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Tag Archive for: organizing

Repurpose & Organize

May 21, 2014/0 Comments/in Blog Posts/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

I’m often asked by a potential clients if they can purchase any organizing products in preparation of our work appointment. My answer is usually no. (The exception is when we’re working in a brand new space.) The reason for my “no” answer, is that in the process of organizing we uncover, discover, locate, unearth, and find plenty of items that can be re-purposed as suitable organizing products. Re-purposing items in our spaces allows us to be more economical and environmentally conscious.

Here are a few examples of how I re-purposed products in my home:

1. Re-purposed coffee mugs holding
brushes, razors, and pens
2. Re-purposed notepaper boxes
holding ziplock bags and garbage bags
3. Re-purposed bread container holding
measuring cups and small baking tools

Proud member of NAPO

Organizing Process

May 21, 2014/0 Comments/in Blog Posts/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

You may have heard the phrase that organizing is a process, not a task. What does that mean exactly? A process involves more than one step, for example doing the laundry. A process also involves three distinct phases, planning, doing, and follow-up. A task, on the other hand, is completed in one step, for example unloading the dish washer. It’s important to note the distinction, because tackling an organizing process as if it were a task, causes frustration, stress, and feelings of being overwhelmed. Devoting time to each of the three phases of the organizing process (planning, doing, and follow-up) will enable clarity, focus, and direction.

The planning phase of the organizing process is concerned with goals and objectives. What is your organizing goal? What do you want to accomplish? How much time is required? How much help and resources will you need? Is it worth calling in a professional?

The doing phase of the organizing process is the physical work needed to make the goals and objectives happen. It usually involves a process all it’s own, involving 3 (or more) steps:
sorting
discarding
assigning a home.

The follow-up phase of the organizing process is concerned with the upkeep and maintenance of the order once it’s established. This phase of the process is best accomplished by establishing personal guidelines, habits, and systems.

So, the next time you say to yourself, just get organized. Stop. Think. Devote some time to each of the three phases of the organizing process. It will provide clarity, focus, and direction.

Proud member of NAPO

Daily Organizing

May 21, 2014/0 Comments/in Blog Posts/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Upon returning home from getting my hair cut, I realized how many little things I organized. I can name 10 steps I took:

Hung up my keys
Hung up my coat
Put my gloves and hat away
Took of my boots and put them on the mat
Put my pocketbook away
Took my check book out of my pocketbook and put it back where it belongs
Put my book away (I brought a book to read at the hairdressers.)
Wrote my next hair appointment in my datebook
Tossed the hair appointment notice
Collected the mail and put it in it’s “to sort” location (I won’t go into the steps I took to process the mail. That’s a whole other blog entry.)

So, are you asking why I’m discussing the details of my return-home-routine? The small habits and routines we do on a daily basis help us keep our belongings, information, and environment organized. Without my routines, there is a greater chance of misplacing things, of appointments getting missed, and of items getting lost. Having a home for my keys, pocketbook, checkbook, etc. is the first step to creating order, but unless I take the time, each time I return home, to actually put them there, the order doesn’t last. It works the same for my next hair appointment. Having a datebook for me to write in my next appointment is the first step to creating order. The follow up steps are to write my appointments in the datebook, and to reference it daily, so I won’t miss appointments. Therefore, I’d like to wager that if you’re willing to preform daily organizing habits and routines upon returning home, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an organizing success.

Proud member of NAPO

Simple Organizing Solutions

October 5, 2013/0 Comments/in Blog Posts/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Receiving a thank you note in the mail is pleasant. It’s even more pleasant when you’re being thanked for something you didn’t realize would make an impact on the other person. This happened to me when I offered a simple organizing solution to a Realtor I had met at a networking event. She asked me if I had any ideas how she could keep all her real estate forms portable and organized. I suggested a portable accordion file. The next thing I know, I’m reading a very sincere thank you note that makes me smile. It just goes to show you, sometimes the simplest organizing solutions are the best solutions. In this case, find a good home for paper and things.
Here are a few more simple organizing solutions that I’ve offered to my clients:

Standing a baby bath tub on end, so it took up less room in the closet where it was stored. Be creative and unconventional with your personal organizing solutions.
Moving a daily used utensil drawer up to the second spot instead of the third drawer down. Make it easy on yourself to do daily tasks.
Asking a spouse to pay some of the monthly bills in order to spend less time on the task. Delegate and ask for help when you can.
Tossing the brown, brittle, dead flowers in the vase on the dresser even if they were your wedding bouquet. Evoke cherished memories with happy thoughts, not objects.
When you’ve finished knitting, put your knitting project back in the bag. Getting in the habit of putting things back in the places we’ve assigned them to go fosters organization.

Proud member of NAPO

Clearing the Clutter

October 5, 2013/0 Comments/in Blog Posts/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Who likes to hunt? I’m talking, in your own closets, pantry, cupboards and drawers? Are these areas unorganized and filled with random stuff? Is what you need, want, and use mixed in with a bunch of items you don’t need, don’t want, and don’t use? Having to sift and hunt every time you’re looking for an item is a waste of time, not to mention stressful and frustrating. Organizing these areas can help. Organizing these areas can start with 3 important actions, separating, discarding, and removing.
Action #1 – Separating:
Separate what you need from what you don’t need.
Separate what you want from what you don’t want.
Separate what you use from what you don’t use.
Action #2 – Discarding:
Discard as much as you can from the don’t need, don’t want, don’t use piles.
Any remaining items should be given away or donated.
Action #3 – Removing:
Remove what you’re not CURRENTLY using from the need, want and use piles.
Now put the remainder of items back into your space in an organized way based on frequency of use. Viola, no more hunting.

I understand this process is sometimes not as easy as it sounds, and that it is helpful to have assistance. If you’d like my assistance, please email me to set up a complimentary consultation. Another option is to attend one of my class on the subject.

Proud member of NAPO

Tag Archive for: organizing

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