Schedule time on your calendar to organize. Treat it like an appointment that you can’t reschedule without a large rescheduling fee. Then pick just one target area to work on, and tackle one flat surface in that area. For example, if you’re working in the kitchen, start with items on the counter. If you’re working in your closet, start with items on the floor. If you’re working in your home-office, start with items on the desk.
If you’re like me, you like decorating for the holidays. It gets me in the holiday spirit, and I enjoy adding sparkle and cheer to my home. However, taking those decorations down, packing them up, and storing them until next year is an entirely different story. That part of the process always seems like such an unwelcoming chore. So, I’ve done my best to simplify the process and make it as painless as possible.
The first suggestion is to have a designated location in your basement, attic, garage, or other storage area, for the holiday decorations to live undisturbed until next year. This prevents them from just being shoved anywhere, everywhere, or wherever they’ll fit. My designated location is on plastic storage shelves in my basement.
The second suggestion is to use clear bins and large easy to read labels. This allows you to easily spot what is stored inside and where it belongs. I print large color coded labels, and tape them to the inside of the clear bin. This allows me to easily read the label because of the large size, and to easily recognize the holiday because of the label color. It also prevents the label from falling off, fading, curling, or becoming illegible. I place two labels in the bin on opposite sides, so that no matter how the bin is placed on the shelf, I can view the label.
The third suggestion is to store holiday decorations in layers with bubble wrap in between each layer. This is much faster than wrapping each individual decoration. It works best if you put decorations that are similar in width in the same layer. Also, place plush and soft decorations in between wooden and breakable decorations, and only store fragile or collectible decorations in their original boxes.
The fourth suggestion is to store holiday decorations based on where they are placed inside or outside the house. For example I have bins of Christmas decorations for each room in my house. This way I can easily decorate one room at a time, and pack up one room at a time. It helps me streamline the processes.
The fifth suggestion is to keep all decoration accessories in the perspective holiday bins. I keep the extension cord, the light timer, extra light bulbs, tree ornament hooks, and the tree skirt in the same bin as the tree ornaments. This way I’m not searching for these items when it’s time to decorate each year.
I understand that putting away holiday decorations can be a drag, but I hope these suggestions will help prevent procrastination.
©January 2015 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All Rights Reserved
Proud member of NAPO
In preparation for visiting a new doctor last week, I realized that my medical papers were not organized in a manner that was suitable to my needs. They were mostly organized in chronological order of doctor visits, and I wanted them organized by subject, and then, in chronological order of doctor visits. So, I gave myself the project of organizing my medical papers.
The tools I used were a hanging file, a file folder, 8 sheets of paper, 8 tabs, a highlighter, and a black marker. I first sorted all my medical papers into subject categories. I choose 8 different categories that made sense to me as I was sorting my papers. The 8 subject categories I used were general information, yearly physicals, mammograms, doctor visits, eyes, and 3 categories for specific ailments I have. Your medical categories may be slightly or completely different. That is understandable. Personalization is encouraged.
Here is a list of the types of papers I have in each subject category:
General information – primary care doctor contact information, office hours and locations, medical insurance documents
Yearly physicals – medical history records, physical exam results, lab results, appointment reminders
Mammograms – test results, appointment reminders, literature on subject
Doctor visits – test results, appointment receipts, insurance explanation of benefits
Eyes – appointment receipts, exam results, prescriptions, eye glass receipts
Specific ailments – test results, appointment receipts, diagnoses, prescriptions, literature on subject
I used the highlighter to mark the date and subject on specific papers. I used the tabs and paper to create dividers for each of my 8 subjects. I used the marker to write the subjects on the tabs. I placed all the tabs on the upper left hand side of the paper (horizontal) so they would fit into the file folder and be easier to read. It’s much easier to scan one area for the subject tab, then have to scan staggered tabs, especially since we read from left to right. I reduced as many papers as I could before reassembling my medical file. I shreded 56 papers that I felt comfortable discarding.
The project took me about an hour to complete. Since all of my papers were in one file folder and in a semi organized state, I was able to complete the project in a relativity short amount of time, but if you’re going to organize your medial papers and they’re in disarray you will need to give yourself more time to complete your project. You will also realize as you sort your medical papers that your subject categories will be specific to you. That is ideal. Each and everyone of us needs to find a way of organizing that is personally suitable to our individual needs.
© December 2014 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer All rights reserved
Proud member of NAPO
Do you feel that being organized could save time? When I ask this question in the classes I teach on organizing, everyone says, “yes”. They go on to say that one of the major time saving benefits of being organized is being able to find what they want when they need it. They feel that being organized would mean that they would spend less time hunting for things, less time putting things away, less time stressing over misplaced items. This is true. In fact it’s been proven that organized people save themselves time every day.
So, how can you make this happen for you? You can make it happen by following a two step process. Step one is to have or create a designated home for things, and step two is to consistently return things to their designated home. For example, if I have a designated home for my keys (mine are on a hook by my back door), I know where they belong, and can put them in their designated home quickly and easily. This encourages me to put them away, instead of just tossing them on the counter or burying them in my pocketbook. Also, if I consistently return my keys to their designated home, I know where to find them when I need them, and there is less chance of me misplacing them or loosing them. This 2 step process works with everyday items like groceries, eye glasses, and receipts, as well as one-of-kind items like your passport, camera, and title to your car.
Although being organized can save you time, getting and staying organized requires time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t just happen all by itself, but if you practice the two step process of creating a designated home for things, and consistently returning things to their designated home, it might feel that way. What I mean is that once an action becomes habitual, less effort and brain power is required to preform the action. So, it seems as though it is happening all by itself. I’d recommend starting with just one items and one action, and see how long it takes for you to save time every day.
©November 2014 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer® All rights reserved
Proud member of NAPO
I’m often asked, “How come some people are so much better at organizing than others? Is there an organizing gene?” I’m happy to say that there is no organizing gene. Organizing is a skill, and just like other skills, some people are better at learning it than others. For example, typing, speaking a foreign language, and playing golf are all skills. Yet, some people master these skills much faster than other people. It’s the same way with organizing. Some people master it much faster than other people, but everyone can learn the skill of organizing.
The key to learning any skill is practice. Suppose you wanted to learn how to play the piano. What would you do? Would you sign up for piano classes? Would you purchase a practice keyboard? Would you seek instruction from a professional? Would you read up on the subject? Would you practice, practice, practice? Yes, you would most likely do all, or most of these things, so that you could learn and improve.
Just like with other skills you need to practice organizing. You need to devote time and energy into organizing on a regular, preferably daily, basis. I understand that you may not want to practice organizing, because you feel as thought the outcome of your efforts won’t last. Unfortunately, that is the case with any skill. What would happen if you stopped practicing the piano for 3 months? Would the efforts of your previous practice show? What would happen after 6 months, or 12 months? Also, what is the outcome if a beginner stops practicing after 3 months, as apposed to an experienced piano player? The skill level you’ve mastered makes a difference.
So, how can you practice organizing? Listed below are a few tasks you can do daily to practice the skill of organizing. I’d recommend concentrating on mastering one or two of these tasks, and then moving on, after a few weeks, to include one additional task, and so on.
1. Put all dirty clothes in hampers.
2. Put all clean clothes where they belong.
3. Put shoes, coats, and accessories where they belong.
4. Open and process all mail.
5. Clean all dirty dishes.
6. Prepare your outfit for the following day.
7. Prepare breakfast, and lunch for the following day.
8. Make one phone call, or do one task from your to do list.
9. Clear flat surfaces, like tabletops, desktops, counters, dressers, and floors.
10. Have 10 minutes of uninterrupted conversation with your family.
I’d like to hear about your progress. How is your organizing skill developing?
© October 2014 Janine Cavanaugh, CPO® All Rights Reserved
Proud member of NAPO
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