One In, One Out Rule

/0 Comments/in /by

Practice the One In, One Out Rule, especially if you’d like to reduce the current amount you have.  For example, every time you purchase a new purse, donate, sell, or pass on an old purse.  Every time you’re given a new coffee mug, re-purpose, recycle, or pass on an old one.  Practicing this Rule will help prevent needless accumulation and stockpiling of unwanted items.

I’d recommend a modification of the Rule with items that we inadvertently bring into our space, for example,  plastic grocery store bags, food storage containers, shipping boxes, gift bags, tissue paper, swag gifts, and free samples of products we don’t use.    I’d recommend you practice the One In, Three (or more) Out Rule.

Organizing in a Large Family

/0 Comments/in /by
Helpful Organizer Newsletter – July 2014
Find me on FacebookView my profile on LinkedIn

Quick Links

My website
My Email address
My Blog
NAPO-NE
Side Notes:***    My website has a brand new look.  Please check it out and provide me with some feedback.  I’d love to hear what you think.

 

***    I’m sorry to report that the Leaning Connection, where I’ve taught classes for the past 6 years has closed.  However, I’m still teaching at Tri-County in Franklin, MA.  Visit my website for a complete class list and details.

 

 

***  Start with Sort is my first tip that I taped with DoubleACS, a public access TV station in Attleboro, MA.  It was a fun and exciting experience.

 

***  Maybe Box is my second tip that I taped with DoubleACS, a public access TV station in Attleboro, MA.  What do you think?

 

 

 
Join Our Mailing List
Hi  Janine,

Happy summer!  I hope you’ve been able to enjoy this lovely summer weather that we’ve been having.  My organizing clients have been keeping me pretty busy this summer, but I was able to squeeze in a vacation.  I just returned from a trip to Canada, where I caught a rainbow in Niagara Falls.  If you’ve never been to see these magnificent falls, I definitely recommend it.

Large Family

Niagara Falls was one of our vacation destinations, and Toronto, Canada was another.  I have a sister who lives up there.  You may or may not know that I have several sisters.  In fact, I come from a very large family.  (If you’d like to know just how large, email me and I’ll share the double digit number with you.)Growing up in a large family taught me many valuable organizing lessons.  I’d like to share some with you.

Lessons Learned:
1.  Be responsible for your own stuff, because it could easily get lost in the shuffle.
2.  Make room for what’s important, because there isn’t enough space for surplus or unnecessary things.
3.  Everyone has to pitch in and do their share, because one Mom (no mater how super) can’t do it all, and shouldn’t have to.
4.  Put things back where you found them, because the next person who needs it, will want to be able to find it.
5.  Accumulating more than you need or use isn’t possible, because there is no room.

I’d be happy to hear the organizing lessons you’ve learned from your family.  Please share.
From,

Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®
(508)-699-6652

    If you’d like to share this email message with someone, please click on the Forward email button below.  Thank you and happy organizing in summer of 2014!

Organizing/Sharing Information

/0 Comments/in /by

Jot down any notes, dates, ideas, or information that you want to discuss with your spouse and children in a small notebook and keep it next to the dinning room table or kitchen table.  I keep my notes next to the kitchen table on the counter.  This helps jog my memory and reminds me to address the issues before, after, or during dinner time.

Organizing E-mail

/0 Comments/in /by

Read your E-mail with your calendar, date book or planner (whether it’s paper or electronic) right next to you so you can immediately jot down dates, notes and reminders.  This will make it easier to delete those E-mails, since the information will already be noted in your calendar.

Repurposing Containers

/2 Comments/in /by

BagWould you consider purchasing containers as the “fun” part to organizing?  You wouldn’t be alone.  Containers are multifunctional and practical.  They serve important functions in organizing.  They provide boundaries for stuff.  They hold and keep like items together.  They prevent pieces and parts from getting lost or misplaced.

I recommend being creative and resourceful when it comes to containers.  Instead of purchasing, I advocate repurposing containers that we already have in our space.  It’s very economical and environmentally conscious.

Here are several ideas for repurposing the zippered bags that blankets, comforters, and sheets come in.

  1.  Store manuals and instructions
  2.  Keep by washing machine for stray socks
  3.  Use as wet bag for beach towels and bathing suits
  4.  Store games and puzzles that have squashed boxes
  5.  Keep in car for muddy shoes or wet clothes
  6.  Store camping equipment
  7.  Use as container to collect items that need to be dry cleaned
  8.  Use as sports bag for uniforms, equipment and footwear
  9.  Store comic books or other books
  10.  Keep in suitcase for dirty clothes

Ideas for the small zipped pillow case bags:

  •  Travel first aid kit
  •  Cd’s or Dvd’s
  •  Take out menus
  •  Travel bag for toiletries
  •  Pencil case

    NAPO

    Proud member of NAPO

What containers have you repurposed?  Please share.

© May 2014  Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®  All rights reserved