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Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Organizing Ideas for your Kitchen

 

Organizing small spaces is always a challenge. Read the Redfin article to get some ideas on how to organize your kitchen to make the most use out of your space. We are listed in the article!





You can see the post here: 26 Small Kitchen Organization Ideas to Simplify Your Home


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

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

Friday, April 14, 2023

Getting Unburied and Moving Forward - a Clutter Class

New 8 week class – “Getting Unburied and Moving Forward” –  a class for people with chronic disorganization and hoarding issues.


We have created a new condensed 8 week version of the "Buried in Treasures" class for people that don’t want to commit to a 16-week class.

 

The class covers the most important information that is in the 16-week “Buried in Treasures” class plus has expanded information on time and paper management.

 

In the 8-week “Getting Unburied and Moving Forward” class – we will cover:

 

·         Understanding the complexities of hoarding issues

·         What’s stopping you from working on your clutter problem

·         How to reduce acquiring and start decluttering

·         How your goals and values play an important part in your success

·         How to make categories that work

·         Learning the organizing process

·         Paper and time management

·         Putting it all together and moving forward

 

Let this be the start of your journey to the life you want to be living….

“Getting Unburied and Moving Forward” – a Virtual Class

 

Sessions start: Wednesday, June 21, 2023  -  6:30 pm – 8:00 pm  -  Mountain Time – USA

or

                           Wednesday, June 21, 2023  -  9:00 am – 10:30 am  -  Mountain Time – USA

 

(The fee for the 8-week class is $ 240 US)

 

Anyone – anywhere – can take the class! Class is held on Zoom.

 

This group offers a judgment-free environment for people ready to make a change in their life.

 

Early Registration and acceptance into the group is required. Email for more information - kefconsulting@gmail.com


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

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Spring Cleaning - a Yearly Ritual

Cleaning your home is not everyone’s idea of fun. But it is something that all of us have to do. In the spring we have a yearly ritual called “spring cleaning” that I am sure everyone is really looking forward to!  😉   For some of us that still have snow - some of the outside stuff will still have to wait for a while!

We drive ourselves crazy and clean the entire house from top to bottom in one or two days. We clean things that we have ignored all year long.

It's a great idea to clean your house from top to bottom - but break it up over a few days or even a few weeks - so that you don't wear yourself out.  You can also break down each room into it's own project.

Here are some quick ideas on some of the things that you can do >>>>>

In the Kitchen:

Wash all of the appliances. Both outside and inside.

  • Refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, stove
  • Wash the stove drip bowls in the dishwasher 

Refrigerator

  • Take down all of the magnets – throw out old ones that you really don’t need
  • Remove all of the shelves in refrigerator and wash them
  • Remove all of the bins in the refrigerator and wash them
  • Defrost the freezer
  • Put fresh baking soda in the freezer
  • Clean under the refrigerator(throw out expired food)

Oven

  • Clean your oven (self cleaning or with non-toxic oven cleaner)
  • Rinse the oven thoroughly after it has been cleaned

Shelves / Counters

  • Take everything off of your shelves and counters and wash them thoroughly
  • Decide if you can part with a few of the things cluttering the counters

Backsplash

  • Wipe down your backsplash all around the kitchen

Floor

  • Wash your kitchen floor with a good de-greaser

Living Room

  • Clean drapes and curtains
  • Wash your blinds (this can be done in the bathtub)
  • Shampoo your carpets
  • Wash throw rugs or air them out …outside
  • Vacuum the entire house….pull everything away from the wall….
  • Vacuum your couches (pull out the cushions and clean underneath them)
  • Use furniture polish for an extra shine on your furniture
  • Dust ceiling fans, fixtures and lampshades
  • Wax your floors

Dining Room

  • Take all of your books & knick-knacks off of your hutch or bookshelf and dust each piece
  • Dust the bookshelf / hutch
  • Wash the chandelier (if the pieces come off they can be run through the dishwasher)
  • Decide if you can part with some of the knick-knacks (clutter)

Bedroom

  • Wash your mattress pad, blankets, quilts, pillows
  • Turn over your mattress
  • Dust ceiling fans & fixtures & lampshades
  • Vacuum under the bed

Miscellaneous:

  • Wash the windows throughout your entire house
  • Clean attic & basement
  • Scrub deck & patio
  • Wash outdoor furniture
  • Bring out your spring / summer clothes
  • Clean out your car (move winter stuff to storage)
  • Empty your garage - switch winter sports items for summer sports items
  • Sweep out your garage
  • Get rid of toys in the garage that youar kids have outgrown
  • Dryer – check lint filter…..so it doesn’t cause a fire - vacuum behind the dryer

  

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

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 


Thursday, February 16, 2023

Things to Declutter Right Now!

Decluttering isn't always about getting rid of "big items". Most of us have a lot of small items, items with missing parts, items without their pair, items that we longer use, items that are expired or past their prime. Item that we haven't used in a long time or that we even knew we had.

Take a look at this list to see if you have any of these items that you can get rid of now. Turn it into a game with your family - "whomever finds the most items that they can get rid of - wins a prize".

Make clutter disappear! It's easy! Do you really want to keep old candy or broken dishes or cat toys when you no longer have a cat???

Join us in this clutter challenge - and make your clutter disappear! 

Things to Declutter Right Now

Appliances that are rarely or never used

Batteries that are deal

Books that you will never read or won't read again

Boxes - stuff in them that you never open

Calendars - Old

Candy that is old

Cards - get rid of them after a few weeks

Cat litter - no cat

Cat toys

Cleaning supplies that you never use

Clothes - from kids

Clothes that are stained or worn out or never worn

Coffee mugs - how many do you really need

Containers that are empty

Cookbooks that you never use

Costumes - halloween

Coupons that are expired

Craft projects that you will never finish

Crayons that are bits and pieces

Dishes - old

Earrings without a partner

Electronics that are broken

Fabric Softener

Flowers - dead

Food containers without lids

Food that is expired

Fruit - moldy

Games or puzzles that are missing pieces

Garden hoses - old

Gifts that you will never use

Glasses - old prescription

Gloves without a partner

Holiday decorations that are in excess

Jewelry that you will never wear

Junk Mail

Legos

Linens that are worn out

Magazines/newspapers - Old

Mail - old

Makeup - Old

Maps - to places you will never go

Medicine that is expxired

Menus - old or takeout

Nail polish - dried out

Notesbooks - college or old

Paint - old or that you will never use

Paperwork that should be recycled

Pencils shorter than 3 inches

Pens that no longer work

Perfume

Plants that are dead

Plastic bags

Receipts that are old for things you don't have

Receipts that are old for things you don't need for taxes

Snacks that are old

Socks with holes or missing a partner

Spices or seasonings you never use

Sunblock that is expired

Tags from clothing that you have cut off

Takeout sauces or packets

Textbooks - old college

Toothbrushes - older than 4 months

Towels that are torn or worn out

Toys that your kids have outgrown

T-shirts - old

TV cabinet - old

Underwear - with holes or stretecher out elastic

Unidentifiable  anything

Vases

Washer / Dryer - old or broken

Wok - electric

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

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

Sunday, February 5, 2023

Change Your Habits So That Your Life Will Be More Organized and Stress Free

 

For some people living in a disorganized house doesn't faze them. But for others, it causes stress and anxiety. They know they need to change, to fix things, to get a handle on their disorganization, procrastination or lack of productivity. But where do they start? By changing their habits.


Does Replacing Bad Habits with Good Habits Work?

 

Bad habits are a frustrating and persistent part of life. They can hold you back from reaching your goals and lead to negative consequences in your personal and professional life.

 

Many people try to replace bad habits with good habits as a solution, but does this approach actually work? Let’s explore the effectiveness of this question and explain the importance of addressing the root cause of the bad habit.

 

The Importance of Finding the Root Cause

 

One factor in the success of replacing bad habits with good habits is understanding what is driving the bad habit. Whether or not you’re aware of it, bad habits often serve a specific purpose or fulfill a need.

 

The idea is that the bad habit is performed to relieve stress, boredom, or anxiety (or whatever your issue is). But it’s a problem because the bad habit tends to make the original problem worse, so you might focus on the bad habit and just stop it without understanding the root cause. If you do this, it may cause you to implement the wrong good habit to replace the bad habit, making it seem like replacing bad habits does not work.

 

The problem is that if you don't address the underlying issue causing the bad habit, you will continue to have the trigger for the habit. Due to this, you may struggle to maintain the good habit because it’s not fulfilling the original need that the bad habit alleviates.

 

To uncover what is causing your bad habit, ask yourself some questions:

 

·         What need or desire is the bad habit fulfilling?

·         What emotions or feelings do I experience before, during, and after the bad habit?

·         What situations or environments trigger the bad habit?

·         What are the consequences or costs of the bad habit?

 

Answering these questions offers insight into the root cause of your bad habit and helps you identify potential solutions.

 

Strategies to Identify and Resolve the Bad Habit

 

You can use several strategies to figure out the root cause of your bad habit and find a solution.

Let’s look at a few of them.

 

·         Keep a journal: Write down your thoughts, feelings, and actions surrounding the bad habit. This can help you identify patterns and triggers for the habit.

 

·         Seek support: Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist about your bad habit and the challenges you are facing. They may be able to offer insights and suggestions for addressing the root cause of the habit.

 

·         Experiment with different strategies: Try different approaches to addressing the bad habit and see what works best for you. This could be taking up a new hobby to relieve stress instead of smoking, or finding a healthy way to cope with boredom such as taking a walk or reading a book.

 

Replacing bad habits with good ones is challenging. But breaking free from negative patterns and creating lasting change in your life is possible. Having said that, you must understand the root cause of your bad habit and find effective strategies to address it. Doing so will set you up for success in adopting healthy, positive habits to replace bad ones.

 

Remember to be patient with yourself, and don't get discouraged if you encounter setbacks. With persistence and commitment, you can overcome your bad habits and achieve your goals.

 

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


Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 


 

 


Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Why Is Decluttering Hard?


Decluttering should be easy. Shouldn't it? But for a lot of people - it's really hard. Hard to get started. Hard to figure out what to get rid of. 

Below is a list of reasons why it's so hard:

1)  You haven't found your "why". Why do you want to declutter?

2)  You haven't established an "end goal". 
  • What is your goal and when are you going to put it into action.
  • What items are you getting rid of?
3)  You have "no time" to declutter. It takes time!

4)  You don't understand what clutter means to you. How did the clutter happen?

5)  You don't know what to keep.

6)  You feel unsupported in your goal.

7)  You are struggling to let go.

8)  You have a lot of stuff. The more stuff you have - the longer it takes.

9)  The clutter keeps coming back. 

10) You feel guilty and wasteful for getting rid of stuff.


So - we have established that understanding how the clutter got there - is hard. Making decisions - is hard. Letting things go - is hard. Why - because of your attachment to "stuff". 

Once you bought/acquired your "stuff" - the money was spent. You can't get it back by keeping your stuff. If you have outgrown it or it no longer serves a purpose - it's time to let go. 

Give someone else the opportunity to use and enjoy your "stuff". They might need it more than you do.

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


Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 


Monday, January 16, 2023

Hoarding in the News - Radio, TV and Podcast Interviews

WOW! It's been a busy few weeks with numerous Radio interviews (2), a TV Interview (NBC Montana - KECI) and a Podcast interview with Laura Ingraham!


It's been a whirlwind! Lots of conversations around the complexities of hoarding behavior.

Laura has over 4 1/2 million followers! She was really great and the Podcast was about 40 minutes long.  You do need a subscription to listen to the Podcast - either Quake or Apple Podcast.

The radio interview that I did Sunday morning for a station in Albuquerque, NM(96.3 Newsradio KKOB)  is listed below.


 

Hoarding Workshop - The Weekend with Terry Travis

Karin Fried tells us how to declutter our lives and

demystifies the negative connotations of the

word "Hoarder"

****************************************************************************************


Organization Expert Karin Fried on Clutter and Being on Hoarders

The Laura Ingraham Show  - "Most of us know someone who lives with clutter. But what drives people to hoard? Why can’t they bring themselves to throw things away? Karin Fried, owner and founder of Organizational Consulting Services, an advanced hoarding specialist who has appeared on the hit A&E TV show “Hoarders” joins Laura to discuss.".

There are 2 ways to listen - they do however require a subscription - but with Quake you can have a one week free trial.

Laura Ingraham             -            http://quakemedia.com/Laura              


Listen on Apple Podcast   -  Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher



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

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....