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Tag Archive for: Organizing habits

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Limiting choices helps prevent clutter

October 1, 2025/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Limit the number of decisions you make each day and the options within each decision. For example, instead of choosing from five different cereals at breakfast, narrow it down to just two. Simplifying your choices saves time, reduces stress, and prevents clutter. Options are good, but too many is overwhelming.

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/question-mark.jpg 4000 4000 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-10-01 01:44:362025-10-02 14:34:05Limiting choices helps prevent clutter

Be an Equalizer

August 1, 2025/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

In our consumer-driven society, it’s common to have more coming in than going out. Aim to equalize your belongings—become an “equalizer” by letting go of as much as you bring in. This simple habit helps reduce clutter and makes cleaning and organizing much easier.

Help letting go:

  • Exit Strategy
  • Stuff be Gone
  • Keep or Not Keep

 

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/scale.jpg 626 609 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-08-01 01:54:272025-07-16 15:15:45Be an Equalizer
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Out of sight, out of mind

June 1, 2025/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

The phrase out of sight, out of mind is very common. We fear that if we put things away we’ll forget about them. So, we leave tools on the counter to remind us to fix a cabinet. Borrowed things pile up on the chair so we don’t forget to return them. Paper litters our desk as reminders to take some action.

Leaving it all out won’t lead to fixing, processing, or taking action. It leads to piles, mess, and disorder. We have to prompt ourselves to take action and then act. This can be done by following 3 steps.

  1. Decide to act by considering alternatives. Question if the action is worth taking. Is the cupboard worth fixing ourselves? If it is not worth it, hire a handyman. However if it is worth it, we need to commit to completing all the required action steps.
  2. Make a choice of when to take action and schedule it.
  3. Do it! Complete the action.
https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Clapboard.jpg 640 854 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-06-01 01:11:142025-06-04 01:20:54Out of sight, out of mind

Sort mail immediately

May 1, 2025/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

The best way to stay on top of the incoming mail is to sort it immediately. Sort it into the 4 categories listed below and have a specific spot for each category.

  1. Junk – recycle or toss it
  2. Shred – shred or put in box to be shredded later
  3. Action required – take action or write down what action needs to happen on a sticky note (and attach)
  4. Delegate to another family member to open and process

 

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mail-and-key-holder-1.jpg 1600 1600 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-05-01 01:12:502025-06-04 01:01:53Sort mail immediately

Use containers as your guide

April 1, 2025/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Allow the container to determine the limit of how many you can keep. You maintain control of what you keep and the container serves as a guide for the quantity of what you keep. For example: use your shoe rack to help you determine how many shoes to keep. By only keeping the amount that will comfortably fit on the shoe rack you’ll be able to organize your shoes quickly and easily.

https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shoe-rack.png 802 1036 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® https://helpfulorganizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18-Years-LOGO.jpg Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®2025-04-01 01:03:502025-06-05 00:53:32Use containers as your guide
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