Wardrobe swap
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tag Archive for: organizing process
Organizing Work Areas
Workbenches, craft corners, sewing rooms, scrapbook areas, and the like, are all potential hotbeds of mess. These locations are filled with tools and supplies that get used and reused often. They are also locations that house potential, ongoing, and almost finished projects. So, organizing them, and keeping them organized can be challenging.
I’ve been itching to help my husband organize his workbench for years. I understand that it’s his domain, (just like my scrapbooking area is my domain) and that’s why I didn’t take over and just do it myself. We tackled the project together. It took us 3.5 hours to work through the organizing process, but when we were finished his tools and supplies were organized, he had a list of all his works-in-progress, and he had plenty of space to actually work on his workbench.
We both were pleased with the results and considered the project a success. Here are some helpful tips that can assist you in successfully organizing your work area (whatever area that may be):
- When sorting tools and supplies into categories use general terms and label each category. We had 13 different categories; power tools, hand tools, tape & glue, hardware, clamps, painting, plumbing, sanding, measuring, trash, recycle, give away, and belongs elsewhere.
- While working, keep a running list of tasks that you have to address. This helps prevent you from getting sidetracked and wanting to addressing these tasks right away. A few tasks on our list are to ask our brother-on-law if he wants the propane torches we never use, and to research how to refill or recycle a fire extinguisher.
- When setting up your work area leave plenty of room to actually work on projects, and have an designated area to store works-in-progress.
- Clearly label the containers that store your tools and supplies. Although my husband knows what all his tools are, I do not. So now, when he asks me for a socket wrench, I’ll know at least where to look.
- Use containers that are easy to reach into, sturdy, and are a good size for the items they will be containing. These tools and supplies get used and reused often. So, make it easy to get at them and put them away.
- Give yourself a break. A good time to take a break is after the sorting step. We took a lunch break after we had cleared the workbench.
- At the end of the organizing project give yourself time to address the trash, recycle, give away, and belongs elsewhere pile. It may take additional time to address these categories. For example we have a box of electronic recycle items that we will bring to the Indie Cycle drop off point in three weeks.
- When you reach the finish line, reward your success.
©September 2015 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All rights reserved.
Proud member of NAPO
Reclaiming Order
While looking for a list of skincare products that I wanted to share with a friend, I realized that it was time to reclaim order in my Fashion File. I knew I had tucked the list into my file somewhere, but when I went to look for it, I couldn’t find it. I quickly deduced that the main reason for this was that there was a surplus of irrelevant information in the file. It held current and relevant information, but also held some outdated information that was no longer of interest to me.
Therefore, I allowed myself 15 minutes to reclaim order. I did this by pruning each category of the Fashion File and making decisions on what information was worth keeping, and what was to be discarded. Here is a list of what I discarded: 8 outdated or duplicate business cards, 1 outdated jewelry catalog, 12 magazine clippings on products, tips, and ideas (I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I clip from magazines, but in my opinion, it’s better than keeping the whole magazine.), 1 outdated skincare catalog, 5 old purchase receipts (shred them), and 8 notes of websites to look at or items to try. At the end of a very productive 15 minutes I had located the list of skincare products that I wanted to share with my friend, and reclaimed order in my Fashion File.
By taking the time, at that moment, to reclaim order, I stopped the accumulation of paper, and prevented my Fashion File from turning into a huge, inefficient mess. This is what I call preserving the natural flow of the organizing process. The natural flow of the organizing process looks like this:
One very important factor to keep in mind when preserving the natural flow of the organizing process is to keep the duration between creating order and reclaiming order short enough, so that the act of reclaiming order doesn’t take too long, and isn’t an overwhelming task. If we wait too long, or allow too much build up, the act of reclaiming order becomes overwhelming, stressful and frustrating. If you reach this point, reclaiming order may no longer be a do-it-yourself task. Just remember, it’s okay to ask for HELP!
© August 2015 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All Rights Reserved
Proud member of NAPO
How to Get Organized to Sell Your House
Summer is an optimal time for many homeowners to sell their house, pack up, and relocate. Unfortunately, this is a stressful process. It’s easy for sellers to get overwhelmed by all that needs to be done to prepare their house for the market, and start the packing process. There is so much to organize, so many details to address. The 10 “Organized to Sell” tips listed below will help any seller focus on the details and take control.
1. Eliminate piles before you sell.
Don’t let paper and items accumulate on tables, counter tops, or desks. Keeping horizontal surfaces clear and clean eliminates visual clutter, and allows potential buyers to see the space without distractions.
2. Reduce before you sell.
Over stuffing closets, bookcases, filing cabinets, cupboards and other storage areas in your home is a red flag to potential buyers. It screams, “Not enough storage!” Reducing and limiting the number of items you keep in these areas conveys the message of ample and abundant storage to the potential buyer.
3. Eliminate surplus before you sell.
Why have ten of something, if two is all you really need until you move? Pack up and remove surplus or
duplicate items. A few examples are sheets, towels, dishes, mugs, utensils, toiletries, toys, books, DVDs, etc.
4. Remove before you sell.
Packing up seldom used items and seasonal items helps your house appear spacious, and that is what potential buyers like. Some examples are holiday decorations, off season clothing and footwear, archived files, and rarely used kitchen appliances, like bread makers, blenders, etc.
5. Toss before you sell.
It is perfectly acceptable to throw away things that are broken, damaged, rusty, worn out, torn, stained, or incomplete. Toss these items without hesitation. If your belongings look old and worn out the potential buyer sees the whole property as old and worn out.
6. Donate before you sell.
If you’re not using it now, you won’t use it in your new home. Ask yourself, “Will I be wasting my time, money
and energy if I pack and move this item?” Donating items is a great way to help preserve the environment, help those that are less fortunate, and feel content knowing that someone will value what you no longer use.
7. Sell before you sell.
Selling items that you no longer want, need or have space for in your new home, is a viable option. A few venues are yard sales, consignment shops, auction houses, newspaper listings, estate sales, or internet listings. Remember to be realistic about your financial expectations when selling used items.
8. Rent before you sell.
Renting a storage unit to hold equipment you seldom use and boxes of packed items will help free up space and give you a jump start on the moving process. Remember space is a valuable commodity.
9. Spruce up before you sell.
Don’t forget to reduce the clutter in your yard and outdoor living spaces. These areas are usually the first and
last impression for the potential buyers. So, make them as clutter-free as possible by removing toys, lawn ornaments, recycle bins, etc.
10. Hide before you sell.
Store as many items of daily use in your cupboards and cabinets. For example, put your tooth brushes in the medicine cabinet, your dish detergent in the cupboard under the sink, and your vacuum cleaner in the utility closet. This is more visually appealing and is less distracting for potential buyers.
©July 2015 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®. All Rights Reserved
Proud member of NAPO
3 Step Organizing Process
What happens when you open a junk drawer? Do you ignore the mess and slam it shut as soon as you locate what you were hoping to find inside? When I open a junk drawer my fingers start itching to dive in and organize. I fully understand that this is my own personal reaction, and is not one that is commonly shared, but I’d like to alter your reaction to a junk drawer. I hope to accomplish this by providing you with the knowledge on how to successfully organize a junk drawer, and other disorderly spots. Supplying you with the tools needed to master the organizing process will give you a means to act instead of react.
The organizing process is a means to create order from disorder by following 3 steps.
The first step of the organizing process is sorting and categorizing. The idea is to separate all the items in the junk drawer into categories that are similar in function and/or purpose. One helpful tip is to label each category and don’t allow yourself to leave the project. For example, it may be tempting to put the medication that you find in the junk drawer in the medicine cabinet, but once you remove yourself from the organizing process, it’s easy to get distracted. Instead create a category labeled “Belongs Elsewhere”, put the medication in that category, and continue sorting all the items in the junk drawer.
The second step of the organizing process is removing the detritus from each category. It’s noticing items that are better kept some place else (i.e. find home category), items that have an existing home some place else (i.e. belongs elsewhere category), and items that are no longer wanted, needed, or used (i.e. give away, recycle, and toss categories).
The third step of the organizing process is placement of what is going back into the junk drawer. The idea is to focus on function and pay close attention to how convenient it is to find what you need when you need it, and how convenient it is to put items away. A helpful tip is to have a specific home for each category you’ve created, and if a category has too many items, subdivide the category. Use organizing tools and products to facilitate easy access and function. I’ve used a drawer organizer to help organize the junk drawer.
This organizing process can be used to create order from disorder in any space.
By following the 3 steps you can organize all your spaces, places, and stuff.
© July 2015 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All Rights Reserved
Follow Me