Some people have an obsessive need to acquire things. They tend to develop an emotional attachment to things that many of us would consider trash.
A subject that has been in the public eye recently is that of “hoarding”. People watch it on T.V. and are amazed that people actually live like that. What they don’t realize is that “hoarding” is more common than they think.
What exactly is “hoarding”? According to “Frost & Hartl’s (’96) definition of clinical hoarding:
1) the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value
2) living spaces sufficiently cluttered so as to preclude activities for which those spaces were designated
3) significant distress of impairment in functioning caused by the hoarding
What you see on T.V. are people with houses full of “stuff”. Useless stuff. Pieces and parts of stuff. Stuff that has no “value”. Stuff that they will never use or couldn’t use up in fifty years. Stuff that doesn’t work. Stuff that is old and rotten (food). Stuff that is outdated (medications).
Floor to ceiling, they can’t see into the room, they can’t walk in the room…..stuff.
But to these people it is “precious”. Stuff that they need. Stuff that they will “someday” use. Stuff that they can pass down to their children. Stuff that “someone someday” will need.
Stuff that they can’t part with. Stuff that they won’t part with. Stuff that they will never in a hundred years be able to wear, use or eat.
It’s almost impossible for the ‘average person’ to understand. Yet, it’s a phenomenon that is growing and more common than you think. As a Professional Organizer I have run into this situation numerous times.
One thing that might surprise many people is that the “hoarder” is not some “lower class” or “poor” person that doesn’t know any better. Hoarders come in all shapes, sizes and economic levels. They can be highly educated, professional people. They can hold high level jobs and wear suits.
But they won’t allow you into their home because they don’t want you to know their “secret”.
Hoarders can be elderly people that have accumulated “things” over a lifetime. They don’t want to throw anything out because their children “will want it someday”.
Hoarders can be people that have lived through the depression and don’t ever want to feel that they “won’t have enough” of …whatever.
Hoarding is a very difficult problem to “fix”. You might be able to convince a hoarder to “clean up” his home but that won’t “fix” the problem. It goes much deeper than that. Some hoarders believe that if they throw things out “bad things will happen”.
Most hoarders don’t think that they have a “problem”. They aren’t willing to “change”. And without their willingness and cooperation there isn’t much that can be done.
Hoarders suffer from low self-esteem and many times isolation because they won’t allow anyone into their home so that they won’t be found out.
Hoarding isn’t about “being clean or messy”. It’s not about “being lazy”.
There are so many aspects and / or reasons for hoarding. Not all of them are known and not all of them are understood. Some reasons are: Depression, OCD, Mental Illness, a life altering or traumatic experience….
**** (part 1 of 2 part article).
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, March 15, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Business Organizing
On any given workday, business people are inundated with paper or training materials, an influx of e-mails, and piles of snail mail. Under a mountain of files, whether electronic or paper, it’s sometimes a challenge to find that one needed document or e-mail.
In fact, thirty percent of all employees’ time is spent searching for lost documents, according to a 2006 Boston Globe article. As business evolves and people recognize the need for personalized filing systems, tips on how to control e-mail, and better project management skills, professional organizers are sought after more than ever before
In fact, more than 148,000 clients were served nationally by members of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®) in 2008.
As a professional organizer, and NAPO® member, I work with clients on organizing their businesses and offices and have a few tips that will help to increase productivity
• Infuse color. If traditional paper filing tools are not working for you, it could mean that you need to add color to your system Many office supply companies now offer a variety of paper organizing tools for more creative thinkers, and professional organizers can help figure out what works best for you .
• Tame your desktop. Only keep items you use regularly on top of your desk. Instead of looking at a piece of paper and setting it on your desk, use that time to make a decision about that document and place it in a file, trash can, or recycle bin. You will spend less time looking for papers when you need them if they are in a place that makes sense rather than under a pile on your desktop.
• E-mail filing systems are just as important. Professional organizers can help you create e-mail folders that make sense for your business needs, and can teach you skills to keep important e-mail accessible but under control.
• To-do lists can help with time management. Creating a plan at the beginning of the day makes it easier to prioritize tasks even if other projects pop-up as you go about your day.
Professional organizers suggest making to-do lists at the end of the work day so tasks are accomplished the next morning before new projects are assigned.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
In fact, thirty percent of all employees’ time is spent searching for lost documents, according to a 2006 Boston Globe article. As business evolves and people recognize the need for personalized filing systems, tips on how to control e-mail, and better project management skills, professional organizers are sought after more than ever before
In fact, more than 148,000 clients were served nationally by members of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®) in 2008.
As a professional organizer, and NAPO® member, I work with clients on organizing their businesses and offices and have a few tips that will help to increase productivity
• Infuse color. If traditional paper filing tools are not working for you, it could mean that you need to add color to your system Many office supply companies now offer a variety of paper organizing tools for more creative thinkers, and professional organizers can help figure out what works best for you .
• Tame your desktop. Only keep items you use regularly on top of your desk. Instead of looking at a piece of paper and setting it on your desk, use that time to make a decision about that document and place it in a file, trash can, or recycle bin. You will spend less time looking for papers when you need them if they are in a place that makes sense rather than under a pile on your desktop.
• E-mail filing systems are just as important. Professional organizers can help you create e-mail folders that make sense for your business needs, and can teach you skills to keep important e-mail accessible but under control.
• To-do lists can help with time management. Creating a plan at the beginning of the day makes it easier to prioritize tasks even if other projects pop-up as you go about your day.
Professional organizers suggest making to-do lists at the end of the work day so tasks are accomplished the next morning before new projects are assigned.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, March 8, 2010
TWENTY ORGANIZING TIPS
Closets:
1) Stick to the “ one-for-one “ rule. After you buy a new piece of clothing, get rid of one piece. This will save space in your closet and make you think about your purchase knowing that you will have to get rid of something when you get home.
2) Keep like items together. Sweaters, skirts, dresses, pants… Keep like colors together.
3) At least twice a year (maybe the spring and fall) go through your closet and get rid of clothes that you haven’t worn in a while, don’t fit or you are just plain tired of. Remember to donate them to an organization or church group.
Kitchen:
4) Keep a pre-printed grocery list in your kitchen and as you run out of things just check them off on the list and you will never again forget something while you’re in the store.
5) Plan your meals a week ahead of time and make your grocery list at the same time. That way you will have all of the ingredients needed for each meal.
6) Use baskets in your kitchen cabinets for snacks (it takes up less room than keeping them in the original container). For kids put the baskets on a lower level shelf.
7) Use organizing dividers in your drawers to keep your utensils in place.
Office:
8) Only keep essentials on your desk. When you are done working immediately put it back in a drawer.
9) Keep all of your office supplies in one place. Keep like items together.
10) Use some type of divider or baskets to keep your pens, paperclips, staples….. organized.
Paper:
11) When going through your mail automatically throw the “junk” mail into the trash can.
12) File any bills that come in the mail in a “bills to pay” folder for paying at a later date.
13) Set aside a specific day or time every week (or two) to pay bills.
14) Set aside a specific day or time every week to do all of your filing.
15) Have one file for “taxes” and put anything related to taxes (W4’s, financial statements, loan information…) in this file.
Car:
16) Keep a notebook and pen in your glove compartment. Great for notes or if you need to record mileage for business expenses.
17) Keep a few “cloth” bags in your car at all times. Great for grocery shopping (now that everyone is moving away from plastic). Also great to keep the clutter from spreading throughout the entire car.
18) Keep a basic emergency first aid kit in your car. You’ll never know when you need that Band-Aid.
Special Occasions:
19) Buy all of your birthday cards for the year at once. Address them and write the persons birthdate in pencil in the upper right hand corner where the stamp would go. Then put them into a pendaflex folder labeled by month. Near the end of the month look at the next month and pull out the cards that need to be mailed. You will never miss a birthday again.
20) Have a “present” closet or shelf. Keep a supply of basic items such as candles, stationary, games…so that you will always have something on hand if case you need a last minute gift. Stock up on items when there is a sale.
Happy Organizing !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
1) Stick to the “ one-for-one “ rule. After you buy a new piece of clothing, get rid of one piece. This will save space in your closet and make you think about your purchase knowing that you will have to get rid of something when you get home.
2) Keep like items together. Sweaters, skirts, dresses, pants… Keep like colors together.
3) At least twice a year (maybe the spring and fall) go through your closet and get rid of clothes that you haven’t worn in a while, don’t fit or you are just plain tired of. Remember to donate them to an organization or church group.
Kitchen:
4) Keep a pre-printed grocery list in your kitchen and as you run out of things just check them off on the list and you will never again forget something while you’re in the store.
5) Plan your meals a week ahead of time and make your grocery list at the same time. That way you will have all of the ingredients needed for each meal.
6) Use baskets in your kitchen cabinets for snacks (it takes up less room than keeping them in the original container). For kids put the baskets on a lower level shelf.
7) Use organizing dividers in your drawers to keep your utensils in place.
Office:
8) Only keep essentials on your desk. When you are done working immediately put it back in a drawer.
9) Keep all of your office supplies in one place. Keep like items together.
10) Use some type of divider or baskets to keep your pens, paperclips, staples….. organized.
Paper:
11) When going through your mail automatically throw the “junk” mail into the trash can.
12) File any bills that come in the mail in a “bills to pay” folder for paying at a later date.
13) Set aside a specific day or time every week (or two) to pay bills.
14) Set aside a specific day or time every week to do all of your filing.
15) Have one file for “taxes” and put anything related to taxes (W4’s, financial statements, loan information…) in this file.
Car:
16) Keep a notebook and pen in your glove compartment. Great for notes or if you need to record mileage for business expenses.
17) Keep a few “cloth” bags in your car at all times. Great for grocery shopping (now that everyone is moving away from plastic). Also great to keep the clutter from spreading throughout the entire car.
18) Keep a basic emergency first aid kit in your car. You’ll never know when you need that Band-Aid.
Special Occasions:
19) Buy all of your birthday cards for the year at once. Address them and write the persons birthdate in pencil in the upper right hand corner where the stamp would go. Then put them into a pendaflex folder labeled by month. Near the end of the month look at the next month and pull out the cards that need to be mailed. You will never miss a birthday again.
20) Have a “present” closet or shelf. Keep a supply of basic items such as candles, stationary, games…so that you will always have something on hand if case you need a last minute gift. Stock up on items when there is a sale.
Happy Organizing !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, March 1, 2010
COMPUTER and EMAIL ORGANIZING
Getting rid of the clutter on top of your desk doesn’t mean that your office is organized. There is probably “hidden clutter"….in your computer.
Just as you should clean out and de-clutter your desk and office …. you should also de-clutter your computer.
Your “inbox” is probably filled with a ton of mail. Mail that should have been deleted, filed or dealt with a long time ago.
Don’t use your inbox as a “holding” spot for every piece of mail that you get. Don’t use is as a “catch all” or a “library of information”. Your inbox is just a “mailbox”. Use it as such.
You get your regular mail out of the mailbox at your house. So do the same with your “email mailbox”.
First, start by making a list of items that you want / need to keep. For example:
* Mail from my Boss
* Mail from Client “A”
* Mail from Client “B”
* Mail from Vendors
* Mail from Teachers
* Mail from H.R. Dept
* Articles to Read
* Meeting Notes
* Newsletters
* Financial Information
* Letters to Clients
Create a “folder” for each of these categories. Make sure that the name that you give to your folders is descriptive enough so that you know what’s in them. It doesn’t help if you just move things from your Inbox to another folder and then can’t find it when you need it.
When you send email always put something descriptive into the subject line. That way the recipient knows what the email is about and it’s more likely to get read. If you leave the subject line blank it might end up in someone’s Spam or Trash folder.
When you need someone to answer a question or give you some information in an email, ask them to also put something into the subject line. Some email programs allow you to ‘sort’ your email by subjects or they will automatically put your email into an appropriate folder based on who it’s from. Take advantage of the different functions of your email program to sort things in a more organized manner.
Once you have decided on “folders” there are two schools of thought on how to “organize and deal with” your email.
The first says that after you receive the email you should look at the subject line and immediately put it into the “appropriate folder” and deal with it later (at the end of the day or another time set aside for dealing with email).
The other school of thought is that you read the email, deal with it (or delete it) and then file it into the appropriate folder if you want or need to keep it.
Choose a method that works best with how you work and what works best for you.
However, everyone agrees that you should set aside a very specific time to actually read your emails. Whether it’s once a day (for personal email) or two (2) or three (3) times a day for business emails….you should NOT become a SLAVE to your email.
Do not check your email every single time you hear that “you’ve got mail” noise ! This is a waste of your time. For some people that could mean checking their emails 20 – 50 times a day ! Not only are they checking their email, they are also making decisions on what to do with their email or responding to their email. That would also mean that they are not getting anything else done.
By setting up a schedule to check your emails at certain times of the day ….you have the rest of the day to actually do your job. Set aside a specific time (whether it’s 15 minutes or ½ hour) a couple of times a day (morning and afternoon, mid-morning, lunch, mid-afternoon…. whatever works for you) to check and deal with your email.
Another important thing that you should do is to “log out” of your email account after you are done reading it. Do not just “minimize” your email account because you will be tempted to check your email more frequently.
You should also set a schedule (once a month, once every other month, once every six months…) to go through and purge things that you don’t need any longer. This will also free up space on your computer.
Technology is wonderful….if you let it work for you….and don’t become a slave to it.
By being organized and having a set routine you will save yourself a lot of time and will also find that you are a lot more efficient.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Just as you should clean out and de-clutter your desk and office …. you should also de-clutter your computer.
Your “inbox” is probably filled with a ton of mail. Mail that should have been deleted, filed or dealt with a long time ago.
Don’t use your inbox as a “holding” spot for every piece of mail that you get. Don’t use is as a “catch all” or a “library of information”. Your inbox is just a “mailbox”. Use it as such.
You get your regular mail out of the mailbox at your house. So do the same with your “email mailbox”.
First, start by making a list of items that you want / need to keep. For example:
* Mail from my Boss
* Mail from Client “A”
* Mail from Client “B”
* Mail from Vendors
* Mail from Teachers
* Mail from H.R. Dept
* Articles to Read
* Meeting Notes
* Newsletters
* Financial Information
* Letters to Clients
Create a “folder” for each of these categories. Make sure that the name that you give to your folders is descriptive enough so that you know what’s in them. It doesn’t help if you just move things from your Inbox to another folder and then can’t find it when you need it.
When you send email always put something descriptive into the subject line. That way the recipient knows what the email is about and it’s more likely to get read. If you leave the subject line blank it might end up in someone’s Spam or Trash folder.
When you need someone to answer a question or give you some information in an email, ask them to also put something into the subject line. Some email programs allow you to ‘sort’ your email by subjects or they will automatically put your email into an appropriate folder based on who it’s from. Take advantage of the different functions of your email program to sort things in a more organized manner.
Once you have decided on “folders” there are two schools of thought on how to “organize and deal with” your email.
The first says that after you receive the email you should look at the subject line and immediately put it into the “appropriate folder” and deal with it later (at the end of the day or another time set aside for dealing with email).
The other school of thought is that you read the email, deal with it (or delete it) and then file it into the appropriate folder if you want or need to keep it.
Choose a method that works best with how you work and what works best for you.
However, everyone agrees that you should set aside a very specific time to actually read your emails. Whether it’s once a day (for personal email) or two (2) or three (3) times a day for business emails….you should NOT become a SLAVE to your email.
Do not check your email every single time you hear that “you’ve got mail” noise ! This is a waste of your time. For some people that could mean checking their emails 20 – 50 times a day ! Not only are they checking their email, they are also making decisions on what to do with their email or responding to their email. That would also mean that they are not getting anything else done.
By setting up a schedule to check your emails at certain times of the day ….you have the rest of the day to actually do your job. Set aside a specific time (whether it’s 15 minutes or ½ hour) a couple of times a day (morning and afternoon, mid-morning, lunch, mid-afternoon…. whatever works for you) to check and deal with your email.
Another important thing that you should do is to “log out” of your email account after you are done reading it. Do not just “minimize” your email account because you will be tempted to check your email more frequently.
You should also set a schedule (once a month, once every other month, once every six months…) to go through and purge things that you don’t need any longer. This will also free up space on your computer.
Technology is wonderful….if you let it work for you….and don’t become a slave to it.
By being organized and having a set routine you will save yourself a lot of time and will also find that you are a lot more efficient.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Getting Organized at Home Is Easier Than You Think
People today have more space, more stuff, and less time than ever before. But with the luxury of “more” can also come more clutter and more disorganization, making the need for professional organizers greater than ever before. So, it’s not surprising that, according to the industry authority, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®), the professional organizing industry is booming. More than 148,000 clients were served nationally by NAPO® members in 2008.
Many of NAPO®’s members specialize in niche areas — whether it’s the garage, kitchen, home office, closet, pantry, or any other residential space — great news for the ninety-six percent of people surveyed on behalf of NAPO® in 2008 who said they would save time every day by becoming more organized. Among those, fifteen percent felt they could save more than one hour of time daily if they were more organized at home, giving them an extra 15 days in a year. Many Americans just do not know what to keep and what to toss. With statistics such as these, it is more important than ever to consider ways to get organized and take that step to better living.
Here are a few tips to help you to save time and money and reduce stress:
• Make the garage work for you. Determine how you wish to use the space.
• Sort, purge, and then decide the proper storage containers or fixtures for the treasures that you must.
*** Clearly label both the tops and the sides of the containers.
• Consider floor-to-ceiling possibilities for shelving, racks, stackable drawers, hooks, and pegboards.
• Go through your closet today. Pull out everything you haven’t worn in the last year.
*** Hang like items together.
• In the kitchen:
*** Things that work together should be stored together.
*** Feel the flow of activity in your kitchen.
*** Place glasses near the sink or the refrigerator.
*** Put snacks in a convenient drawer or cupboard.
Member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®).
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Many of NAPO®’s members specialize in niche areas — whether it’s the garage, kitchen, home office, closet, pantry, or any other residential space — great news for the ninety-six percent of people surveyed on behalf of NAPO® in 2008 who said they would save time every day by becoming more organized. Among those, fifteen percent felt they could save more than one hour of time daily if they were more organized at home, giving them an extra 15 days in a year. Many Americans just do not know what to keep and what to toss. With statistics such as these, it is more important than ever to consider ways to get organized and take that step to better living.
Here are a few tips to help you to save time and money and reduce stress:
• Make the garage work for you. Determine how you wish to use the space.
• Sort, purge, and then decide the proper storage containers or fixtures for the treasures that you must.
*** Clearly label both the tops and the sides of the containers.
• Consider floor-to-ceiling possibilities for shelving, racks, stackable drawers, hooks, and pegboards.
• Go through your closet today. Pull out everything you haven’t worn in the last year.
*** Hang like items together.
• In the kitchen:
*** Things that work together should be stored together.
*** Feel the flow of activity in your kitchen.
*** Place glasses near the sink or the refrigerator.
*** Put snacks in a convenient drawer or cupboard.
Member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®).
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, February 22, 2010
LOOKING AHEAD – AGING – DISABILITIES AND HOME DESIGN
Most people don’t want to think about getting older and all that it entails. They never want to believe that they might end up having to use a walker or possibly being in a wheelchair. That happens to “other” people. People who aren’t healthy and who don’t maintain an active lifestyle.
And when they least expect it….an accident or illness sets in and their world comes crashing down around them.
It doesn’t even have to be an illness that creates problems. Just the fact that as you age your needs and what you are able to do…change. That’s not an easy word for people to accept. And most people don’t want to look ahead…because that means acknowledging the fact that they will get old.
But if you look ahead and plan for the future….even at the young age 40 or 50….when you are planning on buying a new house….you will save yourself a lot of money and the headache of having to “re-design” your living space to accomodate your changing needs, when you are in your 60’s and 70’s.
Simple changes like the styles of doorknobs and faucet handles can impact your ability to be self sufficient. As you age it gets harder to turn “round” doorknobs and faucet handles. By simply using “lever” style door handles and “single” faucet handles you have eliminated one major, yet little thought about problem as you age. A simple “style” change that can make your life so much easier.
Some other things to think about:
Hallways: the width of your hallways is crucial. By having hallways that are wider you will be able to accommodate a wheelchair or walker should you need one.
Also, wider doorways of at least 32 “. If the chair needs to turn then you will need 36 “.
Kitchen: if someone is in a wheelchair there needs to be enough floor clearance of at least 60 “ so that a wheelchair can turn around without bumping into anything.
The counter space needs to be at least 30 “ wide and at least a 27 “ clearance (30” – 32” is preferred), and 19 “ deep.
Bathroom: the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) says that the wheelchair access in the shower needs to beat a least 36 “ by 36 “. The curb cannot be more than ½ in.
You can have a walk-in shower and bench if you are able to stand for short periods. There are roll-in showers that have shower seats. Be sure to have support handles that can take the full weight of a person.
The shower controls also need to be low enough so that a person in a wheelchair or a person that is sitting in a shower seat can reach them.
The height of the sink needs to be lower.
The toilet needs to be raised, they are too low for a person in a wheelchair. And a grab bar needs to be next to the toilet.
The medicine cabinet should not be too high from the floor. No more than 44” is suggested.
Miscellaneous items:
Carpeting – not recommended. It makes it hard for wheelchairs to get around
Light switches – the height of the light switches should be low enough for a person in a wheelchair
Closets – the rods for the hangers should be lowered to a level that a person in a wheelchair can reach.
Stairs – a ranch style house (all on one level) works best as you age, but you can also do things in the future such as install a chair lift if you have a multi-level house
Laundry room - putting it on the main floor means that you won’t have to go down into the basement
This article was meant to make you “think” about the future…It was not meant to be “expert” advice. For more information on how to make your home “age / disability” ready…check out the ADA or other expert websites.
Planning for the future doesn’t mean that you are doomed to “need” all of the above changes. And making some of the changes mentioned doesn’t mean that your house has to “look” like you are “old and disabled”.
By being organized ahead of time….by planning for your future….you are taking a proactive approach to your life.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
And when they least expect it….an accident or illness sets in and their world comes crashing down around them.
It doesn’t even have to be an illness that creates problems. Just the fact that as you age your needs and what you are able to do…change. That’s not an easy word for people to accept. And most people don’t want to look ahead…because that means acknowledging the fact that they will get old.
But if you look ahead and plan for the future….even at the young age 40 or 50….when you are planning on buying a new house….you will save yourself a lot of money and the headache of having to “re-design” your living space to accomodate your changing needs, when you are in your 60’s and 70’s.
Simple changes like the styles of doorknobs and faucet handles can impact your ability to be self sufficient. As you age it gets harder to turn “round” doorknobs and faucet handles. By simply using “lever” style door handles and “single” faucet handles you have eliminated one major, yet little thought about problem as you age. A simple “style” change that can make your life so much easier.
Some other things to think about:
Hallways: the width of your hallways is crucial. By having hallways that are wider you will be able to accommodate a wheelchair or walker should you need one.
Also, wider doorways of at least 32 “. If the chair needs to turn then you will need 36 “.
Kitchen: if someone is in a wheelchair there needs to be enough floor clearance of at least 60 “ so that a wheelchair can turn around without bumping into anything.
The counter space needs to be at least 30 “ wide and at least a 27 “ clearance (30” – 32” is preferred), and 19 “ deep.
Bathroom: the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) says that the wheelchair access in the shower needs to beat a least 36 “ by 36 “. The curb cannot be more than ½ in.
You can have a walk-in shower and bench if you are able to stand for short periods. There are roll-in showers that have shower seats. Be sure to have support handles that can take the full weight of a person.
The shower controls also need to be low enough so that a person in a wheelchair or a person that is sitting in a shower seat can reach them.
The height of the sink needs to be lower.
The toilet needs to be raised, they are too low for a person in a wheelchair. And a grab bar needs to be next to the toilet.
The medicine cabinet should not be too high from the floor. No more than 44” is suggested.
Miscellaneous items:
Carpeting – not recommended. It makes it hard for wheelchairs to get around
Light switches – the height of the light switches should be low enough for a person in a wheelchair
Closets – the rods for the hangers should be lowered to a level that a person in a wheelchair can reach.
Stairs – a ranch style house (all on one level) works best as you age, but you can also do things in the future such as install a chair lift if you have a multi-level house
Laundry room - putting it on the main floor means that you won’t have to go down into the basement
This article was meant to make you “think” about the future…It was not meant to be “expert” advice. For more information on how to make your home “age / disability” ready…check out the ADA or other expert websites.
Planning for the future doesn’t mean that you are doomed to “need” all of the above changes. And making some of the changes mentioned doesn’t mean that your house has to “look” like you are “old and disabled”.
By being organized ahead of time….by planning for your future….you are taking a proactive approach to your life.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, February 15, 2010
WHY PEOPLE DON’T ORGANIZE
People have asked me “Why do people hire you to organize their home? Can’t they just do it themselves?”.
The simple answer is “NO, they can’t”.
But there is nothing simple about the “real” answer.
It’s sort of like asking “why do people hire someone to mow their grass?”. The answer, “because they don’t have the time”. Or “because they don’t like yard work”. Or simply “because they don’t want to do it themselves”.
Yes, a lot of people are “capable” of “organizing” their own home. But they need someone to stand over them to direct them and to make them do it. They tend to second guess themselves and really need an outsider’s opinion and direction.
People that have a disorganized workspace or home are not less educated, in fact a lot of people with disorganized spaces and clutter are actually very bright and highly educated. And that’s part of the problem. They think that the task of “organizing” is “boring” and they can’t stay focused long enough to get anything accomplished.
Some people just get overwhelmed when they try to start organizing a space. Instead of focusing on one aspect at a time they look at the entire room and just see one big mess and start hyperventilating. Then they just throw up their hands and call it a day.
A professional organizers job is to get the client to focus on one aspect at a time and go through a “process”. They need to keep the client on track to get the job done.
Some people were just never taught any organizational skills when they were younger.
Some people just let things go too long and the clutter got out of control and they know that the project is too big for them to handle.
A lot of people think that being “organized” is too time consuming. They don’t understand that once you are “organized” you will actually save a lot of time because you will be able to find things easily. Maintaining an organized space is also a lot less time consuming because you aren’t spending a lot of time thinking about how you are going to organize the space, it’s already organized. You are merely putting things into designated spaces.
When you have an entire family that is disorganized it is really important that everyone is on the same page if you are going to get your space de-cluttered and organized. If your family won’t cooperate with your plan to organize your home it’s almost impossible to have an organized home. Another reason why people tend to throw in the towel. “Why bother, they are just going to mess it up anyway”.
It is crucial that the entire family is on board with the organizing plan. A professional organizer can transform a space…but if the family isn’t on board with the idea, the space will just go back to the cluttered mess that it was before the organizer got there.
A Professional Organizer does more than just de-clutter and organize a space. They also educate the client (and the entire family) on why a space should be organized. On how to organize a space. On how being organized saves you time and money. And on how “being organized” is a crucial lesson that will stay with them the rest of their lives and will be something they use in all aspects of their life.
Being “organized” isn’t only about space management and clutter control. It’s about time management, paper management, project management and life management.
Organization affects all aspects of your life.
Start today and have a more “organized” life.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
The simple answer is “NO, they can’t”.
But there is nothing simple about the “real” answer.
It’s sort of like asking “why do people hire someone to mow their grass?”. The answer, “because they don’t have the time”. Or “because they don’t like yard work”. Or simply “because they don’t want to do it themselves”.
Yes, a lot of people are “capable” of “organizing” their own home. But they need someone to stand over them to direct them and to make them do it. They tend to second guess themselves and really need an outsider’s opinion and direction.
People that have a disorganized workspace or home are not less educated, in fact a lot of people with disorganized spaces and clutter are actually very bright and highly educated. And that’s part of the problem. They think that the task of “organizing” is “boring” and they can’t stay focused long enough to get anything accomplished.
Some people just get overwhelmed when they try to start organizing a space. Instead of focusing on one aspect at a time they look at the entire room and just see one big mess and start hyperventilating. Then they just throw up their hands and call it a day.
A professional organizers job is to get the client to focus on one aspect at a time and go through a “process”. They need to keep the client on track to get the job done.
Some people were just never taught any organizational skills when they were younger.
Some people just let things go too long and the clutter got out of control and they know that the project is too big for them to handle.
A lot of people think that being “organized” is too time consuming. They don’t understand that once you are “organized” you will actually save a lot of time because you will be able to find things easily. Maintaining an organized space is also a lot less time consuming because you aren’t spending a lot of time thinking about how you are going to organize the space, it’s already organized. You are merely putting things into designated spaces.
When you have an entire family that is disorganized it is really important that everyone is on the same page if you are going to get your space de-cluttered and organized. If your family won’t cooperate with your plan to organize your home it’s almost impossible to have an organized home. Another reason why people tend to throw in the towel. “Why bother, they are just going to mess it up anyway”.
It is crucial that the entire family is on board with the organizing plan. A professional organizer can transform a space…but if the family isn’t on board with the idea, the space will just go back to the cluttered mess that it was before the organizer got there.
A Professional Organizer does more than just de-clutter and organize a space. They also educate the client (and the entire family) on why a space should be organized. On how to organize a space. On how being organized saves you time and money. And on how “being organized” is a crucial lesson that will stay with them the rest of their lives and will be something they use in all aspects of their life.
Being “organized” isn’t only about space management and clutter control. It’s about time management, paper management, project management and life management.
Organization affects all aspects of your life.
Start today and have a more “organized” life.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Monday, February 8, 2010
CHORES FOR CHILDREN
An organized home doesn’t miraculously happen. It takes everyone in the home to create an environment that is organized and functions smoothly. Having kids doesn’t mean that your home has to be disorganized or a cluttered mess. Children learn from their parents. If you start expecting things from your children at a young age and teach them responsibility you can have a home that is neat and organized.
Following is a list of chores for children. This is just a basic list of some things that children should be able to help with. Remember, each child is different and they all have different capabilities. For the younger children “helping” with some of these chores will probably take more time than if you did them yourself. But that is not the point. The point is to teach your child some valuable tools for the future. It is really important to give them encouragement and let them know that they did a good job.
2 – 4 year olds
Put away toys
Pick up clothes off of the floor
4 – 6 year olds
Clean up spills
Wipe kitchen table
Learn to make bed
Learn to set the table
Match socks
6– 8 year olds
Make the bed
Put dishes away
Sweep the floors
Put clothes into the hamper
Set the table
Clear the table
Learn to separate clothes for the laundry
Dust
8 – 12 year olds
Put their own laundry away
Help make dinner
Make their own lunches
Rake leaves
Help wash the car
Empty garbage
Clean the bathroom
Help with actually doing the laundry
Weed the garden
13 – 15 year olds
Clean the entire house
Learn to manage their schedule
Mow the lawn
Yard work
Wash the car on their own
Babysit
16 – 18 year olds
Get an after school job
Go to the grocery store
Run errands as needed
Learn how to make a resume
Learn how to manage money
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Following is a list of chores for children. This is just a basic list of some things that children should be able to help with. Remember, each child is different and they all have different capabilities. For the younger children “helping” with some of these chores will probably take more time than if you did them yourself. But that is not the point. The point is to teach your child some valuable tools for the future. It is really important to give them encouragement and let them know that they did a good job.
2 – 4 year olds
Put away toys
Pick up clothes off of the floor
4 – 6 year olds
Clean up spills
Wipe kitchen table
Learn to make bed
Learn to set the table
Match socks
6– 8 year olds
Make the bed
Put dishes away
Sweep the floors
Put clothes into the hamper
Set the table
Clear the table
Learn to separate clothes for the laundry
Dust
8 – 12 year olds
Put their own laundry away
Help make dinner
Make their own lunches
Rake leaves
Help wash the car
Empty garbage
Clean the bathroom
Help with actually doing the laundry
Weed the garden
13 – 15 year olds
Clean the entire house
Learn to manage their schedule
Mow the lawn
Yard work
Wash the car on their own
Babysit
16 – 18 year olds
Get an after school job
Go to the grocery store
Run errands as needed
Learn how to make a resume
Learn how to manage money
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Thursday, February 4, 2010
DIFFERENT WAYS TO USE A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER
A professional organizer isn’t just great for helping you organize your closet.
They can help you in many ways that you probably never thought of.
They can help you with space management, showing you how to use your space more efficiently.
They can be a life coach, guiding you through the clutter of your life.
They can be a business coach, helping you organize your procedures and workflow.
They can help you with time management, showing you how to make better use of your time.
They can help you with paper management, dealing with all of the incoming paper and creating a filing system.
They can help you with project management, defining your goals and coming up with a game plan.
They can help you with organizing and planning meetings and events.
By becoming more "organized" you will also become "less stressed", "more efficient" and will "save time and money" .
Less Clutter = Less Stress ….. in your home, your business and your life.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
They can help you in many ways that you probably never thought of.
They can help you with space management, showing you how to use your space more efficiently.
They can be a life coach, guiding you through the clutter of your life.
They can be a business coach, helping you organize your procedures and workflow.
They can help you with time management, showing you how to make better use of your time.
They can help you with paper management, dealing with all of the incoming paper and creating a filing system.
They can help you with project management, defining your goals and coming up with a game plan.
They can help you with organizing and planning meetings and events.
By becoming more "organized" you will also become "less stressed", "more efficient" and will "save time and money" .
Less Clutter = Less Stress ….. in your home, your business and your life.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, February 1, 2010
DOCTORS VISIT – WHAT TO BRING
Going to the doctors, no matter if it's just a routine visit or if you are sick, seems to make most people very nervous. They feel intimidated because, well, they are a doctor after all.
So you get to the visit, the nurse comes in and asks you a few questions. Then the doctor comes in and before you even have time to ask your questions, he’s gone. And you are left wondering “what just happened?”.
It’s a typical scenario. And even the most educated and professional people seem to be intimidated by doctors. And they shouldn’t be.
A doctor works for you. Not the other way around. But with the constraints made on doctors to see as many patients as possible and the very limited time they are allowed per patient….it’s crucial that you come prepared to your visit. Don’t think that you will remember all of your questions during your visit, because you won’t.
Before your visit you will want to make a list of all of your symptoms and/or concerns.
Then, make a list of all of the medications that you are currently taking, including dosage. Don’t forget to include a list of all of the OTC (over the counter) medications, vitamins and supplements that you are taking. Some of these can interfere with your medications and your doctor needs to see a complete picture of what you are taking.
Bring a copy of your health history (include your history plus any relatives that you know of). This is especially important if you are seeing a doctor for the first time and have to fill out paperwork. Do not rely on your memory. This is too important.
In your families health history, be sure to include the dates of diagnosis and also what your relatives died from. Sounds morbid, but health history is very important and could be an indicator of what you have to look forward to.
If you are going to the doctor for a particular ailment that you have had in the past be sure to include information on medications that you took and if they worked for you or not. If they didn’t work or you had problems with the medication be sure to tell your doctor about it. A lot of people just stop taking the medication and don’t bother to tell the doctor and he never knows it didn’t agree with them. Then he will prescribe it again. And you’ve created a cycle.
Take a notepad and a pen with you and write down any information that the doctor gives you. If you get a diagnosis write it down. If you don’t understand it make him explain it to you. Don’t pretend that you know what it means if you don’t. You didn’t go to medical school. There is no need to be embarrassed that you don’t understand all of the medical terminology. If you write it down you can look it up later when you don’t feel rushed.
Make the doctor explain any treatment options and medications. Ask him about any side effects that you might experience.
If you forget any questions while you are at the doctors be sure to call the office back and ask your questions! Your health is too important to ignore. Don’t ever be embarrassed to ask your doctor anything. Don’t ever thing that you are wasting his time. It could be a matter of life and death.
Take control of your health. Take control of your life.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
So you get to the visit, the nurse comes in and asks you a few questions. Then the doctor comes in and before you even have time to ask your questions, he’s gone. And you are left wondering “what just happened?”.
It’s a typical scenario. And even the most educated and professional people seem to be intimidated by doctors. And they shouldn’t be.
A doctor works for you. Not the other way around. But with the constraints made on doctors to see as many patients as possible and the very limited time they are allowed per patient….it’s crucial that you come prepared to your visit. Don’t think that you will remember all of your questions during your visit, because you won’t.
Before your visit you will want to make a list of all of your symptoms and/or concerns.
Then, make a list of all of the medications that you are currently taking, including dosage. Don’t forget to include a list of all of the OTC (over the counter) medications, vitamins and supplements that you are taking. Some of these can interfere with your medications and your doctor needs to see a complete picture of what you are taking.
Bring a copy of your health history (include your history plus any relatives that you know of). This is especially important if you are seeing a doctor for the first time and have to fill out paperwork. Do not rely on your memory. This is too important.
In your families health history, be sure to include the dates of diagnosis and also what your relatives died from. Sounds morbid, but health history is very important and could be an indicator of what you have to look forward to.
If you are going to the doctor for a particular ailment that you have had in the past be sure to include information on medications that you took and if they worked for you or not. If they didn’t work or you had problems with the medication be sure to tell your doctor about it. A lot of people just stop taking the medication and don’t bother to tell the doctor and he never knows it didn’t agree with them. Then he will prescribe it again. And you’ve created a cycle.
Take a notepad and a pen with you and write down any information that the doctor gives you. If you get a diagnosis write it down. If you don’t understand it make him explain it to you. Don’t pretend that you know what it means if you don’t. You didn’t go to medical school. There is no need to be embarrassed that you don’t understand all of the medical terminology. If you write it down you can look it up later when you don’t feel rushed.
Make the doctor explain any treatment options and medications. Ask him about any side effects that you might experience.
If you forget any questions while you are at the doctors be sure to call the office back and ask your questions! Your health is too important to ignore. Don’t ever be embarrassed to ask your doctor anything. Don’t ever thing that you are wasting his time. It could be a matter of life and death.
Take control of your health. Take control of your life.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
HOME INVENTORY ORGANIZING
Tragedy strikes – usually with no warning. Are you prepared? If a fire swept through your home would you be able to give your insurance company a complete and accurate listing of the contents of your home? And if so, does your homeowner’s policy cover all of the items listed?
Having a complete and accurate list, with all of the necessary information before you actually need it is crucial. Unfortunately, most people aren’t prepared (and don’t get prepared) until it’s too late.
A home inventory should be compromised of such things as:
Item Description, Brand Name, Model #, Original Cost, Serial # (if it has one), Where purchased, Date Purchased
The easiest and most efficient way to compile a household inventory is to simply go room by room. Make a complete list of all of the contents of each room. Don’t forget to go through all of the drawers and inside any cabinets. Each item needs to be logged.
If you can, take pictures of each item (or a grouping of items). Also, be sure to take a picture of the room itself. If you have a video camera it would also be helpful to take a video of the entire house.
Don’t forget the closets, laundry room, pantry, garage and all outside areas, such as the patio or a shed.
Once your have your list, review your home owners policy to be sure that you are covered for all of your items. This might also be a good time to sit down and review your policy with your agent to be sure that you are satisfactorily protected. You don’t want to be surprised that something you though was covered really wasn’t.
Another important point to remember is that you need to put a copy of your home inventory list in a safe spot outside of your home. This can be in a safety deposit box at a bank or you can give a copy to a relative to hold for safe keeping.
Making a home inventory list is very time consuming. But it is something that is definitely worth the investment of your time. Once you have made the initial list you should update it at least once a year. The yearly updating should only take a fraction of the time it took to create the original list.
Invest in yourself…… protect your home.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Having a complete and accurate list, with all of the necessary information before you actually need it is crucial. Unfortunately, most people aren’t prepared (and don’t get prepared) until it’s too late.
A home inventory should be compromised of such things as:
Item Description, Brand Name, Model #, Original Cost, Serial # (if it has one), Where purchased, Date Purchased
The easiest and most efficient way to compile a household inventory is to simply go room by room. Make a complete list of all of the contents of each room. Don’t forget to go through all of the drawers and inside any cabinets. Each item needs to be logged.
If you can, take pictures of each item (or a grouping of items). Also, be sure to take a picture of the room itself. If you have a video camera it would also be helpful to take a video of the entire house.
Don’t forget the closets, laundry room, pantry, garage and all outside areas, such as the patio or a shed.
Once your have your list, review your home owners policy to be sure that you are covered for all of your items. This might also be a good time to sit down and review your policy with your agent to be sure that you are satisfactorily protected. You don’t want to be surprised that something you though was covered really wasn’t.
Another important point to remember is that you need to put a copy of your home inventory list in a safe spot outside of your home. This can be in a safety deposit box at a bank or you can give a copy to a relative to hold for safe keeping.
Making a home inventory list is very time consuming. But it is something that is definitely worth the investment of your time. Once you have made the initial list you should update it at least once a year. The yearly updating should only take a fraction of the time it took to create the original list.
Invest in yourself…… protect your home.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION
January is winding down and everyone is starting to collect all of their financial papers and documents for our favorite time of year. Yes, I’m talking about “tax time”.
January is “get organized” month. And most people don’t even bother to make New Years resolutions anymore. And W4’s and financial papers are showing up in everyone’s mailbox.
What does any of this have to do with anything?
Well… it seems that a lot of people are feeling a bit stressed right now. They are trying to gather all of their papers and get everything organized to take to their accountants. And some people are feeling a bit cranky. Because they don’t know where anything is or they haven’t documented anything or it’s in piles everywhere.
So what’s the answer….. “make a resolution to get more organized this year”.
New Years resolutions on New Years day.... well... no one takes them seriously anyway. But a resolution at the end of the month... well... you’ve had plenty to time to think about it... so it must be a “serious resolution”.
Get your files in order. If you don’t have a filing system, create one. Put your bills and receipts into the proper files as they come in. Keep accurate records. Have a plan in place to work on your bills and financials at a specific time (every week, every other week... whatever works for you).
Decide now that you don’t want to feel stressed and cranky this time next year….by making a resolution to become more organized now.
And then….. do it !
Happy Organizing !
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
January is “get organized” month. And most people don’t even bother to make New Years resolutions anymore. And W4’s and financial papers are showing up in everyone’s mailbox.
What does any of this have to do with anything?
Well… it seems that a lot of people are feeling a bit stressed right now. They are trying to gather all of their papers and get everything organized to take to their accountants. And some people are feeling a bit cranky. Because they don’t know where anything is or they haven’t documented anything or it’s in piles everywhere.
So what’s the answer….. “make a resolution to get more organized this year”.
New Years resolutions on New Years day.... well... no one takes them seriously anyway. But a resolution at the end of the month... well... you’ve had plenty to time to think about it... so it must be a “serious resolution”.
Get your files in order. If you don’t have a filing system, create one. Put your bills and receipts into the proper files as they come in. Keep accurate records. Have a plan in place to work on your bills and financials at a specific time (every week, every other week... whatever works for you).
Decide now that you don’t want to feel stressed and cranky this time next year….by making a resolution to become more organized now.
And then….. do it !
Happy Organizing !
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Friday, January 22, 2010
WORKING AT HOME
A lot of people are working out of an office at home these days. For a variety of reasons.
* They are self-employed and don’t need an office outside of the home
* They work in sales and don’t need a desk at their companies office
* Their company is letting them “telecommute” from home so that they can save money on
office space
* The company doesn’t want to lose a valuable employee who has children and wants to be at
home
The list goes on and on….
Working from home also saves you money (on gas, wear and tear on the car, clothes, lunches….). And it also cuts down on pollution from your car.
But working from home also brings about some challenges. There are a lot of distractions.
You might have a tendency to throw in a few loads of laundry while you are downloading some software or waiting for an important phone call. Or you might want to run the vacuum cleaner and dust while you are waiting for a fax to go through.
In order to work at home you must be very disciplined. You have to act in a professional manner just as if you were in an office outside of the home. That also means getting dressed and not working in your pajamas (who knows if your boss might stop over?).
My old accountants had an office at home in their basement. They had remodeled it with state of the art computer equipment and if you didn’t know you were in the basement you would have thought you were in a first class office building! Every morning they put on their business suits and worked from 9 am till 5 pm. They were always ready for a client to stop by or to go off to a business meeting. They ran their home office like a real business. They saved a lot of money by not paying for additional office space and therefore they were able to keep their overhead down.
On the other hand, some people never get out of their pajamas when they work and the clients on the other end of the phone don’t know the difference.
Being professional when you are talking to a client on the phone, no matter what you are wearing, is crucial in having a home office.
Working at home if you have small children brings on a whole new set of “challenges”. Having a child screaming in the background when you are trying to talk to a client is not very professional. By scheduling your calls to clients while the children are sleeping or while they are busy with a project of their own is one way around that problem.
Having a “dedicated” work space is very important. If you treat your “at home” business like a real business you will be much more successful. By having a desk or workspace set up with all of the essentials and having a filing system in place you will be much more organized and efficient.
Working at home should not be an excuse for “slacking off”. You should have the same dedication and drive as if you worked in a “real office”. And you definitely have to be the type of person that can work by youself…without having someone standing over you telling you that you have a deadline to meet.
It’s not for everyone. Some people need the interaction that an outside office brings.
But if working from home is something that you want or have to do (maybe because you live in a remote area), then treat your office at home as if you worked in an office building.
Have the proper tools and the proper attitude. And you too can be successful and happy “at home”.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
* They are self-employed and don’t need an office outside of the home
* They work in sales and don’t need a desk at their companies office
* Their company is letting them “telecommute” from home so that they can save money on
office space
* The company doesn’t want to lose a valuable employee who has children and wants to be at
home
The list goes on and on….
Working from home also saves you money (on gas, wear and tear on the car, clothes, lunches….). And it also cuts down on pollution from your car.
But working from home also brings about some challenges. There are a lot of distractions.
You might have a tendency to throw in a few loads of laundry while you are downloading some software or waiting for an important phone call. Or you might want to run the vacuum cleaner and dust while you are waiting for a fax to go through.
In order to work at home you must be very disciplined. You have to act in a professional manner just as if you were in an office outside of the home. That also means getting dressed and not working in your pajamas (who knows if your boss might stop over?).
My old accountants had an office at home in their basement. They had remodeled it with state of the art computer equipment and if you didn’t know you were in the basement you would have thought you were in a first class office building! Every morning they put on their business suits and worked from 9 am till 5 pm. They were always ready for a client to stop by or to go off to a business meeting. They ran their home office like a real business. They saved a lot of money by not paying for additional office space and therefore they were able to keep their overhead down.
On the other hand, some people never get out of their pajamas when they work and the clients on the other end of the phone don’t know the difference.
Being professional when you are talking to a client on the phone, no matter what you are wearing, is crucial in having a home office.
Working at home if you have small children brings on a whole new set of “challenges”. Having a child screaming in the background when you are trying to talk to a client is not very professional. By scheduling your calls to clients while the children are sleeping or while they are busy with a project of their own is one way around that problem.
Having a “dedicated” work space is very important. If you treat your “at home” business like a real business you will be much more successful. By having a desk or workspace set up with all of the essentials and having a filing system in place you will be much more organized and efficient.
Working at home should not be an excuse for “slacking off”. You should have the same dedication and drive as if you worked in a “real office”. And you definitely have to be the type of person that can work by youself…without having someone standing over you telling you that you have a deadline to meet.
It’s not for everyone. Some people need the interaction that an outside office brings.
But if working from home is something that you want or have to do (maybe because you live in a remote area), then treat your office at home as if you worked in an office building.
Have the proper tools and the proper attitude. And you too can be successful and happy “at home”.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
ORGANIZING YOUR CHILD’S ROOM
An organized adult usually starts out learning to be organized as a young child. Chances are that if you aren’t taught organizational skills as a child you will probably not be an organized adult. By starting when your child is young you can teach them skills that will be useful to them for their entire life.
Having an organized room lets you find things easily. It helps reduce your stress because you aren’t constantly searching for things. Organizing a child’s room is a little different than organizing an adult’s room in that you will need to use more “visual” aides and labels.
For toys: use plastic bins (clear works best because they can also see through them). Label each bin with what’s inside. For example: Cars/trucks, building blocks, games, puzzles, books…
For toys and things that have a lot of parts, get smaller containers to house those parts so that they have a place to go after they are done playing with them.
If you child is not old enough to read or if your child is more of a “visual” thinker….you can cut out pictures of whatever is in the bin and tape it to the outside.
The same idea can be applied to their clothes. Put a picture of “pants” or “shirts” or “socks” on the outside of where you want those clothes to go.
Get down to the child’s level! If a child can’t reach the hangers or the bins to put their things away…the clothes and toys will just end up on the floor.
For a child’s closet you need to hang things at their level (and as they grow you should be able to adjust their shelves to a higher level….which will also give you more room on the bottom). If you keep a child’s closet at the standard “adult” height and they can’t reach it….they won’t be able to put their things away themselves….and they will always expect you to put everything away for them. And you just set yourself up to be their maid.
Under bed storage. There are a variety of great under the bed storage bins (some come with wheels) that can take advantage of the room under their beds. Toys or extra clothes (not in season) or extra blankets….can all take advantage of the wasted space under the bed.
For school age children have a place set aside in their room for their books and homework. When they are done with their homework have them put it into their “school spot” so that they are ready for school the next morning.
Start the teaching process for good organizational skills when the kids are young. Very young. As soon as they can start walking…they can be taught to put their things away. By having a place for everything and having pictures or labels on it so that they know exactly where things should go…they will get into the habit of putting things into the correct spot. And before you know it, their rooms will be “organized” and clean.
Remember, Mom is spelled “ M – O – M “ …. Not “ M – A – I – D “ !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Having an organized room lets you find things easily. It helps reduce your stress because you aren’t constantly searching for things. Organizing a child’s room is a little different than organizing an adult’s room in that you will need to use more “visual” aides and labels.
For toys: use plastic bins (clear works best because they can also see through them). Label each bin with what’s inside. For example: Cars/trucks, building blocks, games, puzzles, books…
For toys and things that have a lot of parts, get smaller containers to house those parts so that they have a place to go after they are done playing with them.
If you child is not old enough to read or if your child is more of a “visual” thinker….you can cut out pictures of whatever is in the bin and tape it to the outside.
The same idea can be applied to their clothes. Put a picture of “pants” or “shirts” or “socks” on the outside of where you want those clothes to go.
Get down to the child’s level! If a child can’t reach the hangers or the bins to put their things away…the clothes and toys will just end up on the floor.
For a child’s closet you need to hang things at their level (and as they grow you should be able to adjust their shelves to a higher level….which will also give you more room on the bottom). If you keep a child’s closet at the standard “adult” height and they can’t reach it….they won’t be able to put their things away themselves….and they will always expect you to put everything away for them. And you just set yourself up to be their maid.
Under bed storage. There are a variety of great under the bed storage bins (some come with wheels) that can take advantage of the room under their beds. Toys or extra clothes (not in season) or extra blankets….can all take advantage of the wasted space under the bed.
For school age children have a place set aside in their room for their books and homework. When they are done with their homework have them put it into their “school spot” so that they are ready for school the next morning.
Start the teaching process for good organizational skills when the kids are young. Very young. As soon as they can start walking…they can be taught to put their things away. By having a place for everything and having pictures or labels on it so that they know exactly where things should go…they will get into the habit of putting things into the correct spot. And before you know it, their rooms will be “organized” and clean.
Remember, Mom is spelled “ M – O – M “ …. Not “ M – A – I – D “ !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Friday, January 8, 2010
SETTING UP A NEW OFFICE
You are setting up a new office. Before you go to the store and randomly start buying things you will need to make a list of some basic supplies and equipment. By making a list of the essentials you will save yourself time (because you don’t have to go back to the store over and over again) and money (because you know what you have and therefore won’t buy duplicates).
Don’t go overboard on supplies when you are first starting out. Buy the essentials and keep a list of things that you still need. What you “think” you need and what you “really” need can be two different things. Just because you “want” the best of everything and like all of the “things” in the store doesn’t mean that “you” need them. If you don’t need a rolodex because you are using a computerized system, don’t buy one. If you don’t need a holder for you pens/pencils because your desk has a built in one, don’t buy one.
Start simply and once your office is set up and you’ve used it for a while you will be able to figure out what works and what doesn’t work for “you”. Since everyone works differently you don’t want to be stuck with an office set-up that doesn’t function according to your needs.
By putting some time into planning your office according to how “you” work you will end up with an office that is functional and not just one that “looks good”.
Following is a list of some basic supplies to help you get started:
Basic Office Supplies
Calendar
Envelopes – Business size
Envelopes - Legal size
Erasers
Filing Bins
Folder Labels
Highlighters
Legal pads
Manila Folders
Markers
Notepads
Paper – copy
Paper Clips
Pen Holder
Pencils
Pendaflex Folders
Pens
Rolodex
Scissors
Stapler & Staples
Tape & Dispenser
White Out
Basic Office Equipment
Computer
Copier / Fax / Scanner
Copier -Toner
Desk
Filing Cabinet
Phone
Storage Cabinet
Basic Business Supplies
Brochures - Marketing
Business - Letterhead
Business Cards
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Don’t go overboard on supplies when you are first starting out. Buy the essentials and keep a list of things that you still need. What you “think” you need and what you “really” need can be two different things. Just because you “want” the best of everything and like all of the “things” in the store doesn’t mean that “you” need them. If you don’t need a rolodex because you are using a computerized system, don’t buy one. If you don’t need a holder for you pens/pencils because your desk has a built in one, don’t buy one.
Start simply and once your office is set up and you’ve used it for a while you will be able to figure out what works and what doesn’t work for “you”. Since everyone works differently you don’t want to be stuck with an office set-up that doesn’t function according to your needs.
By putting some time into planning your office according to how “you” work you will end up with an office that is functional and not just one that “looks good”.
Following is a list of some basic supplies to help you get started:
Basic Office Supplies
Calendar
Envelopes – Business size
Envelopes - Legal size
Erasers
Filing Bins
Folder Labels
Highlighters
Legal pads
Manila Folders
Markers
Notepads
Paper – copy
Paper Clips
Pen Holder
Pencils
Pendaflex Folders
Pens
Rolodex
Scissors
Stapler & Staples
Tape & Dispenser
White Out
Basic Office Equipment
Computer
Copier / Fax / Scanner
Copier -Toner
Desk
Filing Cabinet
Phone
Storage Cabinet
Basic Business Supplies
Brochures - Marketing
Business - Letterhead
Business Cards
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Friday, January 1, 2010
HOW TO BE MORE ORGANIZED FOR THE NEW YEAR
It’s a New Year and everyone makes “New Years Resolutions”. Why don’t you make one that says “I will be more Organized”.
I don’t mean that you need to run out and buy all types of “organizing gadgets”. Or that you drive your family crazy with your new found organizing obsession.
What I mean is that you should start with small steps, such as making a list of ways that you can “organize” your home, business or life. Just like your resolution to exercise more will probably go by the wayside, so will your resolution to be more organized... if you don’t fully commit to it.
It took years to develop your behaviors and it will take you weeks or months or longer to change them. It’s a lifestyle change.
Once you have made a list of what you want to change in your home, business or life (and this has to be your idea or it won’t work) then you need to start implementing the changes. One at a time, otherwise you will become overwhelmed and you won’t stick to anything.
I’m a list maker. I have a list or an Excel spreadsheet for everything. My family makes fun of me but my motto is “why re-invent the wheel”. If you have repetitive tasks they can be turned into lists. I have a “what to take on vacation” list. Every family member has their own column and they check off things as they pack them. Now things aren’t forgotten and I don’t hear “Mom, I forgot my bathing suit”.
I have a list for “what to pack for college”. And yes, my daughter refused to use it the first year. But the following year I heard “Mom, can I have the college list...”. Music to a mother’s ear. I’m not as useless as I thought!
I have lists for school supplies, list for groceries, lists for vacations, lists for medical information, lists for donated items, lists for events that I go to every year and equipment I need to take, lists for meetings…… and on and on. There is no end in sight.
If you do it more than once ... make a list. That way you won’t forget anything.
If you have a list of spaces to organize or projects to do, break them down into manageable pieces. For example, break down the “I’m going to organize my kitchen” project into smaller projects. Such as:
* I’m going to organize the kitchen drawers
* I’m going to organize the kitchen counters
* I’m going to organize the kitchen cabinets
* I’m going to organize the kitchen pantry
That way you can start and finish each project in one sitting and feel like you’ve accomplished something, instead of getting tired or frustrated and never finishing it and then never starting another project. Start a small project. Finish a project. Feel proud of yourself. Go on to the next project.
Not everyone can become organized on their own. That’s why there are “Professional Organizers” that are there to help you and to teach you how to become more organized (teaching should be part of the organizing project).
Since most people call a plumber or an electrician when they have a plumbing or electrical problem, why shouldn’t you call a Professional Organizer when you have an organizing problem?
By having a Professional Organizer help you with your organizing dilemma you can get more accomplished in less time. A Professional Organizer is there to guide you through the process.
How many people have bought workout tapes for use at home but never used them? Good intentions but people tend to work harder when they go to a gym and have someone watch over them than when they try to work out by themselves.
So call a Professional Organizer and let them help you become more Organized – Less Cluttered – and Less Stressed.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
I don’t mean that you need to run out and buy all types of “organizing gadgets”. Or that you drive your family crazy with your new found organizing obsession.
What I mean is that you should start with small steps, such as making a list of ways that you can “organize” your home, business or life. Just like your resolution to exercise more will probably go by the wayside, so will your resolution to be more organized... if you don’t fully commit to it.
It took years to develop your behaviors and it will take you weeks or months or longer to change them. It’s a lifestyle change.
Once you have made a list of what you want to change in your home, business or life (and this has to be your idea or it won’t work) then you need to start implementing the changes. One at a time, otherwise you will become overwhelmed and you won’t stick to anything.
I’m a list maker. I have a list or an Excel spreadsheet for everything. My family makes fun of me but my motto is “why re-invent the wheel”. If you have repetitive tasks they can be turned into lists. I have a “what to take on vacation” list. Every family member has their own column and they check off things as they pack them. Now things aren’t forgotten and I don’t hear “Mom, I forgot my bathing suit”.
I have a list for “what to pack for college”. And yes, my daughter refused to use it the first year. But the following year I heard “Mom, can I have the college list...”. Music to a mother’s ear. I’m not as useless as I thought!
I have lists for school supplies, list for groceries, lists for vacations, lists for medical information, lists for donated items, lists for events that I go to every year and equipment I need to take, lists for meetings…… and on and on. There is no end in sight.
If you do it more than once ... make a list. That way you won’t forget anything.
If you have a list of spaces to organize or projects to do, break them down into manageable pieces. For example, break down the “I’m going to organize my kitchen” project into smaller projects. Such as:
* I’m going to organize the kitchen drawers
* I’m going to organize the kitchen counters
* I’m going to organize the kitchen cabinets
* I’m going to organize the kitchen pantry
That way you can start and finish each project in one sitting and feel like you’ve accomplished something, instead of getting tired or frustrated and never finishing it and then never starting another project. Start a small project. Finish a project. Feel proud of yourself. Go on to the next project.
Not everyone can become organized on their own. That’s why there are “Professional Organizers” that are there to help you and to teach you how to become more organized (teaching should be part of the organizing project).
Since most people call a plumber or an electrician when they have a plumbing or electrical problem, why shouldn’t you call a Professional Organizer when you have an organizing problem?
By having a Professional Organizer help you with your organizing dilemma you can get more accomplished in less time. A Professional Organizer is there to guide you through the process.
How many people have bought workout tapes for use at home but never used them? Good intentions but people tend to work harder when they go to a gym and have someone watch over them than when they try to work out by themselves.
So call a Professional Organizer and let them help you become more Organized – Less Cluttered – and Less Stressed.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
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