Simplifying Ways

New Year's Organizing Tip #2 - Where does it go?

2012-01-18T07:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, now that you have purged all of the old paper and clutter from your rooms it is time to organize them. The best way to get organized and stay that way is to zone your rooms and assign a home to every object. Sounds like a lot of work, but it isn’t really. So, for example in the family room, common activities may be playing video games, watching t.v., reading and relaxing. Objects you will need to contain are video games, DVDs, books, remote controls, wraps and throws, etc. Start one room at a time and find a home for everything. Once you have a home for EVERYTHING then literally it should take less than 10 minutes to pick up several rooms in your home.

The harder clutter to contain is paper because it can quickly become overwhelming and look worse than it is if it isn’t processed every day. Know the pattern of the paper in your house and have a home for each category – bills, regular files, resource/archival files, magazines, action, etc. As I wrote about in my first New Year’s post, have a paper command center in the hub of your home to corral everyday paper and then have a resource/archival home…probably a home office where you have a filing cabinet to hold paper you don’t need as often. Check out the photo of my administrative zone that I have organized and ready for the New Year.

My gym has a motivational message on the door entering the gym, “the hardest part is showing up” and I feel this thought can be applied to organizing. Organizing is a process like exercising that you can’t just do once to see results. Once the hard part is done (the zoning and assigning homes), then the regular “showing up” part becomes the daily processing of stuff that can be done almost in auto pilot. I smiled reading the inspirational message leaving the gym yesterday “know you’ll be back tomorrow” and I liked the simple message that progress is in small steps, many times repeated until it becomes like second nature.

New Year's Clutter Buster Tip#1 - Purge the Stuff

2012-01-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

As we start a new year, I thought it would be helpful to discuss clutter busting strategies. To that end I’ll focus my January posts on general organizing tips.
My husband and I always get a laugh, as I prepare for our, at least monthly charity donation pick-up, at our house, as he sings the line “….give it away, give it away, give it away now…” from the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Give it Away”. If you only keep items in your space and closets that you love (and that fits) and represents how you live now, you won’t believe how easy it is to put together a few donation bags a month. If you haven’t already, call up your favorite charities, and get on their regular pick-up schedule to give away your gently used items not needed. There is so much that comes in to our homes that needs to be sorted, purged and given away, recycled or thrown out, and a great way to keep the stuff moving and our homes kept up is to schedule charity donations.

It all comes down to downsizing the stuff and in the kitchen and many rooms of the home, much of the stuff tends to be paper oriented. Most of the paper can be recycled or shredded and for the paper that needs to be kept, decide if it belongs in your home office (not as accessible) or your other paper storage place…probably the kitchen (regular access). I highly recommend carving out some space behind a closed kitchen cabinet to hide it. House frequently used home files such as: school, activities, coupons, menus, and other high use categories where you use those most…probably in the kitchen and not a home office. Also stored here can be mail to be saved that requires action such as bills and invitations. Have basic office supplies in your kitchen administrative area and if you have children and they do their homework in the main hub of the home, then make sure they have everything accessible so that they aren’t running off elsewhere getting distracted.

To cut down on paper coming into the home, I am trying out a mail reduction service called Catalog Choice. They offer a range of services with the main goal of keeping the unwanted paper out of your home. I signed up for their mail reduction service whereby I have to tell them what I don’t want to receive and they do the leg work to get me off of the unwanted mail lists. I am also trying out their junk mail envelope service – same idea and possibly a little more straightforward. Some of my clients are trying out the junk mail envelope service, so I’ll keep you posted on how it goes, and I’ll let you know what we think about their services.

Start purging those rooms…especially the paper!

Lice Free and Decorated for the Holidays!

2011-12-13T08:07:00.000-08:00

We have had the unfortunate experience of having to deal with a lice infestation in my daughter’s class room at school. This means of course, she has brought them home. To get rid of them is a bear because not only do you have to spend hours cleaning and combing through the infected head to try to find the nits (lice eggs), but you have to clean and remove from the environment everything that mirrors hair (blankets, rugs and of course the plethora of stuffed animals)! So, the good news is we have been lice free for several weeks now (though they are still in her classroom).

With the mild weather we had a few weeks ago it seemed like everyone in our neighborhood decorated for the holidays early. I like decorating our home for Christmas, but because we get a live tree, we can’t decorate too early. My husband took the many holiday bins down from our attic right after Thanksgiving (ugh!), and I have been dealing with the wall of bins for a few weeks now. We got our tree last Saturday and finally put our decorations up!

The other day I was in our basement and I looked out to our screened in porch and saw several large bags and then remembered they were full of stuffed animals from my daughter’s room and the lice saga. I decided I would try to see if she could part with some of them discussing the importance of the gift of charity and the need to think of others. Low and behold my little six year old was up for donating, but also making a little money too. She negotiated $2.00 from me (okay, I got off easy), and gave away two full bags of stuffed animals to the Lupus Society! She still has way too many stuffed animals in her room, but at least she sorted them and the ones she is keeping she treasures for different reasons.

As we enter the season where we will be adding many new things to our homes, it is always helpful to remember to remove 2-3 items for everything added. If you can do a quick sort and purge now in each room in your home it will benefit you in several ways. It’ll help get your home ready for the holidays and company and also prepare space for the new things you may be bringing in or receiving as gifts.

Good luck as you wrap up the year and get ready for the holidays.

Getting Back To Living Life

2011-11-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

“Getting back to living life” is the tag line of my physical therapy center, and it is one that I relate to as an organizer. My sessions at the center helped unlock my frozen shoulder condition, and at times my sessions there were uncomfortable and painful. I am in a better position now to get back to my life thanks to the exercise regimen they put together for me. They explained that for my shoulder to continue to improve I need to commit to my 30 minute shoulder exercises daily. Do I skip days here and there? Of course, but for the most part I am committed to it because I want to get back to my life…especially on the tennis court!

Similarly, organizing helps us get back to living life fully, because if we are committed to keeping up our systems and routines, then we aren’t bogged down by our daily clutter, and we aren’t ruled by our stuff. The daily commitment to organizing should at least be 15 or 30 minutes. This does not have to be a painful experience…I promise! This commitment may include an end of day pick up to put things away, determining what our top personal and/or professional actions are for the next day, processing any paper and anything else that helps creates a clean slate for the next day.

Why do this? Organizing helps get us back to living life. If we have a strong, organizing foundation, we can focus on things that are really important to us. No more worries about what we have to do, forgetting things, or feeling unproductive, because each day is a fresh start with a picked up home and work environment. Okay, maybe a little unrealistic, but something to strive for – right?

As we approach Thanksgiving, I know one of the many things I am thankful for is my unlocked frozen shoulder and my semi-organized home that allows me to live my life fully. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Our Gift of Time On Sunday

2011-11-08T15:28:00.000-08:00

What did you do with your extra hour gained this past weekend with the end of daylight savings time? Don’t you wish we could have an extra hour each day to tie up loose ends, plan and prioritize or do something for ourselves? Maybe we can mirror the feeling of bliss I know I felt Sunday morning with my extra hour.

How so? Here are some time saving tips that may get you close to an hour.

1. Get organized. See my blog from September 9th on ORDER – organize, routines, delete, edit and readiness. On average we lose an hour a day looking for things or trying to figure out what we need to do. This hour adds up to a staggering 14 days a year of time thrown away!
2. Zone each of your spaces so that it makes sense, there is proper storage, and simplified systems are in place to allow for a 10 minute pick-up at the end of the day.
3. Build in planning time to your day so that you minimize wasted time trying to figure out who to call, what to work on and what to do next. When you plan you will cut down on working reactively and feel more in control of your day.
4. Make checklists your friend. Either have a tangible check list or a mental checklist of what you need to do in the morning, what you need to pack to bring to work or school and also have an end of day wrap-up checklist (scan e-mail, identify top priorities for next day, etc.)
5. Keep your to dos in one place ONLY. If you have too many lists or some are electronic and some on paper, time is wasted and chances for error are higher.
6. Plan menus so that you spend less time grocery shopping and eating out and you and your family will be healthier for it. Also keep a running grocery list of what you need, preferably on your phone, so that you have it readily available.
7. Buy holiday and birthday gifts ahead and keep some in reserve to cut down on last minute shopping runs.
8. Make your car work for you. Have a bin in your trunk that holds anything that needs to be processed in some form so that you have the items when you can conveniently deal with them (i.e., items to be returned, dry cleaning, coupons for shopping, etc.)
9. Set boundaries for yourself for unplugging at night so that you can recharge, regroup and relax so that you are fresh, productive and in control for the next day.
10. If you have kids, make sure they know their routines and family systems for each room. They can pick-up and directly benefit from learning the vital life skill of organization.

Also, don’t forget to change your batteries in your smoke detectors, if you didn’t get a chance to do it this weekend.

Here’s to finding that extra hour each day to use as we’d like!

Fall Organizing Home Check-List

2011-10-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Organizing is a necessary home maintenance activity so that home owners can live and function well, save money and reap all the benefits of organizing. Some regular seasonal maintenance I recommend is:

1. Clean out and take inventory of the pantry and freezer. Make sure food hasn't expired, move older dates to the front. This helps reduce over-buying, wasting of food, assists with meal preparation and gives a big psychological boost!

2. Clean out and analyze what is in the main coat closet / mud room. It is amazing sometimes what is thrown in there...especially if you have kids. If your closet and/or mud room area is large enough to accommodate multiple seasons than your organizing focuses on making sure everything is where it needs to be. Make sure everything fits, all objects have a home and are properly contained. If your space is small then you may have to organize your closet / mud room area for the seasons and put away out of season items that are still relevant.

3. Organize and Clean out Kids Rooms. I encourage all of my clients to do this for each season. The benefits are two-fold. The parent(s) benefit because they sort, organize and purge all clothes that don't fit and are left with clothes that do, and a quick visual of what needs to be purchased. All out-of-season clothes that may still fit are put away. There is also a visual of what needs to be purchased, hopefully on sale, in advance of the next season. The kids benefit because they are part of the process and are learning a vital, necessary life skill. Encourage them to help identify toys and objects they have aged out of and can let go to a charity. Also it is a good time to throw out items that are broken and make an assessment of anything in the room that needs to be fixed.

So now I may have made your fall home maintenance check list a little longer, but just as you seal up any drafts to be more comfortable, these organizing tasks will make your fall and winter season more enjoyable, comfortable and you'll save money too!

International Walk to School Day!

2011-10-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

What a picture perfect day we had for this year's International Walk to School Day! Though, we live so close to my daughter's elementary school (Belle View Elementary), and we really should be able to walk, it still requires a lot of planning, organization and good moods to pull it off. Since I'm an organizer and I am a proponent of doing everything that can possibly be done for the next day, the night before, there should be plenty of time in the morning to make walking to school a reality. However, what ends up happening is time evaporates in the morning and most mornings we are just making it out the door in time to get to school by driving.

So, it was a big deal for us to walk on Wednesday. Though we had prepared and the lunch was made, outfit laid out, hair style determined the night before, backpack packed the night before with everything except the lunch, I didn't account for a semi grumpy daughter, and a leisurely 6 year-old's pace. At a couple different points I had to cajole her to gallop like a pony, skip and race me so that we made it there in time. Who greeted us, but the school's P.E. teacher who was giving out stickers to all the children who walked. It still amazes me how much weight a sticker can carry. She was so proud of it and at dinner last night she said she wanted to walk to school everyday to collect the stickers. Who knew!

I wish that could happen so that we could both fit in exercise early in the day to get the endorphins working, help air quality and the environment by not driving, not have to deal with the Kiss and Ride line and just have some fun time together. I've realized due to logistics of my choppy work schedule, and another child who needs to take a bus to his school, we can't walk every day, but maybe shooting for once a week can be a start. And, guess what, the plan tomorrow is we are walking to school!

Too Many Choices

2011-09-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

Don’t you cringe sometimes when you go down any store’s aisles at the choices we have? Yes, we are very lucky to have so many choices, but my inner organizer screams, “let’s simplify already” as all of these choices are making it harder to make decisions. In fact I read recently in Real Simple magazine (one of my favorites) that a study led by the University of Minnesota found students faced with multiple choices had less physical stamina and were more likely to procrastinate. I can totally relate to that because that is exactly what I do! The experts at Real Simple recommend that we limit ourselves to fewer than 10 options. I think I agree.

I remember when I was managing a home renovation project for my family that having to make so many decisions in a short amount of time was very stressful. I couldn’t procrastinate – I had to make the decisions. Luckily we were operating under a very tight budget so I was able to go into stores and direct the sales people to only show me tile, or whatever I was choosing, that fit into our budget.

I think having so many choices may contribute to the excess of stuff that we all have. We overbuy and then we need to have more storage to contain all of our things. Our excess of things can cause us more stress instead of the positive effect we thought it would bring by buying it. By no means am I saying we should be like the guy who lived for a year with just 100 things. I just think we need to narrow our focus more and really be sure we need or truly want something before we buy it.

I’m not sure why I am writing about this other than I had lunch with a friend today, and somehow the topic got around to clothes and makeup. I was lamenting to her that I need some new additions in both areas, but I am so overwhelmed by all of the choices…especially the whole skin care arena. I think I just need to do a little research so that I can narrow my focus and not be distracted by products I don't want, when I finally get up the courage to go buy some new skincare and makeup products.

Remember, with our stuff, the less we have, the richer in some ways our lives become. So when faced with purchasing decisions, the more we can narrow our choices, based on our specific needs and criteria, the easier it is to make the right choice.

Creat Fall ORDER in your Work and Home Lives

2011-09-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

I feel like I’ve been running ever since we returned from vacation late last Saturday. We traveled to San Diego and had a wonderful time, but getting out of vacation mode and adjusted back to east coast time, coupled with a fun-filled Labor Day weekend, was too busy so close to the start of the school year. It didn’t leave much time to get the kids back into an earlier bedtime routine! Oh well, we have been doing okay, despite all the rain, and have only had a few bumps getting out the door in the morning. I realize all will be fine as we adjust to our fall schedules and routines.

So with school starting this week, I have been thinking about what I want to accomplish both personally and professionally this fall. In order to be productive I realize I’ve got to implement some changes. I know some people don’t like order, but as a professional organizer, I’m all about it. When I’m starting to feel stressed or a little overwhelmed I realize I need to pause, take inventory of what is out of whack and bring back the calmness…I know sort of zen.

Think about bringing more ORDER to your life by implementing some of these strategies.

O – Organize – I believe that our environments directly relate to the way we feel. If it is cluttered and unappealing, we won’t feel relaxed, our thoughts become cluttered and we feel more stressed. Even with great systems in place, spaces can get cluttered due to the pace of life. When I feel overwhelmed, usually I start to organize my office, kitchen cabinets, pantry or various rooms in my home. It works miracles, is energizing and has an amazing domino effect to increase productivity in other areas of my life.

R – Routines – It is important to establish morning and evening routines especially for children and to discuss them, practice them, and get their buy in so that they know what is expected. Routines for adults also contribute to saving time (no searching for lost keys), and enhance productivity because established routines allow us to free up our minds to focus on our priorities. Creating a routine for any standard practice we repeat daily frees up time and reduces stress because we don’t have to worry about the details of life.

D – Decisions – every day we have 24 hours to decide how we are going to use it. How do we figure out what truly are our top priorities. It is important to be able to make decisions and differentiate between what is an immediate priority and what is still important, but can wait. What happens a lot is we all get into reactive mode instead of planning and prioritizing so that we can decide thoughtfully.

E – Edit – I have learned to be skillful at different types of editing. There is the physical space editing that reduces clutter and enhances visual space. The other editing is related to time, editing out tasks, events and other time takers that aren’t important now, can be deferred or permanently deleted off of my schedule. This is a skill and like everyone, I can be great at it, but I also have months where I’m not editing items off of my schedule as I should.

R – Ready – In my house I’m always saying to my kids, “Are you ready for tomorrow? or “Is your backpack ready and in the right place?” Everything that can be done the night before, should be, both for kids and adults. Time just slips away in the morning and there is some comfort in knowing that if there is an alarm snafu or a mini crisis in the a.m., at least all bags are packed and are ready to go.

Good luck establishing fall order in your home and work lives!

Free Shred on the 28th and Huge Community Yard Sale on Labor Day

2011-08-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

I have several new paper management clients and after working with them on setting up a paper organizing system that is no-fuss and easy to maintain, we were left with a lot of paper that needs to be shredded. If you are in the same situation keep alert for free shreds that will be cropping up in the Fall. There is a free one on Sunday, the 28th from noon - 5:00, at Shred Station Express, 5604 General Washington Drive, and it looks like the first 4 boxes are free.

I guess paper has been on my mind a lot lately as I've coached my 10 year old son to get his desk in his room homework ready for the start of school after Labor Day. He had a huge backlog of school papers, notebooks and other school memorabilia, not only from the last school year, but from his 3rd grade year, and he was reluctant to let a lot of it go. We talked about keeping the gems and letting go a lot of the worksheets, quizzes and tests. I explained to him that paper has a way of taking over a desk if a logical system isn't set up. We made sure he has all of his homework supplies and folders and empty shelves to hold his papers and notebooks for this year. Now they'll have a fighting chance of staying on his desk instead of the floor.

Going shopping for school supplies is a great opportunity to not only get what is needed for school, but to look over your homework area(s) in your home to make sure they are homework ready.

Another thing, if you want to do a quick purge of your home of household items and toys that are no longer needed, drop them off at Good Shepherd Catholic Church by early next week for their huge Community Yard Sale on Labor Day, September 5th, from 12-6 p.m. The Community Yard Sale is part of the larger International Festival that benefits local citizens in need. Enjoy this last week of August and your Labor Day Weekend.

Keeping School Gems in Place

2011-07-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about you, but with school letting out so late for the summer, I haven’t completely organized the gobs of paper, completed journals and of course, art, that is in piles and displayed in various rooms around my home. What I recommend is having a few display weeks (past that now) to keep journals, best work, awards/certificates, and pictures prominently displayed to show off, and then together with your children, make some decisions about what to do with it.

I always tell my clients, that it is important to imagine your kids grown up and moving out and their reaction when you hand them boxes upon boxes of their childhood work. They probably aren’t going to be thrilled, and they won’t be as sentimental as us, but they will want some of it. So, how do we as parents make those decisions? Here are some ideas and products to consider.

1. Have two memory boxes for each child that can be stored on a top shelf of the closet in their room. One box should contain precious early childhood memories such as first tooth lost, favorite baby outfit, 1st baby cards, etc. The second box should contain more of the keepsake art, special papers and other school memories that don’t fit into each child’s school album.

2. Shop around and find a school years album (I like the kindergarten through high school type) and make sure it has pockets to put report cards and some space to write highlights from the year. One I like is Lakeshore’s School Days Keepsake Album. This one has two pages for every year from preschool through 12th grade. This kind of album can hold the class picture, awards, and other school mementos.

3. Together go through all of the school papers with your kids and pick out the gems to keep in the school years album. The rest discretely recycle/toss.

4. There are great storage/display frames available that hold up to 50 pieces of art in one frame. They are available on-line as well as in Target now. Another way to handle the art that is precious, but takes up too much space, is to take pictures and then create a digital photo book. You can also have your child describe when they made the art, how they were feeling and what their art is about. It is a way for you to capture this history in a small package, which the whole family can enjoy easily.

5. Decide how you want to organize your family’s photo memories. If you are pulling photos during the year to include in your child’s school album, keep a fluid, separate on-line folder that you copy photos into that you can print out if you want, or have on-line by year . Most people are handling photos digitally, myself included. However, digital photos still need to be organized and given some thought. This is a whole separate blog and I will plan to write specifically on this.

We will all be creating memories this summer and now with the school year’s work and art processed and contained, we can focus on capturing those memories. Have a great summer!

The Four D's Will Save You - Delete, Delegate, Decide and Defer

2011-06-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

I was trying to figure out what to write about and realized that I never posted this blog to my site when I wrote it a few weeks ago...hmmm, must be busy or something!

Okay, I had as a goal to blog at least once a week about something organizing related, but I have felt over busy lately with both my work, volunteer and personal lives. Yes, I should know better being an organizer, but like everyone, I have these too busy episodes too. Don’t you hate when everything seems to be a priority? I hate the feeling when I get this way because I am not as productive as I want and need to be. And of course the first thing that goes off my schedule when I feel this way is exercising – the very thing that helps me keep stress in check. Okay, enough whining let me tell you what I’m doing about it.

The last time I blogged I was getting ready for our neighborhood yard sale that I was instrumental in coordinating. This was supposed to be the first of two neighborhood events, with the second being a block party on June 11th. The yard sale was a lot of fun, especially watching my son and his best friend sell their toys and laughing with my neighbors as we swapped our stuff around. Going through this experience (i.e. increase e-mail load, getting volunteers, promotion, etc.) made me realize that there was no way managing a block party could happen on the 11th and I was absolutely crazy to think I could do it right with everything else going on. Another major factor that played into postponing the block party is I am chairing the end of year picnic for my kids’ school on June 10th and it is a very large event to coordinate. Why would any sane person sign up to chair both events?

I got in this bind because I sometimes underestimate the amount of time it takes to do something (very common, by the way), and I should have never committed to managing two large events back to back. So getting one off my plate was a move in the right direction.

The second thing I did that has helped me get back some time is going back to basics – planning and prioritizing tasks and projects. Instead of hyperventilating and thinking that everything has the same level of priority, when I actually take the time to think calmly about what I have to do, I see things more clearly and realize I do have enough time.

So if you find yourself in a similar situation where you are stressed and feel overwhelmed with your schedule, remember the 4 Ds - Delete, Delegate, Decide and Defer. Delete items off of your to do list that aren’t important now, delegate what you can, decide what you need to work on now and defer what you can to a later date.

The Big Switch is Finished!

2011-05-04T15:17:00.001-07:00

I am in the best mood now because my dreaded seasonal organizing task is now behind me! How can that be that a person who organizes for a living has a dreaded organizing task? Well, mine is switching out all of our clothes for the current season. I guess it bothers me so much because there are many steps to it and the house always ends up in chaos for several days while I’m making the big switch. There’s the cleaning of all the clothes so that they can be put away, figuring out with the kids what may fit the next season, and then because we live in an older house our closets are small, so that means climbing in the attic to retrieve numerous storage bins. Oh, and to make it even more of a process, I have to dismantle part of our linen closet to gain access to the attic!

My children are now 6 and almost 10, and over the years, I’ve gotten a little better at simplifying the process. I’ve also learned to buy fewer clothes, especially for my kids, because they end up wearing a lot of the same clothes…sort of like adults do. By the way, there is a statistic floating out there that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. I really try to be aware of this fact as I’m organizing the clothes for each season, to only store those clothes that I like. I realize my time is up with me dictating what my kids wear, as they are expressing more of an opinion these days, but for now they pretty much wear what I buy for them. I’ve also transitioned to those slim-line fabric hangers that you see in every store – I highly recommend them. Making sure that each closet is highly organized helps cut down on the over buying, makes the closet function better, and the slim-line hangers allow for more clothes to be hung.

I’ve learned when I put away the summer clothes, to prepare for the fall and winter, to keep out a weeks worth of each of our favorite summer clothes to have easy access to, if we are fortunate enough to get away in the winter some place warm, and also for those wonderful 85 degree days in late March and early April.

I have to chuckle now that I have all of our spring/summer clothes ready and fall/ winter put away, today is a cold, rainy 60 degree day. Go figure! I hope your clothes closets are ready so that you can dress for the season, and go enjoy the warmer weather which will hopefully be back tomorrow!

Small Closet Dilema?

2011-04-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

If you have the lucky challenge to figure out how to make your clothes fit in a small closet, IKEA's PAX storage closet line, may be able to help. IKEA is a great organization source to purchase products to assist in solving some storage shortfalls in your home.

Though I have to caution, just like with a built in closet, really own and love everything in your closet so that getting dressed in the morning is an uplifting experience. I know closet organizing can be emotionally challenging especially if there are several wardrobes of different sizes in your closet.

So here are the basics to get started:

1st - Take everything out and only keep those clothes that make you feel good, fit well and are needed. This will require some trying on of clothes, if you aren't sure if something fits or not. Figure out what may need to be cleaned or fixed of the clothes that are the keepers. The remainder put in donate, if they are in good condition. Box up any clothes that don't fit, but you think realistically you will fit into within the next year.

2nd - Put clothes back in your closet logically - short sleeve / long sleeve grouped by color, skirts together, pants, etc. Put all the hangers in the same direction, and if possible have all of the same type of hanger (slim, fabric covered hangers are great and they save space). After an article of clothing is worn, turn the hanger the other way so that you have a visual of which clothes you wear and which you don't.

3rd - Group accessories and buy storage to accommodate them so that you can see what you have. Use clear shoe boxes, or put photos on shoe boxes if you like to box shoes, arrange by color or type if you like to store on shoe racks; scarves on a shelf or drawer; belts hung, etc.

If you have a closet that visually looks appealing and you like everything in your closet, it sets a positive tone for your day instead of possibly causing stress. Good luck making decisions for what to keep and what to let go as you switch winter clothes for lighter spring and summer outfits.

The Mess in the Home Organizing Aisle

2011-03-31T11:03:00.000-07:00

I had to get some storage products for a few clients this week, and pressed for time, instead of going to the mecca for organizers, The Container Store, I went to Target. Like most big stores they carry an impressive line of organizing products, but I nearly fell over when I saw the state of their home organizing section. It looked like the dairy, bread and paper product aisles before a major or minor snow storm in the D.C. area! The shelves were barren and what was left was picked over and in some cases damaged in some way.

Of course, then it hit me that most of us have the spring cleaning and clutter bashing bug at this time of year, and that is why the home organizing section looked a mess. Most of us have the desire to rid our home of the backlog of fall/winter clutter that inevitably piles up. Unfortunately, I was only able to get a few things that I needed and days have passed, and I still need to make my way out to The Container Store.

As an organizer, I always tell my clients to not buy any storage products until their organizing system is set up. Most people, tend to want to buy the products first and then make them work for their system. Think about the commercials and print ads we see claiming to get you organized by installing the perfect closet or garage system. The process of organizing entails sorting, purging and decision making so that the best, tailored system for you can be created. One of my favorite acronyms on this topic is Julie Morgenstern's SPACE - sort, purge, assign, containerize and then equalize (make adjustments to your system as needed). Even the highest end custom closet won't be the organizing solution if the organizing process hasn't been done first.

So, my sense is the Home Organizing Section in Target reflected the common desire most of us have to buy the containers first to get organized. I wish us all luck as we get rid of winter's cobwebs and readjust and/or create new systems that make our homes and us function better.

Addressing My Sliding Filing Mountain

2011-03-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air and many of us want to throw open the windows, let in the fresh air and start the organizing and cleaning frenzy. Before we can start, yes, I make it a family effort, we have to cull the clutter and get rid of lots of stuff. I know at our house, despite my best efforts to manage the paper clutter, it does pile up - unread magazines, newspapers, school projects (got to love those 3-dimensional projects), pictures, coupons and on and on.

If we are all working the systems that are set up, the paper can be managed effectively. We have a homework zone for supplies and school papers to be kept for studying purposes. We don't keep memory type school work and art in the homework zone; that goes in each child's memory box in the top of their closet. We do have a hanging file for restaurant coupons and menus and a drawer for bills. We have 2-3 magazine baskets and a recycling basket, but still, if the paper isn't processed regularly, it will pile up.

Since I manage clutter for a living, I am usually on top of things, but one area that inevitably gets neglected is the filing. Who likes to file anyway? I always think of the organizing fact that 85% of what we file, we never retrieve again. So, as I look at the mountainous pile of papers in my office that are in the "to be filed" box I vow yet again, to not let it stack up so high. I will be ruthless to discard the paper that I don't need, shred what needs to be shredded and only file those papers that I may truly need.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there will be many spring community shreds and recycling events planned. So be on the look out and check out one that I'm aware of coming up soon on April 9th in Arlington.

Happy filing and shredding!

If Only I had a Garage....

2011-03-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

I admit it, I am envious of people who have garages. Not because they can park their cars in them, but because they have all of that extra storage! There are so many amazing organizing systems for garages that I would love to utilize to organize all of my garage type clutter that ends up in our utility room, screened in porch or our shed.

We have edited down sports equipment, tools, seasonal toys and house and car maintenance clutter, but still it seems to grow overnight. I know I'm not alone in this quandary especially in my neighborhood where most of the houses don't have garages, we have sheds.

I do realize that though it appears like I have a lot of garage type items, I do regularly pare it down and I am always looking for new solutions to contain it.

When my husband and I worked with our architect on a small home addition, part of it included a screened in porch. I think she initially thought it was a little strange that I wanted 3/4 of one side of the porch to be storage closets. It has worked out nicely for us, because now instead of the utility room and outside shed exploding with stuff when we go in, it is more organized. We have outside toys in one of the screened-in porch closets and also in a resin gardening bench in the front of the house. All of these toys used to be in the shed which now has all of the tools and equipment to maintain our house...oh and our bikes...another challenge without a garage!

I guess I'm thinking of sheds and outside items because spring is around the corner. Also, I have started a walking regimen and last week when I walked in the neighborhood next to ours, where most of the houses have garages, some of the garage doors were open. I had to chuckle because there is no way 80% of the garages I saw could hold cars.

So whether we are blessed with garages or not, we all have to regularly go through our outside clutter, just like we do inside, so that we can actually park our car in our garage, or just dream about it, if we are one of the unlucky ones.

Breaking Family Routines

2011-02-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

Of course, as a professional organizer I am a big believer in routines, but I think abandoning routines once in awhile can be a good thing. I include our family in the group that doesn't take advantage of all of the wonderful museums, free and low-cost recreational park activities and the many other enriching family programs that are available every weekend in and around D.C. We tend to fall into our regular a.m. routine of reading the shrinking paper and enjoying our coffee while the kids watch cartoons, before all of the normal weekend activities start like b-day parties, sports practices and play dates.

This weekend we diverged a bit from our routine mainly because our youngest had been cooped up all week with an especially harsh stomach virus, and I think we all needed to do something different. We went down to the Building Museum on Saturday because they have a Lego exhibit that we haven't seen yet and they were hosting Engineering Family Day with lots of fun activities planned for kids. Though parking was a bear, the day was so much fun. I think it fed a spark our son has to the building professions, and we all walked away learning something. It was great to experience this all together as a family. I had to laugh that I did learn how to make structurally strong columns out of a sheet of paper and my daughter and I made many of them yesterday securing her second level of her firehouse she made out of a cardboard box.

We never made it to the Lego exhibit, as we ran out of time, but all agreed that we will be back to take in that exhibit. I strongly recommend a visit to the Building Museum.

Also, another great source I've discovered for local activities is the Patch. It is a local, on-line newspaper and there are many neighborhood versions that are available. I happen to read the Huntington-Belle Haven Patch.

I think this past weekend was an eye opener for us and one we will want to replicate with regularity. I hope we can do it!

Mise En Place for Organizing Success

2011-02-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

Good chefs and organizers have something very important in common. We both employ a technique that is commonly used by professional chefs called mise en place, which means "everything in its place". Designating a place for everything is at the core of organizing because without this important element proper systems can't be set up.

Something I see a lot as an organizer is many clients will pile things or stuff items in places because either they aren't sure where the items are suppose to go, a home was never identified for the items or they intend to put it away and the put away pile becomes daunting. The ramifications of not employing the mise en place philosophy is that organization will be elusive, never ending, and overwhelming when it doesn't have to be. Also, you will probably re-buy things you already have because you either can't find the item when you need it or you think you don't have it in the first place.

So what should you do? First, I recommend in any room that you are organizing to do a thorough purge, only then can you see what truly needs to be organized. The second step is identify any storage in the room to see if it can be utilized better, if other items can be rearranged to free up more space, and then determine if more storage needs to be purchased. The last step is ....mise en place - put everything away. This last step is the icing on the cake! A logical home is determined for every item needed in the room. I realize it isn't as straight forward as I've written, but if you keep this process in mind, you will be able to employ the mise en place strategy in no time.

Why am I Getting Organized?

2011-01-21T10:09:00.000-08:00

We are heading towards the end of January and the end of "Get Organized Month". Yes, there really is such a month, and of course my professional association, The National Association of Professional Organizers has designated it so. Being organized is a resolution that many of us have because we know that we will be able to do more things in 2011 if we get organized. In fact "Getting Organized" is cited as one of the top 10 resolutions for Americans each year.

If getting organized is your resolution, I recommend that you write down at least 10 reasons for why you want to achieve this goal. Read your reasons daily and it will be a motivator, a coach and a visual reminder that will help keep you on track.

Break down your big goal of getting organized into manageable smaller organizing tasks and projects. And better yet, instead of making getting organized a 2011 goal, make it more finite, such as by the 1st day of spring I will have completed my top 3 organizing projects. It is much easier to achieve smaller goals which then will give us the momentum to continue to meet our larger goals. Then you can reset your goal to have a new deadline. In some respects having a tighter time line holds a person to task better.

As we head into the 2nd month of the year, don't worry if you have fallen off track, just read your reasons for getting organized and keep plugging away.

Incidentally, the strategy for writing the reasons for wanting to get organized can work for other resolutions you may have. I do think though, just like with clutter, "less is more" when it comes to setting resolutions. Keep them few, and have as tight a timeline as possible and as silly as it sounds, write your reasons for wanting this change.

Good luck!

18 Areas Ripe for DeCluttering...

2011-01-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

This article is a quick read to reinforce some things we already know about decluttering, and also to remind us about some things we haven't thought about in awhile. Keep up with your purging and organizing, donate/recycle what you can and pay it forward, and I guarantee through this process it will be easier for you to focus on resolutions.

Happy Organizing!

Optimizing Storage So Your House Can Breath

2011-01-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

If you are like me and you haven't put your seasonal decorations away yet, take a little time to take a peek this weekend (yes, we will do it this weekend) at what else is in your storage area and try to edit a little out. This exercise will help you use your storage space more effectively this year so that you don't dread it as much retrieving something you need out of there. You will have a sense of accomplishment knowing you didn't just cram the seasonal boxes up there like most of us usually do. Also, part of organizing any space, both storage or living, requires creating available space by making decisions of what to purge out because of condition, redundancy, or not needing or wanting it now.

I don't do this kind of inventory in my main storage space (our attic) every year, but this year I intend to, as it hasn't been done in awhile. Please read more about other reasons to organize your storage space in an article I contributed to a local on-line publication.

Good luck creating more storage space in your home. You will appreciate your efforts!

Happy New Year and Happy Organizing!

2011-01-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

I think one of the main reasons there is an urge to get organized at the start of the year, is the desire to do more and to do it better. In order to do anything better and to accomplish more, we have to figure out how we may be wasting time and we need to determine how to use our time more effectively.

Time is a commodity that everyone wants more of, but it seems to allude us. We live in an age where advances in technology make us available 24/7 and the expectations of people are that we should be responsive almost immediately. We pride ourselves in being supreme multi-taskers and some how doing it all and most times doing it well. Over time this takes a toll and most people start borrowing time from leisure or sleep and inevitably come up short.

The best kept secret to achieve more time in our day is to get organized – first at home and then at work. Do you know that on average most people waste an hour a day looking for items, thinking about what to do next and combating mind clutter? The hour a day adds up to two weeks a year in wasted time and who has that to give up! I suggest getting organized at home first, because home should be our oasis and our place where we re-charge and enjoy life.

Sometimes it is difficult to know where to start, but I recommend to start in the kitchen since it is the most used room in the home. Two common organizing principals to keep in mind as you organize any space are: 1) everything has its place and 2) put like things together. If you use these as your guide it will help you tremendously sort through your rooms.

The kitchen is the hub of the home and since it is a room where you will spend a lot of time it needs to function well. Many times, even if there is a home office, there tends to be a lot of paper and associated accessories that find their way in a kitchen. If you have a desk in your kitchen, you are set. But if you don’t rearrange your cabinets to free up one by the phone to place some baskets to hold mail, school work, and action items. If you have children and they do their homework in the kitchen, make sure you have a place to hold their homework supplies. Keep the family calendar in the kitchen and think about having a family meeting on Sundays to plan out your week.

Some other kitchen organizing tips are:

1. The start of a New Year is a good time to organize your pantry. In order to plan meals you need to know what you have and what you need. Throw out expired food, organize your food by categories or types and then label your pantry shelves so when you are rushed, your food items will be easier to put away. I use baskets in my pantry and I organize my food by meals/type (Italian, Mexican, Bread/crackers, Snacks, Nuts/dried fruit).

2. Empty out your cooking utensil drawers. This is where we all have a huge backlog of excess utensils, some of which have probably never been used. Put all of the utensils that you don’t know what they are or haven’t used them in a container to give away. Make sure you have drawer separators in your drawer to divide like types of utensils.

3. Zone your kitchen for how you use it – food prep, baking, cooking, washing dishes, coffee/breakfast, etc. As much as you can, put the supplies for these respective tasks in or near the areas you have designated.

4. Downsize your Tupperware drawer to keep only those containers that have lids. Really think about cutting your supply in half because that is probably all you need.

5. Make sure whatever is taking prime real estate on the counter deserves it.

6. Hide your trash and recycling and if it has to be out in the room, shop for an attractive matching set. Crate and Barrel has small recycling options that are attractive.

7. Make sure you need all of the pots and pans that you may have inherited from family or as gifts. How many frying pans do we need? Really think about what you use and need and then donate the rest.

The most important tip I could give to have a warm, inviting kitchen is to spend 10 minutes at the end of the day picking up the clutter, doing the dishes, wiping down the counters and processing any paper that has come into your home. Now, your most used room in your home is ready for another busy day.

A Hit and A Miss

2010-12-23T14:25:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already, I recommend if you have kids, and even if you don't, to do a quick purge of books, toys, clothes, accessories, and other household items to free up space for all of the gifts you will receive on Christmas or that you already have received during the Hanukkah season. We are a little behind doing our seasonal purge, but this morning I had my kids do a clean sweep of their rooms for a charity pick-up I have scheduled right after New Years. I nearly fell over, but my son asked if he could do a clean sweep of the family room. Yes, he is in the Christmas spirit! So after this purge of the bedrooms and main rooms in our home I feel like our home is in better shape to have company and also to fit the new things that we may get as gifts for the holidays.

So that was my hit, but my miss was, going to the Trader Joe's in Old Town at 3:00! It was crowded and crazy, and I went to get some of their boxed chocolates to give as gifts, but they were out! Oh well, I have a plan B and a trip to Trader Joe's is never a waste of time.

Don't worry, if you don't have time to do a quick room declutter and purge before the holidays, you can always do it right after New Year's when you get organized for 2011!

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Shopping

2010-12-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

Here it is December 10th and I don't have my holiday shopping list together. What? A professional organizer who doesn't have her shopping done, wrapped and ready to go by December 1st? I am a little bit behind this year, but being a very practical person, I tend to give practical gifts, so I figure it isn't going to take me too long to do my shopping. I also have been known to buy in quantity, if I like something and then give it out as my signature gift.

One year I gave everyone a coupon, saving Entertainment book tailored for their part of the country and another year everyone got a pizza stone with pizza fixings.

Here are some ideas to wrap up your shopping quickly to minimize stress so that you can really enjoy this special time of year.

1. Think about giving some high quality chocolate, coffee, wine or other consumable gift in a fun, festive container that the recipient can reuse.

2. If you are a baker, make some candy or other treat and create a fun label to show that you made it. You can buy a dish or unique container to hold your homemade treat.

3. Everyone is going to be thinking of getting organized after the holidays so give a gift card to the Container Store along with one of their unique stocking stuffers.

4. It appears that fondue is back in and the fondue pots are smaller and more attractive. Bed Bath and Beyond and Crate and Barrel have nice options.

5. An easy way to knock out shopping quickly is to personalize a gift card, which is the way I am going this year. For example, most people like to read, so along with a book store gift card, give one of your favorite inspirational books, a unique book mark, or reading light. Also, have you seen those puzzle/maze gift card holders where the gift card is placed inside and the recipient has to solve the maze to open the gift card holder? I did pick up several of those at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

6. Another great gift idea is to buy a Washington ornament such as the White House ornament, Mt. Vernon or Congressional ornament.

I don't mean to minimize the importance of finding appropriate gifts. There are those expert shoppers out there that truly enjoy personalizing and finding just the right gift for everyone. I think as the years go on, it gets harder and harder to do so, and in some respects the gift giving becomes the emphasis, instead of the holiday, and time shared together with family and friends. I think the more we can think of ways to simplify our shopping, the less stress we will feel and we'll enjoy this special season more.

I wish you luck finishing up your shopping and hope that I start and finish mine up quickly!

Shopping Nirvana

2010-11-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

What is the most exciting place for an organizer to hang out, relax, take in the sights and shop? Of course, The Container Store! I just got back from what I wanted to be a quick excursion to shop for a client, and pick up a few things for me, and of course it wasn't quick at all. We all know that there is no such thing as a quick in and out for an organizer in the mecca for organizing products. I find the Container Store to be an uplifting store, because the under-lying promise of a sense of order, stress reduction and control come with the purchase of the tangible products.

I found most of what I needed, and a very helpful associate brain-stormed with me some ideas for categorizing quilt patterns, (my whole reason for being there in the first place), for my client's quilt studio. Together we ended up thinking of an idea, that I can implement for my client, by buying a product at another store.

My shopping excursion also gave me many low-cost ideas for small gift and stocking stuffer presents for friends and family. They have some unique options that you won't necessarily find elsewhere. No, I don't get a kick-back from the Container Store...just a 10% discount that I pass on to my clients!

So, as you make your holiday gift lists and decide on your budget, think small, creative and be as practical as you can. We all have too much stuff, as is evident by the popularity of stores like the Container Store selling products to contain all of our stuff! Really, as trite as it sounds, the best gifts are those given from the heart and that are practical and truly needed.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping!

Look Out Here They Come.....

2010-11-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

I was in Lowe's yesterday picking up some mulch and other home improvement items, and I was shocked to see they had their full Christmas display up. Why was I shocked you say and where have I been the past few years to not notice that holiday merchandising seems to go hand-in-hand with Halloween decorations? My kids were off from school, so they were very excited to see all of the twinkling lights and Christmas greenery. I didn't want to ruin their excitement, so I tried to be enthusiastic, and I don't think I quite pulled it off. My son, who is nine did ask why the Christmas decorations were on display before Thanksgiving. I was able to touch a little on consumerism and merchandiser marketing before his eyes glazed over.

I can't help but feel that there is something sad in rushing time and to force feed us holiday cheer when we don't even have our Halloween decorations put away. I also understand that in a down economy, merchandisers need to push a little more to get us thinking earlier about getting the best deal. Also, their job is to plant the seeds of the look of a perfect holiday which will get us to buy those amazing decorations, gifts and special toys for our kids if we truly want a "perfect" holiday.

Luckily we are all getting a little wiser and sometimes having less money forces us to be more practical and to be satisfied with less. We know that possessions are the extra stuff that can be nice, but having them doesn't necessarily make us happy. It is our relationships and memories and how we spend our time that gives us satisfaction and true happiness.

Please take your time putting away your Halloween decorations, as you ready your home for Thanksgiving. I know if we don't fall prey to creating perfect holidays we really will have warm, rich, and satisfying holidays that meet our needs and truly make us happy.

Green it up!

2010-10-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

There are always so many fun fall weekend activities to choose from in this area. If you are looking for something to do, and also want to learn ways to be more green, check out the McLean Green festival this weekend, from 9:00 - noon at the Brooksfield school.

As an organizer, I am always looking for ways to help my clients support green living that include recycling, repurposing and consuming less. A great website I came across that has a lot of good information is www.storyofstuff.org. It has a short film on the life cycle of stuff which is very informative. Also, if you are looking for quick ways to be more green, they have lots of ideas.

I do believe more of us are simplifying our lifestyles and trying to consume less so that we can live a more enriched life. I look forward to learning more about green living and I'll share anything I find helpful via my blog.

Enjoy and be green!

An Organized Move

2010-10-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

Here is another segment from an interview I did a few weeks back. This particular segment focuses on how to prepare your home if you are planning to move and how purging and organizing your possessions, before you move can alleviate some of the stress associated with moving. Moving is a great opportunity to start fresh and create an organized, uncluttered environment that you can control. If time is on your side, organize on the front end, prior to moving, so that when the movers unload your possessions you will have piece of mind that everything in those boxes, is wanted and needed. Having an organized move can provide a sense of control during a chaotic and stressful time. If you are able to capitalize on the opportunity of moving, then as the boxes are unpacked in your new space you will already have a jump start to live an organized life in your new home.

Personal Organization Contributes to Success

2010-09-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

I participated in a series of radio shows on organizing and this particular segment focuses on the look and feel of personal organization. To be organized is a state of mind. I think once a person gets the connection of physical space and their mind then getting or being organized is easier to achieve. Being organized requires some changes to habits and behaviors, and it takes a conscious effort to maintain systems that support daily routines both personally and professionally.

There are so many benefits to striving for the organized mindset...some of which are reclaiming time, increasing productivity, improving physical and mental health, and improving clarity of thought. How many times do we all find ourselves reacting instead of planning out our priorities for the day? Having an organized mindset allows for more of a sense of control over work and life.

Okay, now tell me you don't want to try to have more time, more control and more happiness? Please listen to the interview to find out more.

What It Means to Be Organized

2010-09-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed recently about the benefits of organizing and how important it is for individuals to develop a personal organizing system that provides the foundation for success both personally and professionally. This will be part of a series - more to follow.

Back to School!

2010-08-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

The best recommendation I can give as an organizer to get your kids in back to school mode is having them work with you to declutter their bedroom, playroom, and homework spaces. What does this have to do with school you ask? Going through this process has many benefits. Organizing is about making a space better, and making it function so that you can be your best. Productivity experts point to the connection of an organized space and its positive impact on productivity. As parents we want to make sure that we are giving our kids every necessary tool to be successful in school so that they can learn and achieve. I assure you this easy exercise of purging toys no longer wanted, clothes that don't fit, bits of paper and junk (2 garbage bags full in my 9-year old son's room) will help to that end.

Once the spaces are decluttered then make sure that your child knows where everything is suppose to go (make sure he/she is part of determining where things are kept). Then lastly, as you are purchasing school supplies, do an inventory of your child's homework space at home to make sure he/she has everything they need readily available.

So now that the environment is organized, talk with your children about rules, routines and expectations for the school year. This is always a positive thing to do and to together figure out ways to streamline routines. Having this discussion sets the stage for less conflict and less negotiation and hopefully less stress as our children start another school year.

How Did They Do It?

2010-08-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful, busy time on vacation last week in Williamsburg. We bought a bounce pass that allowed us to mix up our week so that we could spend as much time as we wanted in Colonial Williamsburg, and the two amusement parks, Busch Gardens and Water Country. Of course our kids, especially our 5 year old, wanted to only go to the amusement parks, but our son who is 9 was intrigued by the amazing, historic city of Colonial Williamsburg. It definitely helped that my husband and I had prepped both of the kids for what they were seeing and the museum interpreters did an amazing job of explaining life in Colonial times.

My kids got to participate in one of the main jobs that most kids of that time had to do....lug water from the well to their house. The interpreter explained there was no running water and she asked the kids, in the program, to think of how many times a day they turn on a faucet at home. She explained that it wasn't uncommon to have to carry 50 buckets of water a day to use for cooking, cleaning and general use. I couldn't help but wonder how people survived in Colonial times with the never ending cycle of work and the lack of modern day conveniences. How did they do it? I'm sure, just like we do, they developed regular routines and short-cuts for common tasks and built in relaxing time when they could. My kids did discover that kids did have fun in Colonial times too, and my son now loves the Colonial game, Shut the Box.

In the spirit of being in Williamsburg, and because we didn't spend that much time at our resort, we didn't watch t.v., the kids didn't play video games (okay, maybe we used it as a good behavior bribe once or twice), and we didn't check e-mail every day. It was so nice to be disconnected and to be focused in the present.

This wasn't one of the most relaxing vacations we've had (I find amusement parks exhausting), but we thoroughly enjoyed our time together, learning and sharing interesting aspects of our country's history and having fun.

Now it is back to reality that there are two more weeks of summer and a lot to accomplish before the kids are ready to be back in school.

Going On Vacation

2010-08-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

My kids have been asking me for weeks, "how many more days until vacation?" It seems to have taken forever to get here and now we are going. I find there is always so much to do, both at home and at work, before I can shut down and relax on vacation. Luckily being a list person, I have my vacation to do checklist in Word that I pull up a few weeks before each vacation and a vacation pack list, which helps us remember all of the little things that sometimes don't make it into the suitcase. This takes some of the pre-vacation stress off of me.

I also am a big believer in fostering independence, so my son can almost be counted on to pack all the necessary essentials for a trip. My daughter who is 5 knows how to pack all of her treasures in her backpack that she just can't live without for a week.

We are going to Williamsburg and to prepare for the trip, I took them to the library yesterday to take out some children's books on that time period. I'm hoping that it isn't as hot as it has been these last few weeks so that we all can enjoy the amazing living museum of Colonial Williamsburg. Additionally, I hope that my husband and I can unplug and unwind and that we all enjoy and appreciate the more simplified time period in our history.

Hanging Upside Down

2010-08-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

I've come to realize I really don't like hanging upside down. My chiropractor convinced me that adding an 8 minute inversion table routine and a 10 minute stabilizing exercise routine to my morning would strengthen my back and postpone further disc deterioration. I'll tell you what, adding 20 more minutes of activity, that my doctor describes as necessary to my routine as "brushing my teeth",has been very hard. I'm more of a morning person, so getting up is not the problem. The issue is fitting these 20 minutes into an already tight morning schedule.

The solution I found is having a positive mindset, planning and modifying some of my existing morning routines. Just like wanting to be organized is a mindset, wanting to be healthy is one too. In order to be successful with organizing, there is a planing component. What I do is determine daily what needs to be done in the morning and then figure out what can be done later so that I can take care of my back in the morning. It hasn't been easy, but I have adjusted my mindset and have almost embraced that this is something that I need to do for my overall well being and health.

Really, the only thing I need to figure out now is where to put the extremely large, medieval looking inversion table in my house so that it isn't a focal point. Now that is a design challenge that needs to be solved so right now it sits in our master bedroom taking up a lot of necessary space!

More About Frogs...

2010-07-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

If you didn't see my post last week about frogs or procrastination, check it out first.

It is a universal phenomenon that people tend to think that their frog, or unfavorable challenging task/project is going to take too much time, so it sits on our task list as a priority of some sort, and time passes. We don't start it because we are waiting for a big pocket of time to open up in our crammed schedules. What ends up happening is, even if we don't think we are stressed about not doing it, we are, and adding more stress to ourselves is never productive.

What we need to do is just get started...even 10 minutes tackling it and maybe we'll discover that it really won't take as much time as we think. So really, as the folks at that famous sneaker place say, "Just Do It" and you will benefit ten-fold by reducing your stress level, increasing energy, happiness and productivity. You will have eaten a frog or two off of your task list and it won't taste too bad either.

Good luck!

Eat Frogs This Summer!

2010-07-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

A friend and colleague sent a motivational video clip to me on tackling our toughest project or task first thing each day, because she knows as a professional organizer that is something I advocate. I truly believe that once we knock off our tough task each day it provides more energy and motivation to be more productive.

Brian Tracy, best selling author and motivational speaker, has written books on this topic, and this video clip Eat That Frog! | Eat That Frog Movie is a great synopsis of how to combat procrastination directly by working on our tough task 1st thing each day. Procrastination and its sister clutter, can make us avoid tasks we know we need to do. Procrastination is something we all do...even organizers. It drains us of energy, motivation, enthusiasm and happiness.

I tell my residential and business clients to figure out their hard task or frog as part of their end of day wrap up (planning period). The next morning set a timer for 15 minutes and start on the frog. I guarantee when the timer ends you will continue your project.

Good luck as you chip away at your summer to do list by eating those frogs!

Love Our Earth

2010-04-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Earth Day tomorrow I wanted to share some information on recycling electronics and other products we use every day that contain chemicals that are potentially hazardous to our health and the environment. See the links below to gain access to the how, where and when of disposing of electronics and other hazardous items in your home that are no longer needed.

ALEXANDRIA -

General information on rules and regulations of recycling in Alexandria.

FAIRFAX COUNTY -

General information on recycling in Fairfax County.

Upcoming electronic recycling days.

I just became aware of a company called PCRecycler. They have a truly green approach to recycling electronics...mainly computers. The company does a free outreach to the community the 2nd Saturday of every month where consumers can bring their computers to their office in Chantilly and they will properly delete all information and recycle and dispose of unusable parts. Their website is www.pcrecycler.net.

Design Event on Saturday, April 24th

2010-04-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

Simplify for Life is a new business partner with the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Alexandria. I believe there is a synergy between my company's mission - to help people gain clarity and time through the process of organizing, and the ReStore's mission to support the Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia's mission to provide affordable housing to low income families in the area. A significant part of organizing is purging and letting go of items no longer needed and a good way to do so is by donating them to a charity.

This Saturday, April 24th, the ReStore is partnering with the Metro Washington DC Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) to host the third annual BIG Sale starting at 9:00 at the ReStore in Alexandria - 7770 Richmond Hwy (behind Gold's Gym). Members of ASID are donating items that will be sold at up to 75% off retail. Items being sold include: wall hangings, fabric, trim, cabinets, blinds, shades, architectural details, countertops, curtain rods, furniture and much more.

I will be there for some of the festivities because, as you are all aware, not only does organizing make us feel good and help us gain clarity and time, but it is also a critical design element.

See you Saturday-

Clear the Clutter to Find Your LIfe

2010-04-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

It is so uplifting to see everyone working on their yards, and to hear the sounds of nature and lawn mowers in our neighborhood. Spring is here finally after our long, hard winter! I feel the need, more strongly this year, to purge things from the inside of our home. I want the weight of unnecessary things removed from our newly renovated home. I am really trying to push my agenda of simplicity which sometimes is met with resistance from everyone else in my family.

One of my favorite columns to read in the Post is Michelle Singletary's, The Color of Money. She wrote this past Sunday about spring being the season of rebirth and that it is a good time to get busy throwing out the stuff clogging our homes, office, minds and spirits. I was very intrigued that a financial columnist was writing about decluttering and how clutter not only weighs us down, but it can cause us to be late on bills, contribute to debt and impact our finances in a negative way. Her April book she is recommending is Gail Blanke's, Throw Out Fifty Things - Clear the Clutter, Find your Life. The book is divided into four parts:

Get rid of the unused stuff in your home (connect to my resource list to find out where to donate it)
Attack your office, both home and work, to get rid of unnecessary items and clutter which may be impacting your ability to be productive
Get rid of mental cluter
Once you have gotten rid of 50 things in your home, office and mind, you'll be ready to contemplate what you want in your life

I bought the book and I look forward to reading it. As an organizer I understand and see first hand the power of letting go and when the old goes out, the new comes in as positive change. I have seen personally and through clients how cleaning up and making sense of our physical space, impacts our mental space which then impacts in a positive way our lives.

Let's have this beautiful season of spring help us bring positive change to our homes, minds and lives.

Community Reuse and Recycle Event This Saturday!

2010-03-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

I meant to post this info earlier, but it has been busy. A large Shred and Share event is planned for this Saturday, March 27th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. It is a collaboration of the City of Alexandria, County of Fairfax, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Landmark Mall, ProShred and McEnerney Realtors. ProShred will have a shredding truck to shred and recycle your old personal documents and the ReStore in Alexandria will be accepting donations.

Shredding Details: Shred up to 5 medium-sized boxes of personal documents per vehicle. Only documents with personal information such as tax documents, medical or financial records will be shredded. Junk mail, newspapers, magazines and other forms of paper will not be accepted, but can be recycled through your normal recycling system. Please remove all paper from binders and remove all paper clips, binder clips and rubber bands. This event is for paper shredding only, and ProShred will not shred information stored on film or computer discs.

The Shredding locations are Landmark Mall (Duke Street entrance) the Sears Parking Lot and the South County Gov't Center, 8350 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria.

Share Details: Recycle your new and gently used building materials and household improvement items.

Share Locations are: Landmark Mall (Duke Street entrance), Sears Parking Lot, ReStore Alexandria, 7770 Richmond Hwy (behind Gold's Gym), and the ReStore Chantilly location - 4262G Entre Court, Chantilly.

The Critical Hub of the Home

2010-03-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

A client friend of mine sent me a link to some good products for organizing the kitchen. We have been working on her kitchen recently, and like most of us, her kitchen serves many purposes beyond cooking. We have been working on streamlining her desk that is in the kitchen, reworking her cabinets so that the shelves and cabinets that are most accessible hold items that she uses most frequently, and purging items that don't work for her any longer.

The kitchen is such a vital room for most families because it is the gathering room, entertaining room, homework room, and place for cooking and eating together. We redesigned our kitchen last year and it is so great to have a gathering place that now functions so well.

One common issue that I see a lot of people have is where to store paper that is needed regularly...such as school work, bills, etc. I always recommend to clients to carve out a cabinet or two to house all of the administrative files, paper, and accessories that can clutter a kitchen quickly. In our kitchen redesign, I had the electrician put an electrical outlet in my designated administrative cabinet so that we could hide the clutter when we are charging phones and also have a convenient place to plug in the electric pencil sharpener.

I love that my son can do his homework in the kitchen while I'm cooking. He knows where all of his homework supplies are kept and some of the hassle of getting started is removed because he has a set place to do it and the tools to get it done.

The kitchen is the hub of most homes and because it is such an important room, it is helpful to spend the time periodically going through systems to make sure they still work, and make adjustments if they don't so that this well used room functions well.

Here's to some spring organizing in your kitchen!

It Feels Like Spring

2010-02-23T11:03:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but yesterday with the sun shining so brightly and the temperature in the high 40s, it almost felt like spring was in the air. Just as nature changes for the better (in my opinion) in the spring, many of us feel the urge to bring positive change to our homes, schedules and self. With spring, comes the desire to make our homes lighter and brighter. Additionally, we look for ways we can free up some time to enjoy the longer days and maybe make some positive self changes a long the way...especially if we have long forgotten our New Year's resolutions.

Several new clients have reminded me of the amazing, uplifting power of letting go of clutter. For one client in particular, we had two storage units to clean out, and what I estimated would take several days, ended up getting accomplished in 1 day. A lot of it was due to her readiness to let go of things that she wasn't using and that didn't hold any particular significance now. She was able to gain great satisfaction knowing that these perfectly good items were going to be reused by people who need them now. She was able to move at a quick pace because she was highly motivated to clear out the clutter and she was mentally prepared to face whatever was in storage. By the end of the day she was beaming, and though we were tired, it was such a good feeling to witness her sense of satisfaction and happiness.

Organizing does have many benefits, and a significant one is through the process of letting go of clutter, it does enhance happiness. I have seen time and time again how organizing can have a domino effect whereby a person becomes more motivated to focus on personal goals such as undertaking a job search, working on a weight management program, or going to the gym regularly.

We all want more time to do whatever it is that makes us happy. Organizing can help us find extra windows of time in our day so that we can direct our time. Okay, so I realize we have a way to go until spring, but for now, I'll enjoy these first signs of it and smile as I hear the birds chirping out my window. Let's be prepared to embrace spring when it gets here!

Snow Days....

2010-02-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

I think it is safe to say that we all are going a little stir crazy! Having an unexpected snow day in the middle of the winter can be fun, and can break up our routines, but too much snow, and too many days off from school (and work) can wreck havoc with our over packed schedules, create stress and sometimes be very demotivating.

Our neighborhood streets are still pretty bad since we haven't been plowed. I have been able to get out, but on a limited basis. Yesterday, I worked out at home and after my surge of endorphins kicked in, proceeded to organize my office closet, and knock out a few work to dos that I've delayed getting to. While I was busy doing my work, I told my kids, who were home from school again, that I'd take them to Krispy Kreme donuts if they got their rooms picked up and sheets changed on their beds. My daughter needed some help because she is only 5, but my 8 year old brought his laundry down to the laundry room, made-up his bed and picked up his room so that I could dust and he could vacuum. Though he will usually grumble when I remind him to clean-up his space, I can tell he has pride in his room and things, and I feel good knowing he is learning essential life skills. We all felt great that we had accomplished some things before heading off to get their donuts. It was a miracle that I was able to resist getting one...I think the work out helped with that.

I think a major winter snowstorm and the way it encourages neighbors to reach out and help each other is a great teaching tool for parents. My husband and I talked with our son about how proud we were that he had on his own, tried to help some of our neighbors with their shoveling. We talked about how important it is to help neighbors who live by themselves and who may not be as physically able to deal with the snow.

I hope the schools reopen tomorrow...unlikely, but if they don't, I am hopeful that I will work on some other projects I have been putting off. And who knows, maybe I can get my kids to work on cleaning up the playroom.

Three Elements to Organizing

2010-02-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

I am sometimes asked by a client why a room that we have worked on together still gets disorganized. Sometimes it is because the system needs tweaking, or it may be time again for a good purge. Though, sometimes it is because there are some habits or behaviors that if modified, could help support the system.

Usually the first phase of organizing focuses on the physical space. This is where the most change happens. In order to organize a space, items need to be sorted and purged. Once a client has identified the remaining objects in a room, then the room is zoned, items are grouped by type and then a home is found for each item and/or group of items. We then talk about storage and strategize on ways to keep the system up.

This is where we talk about types of behaviors or habits that help or hurt the system. I encourage clients to have simple, uncomplicated systems that support their habits and behaviors. Don't have a mud room? Create one and have an area for each person in the house to put their briefcase/purse/backpack, etc. Have it become a routine to place your important bags and necessary items needed for the next day to minimize the morning, "where is my homework?" Have an issue with mail piling up? Does the system you have created for processing the mail work? Maybe you need to create a routine to process the mail.

Probably one of the most important aspects of organizing is the end of day 15 minute pick-up and next day planning. This is really important to maintain a sense of organization and order, especially if kids are part of the equation. An effective way to stay on top of your priorities is to plan ahead and figure out what your most important tasks/to dos are for the next day. In order to make things happen, a person has to have a plan.

The reality of life is rooms get messy, but if the right systems are created, it should not take a lot of time to pick them up. Have a plan so that you are reacting less and are checking things off your to do list.

2nd Chance

2010-01-25T06:53:00.000-08:00

I have spent many hours in the month of January down at the Alexandria ReStore and I've gotten to see first hand the many great items that have been donated from individuals, stores and contractors, that are no longer needed. I have also seen ReStore shoppers who see these same items as a great new addition to a room in their home. They are giving these used items a 2nd chance and the ReStore benefits by raising money for the NOVA Habitat for Humanity Building projects.

For the Wellness/Organizing Event held at the ReStore this past Saturday I put together a family room using their furniture, and then I brought in new storage pieces and accessories. I got a chuckle, while I was putting it together, because several shoppers were wanting to buy both the "old" furniture and the "new" accessories. As an organizer, I wanted people to see the multi-functionality of the pieces I had selected and see how adding some proper storage could make them function better. For the ReStore, I wanted to highlight what I viewed as being great pieces of furniture.

I am so pleased that the ReStore had great sales on Saturday and raised money from the event raffle. It was a great opportunity for me to talk with people who came to the event, and the other wellness professionals about the connection between getting organized and being healthy. Disorganization can increase stress and worry and adversely impact a person's health. Additionally, disorganization can contribute to financial stress by incurring late fees on bills not paid on time, making duplicate purchases and over buying.

A lot of what I do for clients is help them figure out what they no longer need in their space and if the items are in good condition, it is an opportunity to donate the items to a charity. This is the ultimate in recycling and repurposing when items are given a 2nd chance.

How Do I Get Organized?

2010-01-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

The first step to getting organized is knowing why you want to get organized and knowing what you want. I always ask my new clients many questions to get them thinking about their motivation and goals for the specific area they want organized. Some of the questions center around what they do in the room, and then we figure out what items are needed in the room to support those functions. Next we figure out how the existing storage needs to be modified to store the items, so that the room looks neat and uncluttered.

Once you know your motivations you are ready for the 2nd step - modifying existing storage and identifying all of the possible storage options in the room, some obvious, and others not so obvious. Many times it takes a fresh pair of eyes to see that shelves, drawers, etc are not being utilized to the fullest. Freeing up space in existing storage is very important and hopefully identifying additional underutilized storage, is a critical component for success.

Then the not so easy part starts...the sorting and purging. I recommend starting around the perimeter of the room or divide the room in quarters and focus just on one quarter of the room. Everything out in the open should be dealt with first, then move inward. Have 3 main categories 1. trash 2. donate 3. keep. Set a timer for 30 minutes and go at it. Don't leave the room to move items that you think belong elsewhere in the house, just put them in the keep pile. Move the items that belong elsewhere in the house at the end of your sorting and purging adventure.

Once you finish sorting/purging the first section of the room, move the trash and donate bags as they are probably full (please say they are) and get new bags to tackle the next section. If you have scheduled a charity pick-up place the donate bag(s) by your front door and if not, do so anyway so you will have a visual reminder to call or drop them by a charity. Continue on if you can and you may need to reset the timer. The timer helps hold you to task and makes you move along quicker making decisions of what to donate and what to keep.

Once the room is sorted and purged the fun part starts of putting your room back together. Some helpful organizing principals are:

Every item should have a home
Put like items together
Place items where you use them most
Put frequently used items at eye level & in prime space
Group small like items and if necessary put into containers and label
Organizing is an on-going process
Remember the 80/20 rule - we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time; kids play with 20% of their toys 80% of the time; & 80% of what we file, we will never touch again

More to come....

Getting Organized in the New Year

2010-01-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

January is the month that the National Association of Professional Organizers designates as "Get Organized Month". Most family/women's magazines feature a clutter buster or organization article since they realize most people have the innate desire to start the year fresh, organized and positioned to feel balanced.

As each year passes, I realize first hand, and through my clients, how getting organized can help us meet our New Year goals. Many of us have getting organized as a specific New Year's resolution, but really getting organized is the foundation to support whatever goals we have set for ourselves for 2010. I think the process of getting organized innately goes with our desire to have control, to get things in order and in its place before the onslaught of our busy year hits us.

The retail stores frame getting organized with buying the right organizing products or closet system. Though the right storage is important, there is a huge process a person has to go through to get organized. In my blogs in January I will focus on different aspects of getting organized.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars to come out to the Alexandria ReStore on January 23rd for the organizing/wellness event that Simplify for Life is co-sponsoring.

Time-Starved #2

2009-12-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

Remember how you spend your time is all about choices. You decide how you are going to spend your time, and as much as you can, make choices that are aligned to support your priorities.

To continue from my blog yesterday, a few more time management strategies are:

Do your most important task first. I met with a productivity coach a few months ago, and she said she tells her clients that most days we have 90 minutes of concentrated work time. So start out your day doing what you have determined is your most important task and then if your schedule unravels because of a "fire" you will have accomplished your priority.
Don't multitask or switch from task to task. It takes your brain four times longer to recognize and process each thing you're working on when you switch back and forth among tasks. This of course, means your work will take so much longer to do if you are hopping from task to task instead of grouping like tasks and staying focused.
Create short cuts for routines. Anything that you find you repeat regularly, that you can automate in some way, will save you time.
Carve out 10 minutes of planning time at the end of the day. This is one of the most important time management strategies because it allows you to regroup, access where you are and identify your top priority task for the next morning.

I don't recommend attempting to adopt all of these strategies at once, but try out a few that speak to you and see how they can help you create realistic daily schedules that lead you on the path to having the 2010 you desire. Good luck and let me know what you think...

Time-Starved

2009-12-17T12:22:00.000-08:00

I think a good topic to cover in the month of December is time management, as we all pack our holiday to-dos in an already full schedule. It is top of mind for me because I recently gave a presentation on the topic of time management to a group of Alexandria parents of special needs children. I knew that the group would be small, and it was, because it is mid-December and many of us are feeling stressed and time-starved!

My presentation centered around the thought that time management is really about clarity and time. The month of December naturally has us thinking about the year that is drawing to a close, our accomplishments and our hopes and expectations for the new year. This kind of thinking helps us to develop goals that support our priorities. With clarity a person knows what is important, what are their life priorities, and how they want to spend their time. After self-reflection and introspection, then a person can utilize several time management strategies that support the fundamental desire we all have to live a balanced life.

A few time management strategies I talked about are:

Become a better estimator of how long tasks take. We all tend to underestimate how long work and personal tasks take. In so doing, we over schedule ourselves, which can leave us feeling like a hamster on a wheel and stressed. Try keeping a time journal, much like a food journal when a person is trying to lose weight. The time journal will help you see how long tasks really take so that you can more accurately plan a realistic schedule.
Get organized. On average we lose an hour a day looking for things or trying to figure out what we need to do. This hour adds up to a staggering 14 days a year of time thrown away.
Understand your workload. Make sure you fully understand everything that you have to do and that you track it all in one place. I recommend keeping business and personal actions/to dos on separate lists. The reason why this is so important is that you can't know what your priorities are unless you have a total picture of everything you have to do.

I'll post more time management strategies tomorrow...

Tree Stand Woes

2009-12-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

My husband and I hold our breath each year when it comes time to place our Christmas tree in the stand, and we always hope that it is going to be a good, hassle free year for us. This year was a tough one getting our tree's trunk to go all the way down in the stand because it was too wide for it. Another issue we have had in the past is sometimes the trunk isn't tall enough to get close to fitting in the stand. We sometimes remember to talk about these issues with each other and the tree guy as we look at our selected tree, but inevitably we think the tree is fine and discover it isn't when it meets the stand.

I started to get flashbacks to last year when "we", I mean my husband, had to saw off many branches of last year's tree to get it to fit the stand. I remember thinking at the time that next year I'll remember to bring the stand so that we can have the tree guy saw off the right number of branches, instead of us doing it laboriously and with some difficulty.

Somehow my memory of our issues last year were forgotten when we picked out our tree this year, and we were dealt both tree stand issues. It was a bit of a struggle, but next year we won't have to deal with tree stand woes as I have marked the stand with permanent marker with the appropriate tree trunk dimensions to fit the stand.

Our tree is up and it is in the tree stand straight and now we just need to finish decorating it!

Our 1st Thanksgiving as Hosts

2009-12-01T07:05:00.000-08:00

We hosted Thanksgiving this year for the first time ever. Usually we are guests so there was a lot of pressure on us (self imposed) to make it a good one. Being the organized person that I am, I had set the table two days in advance, I had planned out the menu, I knew what guests were bringing and I had a pretty good idea of the meal timing. My husband's aunt generously catered part of the meal including the turkey, and I made another turkey and some more sides.

The day before Thanksgiving I did a lot of cooking and finishing details to get ready for the big day. I thought that I was ready. Now mind you, my husband and I just finished a major home renovation, including a new kitchen with lots of counter space. Some how on Thanksgiving I felt like I didn't have any counter space. I felt a little disorganized because I had lost my sense of knowing where everything was suppose to go, because there was too much stuff!

In hindsight, I made too many extra sides and I realized that though the food is important, what really is important is gathering as family and of course, making sure there are leftovers for turkey sandwiches the next day!

I hope your Thanksgiving was a memorable one.

Feel Good Clutter Strategy

2009-11-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

I find one of the easiest and best ways to manage clutter is to get on several charity call lists for donation pick-up service (see my resource page on my website, www.simplifyforlife.com). I receive at least 1 postcard a month from a charity asking if I could donate a bag or two of items on a specific date. The postcard is a notice indicating they will be in my neighborhood and it is a reminder to call for a pick-up. I think this pick-up service is a win-win opportunity for charities and also for individuals and families. The charities get some great items, hopefully in good condition, and we get to have an easy way to remove items from our homes that we no longer need.

Last night at 10:30 I moved out of my laundry room all of the bags I had collected over the last 2 weeks, filled with out grown clothes, toys and books my kids have aged out of, and other assorted items. By the time I got it all by the front door to go out this morning, I had 5 tall kitchen bags and 1 large box full of items.

My house feels a little lighter and I feel good that I am helping Lupus out. I have the Vietnam Veterans of America coming on November 24th and I'm sure I'll have a few bags for them.

Give this feel good clutter strategy a shot, and if you aren't receiving the postcards, get on the lists today.

A Preschooler's Logic

2009-11-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

I had a good laugh Friday night as I was driving to Panera, to get a quick dinner with my kids, when I commented how pretty the Christmas trees looked at Lowe's. My daughter who is 4 said to me, "we need to tell them to take them down"! She went on to say that it was bad and she wanted to know why the trees would be up when we still have Halloween decorations up at our house. By the way, I do think our Halloween directions do need to come down. Her preschool, as most, really goes into detail for every holiday and in her mind November is Thanksgiving and talking about anything else that comes later doesn't make sense.

She of course is right in a way, and will understand when she gets older that consumerism drives the early onslaught of each and every holiday. It does seem to get earlier and earlier each year. I swear some stores had Halloween candy at the beginning of September.

I think the rushing of holidays and seasons feeds into the fast paced, crazy busy lives that we all lead. I think it is way too early to see Christmas trees and seeing them this early, as well as all of the holiday commercials on t.v., takes something away from a special time of year.

So, I do agree with my daughter, but I won't go say anything to the Lowe's manager. I do appreciate her logic and love that a young child sees very clearly that it doesn't make sense.

Slowing Down the Pace

2009-11-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

My children have been off from school today and yesterday for Fairfax County teacher work days. It was a big weekend with Halloween falling on Saturday so lots of sugar has been consumed, our schedules have been off with the extended weekend and needless to say, so have our diets.

I know I'm not alone in the fact that we live so close to all the beautiful memorials and wonderful Smithsonian museums in Washington, but despite the fact we live so close, we don't go as often as we should. Today, I decided since the weather was so great to head down to the mall (not Pentagon City mall, as my son originally thought) and spend the day meandering around.

We did pop in my husband's office on Capitol Hill to share some of our Halloween candy and to visit some. We decided to go to the Air and Space Museum and ended up spending hours there and then we spent a good deal of time at the Botanical Gardens both inside and outside. I love that my kids love the Botanical Gardens because I think walking around there all worries, concerns and agendas are forgotten. I actually at one point laid down on this large bench with my daughter and we enjoyed looking at the clouds through the sky light.

It was a special treat to have a "free" day on a Tuesday, and to not capitalize on the extra time that I could have gotten other things done around the house, focused on a work project or other priority. Having a nice, slow day was what we all needed and now we just need to get the candy out of our house.

Out the Door On Time

2009-10-27T06:06:00.000-07:00

Today is a rainy, dreary day and thank goodness my family's morning routine went picture perfect this morning. A lot of it is due to my planning ritual that takes place at night...clothes laid out for the next day, check; lunches made, check; homework done, check; in-bed on time, double check!! Sometimes the last thing I feel like doing at night is making lunches, but the next morning I'm always grateful that I did.

I'm a big believer in raising independent, self-sufficient kids and to that end, I will usually have my 8 year old help with cleaning up after dinner and making his lunch with me. I notice that my 4 year old daughter is so eager to pitch in so I gladly accept her efforts of assistance...some better than others. She is amazingly capable of picking out her own outfit to lay out the night before...sometimes with a little guidance on matching.

I find too, if I can impose the same planning ritual on my work schedule, I am much more effective the next day. I am in a much better position to work on my most important action, if I've already identified it the night before. I won't get side-tracked as easily checking e-mails and figuring out my top priority because I'll already know it.

I hope the rest of my day goes as well as my early morning. Here's to having a great, productive day...

Gaining Insight

2009-10-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

What an exhilarating and motivating weekend I had! I attended the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Organizers in Bethesda. I always enjoy going to this conference to meet up with other organizers and to learn new ideas that can help me be a better organizer, and ultimately help my clients.

I attended motivating presentations, breakouts on specific topics such as providing green services, processing and management strategies for e-mail and working with the boomer generation. The highlight of the conference for me was listening to Julie Morgenstern's presentation on becoming a better organizer through the process of "shedding". Her latest book, When Organizing Isn't Enough SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life, focuses on self discovery through the process of shedding both mental and physical clutter to achieve personal and professional success and happiness. Her Shed acronym is: separate the treasures; heave the trash; embrace your identity and drive yourself forward. I see this technique not only helping clients, but also helping me redefine my organizing practice.

Attending this conference confirmed for me that organizing and simplifying are really about change. Removing clutter in our minds, environments and schedules moves us towards positive change and allows us to focus on the priorities that we have determined are the most important to us now. This change allows us to live our lives as we have determined, without the distractions and roadblocks that clutter and being disorganized can sometimes cause.

Of course, there are many ideas I want to implement, books I purchased that I want to read, and now I have to make it happen. I figure it I implement two ideas I learned from conference, it will be well worth my time, energy and money.

Procrastinating Again...

2009-10-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

I know we all procrastinate, but as an organizer, I feel like I shouldn't procrastinate as much as it ends up happening! In my defense, I feel like the past few months have been jam-packed with additional work and personal obligations that have stretched my normal schedule into the crazed-busy zone. Even still, I laughed when I saw that I had written my first blog in July, but because I wanted to edit it, and make it better, I didn't post it until this week. The funny thing is I really didn't edit it that much. I think I let my anxiety of blogging get in the way of my goal, which was to just start my blog and let it evolve.

I work with many clients on their paperwork and it is a common issue after we have a system set up that seems to work, the paper coming in the home or office still piles up. Some of it may be that the client needs to change a habit or behavior that relates to the paperwork, but sometimes it is just due to procrastination. The paper may not be processed because the client feels that it is going to take longer than it will, or that it will be harder to do than it actually is, or that he can't do it because of other priorities.

I recommend doing the task you dislike most (maybe it is processing mail) first and then start working on your most important task/project for the day. If you can try this for a week, I guarantee that your stress level will go down and you will be able to face whatever you need to react to each day because your major priority will at least have been addressed.

Now that I have started blogging, I actually like it and I wish I hadn't stressed about it as much as I did these last few months.

Getting Stuck With Packing Tape

2009-10-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

I have a new client who is in a business where he receives and sends out many packages. Our first appointment centered around getting his supplies centralized and figuring out how to store all of his necessary shipping materials. We were both laughing after awhile because by the time we had all of the supplies corraled from underneath piles, in other rooms and other places in his office, he must have had 50 rolls of packing tape!

I learned a big lesson that had me thinking of him, one I thought I already knew in the UPS store last week....the value of my time. As I lugged a way too heavy defective garbage disposal into the UPS store to be shipped back, shipping paid for by the disposal company, I was shocked to find out that it would cost me $15.00 for the box, stuffing and service to prepare the box. I struggled with the decision to pay the $15.00 or just buy the box for $5.00 and slap the label on the box myself. I opted to save the $10.00 and I lugged the box and disposal out feeling I had saved some money. Low and behold, after coming home, I came to discover I had no packing tape, to prepare the box and no time to run to the office supply store. And so it sat in my office and then living room for a week.

Of course, I now have stocked up on packing tape, and I will share with my client how he never would find himself in my predicament. I also relearned the lesson of how valuable my time is and that sometimes it does make sense to just pay a little extra to get the job done!

10 Minutes to Bliss

2009-10-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

The countdown was on as I found out that the kick-off activity of the Cub Scouts year would be a bike rodeo. My husband is the den leader and my son, who is 8 had not mastered riding a bike. Our son informed us that he wouldn't go and I explained to him that if he was willing to give me 10 minutes a day, he would be riding his bike by the event. Lots of grumbling and reluctance ensued, but I did get a half-hearted commitment.

I blame it on not having a garage and his bike not being easily accessible, but there wasn't time to diagnosis why. I had two weeks to get him feeling confident on his bike, and I truly believed it would happen. Each day after school and on the weekends, I would pile his bike in my car and we'd drive down to the Belle Haven Marina along the parkway. He practiced on the grass and it took him a few days before he started to get excited about his progress. We had a few bumps along the way, but within a week he felt confident enough to start riding his bike up and down our street.

Of course, like I hoped, many days our practice time stretched on to close to an hour because he was having fun. It was so great to see him excited about his progress. When the bike rodeo came he meshed right in there with the other boys.

The bike rodeo has come and gone, but most days after school, and at least one weekend day, he'll be out there riding his bike. One Sunday recently, he and I were riding through the neighborhood, and he turned to me and said, "we should do this more often, Mom." He totally made my day saying that, and I have him to thank as I sped down the hill with the wind rushing in my face.

A New Blogger...

2009-07-31T05:09:00.000-07:00

Well here I am starting my first blog with excitement, trepidation and anxiety. I am excited because I feel it is a great way to communicate thoughts and share ideas on ways to organize and simplify so that we can all live and work better. I have just updated my website and I think through my blog I can keep my website more active.

I approach blogging with trepidation and anxiety because I don't really know what I'm doing! So I figure sometimes the best way to figure something out is to just dive in.

My husband and I are usually the last people to jump on to the latest and coolest thing that everyone is doing or the latest technological advancement that everyone has. For example we don't have ipods yet, haven't jumped in on the whole social networking bandwagon, but we are leading fulfilling lives. Sometimes the very things that we think we need to have, especially when it comes to communication and technology, can be a huge time zapper. We live in a society where we feel we have to be available all of the time, when really we don't. If we can figure out ways to use these technological tools more effectively they can help us save time and lead a richer life. I know at some point I will get an Ipod and I'll join the social networking craze, and I know I'll think why didn't I do this sooner?

I am hopeful that this blogging experience will be fun and a value added benefit to my clients and those people who are interested in organizing and simplifying their lives so that they have more time to do what makes them happy.