don’t have to worry about making sure they have socks and school clothes and notebooks and such…. College aged kids pick out their own clothes.
But….there are the issues of “what do I need to buy for the dorm” ?
There are numerous lists out there….but some basic things you might need:
* New sheets for the bed. Plus a mattress pad !
* Blankets / pillows
* Bath towels
* Desk lamp
* Small refrigerator
* Small Microwave
* Coffee Maker
* Small T.V.
* Alarm clock
* Basic medical kit (Band-Aids, Neosporin….)
* Basic sewing kit
* Laundry detergent
* Change for the laundry
* Plastic bowls
* Coffee mug
* Bath caddy
* Water bottle
* Some non-perishable food (popcorn, granola bars, rice cakes, peanut butter, crackers, canned soup….)
* Day-Timer / planner….. or some type of scheduler to keep them on track and on time
Some important things that you need to remember….is that you have to make sure what is or is not allowed in the dorms. There are size restrictions on refrigerators and other items.
If your child is living in an apartment…and you have to buy furniture or beds…. You need to make sure that you measure the area where you will be placing the furniture. Not just “guess” ….because it “looks like it will fit”.
If your child is going to a school more than a few hours away or out of state…. planning and organizing is even more crucial for a smooth transition.
Plan ahead and avoid some of the stress that moving brings.
Kids grow up fast. Make these “stressful” times more enjoyable by being organized.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Yes, really.
You don’t have to worry about making sure they have socks and school clothes and notebooks and such…. College aged kids pick out their own clothes.
But….there are the issues of “what do I need to buy for the dorm” ?
There are numerous lists out there….but some basic things you might need:
* New sheets for the bed. Plus a mattress pad !
* Blankets / pillows
* Bath towels
* Desk lamp
* Small refrigerator
* Small Microwave
* Coffee Maker
* Small T.V.
* Alarm clock
* Basic medical kit (Band-Aids, Neosporin….)
* Basic sewing kit
* Laundry detergent
* Change for the laundry
* Plastic bowls
* Coffee mug
* Bath caddy
* Water bottle
* Some non-perishable food (popcorn, granola bars, rice cakes, peanut butter, crackers, canned soup….)
* Day-Timer / planner….. or some type of scheduler to keep them on track and on time
Some important things that you need to remember….is that you have to make sure what is or is not allowed in the dorms. There are size restrictions on refrigerators and other items.
If your child is living in an apartment…and you have to buy furniture or beds…. You need to make sure that you measure the area where you will be placing the furniture. Not just “guess” ….because it “looks like it will fit”.
If your child is going to a school more than a few hours away or out of state…. planning and organizing is even more crucial for a smooth transition.
Plan ahead and avoid some of the stress that moving brings.
Kids grow up fast. Make these “stressful” times more enjoyable by being organized.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, July 12, 2010
BACK TO SCHOOL ORGANIZING
Well – it’s only mid-July. To early to think about school? NOT !
Get a head start and start making your lists now.
Clothes – what do the kids need? Start with the basics. Go through their drawers and check their supply of socks (have fun finding the matching pairs) and underwear. Are they in good shape and do they fit? Do they have enough and the right kind? For everyday and for sports.
Make a list of what they have, how many they have and sizes.
Shoes – school shoes, tennis shoes, boots (you don’t think you are going to find boots in the winter do you?). Take into consideration that they might grow before winter when buying boots and they will also have on thick socks.
Winter coats, scarves, gloves/mittens, hats. You should always keep a supply of extra gloves on hand for when they get wet (since they take forever to dry). And gloves are like socks. They disappear.
If your kids are in a growth spurt be sure to buy the coat with extra room so that by winter time it’s not too small. Also, be sure to remember that in the winter they will be wearing sweaters under their coats. Leave enough room if you are buying the coat when it’s still warm out and they aren’t wearing a sweater when they try it on.
Check the newspapers for sales, then immediately go to get the best selection and avoid the crowds of parents that waited until the last minute.
School supplies. Most schools have lists. Get them as soon as they come out. Check them against the list of supplies that you have on hand (from “Schools Out” article). Go to the stores and get all of the supplies.
You can break it down and buy school supplies one day and clothes on another day. Or if you have more than one child you can break it down by child and make a “one-on-one bonding moment” complete with lunch or dessert.
Yes, it can be a “fun” bonding moment…. IF you plan ahead instead of waiting until the last minute.
That’s the beauty of organizing….it reduces / eliminates the stress and allows you to enjoy even the most mundane task.
Kids grow up fast. Make these “stressful” times more enjoyable by being organized.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Get a head start and start making your lists now.
Clothes – what do the kids need? Start with the basics. Go through their drawers and check their supply of socks (have fun finding the matching pairs) and underwear. Are they in good shape and do they fit? Do they have enough and the right kind? For everyday and for sports.
Make a list of what they have, how many they have and sizes.
Shoes – school shoes, tennis shoes, boots (you don’t think you are going to find boots in the winter do you?). Take into consideration that they might grow before winter when buying boots and they will also have on thick socks.
Winter coats, scarves, gloves/mittens, hats. You should always keep a supply of extra gloves on hand for when they get wet (since they take forever to dry). And gloves are like socks. They disappear.
If your kids are in a growth spurt be sure to buy the coat with extra room so that by winter time it’s not too small. Also, be sure to remember that in the winter they will be wearing sweaters under their coats. Leave enough room if you are buying the coat when it’s still warm out and they aren’t wearing a sweater when they try it on.
Check the newspapers for sales, then immediately go to get the best selection and avoid the crowds of parents that waited until the last minute.
School supplies. Most schools have lists. Get them as soon as they come out. Check them against the list of supplies that you have on hand (from “Schools Out” article). Go to the stores and get all of the supplies.
You can break it down and buy school supplies one day and clothes on another day. Or if you have more than one child you can break it down by child and make a “one-on-one bonding moment” complete with lunch or dessert.
Yes, it can be a “fun” bonding moment…. IF you plan ahead instead of waiting until the last minute.
That’s the beauty of organizing….it reduces / eliminates the stress and allows you to enjoy even the most mundane task.
Kids grow up fast. Make these “stressful” times more enjoyable by being organized.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Sunday, July 4, 2010
What is Clutter ?
Is it the same as being “messy” ? Or being “disorganized” ? Or “hoarding” ?
Clutter …. is.... “stuff”.
Everyone has “stuff”. But some people like to keep it….longer than others.
Being “messy” is the “inability to clean up” …. stuff. Whether it’s clothes on the floor, dishes in the sink, old newspapers strewn everywhere….
Clutter is a “collection of stuff”. Some of it visible and some of it hidden away in closets where no one knows your secret.
Clutter is not the same as “hoarding”. Clutter is a part of hoarding.
Clutterers are able to throw things out. They don’t allow clutter to get to such an extreme point that it is debilitating to their lives.
Clutter is not about “stuff”. It’s not about space. It’s psychological.
But avoiding cleaning actually takes more effort than doing it. So now there is “clutter” and there is the “guilt” of having a “mess”.
By breaking down your “cleaning” into one area at a time or one “project” at a time you will have a more controlled and clutter free space in no time at all.
By clearing out the “clutter” you can also clear out your mind.
Remember …… LESS CLUTTER = LESS STRESS SM
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Clutter …. is.... “stuff”.
Everyone has “stuff”. But some people like to keep it….longer than others.
Being “messy” is the “inability to clean up” …. stuff. Whether it’s clothes on the floor, dishes in the sink, old newspapers strewn everywhere….
Clutter is a “collection of stuff”. Some of it visible and some of it hidden away in closets where no one knows your secret.
Clutter is not the same as “hoarding”. Clutter is a part of hoarding.
Clutterers are able to throw things out. They don’t allow clutter to get to such an extreme point that it is debilitating to their lives.
Clutter is not about “stuff”. It’s not about space. It’s psychological.
But avoiding cleaning actually takes more effort than doing it. So now there is “clutter” and there is the “guilt” of having a “mess”.
By breaking down your “cleaning” into one area at a time or one “project” at a time you will have a more controlled and clutter free space in no time at all.
By clearing out the “clutter” you can also clear out your mind.
Remember …… LESS CLUTTER = LESS STRESS SM
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, June 28, 2010
CLEANING YOUR HOME - A LITTLE AT A TIME
On your days off…why do you want to spend all day cleaning your house? Wouldn’t you rather be doing something else?
I know…you have to clean your house. But, where is it written that you have to do it all in one day?
By breaking your cleaning chores into small projects you can still get your entire house cleaned and you will have time to do other things on your days off.
Spread your cleaning out over a week and you can spend only 15 minutes at a time on a specific chore:
* Monday: Dust the house
* Tuesday: Vacuum the house
* Wednesday: Straighten up the main living area
* Thursday: Clean the toilets
* Friday: Wipe down all of the counters (kitchen & bathroom)
* Saturday: Mop the floors
You get the idea…. Pick whatever works for you.
That way you can start and finish each project in one sitting and feel like you’ve accomplished something. Start a small project. Finish a project. Feel proud of yourself. Go on to the next project.
And spend some of your “off days” doing something more fun than cleaning.
Less Clutter = Less Stress (SM)
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
I know…you have to clean your house. But, where is it written that you have to do it all in one day?
By breaking your cleaning chores into small projects you can still get your entire house cleaned and you will have time to do other things on your days off.
Spread your cleaning out over a week and you can spend only 15 minutes at a time on a specific chore:
* Monday: Dust the house
* Tuesday: Vacuum the house
* Wednesday: Straighten up the main living area
* Thursday: Clean the toilets
* Friday: Wipe down all of the counters (kitchen & bathroom)
* Saturday: Mop the floors
You get the idea…. Pick whatever works for you.
That way you can start and finish each project in one sitting and feel like you’ve accomplished something. Start a small project. Finish a project. Feel proud of yourself. Go on to the next project.
And spend some of your “off days” doing something more fun than cleaning.
Less Clutter = Less Stress (SM)
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
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