Being organized is not only about your closet or pantry. It's about your life. Unfortunately, a lot of people leave things to "chance". By not planning for your future you are being reactive - instead of proactive.
When something happens - such as an accident or illness - are you prepared to deal with all of the things that you will need to deal with? Do you have things in place so that your life will carry on as normal (as can be)?
If you were in the hospital (for example) - would your rent and all of your bills still get paid on time? Do you have quick access to a list of all of the people that you would need to contact to keep things going?
Would those people know where you keep your information so that they could help you? Would they know what you wanted them to do?
You might have a filing system in place - but think about the time it would take to go through everything and find all of the information that you needed.
There are a number of options that might make things easier when you are in a crisis and not able to think clearly.
Having all of your information in one easily accessible place is "being proactive".
Planning for your future - having a list of goals is "being proactive".
Having all of your legal and financial documents in place is "being proactive".
Not sticking your head in the sand and saying "I have time to ...." is "being proactive".
Planning for emergencies and life's challenges is "being proactive".
So start thinking about the future - and plan ..... for whatever might come your way.
Organizational Consulting Services
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, October 23, 2017
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
What Can You Do In Ten Minutes? A lot!
Make the most of your spare ten minutes. Get Organized!
People always think in terms of hours - instead of minutes. By using your time more efficiently you can accomplish a lot in only ten minutes!
1) Clear out your inbox on your computer. Get rid of unwanted emails, spam, ads and anything else that is cluttering up your inbox.
By doing this at least once a week it will make the job much easier.
2) Clear out one drawer in the kitchen. Get rid of broken utensils.
3) Go through your medicine cabinet and clear out old and expired medications. This also includes cough syrup, suntan lotion and anything else that looks old and you have no idea what it is!
4) Clean out your sock drawer! You probably have a bunch of socks that don't have mates. Get rid of them!
5) Clean out your purse! You probably have old receipts and old coupons in there. Plus who knows what else. Clear our anything that you don't need to carry in your purse.
There are a lot of things that can be done in ten minutes. Using your time wisely gives you more time for the fun things in life!
Organizational Consulting Services
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Friday, October 13, 2017
Level II: Hoarding Specialist Certificate Earned
Karin E. Fried of Organizational
Consulting Services Earns a Level II: Hoarding Specialist Certificate.
The Level II: Hoarding
Specialist Certificate presents some strategies, resources and collaboration
techniques for professional organizers working with these clients.
October 10, 2017 – Karin E. Fried of
Organizational Consulting Services has earned her advanced Level II: Hoarding
Specialist Certificate from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization
(ICD). The purpose of ICD’s study series is to provide both basic and
specialized topic education on issues, concepts, and challenges presented by
client work with the chronically disorganized.
The Institute for Challenging
Disorganization (ICD) promotes continued learning in this highly specialized
field. ICD’s mission is to provide education, research and strategies to
benefit people challenged by chronic disorganization. ICD explores, develops
and communicates information, organizing techniques and solutions to
professional organizers, related professionals and the public.
This
certificate focus on the advanced study of hoarding issues. To earn this
certificate, Fried was required to attend numerous courses that explore topics
such as “How to Effectively Work with a Hoarder and their Family”, “Advanced
Hoarding”, “Hoarding Disorder: Comorbidities and Complexities”, “Understanding
& Overcoming Triggers for Excessive Acquiring & Saving”, “Uncovering the Elephant in the Room: The Impact of Hoarding
in Families”, “Treatment for People with Hoarding Disorder”, “Helping the
Families of Treatment Refusing Hoarders” and more. Fried also had to study
numerous books such as “Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding”, “Buried in Treasures:
Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding”, “Digging Out: Helping
Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring”, “Life in
rewind: The Story of a Young Courageous Man Who Persevered Over OCD and the
Harvard Doctor Who Broke the Rules to Help Him” and other books by the leading
experts in the field of Hoarding and OCD.
Prior to
completing this coursework, Fried has also earned her Level II Chronic
Disorganization (CD) Specialist Certificate, a Certificate of Study in Chronic
Disorganization, a Certificate in Basic Hoarding Issues with the CD Client, a
Certificate of Study in Understanding the Needs of the Elderly CD Client, a
Certificate of Study in Basic ADD Issues with the CD Client, a Certificate of
Study in CD Client Administration, a Certificate of Study in Life Transitions,
a Certificate of Study in Interpersonal Intelligence, a Certificate of Study in
Time Management and Productivity, and a Certificate of Study in
Mental Health Conditions and Challenges Affecting the CD Client.
The Specialist Certificate provides
in-depth information on hoarding and how to help clients manage more
effectively in relation to stopping the acquiring and saving and staying
organized.
“My ongoing education allows me to
work with clients who are challenged by hoarding in a very specific manner”
said Fried. Increasing my knowledge will enable me to provide the highest
quality individualized services to my clients”.
Organizational Consulting Services
provides both business and residential organizing services. As a Professional
Organizer and Productivity Consultant, Fried works with a variety of clientele,
from people who need just basic organizing help, people with chronic
disorganization and hoarding issues, people with all types of issues such as TBI’s,
Asperger’s, ADD; clients that need help with paper and time management, clients
that need help with estate or life management and anything in between. Fried
also provides virtual organizing to clients all over the world.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Start - It Doesn't Matter Where
People always ask - "where should I start organizing?"
The answer is - "wherever you are most uncomfortable".
Start in a room or place that "bothers" you the most. And it's not always the most obvious.
If you feel stress in a certain space - than that's the space you start with! It's not always the kitchen or garage.
Most often - it's the bedroom! This is the place where you should be most comfortable and the most relaxed - but clutter breeds stress. And if you are stressed - you need to do something to get rid of the stress.
So - first you decide on which room you are going to start in.
Then, you are going to gather some bins or boxes. One for donating items, one for trash, and one for give away.
Go through each item in the room and decide if you really need or want to keep it. If so, move on to the next item.
When you have something that you can part with - decide if it's something that you can give to someone else that might use it - or put it into the donate box.
If the item is broken or trash - it goes into the trash box.
Keep it simple.
Decluttering is the first step in organizing. It's not always easy to make those decisions - but once you start - it gets easier.
Take it one step at a time.
If you decided to start on clearing out your clutter - you are well on your way to a "more organized you".
Organizational Consulting Services
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
The answer is - "wherever you are most uncomfortable".
Start in a room or place that "bothers" you the most. And it's not always the most obvious.
If you feel stress in a certain space - than that's the space you start with! It's not always the kitchen or garage.
Most often - it's the bedroom! This is the place where you should be most comfortable and the most relaxed - but clutter breeds stress. And if you are stressed - you need to do something to get rid of the stress.
So - first you decide on which room you are going to start in.
Then, you are going to gather some bins or boxes. One for donating items, one for trash, and one for give away.
Go through each item in the room and decide if you really need or want to keep it. If so, move on to the next item.
When you have something that you can part with - decide if it's something that you can give to someone else that might use it - or put it into the donate box.
If the item is broken or trash - it goes into the trash box.
Keep it simple.
Decluttering is the first step in organizing. It's not always easy to make those decisions - but once you start - it gets easier.
Take it one step at a time.
If you decided to start on clearing out your clutter - you are well on your way to a "more organized you".
Organizational Consulting Services
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, October 2, 2017
Junk Drawers - Everyone Has One - Organize It!
You know that we all have junk drawers! Someplace there is a space, a drawer, that has a lot of "stuff"!
All kinds of stuff! Pens, pencils, paper clips, rubber bands, batteries, scissors, flash light, bits and pieces of ....whatever.
It's the place where we throw everything that we don't know what to do with!
That's O.K. ! Really it is!
But you can have an "organized" junk drawer. Yes, you can!
Instead of just throwing everything into one drawer and never being able to find something when you need to - get some drawer dividers. They don't need to be expensive or fancy. Anything will do.
You can find inexpensive dividers at the Dollar Store or WalMart.
You can be creative and use old check boxes. Or business card boxes.
Any small box will do. As long as you have something to divide up the space so that everything doesn't roll around.
Once things are contained (and like items with like items) - your junk drawer will look much better and function much better.
So - get creative and clean out your junk drawer. What else are you going to do in the next 20 minutes anyway?
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, September 25, 2017
Winter Gear - Get Your Essentials in Order
As the weather turns colder it's time to start clearing out your closet of summer things and getting your winter gear in order.
Start by trying on last years coats, boots and gloves.
Do they fit? If not, you might consider donating them.
If they do still fit - are they in good condition? Check for any rips or missing buttons.
If you need new ones, now is the time to buy them so that you are not caught unprepared when the weather turns colder and the snow starts coming down in buckets!
After you have figured out if you need to replace any items it's time to think about storing you summer items. But first, check to be sure that they are clean and in good condition.
Once you are done with your outerwear - it's time to check your clothes closet for your winter sweaters.
Go through the same process as with your coats. Check to be sure they still fit and are in good condition. It not, donate them or repair them.
If you need to rotate your summer clothes out of your closet and into storage - be sure to only store things that you still like and will wear next year. If you haven't worn it all summer - are you really going to wear it next year? Don't store things that you will never wear or use.
By getting your essentials in order now - before you really need them - will guarantee that you will be ready when the snow starts to fly!
Here's looking forward to a snowy winter!
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, September 18, 2017
Getting Your Car Ready for Winter
It's not winter yet - but we have snow at some of our higher elevations - so - let's get ready for winter!
Check your tires. It might be time for snow tires soon!
Check to make sure that you have the essentials needed for winter - like a snow brush & ice scraper. It you don't - get some.
Make sure that your car is in working order and all of your fluids are filled up.
Living out in the west - and driving long distances without a town or gas station in sight - brings about it's own problems.
Unlike being in a big city where there is a gas station and help within a block - living out in the west - with lots of land and few people - presents it's own challenges.
So – the question is ..... are you prepared ?
Now is the time to stock your car with winter essentials.
In your backseat:
* Snow brush
* Ice scraper (or two – various sizes)
* Blanket
* Gloves (keep extra’s in your car)
* Hat
* Scarf
In your glove compartment:
* Paper
* Pen
* Matches (in something waterproof)
* Candle (in a tin) – this can be used if your flashlight doesn’t work or for extra heat
* Tissues
* Hand wipes
* Cell Phone Car Charger
* Flashlight (make sure the batteries are good – or get a windup one)
In your trunk:
* Salt, cat litter or something to throw under your tires if you get stuck
* Extra Windshield Fluid
* Extra Antifreeze
* Spare Tire
* Shovel
* Jumper Cables
* First Aid Kit (basic)
* Towel (this can also be used as an extra blanket)
* Rope
* Bungee Cords
* Duct Tape (so many uses!)
* Tire Gauge
* Tire Repair kit
* Road Flares
* Fire Extinguisher (small one)
* Plastic Garbage Bags
If you are going to be driving outside of the city limits I would also suggest that you keep water and snacks in your car, especially if you have kids. You never know when an accident might keep you tied up for a long time and you will need water to keep you hydrated and snacks to keep the kids occupied.
Being prepared is always the best defense. Now relax and embrace the weather.
Organizational Consulting Services
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
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