Is Your Mess Causing You Stress?

Everyone has a different idea of what having an organized space means. And some people don't care or don't even notice that their place is an unorganized mess.

Levels of mess and organization are "subjective".  Some people aren't bothered by having things on the floor (that don't belong there) or piles of mail on the kitchen counter.

Other people go off the deep end when one small thing is out of place. And then there is the space in between.

If your mess bothers you - and it is causing you to stress out - then you need to change things.

If you are ashamed to have people come over to visit because of the mess - you are limiting your social life - and causing yourself unneeded stress.

If you feel irritated when people leave things laying around and don't pick up after themselves - and you feel your stress levels go up - then you need to take a step back and let them know how much it bothers you and how much stress it causes you. Most people that leave messes aren't aware of the emotional impact it causes on other people.

Clutter causes stress. You might not realize that clutter is the cause of your stress - but if you take a step back and analyze why you are upset - it can all be traced back to the mess on the floor!

Think about how you feel when you walk into a disorganized, cluttered room. Then visual the room all neat and clutter free. Are your feelings different? I'm sure they are!

A clutter free, organized space brings about a feeling of calm. 

So if you want to reduce your stress - reduce your clutter.

Organizational Consulting Services

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


http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

Planning for your Future - Be Proactive Not Reactive

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

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

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. 

For more information, please visit www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

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

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

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