Get Organized First - Buy Products Later

When some people decide that they are finally ready to "Get Organized" - they sometimes get caught up in the moment and run out and buy a lot of Organizing products.

It makes them feel like they have accomplished something even before they start actually doing any of the work.

The problem with that is that they really don't know what they need - yet. They have not gone through the "elimination"  - sorting and purging out process.

Organizing usually entails having a space (or room) look worse before it gets better. There are piles everywhere. Decisions to be made. Sometimes - the decisions are hard.

Then you have to decide - "did the space actually function as needed". Because sometimes - you actually realize that the problem was not that you had "too much stuff" - but that the space was not configured correctly or you were not using the space to it's full potential.

Once a space has been cleared out - step back and ponder the space for a few minutes. Be honest with yourself. Did you really like the space the way it was?  Did it function properly for you?  Were you happy with how it was laid out?  What changes would you make - if you could?

After you have answered all of those questions - it's time to see how much "stuff" you have to actually put back into the space - since you probably purged a lot of things out of the space. You might not need any new organizing products. Or you might decide that certain things (new containers, new shelves....) might make the space function better.

Be sure to take measurements of the space before you head off for the store. Once you are there - keep an open mind. You might not find exactly what you were looking for - but you might find something even better!

Remember - function first. Think outside of the box.

A lot of organizing products can be expensive - but organizing doesn't have to be. Look for inexpensive containers or baskets that aren't labeled specifically as "organizing products".

Have fun with your space. It it doesn't work on your first try - change it!

Organizing is a process. It's ever changing!

Now - go out and GET ORGANIZED !!!
 

Organizational Consulting Services

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End Of The School Year - Get Organized

The school year is almost over. As always - it seemed to come too quickly. The summer is looming before us and parents everywhere will be trying to come up with ideas on how to keep their kids busy over the long summer.

But before you start on your summer plans why don't you get through the piles of paperwork, books and other things that your kids will bring home from school.

Re-read  "Schools Out For The Summer" to get some ideas on how to get through the piles that will be dumped on your living room floor by your kids.

Start the summer off right by clearing our your kids school clutter - instead of just hiding it in the closet and dealing with it in August. You will be glad you did! 

Let your kids help in the organizing process. They are never too young to learn how to be organized!


http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/2014/05/schools-out-for-summer-almost.html

And now - let the summer begin!


Organizational Consulting Services

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Professional Organzer - vs - Cleaning Company

There seems to be a big misconception as to the difference between a Professional Organizer and a Cleaning Company.

It's really quite simple - yet there is still a lack of understanding as to what an Organizer really does.

A cleaning company - cleans. Plain and simple. They mop the floors, wash the baseboards, vacuum, dust, take out the trash, straighten the pillows on the couch....and a few other things - depending on the company.

A professional organizer - does not clean. They don't mop the floors. They don't wash the dishes. They don't dust.

They organize.  They take a cluttered space and de-clutter it. They re-arrange spaces to make better and more efficient use of the space.

They containerize. They visualize. They make the space work as intended - or requested (every client uses a space differently).

They prioritize. They make your life function more smoothly.

They put things into their proper place - where you can find them easily.

They create a flow and a function that you - the client - can easily manage.


They de-stress you home, office or life.

They create order out of chaos.

A professional organizer - depending on her specialty - has extended training to work with a variety of clients.

A professional organizer is a personal coach for your home and your life. 

Organized - vs - cleaning.

Quite a difference.


Organizational Consulting Services

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Spring Time - Clean Out That Garage

Spring is here and it's time to clean out your GARAGE !

It's that time again - where you empty your garage and clean your winter gear and move it to the back of the garage ( or another storage area ).

Be sure to empty your snow blower of any fuel or liquids. You might want to take it to a shop where they can perform any needed maintenance before you store it for the summer.

Clean off any of your "snow toys" and make sure they are in working order before you store them away.

Sweep out your garage and re-organize your space. I'm sure that over the winter things have become cluttered.

Take your lawn mower to be inspected and be sure that it's in working order.

Move all of your garden tools to the front where you can access them easily. Make sure that all of your tools and equipment are in working order

Clean out your garden bag (it's planting time!) and be sure that none of your garden tools have rusted over the winter.

Make sure that your bikes have their tires filled with air.

If you have kids - check to be sure that they have not outgrown their summer toys. If so - it's time to let them go.

Enjoy the transition from winter to spring!

Think of all of the fun things that spring brings with it.

Have a great, clutter free day! 

 
Organizational Consulting Services

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Your Car - A Cluttered Death Trap ?

Most people don't think about their car as a "room" in their home that needs to be cleared of clutter. But it's one more area where people tend to just throw things in randomly and rarely clean.

Having just completed some continuing ed classes for my EMT license one of the topics was car accidents and flying objects.

When people fill their car with clutter they usually don't think "what if I have an accident - can these bags (or books or bats or bowling balls....) fly from the back of the car into the front during an accident and cause serious damage to my body?

It was a great class!  Thinking about all of the things that people fill their car with - especially when they go on a trip or are just doing sports - brings to mind that cars can be dangerous places.

It's something that we don't usually think about. But when you get a picture of a bowling ball hurling from the back seat to the front and shattering your front window - not to mention your head.... then you get a better picture of the damage that the contents of your car can have.

So - a few good points that we can learn from this.

Make sure that everything in your car is secure. If you have heavy objects of things that can potentially move from their location - secure them.

Use bags / boxes to hold lose objects - and a lid would be preferable.

Keep the clutter to a minimum and keep your car as neat as if it were another room in your home - not a dumping ground.

Clutter can be dangerous - and this is just one example.

Now go out and clean up your car! 



Organizational Consulting Services

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In Five Minutes I Can .....

Do a lot of small organizing task!   Yes - you can accomplish a lot in just five minutes.  The problem is that most people spend more time than that trying to talk themselves out of doing anything at all!

Stop over thinking the process - and "just do it" !

In five minutes I can:

• Hang up my clothes instead of leaving them on a chair or on the floor

• Throw in a load of laundry in the washing machine

• Fold all of the clean towels and put them away

• Go through my stack of mail and throw out all of the junk mail - instead of letting it pile up

•  Empty the dishwasher instead of letting it sit there for a week

•  Put all of the dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of letting them pile up in the sink

• Pick up all of the things that are not supposed to be in the living room and put them where they belong

• Make my bed in the morning so that the bedroom looks neater

• Go through one drawer in the kitchen and organize it - get rid of things I never use

•  Go through the fridge - one drawer at a time and clean it out - get rid of expired food

• Go through one shelf in the bathroom and get rid of products I never use

• Decide what I'm going to wear in the morning and get it ready - so that I don't waste time in the morning 

•  Polish my shoes so they look clean and more professional

• Sew a button on a shirt that's been sitting in a pile for weeks

•  Write out a couple of birthday cards for the month

There's a lot you can do in just five minutes.  So - what are you waiting for?   Let's get started!



Organizational Consulting Services

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Minimalist or Cozy - Which is Correct ?

For some people being clutter free means that nothing is out on the counter or any surface. But being organized and clutter free does not mean that you have to live in a stark and sterile environment.

Your home or office can still be a reflection of you and still be cozy. It's all a matter of perspective.

Every person see's clutter in a different light. Every person has different tastes in decorating. Just because one person chooses to decorate their home in dark colors and another person chooses to decorate their home in vibrant colors - doesn't mean that they are wrong. It means they are different.

It's the same in the definition of  "clutter free and organized".  Some people think that anything left out on the counter is clutter. Some people need things right in front of them - either because they use it on a daily basis or because they need things out to remind them to do something.

There are no right or wrongs in the world of clutter.  Yes - I admit - I like things neat and organized - but I also love to have things that mean something to me - pictures of my family or a few special nick nacks out on display. As long as it's right for you - and you clean and dust everything that is sitting out - it's your home and your choice.

When I work with a client I am very aware of how they choose to live and organize according to their lifestyle. But I also help in redefining their space to make it more organized and create a better flow and function.

It's a balance of form and function. It's the clients home and they call the shots on the amount of things (objects) they want left out on display.

Being clutter free does not mean living in a home that is not comfortable and cozy.

It's all in your definition of what a home should look like.

Clean and clutter free varies from person to person. But having things organized - so that the they can function better is always a good thing!



Organizational Consulting Services

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