simple organizing Archives • Page 15 of 16 • Helpful Organizer

Clutter Free Gift Ideas

December 16, 2014/0 Comments/in Blog Posts/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Do you like giving and receiving gifts? It can be fun, meaningful, and heartwarming. Unfortunately, it can also make our home feel like it’s bursting at the seams with toys, clothes, and electronics. After the gift giving season is over do you dread having to make room for all that stuff? Do you detest having to shift things around, box things up, move things to the basement, or get rid of things, just to fit comfortably in your home once again? Would it be nice if you could avoid all that? I have 25 organizer friendly gift ideas that concentrate on giving and receiving consumables and experiences, not stuff. Therefore, you won’t have to struggle with all that stuff, you can just make plans with family and friends and enjoy.

25 Organizer Friendly, Clutter Free Gift Ideas

A cultural experience to a play, performance, or theater
An adventure or fun family outing
Activities, clubs, classes, or lessons
A day pass, membership or special program at a zoo or aquarium
A useful automobile related gift like car washing or detailing
A helpful housework booster
Tickets to a sporting event
Movie passes or movie night
Salon treatment or spa day
Gifts of time or a financial contribution
Food in one form or another
Donation to charity in recipient’s name
Fitness Membership or classes
Books or music for electronic devices
Tickets to a concert or musical performance
Involvement in nature clubs, groups or organizations
Shopping for charity
Membership or passes to a museum
Gifts of your time and memories
Small acts of kindness
Volunteering at a local food bank, homeless shelter, hospital, etc.
A small dose of nature like cut flowers, floral arrangements, or live wreath
Assistance for necessities to homeless, seniors, or anyone in need
Count your blessings and share them with friends and family
Gift certificate for my services

If you have other clutter free gift ideas please share them with me.

Proud member of NAPO

Happy Holidays from the Helpful Organizer, Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

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

The Reach Ability Factor

May 1, 2013/0 Comments/in Blog Posts/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

In organizing, just like real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. Where we permanently and temporarily place our belongings, papers, projects, and information, is important because it helps us find what we want when we need it. The Reach Ability Factor is a system that helps us decide the best location for things based on how frequently we use them.

We have 4 sections.

Section A: Items in this section are things we use daily, like our toothbrush, our favorite coffee mug, and underclothes. Everything in section A is easy to reach, all we have to do is reach out an grab it.
Section B: Items in this section are things we use weekly but not necessarily daily, like our workout clothes, and specific utensils or dishes. Everything in section B requires us to move a little, but still within comfortable reach.
Section C: Items in this section are things we use occasionally, like suitcases, a food processor, and extra blankets. Everything in section C requires us to exert more effort to reach, like bending down or using a step stool.
Section D: Items in this section are things we use once a year, like holiday decorations, or things you can’t part with like our wedding gown. Everything in section D would be in a remote storage area like the basement, attic, or a cabinet that is more difficult to reach.

The Reach Ability Factor is meant as a guide to help individuals evaluate the best location for their belongings. What is a perfect spot for one person is not the best spot for another. Organizing is personal.
Please note that it’s important to concentrate efforts on one’s current lifestyle and reevaluate the placement of items once a year.

Proud member of NAPO

Spring Cleaning

March 1, 2013/0 Comments/in Blog Posts/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

By combining efforts of organizing and spring cleaning the benefits will be twofold. Here are four ways you can combine your efforts.

1. While you’re getting out your spring and summer clothes purge those items that you didn’t wear last year and any items that are a bit too snug. Donate to a local charity or look into a consignment shop.
2. While getting out your grilling tools and uncovering your grill, weed out and pare down your recipes and cookbooks. Pick a number and only save that many, and make a vow not to print any more from the internet.
3. While tackling your spring yard work, sort through your lawn and garden tools. Get rid of rusty tools and duplicates. Keep only the ones that you really use.
4. While airing out the house, sort through your linens. You only need three sets of sheets per bed and three sets of towels per person. Donate any extra to an animal shelter.

Proud member of NAPO

Organizing Air Space

January 1, 2012/0 Comments/in Tip of the Month/by Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®

Tip: Air space is space in your cupboards and closets that is occupied with air only. To make the most of the precious real estate in your cupboards and closets use organizing products that minimize air space.

To minimize air space in your cupboards:

adjust shelves, if you can